Since 1923, Piedmont Garden Club (PGC) has been a vibrant force in supporting and enhancing the city of Piedmont and its surrounding communities.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
The following are lists of projects, organizations and endeavors PGC supports with either time, treasure or talent — and sometimes with all three!
Civic Projects: Supporting Our Local Community
Click HERE to view all of PGC’s contributions to the City of Piedmont, the greater Bay Area and beyond since 1923.
Bay Visions
PGC, along with other Bay Area Garden Clubs, formed Bay Visions to restore, improve, and protect the San Francisco Bay and bays of Northern California.
GCA In The City
GCAITC organizes educational and social events to introduce professional, metro-area non-members between the ages of 25-45 to the Garden Club of America (GCA). PGC members were instrumental in establishing the San Francisco chapter. For further information on upcoming events, email gcainthecity@gcamerica.org.
Oak Woodland Miniforest
PGC is assisting the Piedmont Parks Commission in exploring the feasibility of planting an Oak Woodland Miniforest in the footprint of the old dog park across from Beach Elementary School.
Morcom Rose Garden
PGC donates funds to and is part of a team of community volunteers who care for Oakland’s Morcom Rose Garden.
Native Plant Garden
PGC is working with the City of Piedmont, the Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF), and the Bates Family to establish a Native Plant Garden near the Community Hall.
Partners For Plants
Using GCA P4P funds, PGC worked with the Orinda Garden Club to restore the natural habitat at Oakland’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline Park. We are currently using P4P funds to restore a creek in lower Oakland at the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park.
Peralta Hacienda
Peralta Hacienda Historical Park is a community center serving the ethnically diverse Fruitvale District of Oakland. PGC installed and maintains a perennial border filled with native plants. We also support weekend youth programs. PGC was the first GCA club to be awarded a Common Ground Grant of $10,000 to support our work there.
Piedmont Beautification Foundation
PGC helped found Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) in 1964 and today provides key officers, trustees, and advisors as well as ongoing financial support and volunteers. PGC works together with PBF and the City of Piedmont to provide support for civic projects that beautify and improve Piedmont neighborhoods.
Each year, PGC’s Civic Improvement Committee Chair researches projects in collaboration with PBF and the city to allocate budgeted PGC funds to beautify the community.
In support of PBF’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony, PGC volunteers help put up and take down the central tree lights. PGC members assist with planning and implementing the Lights Up ceremony, happening the first Wednesday evening of December.
For more information, please visit the PBF website.
Historical Work of the Piedmont Garden Club
Piedmont Garden Club (PGC) was founded in 1923 and became a member of the Garden Club of America (GCA) in 1926. PGC was the first California club to become a GCA-affiliated club.
Over the years, PGC has supported the City of Piedmont and collaborated with a variety of organizations throughout the Bay Area through donations, fundraising campaigns, representation on Citizen Committees, and volunteering. Examples include contributions to mosquito control in Piedmont; replanting of the gardens destroyed in the 1923 Berkeley Fire; and formation of Piedmont Beautification Foundation. Piedmont Garden Club has assisted in the maintenance, restoration, gardening, and landscaping of Piedmont Park, Dracena Park, Crocker Park, the Community Hall, Veterans Hall, the Japanese Tea House, tree plantings, and Oak Woodland Miniforest.
The Garden Club of America purchased a grove of over 5000 acres in Humboldt State Park with the help of Save the Redwoods League between the 1932 and the 1950s, encompassing almost the entire Canoe Creek watershed. This was GCA’s first Conservation Project. The special relationship between The Garden Club of America, and particularly the Piedmont Garden Club, has continued throughout the years of working together to protect the redwood trees in the grove, support the league and encourage members to visit and learn about these incredible trees.
This garden with a world class plant collection is in our own backyard. There is a history of Piedmont Garden Club members and their involvement with the UC Botanical Garden as Board Members, Volunteers and Donors. The Garden is a source of education for PGC members through talks, field trips and workshops.
In Addition, the Conservation and Horticultural Committees contribute to worthy local and regional organizations.
Click HERE to view all of PGC’s contributions to the City of Piedmont, the greater Bay Area and beyond since 1923.