Founded in 1926, the Columbia Garden Club has promoted a love of gardening among amateurs, encouraged civic beautification by sponsoring plantings in both public and private places and protected our native trees, flowers and birds through conservation efforts.

The Columbia Garden Club Foundation was established in 1983 and since that time has contributed over $300,000 to community projects. The initial funding for the Foundation was generated by the sale of property bequeathed to the club by Miss Janie Dent in 1950.

With income from investments, the Foundation has made contributions to projects that embrace the purposes and objectives of the Columbia Garden Club. The club has participated in the beautification of most landmarks in the city of Columbia. Recipients of major awards have included the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home, Columbia Museum of Art, Riverbanks Zoo’s Botanical Gardens, South Carolina State Museum, Carolina Children’s Home, EdVenture, The City of Columbia and the Memorial Rose Garden on the USC campus.

Members of the club decorate for many special events in the community, including the 2003 Governor’s Inaugural Celebration and the Governor’s Mansion each Christmas. In 2001 the Columbia Garden Club continued the long-time tradition of decorating the Christmas tree at the Governor’s Mansion, by adding tree ornaments designed by South Carolina artists.

The club is honored to have won many awards through the years on a national, state and local level for its work with conservation efforts, civic beautification, historic preservation, flower arranging, community service, education and horticulture.