The Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. in Wilmington, North Carolina, is one of the oldest and largest garden clubs in North Carolina. We are proud to be Federated with The Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc., The National Garden Clubs, Inc., and a South Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs member.  Since 1925,  the CFGC has been working to enhance and support the natural beauty of our great city, Wilmington, North Carolina.

We are a non-profit organization best known for producing the annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour© featuring our area’s finest and most exquisite gardens. The 2024 tour, Beyond the Garden Gate, was presented April 5th – 7th.  Proceeds from the Garden Tour are invested in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to beautify our community through Grants and Committee initiatives.  2024 Grants will be presented at our October General Meeting.

The Cape Fear Garden Club is pleased to announce that our 6th Biannual Fundraising Soiree,”Let’s go to the Hop”, a benefit for the Cape Fear Garden Club Beautification Endowment Fund, will be  held on November 16, 2024.  The Endowment, established in 2012, is specifically for beautifying and maintaining public areas in The City of Wilmington and New Hanover County.

Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. is a registered, non-profit corporation exempt from US Federal income tax under Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

2024–2025 Club Theme

“Restore, Nurture, Protect, and Conserve Nature”

Welcome to the Cape Fear Garden Club’s Centennial Celebration Year, 2024-2025.

Thank you for giving me the honor and privilege to be your president during this momentous year. Our anniversary date is February 11, 2025, however there are many wonderful programs, teas, parties, and luncheons planned throughout the year to commemorate our 100 years of service to the community. We have much to be proud of as we continue to beautify our community and encourage environmental improvement throughout the coming year.

Along with recognizing and celebrating our past accomplishments, our focus for this year is to give guidance and assistance to our community in restoring, nurturing, protecting and conserving our natural environment for the future. One of the steps we have taken toward goal accomplishment is to partner with The National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program to become a healthier, sustainable, and more wildlife friendly city. We are very close to completing the requirements to certify the City of Wilmington as a Community Wildlife Habitat.

In conjunction with our centennial, club committees created “100” projects that will enhance our environmental preservation efforts. The Edible Gardening Committee prepared attractive envelopes to distribute North Carolina’s Wildflower seeds and planting instructions to over 100 people. The seeds not only produce flowers for pollinators but legumes for a food source. The Civic Improvement Committee planted 100 Azaleas in Airlie Gardens and 100 pine trees in Long Leaf Park. Civic Improvement also has plans to enhance our Riverfront Park Urban Garden with native plants for pollinators in preparation for a centennial celebration with the unveiling of a permanent statue to commemorate our 100 years of service to the city. The Birds, Bees and Butterfly Committee is collecting 100 books about nature to donate to the NHC schools’ libraries. The Conservation Committee has a recycling program planned for our general meeting in January and will be selling 100 stainless steel commemorative cups to encourage using fewer single use containers.  The Arbor Day Committee plans to plant 100 trees during our centennial year.

In November we will have our “Let’s Go To The Hop Soirée” to raise funds to contribute to the CFGC Beautification Endowment. This year’s very deserving honoree will be Karen Smith. The committee has been hard at work raising support and planning a fun filled event for us to enjoy while supporting the endowment.

By restoring native plants, nurturing an increase in our insect population, protecting our heritage trees and conserving nature in all aspects, we can continue to play an integral role in the growth and development of New Hanover County.

It is my sincere hope that we joyfully work together to honor all members from the past who have created the outstanding legacy of Cape Fear Garden Club and strive to carry it forward for another 100 years

With gratitude, Delores Hawes
Cape Fear Garden Club President
2024-2025

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