Meet the Venice Area Garden Club
Do you love gardening? Do you love floral design? Do you want to have fun and friendship while doing what you love? Attend a Venice Area Garden Club (VAGC) meeting and see what we are all about! Whether you are a long-time, new to the area, or a seasonal resident, you will find the members of the VAGC friendly, environmentally aware, and happy to share their gardening and floral design knowledge.
Our mission statement is to “provide continuing education and resources in order to raise the awareness of the rewards of gardening and to provide the study of horticulture and art form of floral design while building alliances supporting the preservation of the environment and participating in the beautification of our community.”
VAGC has over 100 active members, supports and maintains several gardens and parks in Venice, and provides scholarships to students of environmental studies. Members pay annual dues, serve on one or more committees, and participate in club sponsored major events.
Committees and Projects
Adventure Tour plans and oversees bus trips to various gardens, museums, and other places of interest for club members and their guests, and coordinates day trips with the Horticulture committee.
Civic Beautification designs, plants, and maintains parks and gardens throughout our community. These include a Blue Star Marker, dry gardens, bromeliad garden, and atria at City Hall.
Education and Environment keeps members updated on FFGC and NGC educational opportunities and environmental issues including Coral Reef Restoration, Penny Pines, and other projects that involve land and water conservation.
Floral Workshop Design meets monthly to study and create floral designs, displays their floral creations at the general membership meetings, and creates centerpieces for the Holiday and Spring luncheons.
Garden Crafts constructs crafts throughout the year which are for sale to the membership and at the Garden Tour.
Garden Shop sells garden and/or floral design related items at the monthly member meetings and other club sponsored events.
Garden/Home Tour selects five to six gardens/homes for the annual garden tour. Proceeds from the tours are used for scholarships and other projects. The selection committee visits potential gardens and designs the tour tickets (which includes garden descriptions, maps, and directions.) All members are expected to participate during the actual tours as this annual project is the club’s major fundraiser.
Holiday Decorations assists the city in decorating for the holidays including decorating the club’s past Presidents’ trees in various parks, the trees at Venice City Hall and Harvey Jervis Public Library, as well as decorations at Lord-Higel House.
Horticulture meets regularly for preparation/workshops for the Annual Garden Tour Plant Sale, works on the Horticulture Division of the Flower Show, assists Civic Beautification on special projects, holds classes on plant related crafts, and organizes field trips.
Hospitality plans a luncheon for each monthly membership meeting where members sign up to bring finger sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and/or desserts. A head hostess coordinates the luncheon and a floral designer provides a table arrangement.
Liaisons coordinate activities between our club and activities of Venice Area Beautification Inc., Venice Historical Society, Venice Main Street, and the Venice Chamber of Commerce.
Luncheons plans and coordinates Holiday and Spring luncheons including preparation of tickets and posters.
Membership processes new member applications, collects yearly membership dues, signs in and greets members and guests at meetings, prepares new member materials, plans new member teas, maintains all club membership information, and communicates with FFGC Member Services as required.
Property and Storage manages public storage space rented by the club and keeps inventory of club property needed for club events.
Publicity/Media provides photos, advertisements, and information about club events to local newspapers, websites, and magazines.
Scholarships receives student applications through the Rotary Futures Program of Venice High School for the committee to review, select, and present the nominees to the Board for a vote approval. Scholarships are also given for Wekiva Youth Camp and SEEK (Save the Earth’s Environment Through Knowledge).
Sunshine sends get well, sympathy cards etc. to members and their families as needed.
Social Media/Publicity/Digital maintains and updates Facebook and the VAGC website:VAGC@clubexpress.com
Yearbook updates, edits, and arranges for printing of the annual VAGC Yearbook.
We welcome you to attend our general membership meetings
usually held the first Thursday of every month
October, November, January through April, and June starting with a social at 9:30 AM at:
NAAR HALL
Venice United Church of Christ
620 Shamrock Blvd,
Venice, FL 34293-1738
The meetings in December and May are our Holiday and Spring luncheons held at a location to be announced. Please check our website for current dates and times.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Membership Chair, Janice Eberhart
janiceelleneberhart@gmail.com
If you would in interested in joining our dedicated and involved members, please submit an application form along with a payment of annual dues. You may submit your application and dues in person at a meeting or by mail to
VAGC Membership, POBox 1685, Venice, FL 34284-1685.