Milwaukee District Garden Clubs
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Sharing the love of gardening in southeastern Wisconsin.

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Garden Conservancy Open Days
Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee
Tour 5 gardens in Washington Highlands Historic District
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Diggin' It
Floral designers of wisconsin
Taking entries for Wisconsin State Fair Flower Show
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Photography Contest
at the Central Region 2025 convention 
Aug. 1 is deadline to enter photos in contest
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Record 124 Families at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity Plant Share 

The Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity held its 20th annual plant share June 7.  A record 124 families attended.

The plant share has been a project of the Milwaukee District for many years. This year about eight garden clubs participated by volunteering, donating plants, money, books, gardening accessories and even birdhouses made from seed packets. The event took months to plan, two days to set up and 5 hours to help families who left with smiles on their faces and plants and soil in their wagons and carts.


At least 75 garden club members from the Milwaukee District worked together to make this year’s event a success. They shared their knowledge of plants and gardening and became teachers as the families asked many questions before selecting plants. Families were able to select vegetables, annuals, perennials, garden tools and accessories and make a hanging basket or porch pot. This year children were able to pot their own plant, have their face painted and color sheets filled with butterflies, bees and flowers. Each child also received a special birdhouse made of seed packets.

Susan Miller, who is the District's chairman of the plant share project, said afterwards, "It was a joy to see and feel the excitement. I am so grateful to all who helped in some way to make this year’s Habitat for Humanity Plant Share a huge success." 

MDGC Board of Directors Sets Oct. 11 for Fall Presentation for All Members

The Board of Directors of the Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) met June 25 at the Schlitz Mansion in Milwaukee to plan activities for the upcoming year and to discuss membership participation. The Board’s business meeting followed tours of the garden and house led by home owners and hosts, John Shaeffer and Tim Baack.

Save the Following Dates
The Board set meeting dates for 2025-2026:
  • Oct. 11, 2025 –  Fall Board meeting plus presentation/demonstration for all members
  • May 7, 2026 – MDGC Board’s annual spring meeting
Plans are being made for Nancy Cody to teach “Garden Inspired Design” on Oct. 11. A certified floral designer and the owner of Rose and Twig Floral Design, Nancy will demonstrate how to use flowers from your garden or store-bought flowers to make a bouquet for your home. There will be more details to come, but for now, mark Oct. 11 on your calendar because you won’t want to miss this teaching demonstration.

In other business, MDGC Director Norma McReynolds announced that Mayfair Park Garden Club and South Shore Garden Club have defederated. Norma gave an update of the June 19 Wisconsin Garden Club Federation’s (WGCF) Executive Committee meeting that included 1) looking at new and better ways to report membership; 2) conducting a Future Subcommittee survey at the local level; and 3) soliciting candidates for editor of Wisconsin Gardens.

Norma also announced that the theme for her term as MDGC director is “Learning Together Is How We Grow.” She plans to promote districtwide workshops, speakers and special events and the National Garden Clubs schools and symposiums being held by WGCF in Wisconsin.​
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Diane Olsen, former MDGC Director, Tim Baack of Schlitz House and Lynne Ehnert, MDGC parliamentarian share gardening stories.
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Members of Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee, Susan Miller, Susan Ballji and Nancy Cody and home owners Tim Baack and John Shaeffer take a photo break during their tour of Schlitz House. 
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Schlitz House owner John Shaeffer points out an historical article about the mansion to Susan Ballje, president of Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee.

Cultivating horticulture skills, floral design and environmental awareness

Established in 1932, the Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) is a member of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation (WGCF) and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC), which is the largest gardening organization in the world. The NGC consists of eight regions, and Wisconsin is part of the Central Region. Wisconsin is divided into five districts, with the counties of Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha in the MDGC.

MDGC is a not-for-profit educational organization that provides education, resources and networking opportunities for garden clubs in southeastern Wisconsin to promote the love of gardening, floral design and civic and environmental responsibility.

Expand your knowledge, meet great people and have fun – join a club today!
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Milwaukee District Garden Clubs (MDGC) was founded in 1932 as a part of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation which is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc. and its Central Region. A not-for-profit educational organization, we serve gardeners in Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties who are gardening for good in our communities. 
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