First-Timer’s Guide: Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club
What was begun in 1991 by volunteer Mary Rice, the Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club, has "grown" into a vital part of the museum's programs, offering many ways for the community to learn, share, and celebrate the beauty of plants and the joy of gardening.
In addition to ensuring that the museum’s courtyard and other smaller gardens around the museum grounds are looking their best year-round, Sandy Spring Museum's Garden Club offers the public many ways to connect with the natural world through educational programs, seasonal trips, and hands-on projects that teach new skills that keep gardening traditions alive. Programs are open to all and membership in the Garden Club only has one requirement - membership in Sandy Spring Museum. Everyone who is a museum member can be part of this community where nature, history, and friendship thrive.
Growing Together
Garden Club members create and sell holiday greens decorations, run the Strawberry Festival Plant Booth, and host a biannual Garden Tour that highlights some of the area’s beautiful , private gardens. Programs of interest to gardeners and others interested in the environment are presented four times a year. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just beginning, the club's welcoming spirit makes space for everyone.
Sowing the Seeds of the Future
In a recent program about seed-saving, members listened to a presentation from master gardener Meipo Martin. Participants learned how to collect and store seeds, and they also had fun actually trading seeds, courtesy of HarvestShare.
One attendee commented, "I know nothing about seed saving and germination, and have failed to grow from seed numerous times. I found this talk incredibly helpful." The club is dedicated to creating fun and educational programs like this, which are accessible to even the newest of gardeners. Programs are scheduled for the second Sunday of September, November, February and April. They are open to the public, though registration through the Museum’s website is required.
A Magical World: Fairy Garden Workshop
A fun activity the Garden Club offers on occasion is the Fairy Garden workshop. It's a time to build your own miniature world, a magical, tiny landscape in a container, as if it were a place where fairies might live. Participants let their imaginations run wild, creating their own small stories. People of all ages can reconnect with their inner child, laugh, and make special memories together.
Curious to Learn More?
If you'd like to see more Garden Club activities, explore the museum's Newsletter Archive. The stories of past seasons are all there, waiting for you.
An Invitation to Join
The Garden Club is more than a group of gardeners; it is a circle of friends, learners, and nature lovers who believe in cultivating beauty together. As a museum member, you're welcome to be part of this tradition. Membership not only supports the museum's vibrant programs but also gives you access to the Garden Club and a host of other benefits.
If you'd like to learn more or have questions, please email us. Every garden has its seasons, and perhaps this is the perfect time for yours to begin here.
