Committee Descriptions

Budget

The Budget Committee reviews and presents the annual budget to the Executive Board for approval. They review the club’s actual spending compared to the budget each year and participate in auditing the club’s books and accounting records at the end of the fiscal year.

Civic Gardens

The Civic Gardens Committee cares for several beautiful gardens across Hingham.

Founders Park 

Founders Park, where North and South Streets meet, was given to Hingham in 2008 by the Garden Club as a lovely spot for relaxation with benches for downtown shoppers. In 2013, touchable, kid-friendly art was added in the form of brass turtles sculpted by David Philips. The surrounding plantings attract pollinators throughout the growing season.

Hingham Center Traffic Islands

Perhaps one of The Garden Club of Hingham’s most visible town commitments is maintaining the three traffic islands in Hingham Center. A dedicated team of new and experienced members meet on weekend mornings every 2-3 weeks from spring through fall to tend to the islands. We enjoy each other’s company as we prune, deadhead, weed, plant bulbs, and wave to passersby.

Hingham Public Library

This committee tends to the planters and surrounding areas at the library’s main entrance, as well as the courtyard on the second floor. Besides spring and fall clean-ups, members gather in the courtyard twice a month on Wednesdays to tend to the garden during the growing season, and individuals take weekly turns watering the planters at the front entrance.

Old Ordinary

The Old Ordinary Garden is located at 21 Lincoln Street on the site of the Hingham Historical Society’s Old Ordinary House Museum. Committee members participate in two cleanups each year—spring and fall. The spring cleanup includes planting annuals, and bulbs are planted in the fall. Members also volunteer for garden maintenance throughout the growing season.

External Communications

External Communications is responsible for promoting The Garden Club of Hingham’s mission, community outreach, and civic initiatives. The committee aims to build enthusiasm for our club within the Hingham community and attract new members. It manages all external communications related to membership opportunities, fundraisers, special events, and civic projects through press releases, signage, and digital media content. Additionally, the committee designs and oversees our website and social media accounts.

Field Trips

Our club’s field trips offer inspiration and education; exploring public botanical gardens, private gardens like Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill, specialized farms and nurseries such as pollinators at Fox Rock Farm, historic sites like Newport mansions, and even unique indoor exhibits like Harvard’s glass flowers. These experiences encourage learning in horticulture, design, and conservation. Trips often include guided tours and seasonal flower shows such as Art In Bloom at the MFA. Carpooling and lunches are usually part of the outings, providing members with an opportunity to discuss the experience and build community within the club.

Fundraising

The Fundraising Committees plan and execute the Garden Club’s major fundraising events throughout the year. Mistletoe Market takes place in early December, and our Plant Sale happens in May. Both fundraisers are led by separate chairs because they require several months of planning, and on the day of each event, they rely on many volunteers for help.

Mistletoe Market 

This committee hosts a one-day festive event in early December that features handmade, beautiful, high-end, botanical-inspired holiday decor items sold through a silent auction. Teams also gather greens, seed pods, and ribbons to make ornaments for a cash-and-carry area. 

Plant Sale

In spring, club members dig, divide, and pot plants in preparation for our annual plant sale. Team members transport the plants, set up the area, and host the three-hour sale for a loyal group of shoppers who line up early to buy. This one-day event is held rain or shine and provides a great opportunity to welcome potential new members.

Hospitality

The Hospitality Committee provides flowers and refreshments for the Garden Club’s monthly meetings and social events, such as the holiday luncheon (often potluck) and the June luncheon meeting. Every few years, the club also hosts a fall social. Committee duties include bringing a baked good, fruit, or floral centerpiece to at least two of the eight monthly meetings and helping the chair with club social events as needed. Support for these events may involve coordinating attendance and payment, planning, setup and cleanup, venue selection, and hostess duties. Hospitality committee members are encouraged to attend all social events.

Junior Gardeners

This is a fun committee designed to inspire a love of plants and flowers among Hingham’s youth in grades three through five. Junior Gardeners meets six times a year in the Hingham Library’s children’s craft room from 4 to 5 pm. The group plans and hosts seasonal crafts for about 12 students in partnership with the Hingham Public Library’s Children’s Department.

Library and Center for Active Living Flowers

Members of the Garden Club create a weekly flower arrangement to welcome visitors and staff at the main desk of the Hingham Public Library. A seasonal arrangement is also delivered once a month for Hingham seniors to enjoy at the Center for Active Living.

Membership

The Membership Committee maintains an up-to-date list of all club members: active, associate, and honored. Throughout the year, the committee oversees the sign-in and name tag tables at meetings, collects annual dues, and welcomes new members into the club.  

Nominations

The Nominations Committee identifies, interviews, and proposes the slate of club officers and directors for the upcoming year. The committee chair contacts active members to solicit new candidates, and the nominating committee works closely with the president to fill the slate. The committee’s main focus is ensuring continuity in leadership and maintaining a strong, healthy slate of officers and directors for the next 4-6 years.

Plant A Row

Our plant a row committee grows and shares fresh produce, herbs, and flowers with the Hingham Food Pantry. Since 2021, members have consistently provided seasonal donations that nourish and comfort local families.

Programs

This committee plans and organizes monthly programs on topics related to horticulture and floral design. Based on members’ interests, these programs feature guest and club speakers and sometimes include hands-on workshops that complement the speaker’s presentation.