Live in Big Sky Country? Love gardens, flowers and beautiful landscapes? Do you want to share your knowledge or learn more? The Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., founded in 1938, is a non-profit educational organization with members statewide. There are 30 individual Montana garden clubs and in 2010, we celebrate our 72nd anniversary as an affiliate of the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world, National Garden Clubs, Inc. We are also one of eight states in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Use this site to discover Montana gardening information and time-tested methods shared at club meetings and in our gardening know-how section. Find out about college scholarships, schools to learn landscaping and floral design, and cooperative efforts with national groups such as the U. S. Forest Service on the projects and schools page. View the garden club pages to see the many professional speakers presenting information at monthly meetings at each club around the state. Read about the community improvement projects our active members perform.

Membership is open throughout the year. If you love growing, we'd love to meet you. Plan to drop in and experience the difference with Montana Federation of Garden Clubs. To learn more, click here for information about our energetic community volunteers and start learning today!

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At the Montana State Covention in Billings, in 1951, the idea of Life Members for the state was born. First member to pay her dues was Mrs. D. J. Mooney of Butte, who recommended that National Life Member guidelines be followed. Since then, through February of this year, 782 members have paid their one-time dues of $25.

The amount of the one-time dues is one of the few things that has stayed the same! It was decided within a few years that the money would be put in interest-bearing bonds and treasury bills - whatever paid the most interest - and only interest would be spent on the college scholarship to be given each spring. The applicant must be in a horticulture field, later rules included at a Montana school and be a Montana resident. The amount of the scholarship changed from $200 to $400, up to $500, $600, and $700 until in 1985, the amount went to $1000 which is what is given today.

Events of the Life Members began with a breakfast during convention weekend. Attendance was 10 in 1953, and attendance varied through the years from 26 to 110 and breakfast was changed to banquets. These evening affairs included skits, costume contests, dance shows, etc. Judges were the husbands of members. Entertainment is still popular today, and can be stories by members, interesting places of visitations, embarrassing moments and the language of flowers, etc.

In the past, all the members went by "Mrs." and their husband's first and last name. Today, most all women go by their first name - no more Mrs. Old minutes stated that elections for chairman and secretary would be made to coincide with state officers and there would be no re-elections. No change can be found in this rule, but recycling of chairmen and secretaries is very common!

There is fund raising today to add to the funds and help cover postage and banquet expenses. Money is usually made by raffles, silent auctions and tax-deductible donations are always accepted. The monies have been moved to CD's and annuities trying to gain more interest, but there are times when there is no more interest available.

It is easy to become a Life Member, pay your dues of $25 to either the state treasurer or the chairman and you are a "Lifer." The only stipulation is you must be a member of a garden club. There is no waiting period; you can be a garden club member and a life member all in the same day, if you wish. Being a Life Member entitles you to receive Montana Gardens for your lifetime, and being part of the program makes you feel good about giving a scholarship to a Montana student. For more information, contact Joyce Backa, 866-0145.

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New Articles *Click on the cover picture above to read the expanded version of the latest edition of Montana Gardens Speaker's Bureau Gardening Experts for Your Meeting Programs or Garden Tours Gardener's Notebook - Planting Peas in March? and Shamrocks for St. Pat's Day by Zelpha Boyd

Our Mission Statement: The Montana Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. (MFGC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating its members and youth. Members are prepared and informed to lead and support the conservation and environmental efforts of our state through gardening activities, floral designs, landscaping and community improvements

As a non-profit educational organization, we gratefully accept tax-deductible donations. Contributions are used for special guest speakers at membership meetings, costs associated with producing educational materials for our members and the public, as well as for college scholarships. Ongoing support of these efforts need your help. Please consider making a contribution as part of your income and estate tax planning. Should your gift be in the form of a bequest, it will reduce your taxable estate on death. You should consult your tax advisor regarding applicable tax laws, their relation to your own tax situation and any tax benefits you might receive. Please contact Norman DeNeal, MFGC President, for further information.

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