Home: Our History/Our Goal

Click on image to enlarge

The Portsmouth Garden Club

Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Photo taken at the 2009 75th Anniversary of the Portsmouth Garden Club
Photo taken at the 2009 75th Anniversary of the Portsmouth Garden Club

"The first garden club in America was
founded in January 1891 by The Ladies
Garden Club of Athens (Georgia).  On
May 1, 1929 thirteen federated states
became charter members at an organizational meeting in Washington, D.C.  
Excerpt taken from the National Garden Clubs Website(http://www.gardenclub.org/
About/AboutNGC.aspx
)."

Five (5) years after the thirteen federated states became charter members, the Portsmouth Garden Club was organized and became a member of the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs organization. According to a local newspaper article (Newspaper is unknown), the following was reported:

“June 1934, Portsmouth. Women Organize Garden Club at Meeting Held at Glen Farm. On Monday afternoon a group of ladies met at the home of Mrs. Borden Anthony at Glen Farm to hear Mrs. Hamilton Fish Webster of Newport speak on the forming of a Garden Club in Portsmouth. After Mrs. Webster’s talk the ladies voted to organize the Portsmouth Garden Club and elected officers for the coming year, as follow: President: Mrs. Borden C. Anthony; Vice Presidents: Mrs. Norman Hall, Mrs. Peter Malone and Mrs. Arthur Smith; Secretary: Mrs. Alexander Boone; Treasurer: Miss Evelyn Chase; Librarian: Mrs. Jacob Menzi.The women attending were Mrs. Norman Hall, Mrs. Charles Clarke, Mrs. John Hargraves, Mrs. Alexander Boone, Mrs. Benjamin Barker, Miss Evelyn Chase, Mrs. Peter Malone, Mrs. Kenney, Mrs. Jacob Menzi, Mrs. Andrew Malone, Mrs. Arthur Smith and Mrs. Borden Anthony. The next meeting will be held on June 13 at the home of Mrs. Norman Hall, when Mrs. Hall’s gardens will be inspected and talks on the raising of flowers will be given.

In 1934, there were 13 Members and of the 13 Members, there were 7 Officers. As of September 2015, The Portsmouth Garden Club now has 39 Members and 11 Honorary Members and today, our officers consist of President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Correspondence Secretary, Treasurer, and Ex-Officio.  See Officers and Committee Members.

Our Goal

Our goal is to promote the love of gardening, floral and landscape design, and demonstrate civic and environmental responsibility by example.

Click on image to enlarge

ON GOING CIVIC BEAUTIFIfCATION

Legion Park at Town Hall- 1ST Photo spring, then falll and last photos cannon wreath, Christmas 2023

Portsmouth Free Public Library Planting- Spring planting and Fall clean up

Ken Brockaway and Marilyn Brockway (Past preisdent) Memorial Graden at St. Paul's Church square

Annual Library Fundraiser "Taste of Portsmouth" auction arrangements

see events page

_____________________

Annual Holiday Town wreaths,  creation and diaplays

see events page

Meetings are held monthly at the library for club members and guests _________________

September 2025 

 

Welcome back members !

Fellowship and meeting

 Newport Vinyards

 Presenter :Andy Teixeira, Executive Chef
Tour of greenhouse; Food to Table restaurant execution with wine and nibbles
______________

October  2025

 

 

________________

November  2025

1:00 Portsmouth Free Public Library

 Presenter:

_________________

November 2025

Portsmouth Free Public Library 

Annual Taste of Portsmouth 7-9

 

_______________

December 2025

Luncheon 12:00

 

______________

January , 2026

 

12:30

_____________       

February 2026

 

________________

March 14, 2026

___

April 9, 2026

12: 30 Portsmouth Free Public Library

 

_______________

April 2026 

RIFGC Annual Awards Luncheon

___________

May  2026
12:30 Portsmouth Free Public Library

               ______________

June , 19-21,2026

The Newport Flower Show

at Rosecliff with the theme  Pearls of Newport