What Community Activities Does the Redding Garden Club Do?
Updated
The Redding Garden Club (RGC), founded in 1964, runs a mix of hands-on gardening, conservation education, youth programs, and public events in Redding. Its community work centers on maintaining more than 15 public garden sites, offering conservation and education programs, holding an annual spring plant sale, running youth programs, awarding scholarships, and sponsoring field trips. These activities are open to members, and many are visible to or attended by the wider community.
Hands-On Gardening in Public Spaces
The club maintains over 15 public garden sites, including container gardens and public roadside gardens. Members plant and care for these spaces, and the club states that no experience is necessary to take part. This is the most direct way the club's work shows up in the community: planted, maintained public landscapes rather than one-off events.
Conservation and Education Programs
RGC describes itself as a community leader in pollinator, native, and invasive plant education, and it offers conservation and education programs alongside that work. The club has won multiple state and national awards for conservation, horticulture, and floral design. Its founding purpose also included assisting the town with conservation activities and helping protect native trees, birds, and wildflowers, so education and conservation remain core rather than occasional activities.
Annual Spring Plant Sale and Seasonal Events
The club holds an annual spring plant sale, which is one of its recurring public-facing events. Its activity list also includes a garden tour, a luncheon and boutique, "Pumpkins on the Green," and exhibits. These events give non-members a way to interact with the club without joining.
Youth Programs and Scholarships
RGC conducts youth programs and awards scholarships. These sit alongside its adult education offerings, such as expert speakers on gardening, conservation, landscape and flower design, and field trips. The scholarship and youth components extend the club's reach beyond its own membership.
Meetings and How to Get Involved
The club meets monthly from September through May, except November and December. Meetings include a light lunch and a guest speaker, and guests are always welcome. For community members who want to see the club in action before committing, attending a meeting as a guest is the simplest entry point. Membership is open to gardeners of all interests and skill levels, and members can help with public gardens, learn from speakers, join field trips, and take part in youth and community activities.
The club also maintains a Facebook group with more than 600 community members, where people ask questions, post photos, and share experiences.
Quick Reference
| Activity | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Public garden sites | Planting and maintaining 15+ container and roadside gardens |
| Conservation and education | Programs on pollinators, native and invasive plants |
| Spring plant sale | Annual public sale |
| Youth programs | Gardening-related activities for young people |
| Scholarships | Awards to support students |
| Field trips | Sponsored trips for members |
| Meetings | Monthly September–May (except Nov/Dec), guests welcome |