With our picturesque landscapes, inspiration for many artists, it is no surprise that almost every town on the North Shore has a garden club. According to The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc., our area has close to fifty active organizations. Many communities have more than one club, some clubs partner together, and a few are private. One of the common denominators of the organizations featured below is their dedication to civic beautification and volunteerism through the language of gardening.
Newburyport Horticultural Society
Known locally as “The Hort,” the Newburyport Horticultural Society (NHS), established in 1944, has roots dating back to 1832. NHS is an active group that tends many public gardens throughout the city including the High Street water trough, Low Street under the Rail Trail overpass, and the Rail Trail bird bath area. Upcoming events include a plant sale on May 10, the Newburyport Green Expo on May 18, and an open house meeting on May 20 with Jane Jeffers’ Blooming Hydrangeas presentation.
For information, visit newburyporthort.org.
North Shore Garden Club
The North Shore Garden Club (NSGC) started with a meeting in the living room of Mrs. Philip Dexter, of Manchester, in 1915. Over one hundred years later the club is still going strong. As a member of the Garden Club of America (GCA), the NSGC follows the GCA mission of leadership in horticulture, conservation, and civic improvement. And, it has supported many local organizations over the decades including the Beverly Hospital Memorial Garden, the Herrick House, and The Trustees of Reservations. The 33rd Annual Long Hill Plant Sale is on May 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Beverly.
For more information, visit northshoregardenclub.org
Salem Garden Club
Since 1928, the historic city of Salem has benefitted immensely from the civic involvement of the Salem Garden Club (SGC). Comprised of over 70 active members, the SGC has spread its horticulture deeds far and wide across this diverse city. For example, they plant and maintain many areas including the large urns on the traffic island on Washington Street.
Perhaps the SGC is most known for its garden tours that started in 1937. Today its garden tour is a biennial event. The 2026 Garden Stroll is in the planning stages and set for July 11, 2026. Upcoming events include Books in Bloom on June 5 and their Annual Dinner on June 12.
For more information, visit salemgardenclub.com
Photograph by David Cox.
Generous Gardeners (Gloucester)
Not quite a “club” but a civic improvement movement since 2011, Generous Gardeners has transformed Gloucester into a true garden city. Beginning with the idea of online plant-swapping, the now 80-volunteer, non-profit organization has transformed the city’s waterfront and 48 other garden spaces with colorful blossoms from May until late fall. Plantings include dozens of roses, hundreds of lilies, tulips, annuals, perennials and over 2,000 dahlias. One of many bonuses of this volunteer group has been to connect the senior community of Gloucester with its newer residents. Generous Gardeners 13th Annual Gloucester Garden Tour in Magnolia is on July 5 from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. and begins at the Magnolia Library and Community Center.
For more information, visit generousgardeners.org.
at the Topsfield Fair. Photograph by Kinda Clineff.
Topsfield Garden Club
Organized in 1926, the Topsfield Garden Club (TGC) plays an important civic role in the town as well as The Topsfield Fair. The TGC decorates and maintains many plantings in the town including the downtown planters. Their signature event is the “The Grow Spring EXPO”—a trade fair that brings local agriculture, horticulture, and environmental preservation enthusiasts into the wider community. The TGC raises a wide variety of tomatoes from seed including many heirloom varieties of all sorts from the United States and Europe. Many of the tomatoes go to Tomato Day at Proctor School where each fifth-grader receives a plant as part of the local agriculture program.
For more information, visit topsfieldgardenclub.org.
Ipswich Garden Club
Established in 1927, the Ipswich Garden Club(IGC) has a long history of providing educational programs in horticulture, supporting conservation efforts, and assisting in beautifying the Town of Ipswich. Their Annual Plant Sale will be held at the Haskell House Green on May 17 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.. Monthly meetings are held from September through April and feature guest speakers. Their Annual Meeting and Tea will be held on June 7.
For more information, visit ipswichgardenclub.blogspot.com
Looking to improve your own garden at home? Check out this complete guide to garden arches.