Some of the largest awards given by The National Garden Clubs, Inc. are for projects using some native plants. Applications are submitted through your state awards chairman.

Deadline for these awards is December 15 each year.

OPERATION WILDFLOWER AWARDS:

Up to $1,000.00 may be awarded in the following categories:

#71 The Roadside Award: May be awarded for notable environmental preservation and enhancement of roadsides and rest areas using wildflowers and native plants. Project may be sited on rural byways, urban highways, or roadside rest areas, entrances to towns, medians, etc.

A. Single club member garden club i small club ii medium club iii large club
B. Group of member clubs
C. State Garden Club - i small state ii medium state iii large state

# 73 Civic Projects with Native Plants Award: May be awarded for establishing wildflower gardens, memorial gardens or the restoration of historic gardens with emphasis on native plant material.

A. Single club member garden club i small club ii medium club iii large club B. Group of member clubs

C.State Garden Club - i small state ii medium state iii large state

#74 Outdoor Classrooms, Nature Trails: May be awarded for establishing outdoor classrooms, nature trails, wild flower walks, etc. with the emphasis on wildflowers and native plants.

A. Single club member garden club i small club ii medium club iii large club.
D. State Garden Club - i small state ii medium state iii large state

Categories by Size:

Individual garden clubs: i. Small Club under 29 members; ii. Medium Club 30-99 members; iii. Large Club over 100 members. (Councils and groups shall count as large club)

State Garden Clubs: i. Small under 1999 members: ii. Medium 2000-5999 members; iii. Large over 6000 members.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Entries must include before and after pictures. Safety must be considered in all plantings. Educational value as well as aesthetic beauty of the plantings should be shown. Include unique aspects of the project and unusual design features. A financial statement should be included (other grants may be used for this project).

A project may be entered in only one category. No State Garden Club or member garden club may receive an award for the same project for two consecutive years. No state or club may enter more than one project in each category. Refer to NGC Awards Rules for instructions.

Scale of Points for all NGC Awards

Presentation 5 points
Achievement 65 points
Participation 15 points
Record or Documentation 15 points

WILDFLOWERS/NATIVE PLANTS

Public awareness is the key to preserving our native plant heritage. Using native plants in civic projects and private landscape design makes sense in every way.

State Wildflower Chairmen serve as an educational resource.

Suggestions:

Print and distribute the list of endangered species, obtainable from your state’s Natural Heritage Program.

Provide information to clubs obtained from local native plant organizations.

Distribute information on butterfly gardens, plantings for birds, native plants for different habitats.

Select a wild flower of the year and make seeds available to garden club members.

Hold a Wildflower Symposium or Workshop, perhaps in conjunction with a regional, state or district meeting. Grants of $500.00 are available.

Initiate a project using native plants and wild flowers; apply for an Operation Wildflower Award.

Additional funds may be applied for, such as Historic Preservation and Civic Development Awards.

See separate pages for detailed application requirements for Workshops and Awards.

WILDFLOWER/NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM OR WORKSHOP

A grant of up to $500.00 is available to be used towards direct expenses for an educational program on this subject. State Garden Clubs, districts, councils and individual garden clubs may co-sponsor a symposium with state agencies, arboreta, native plant societies, or similar organizations. Gardeners are eager for information on native plants; state highway or transportation departments need publicity and support for their planting programs. Try to schedule the date when wild flowers are in bloom in your location.

Subjects to be covered:

One or more topics on native flora: endangered species, plants for butterflies, plants for special habitats, identification using keys, invasive species management, etc.
Public planting: state highways, rest areas, preservation of community natural areas.
Propagation of wild flowers.
Designing native plant gardens or developing nature trails
Operation Wildflower Awards information.

Exhibits: such as fresh or pressed wild flowers, charts, propagation examples, books.

Field Trip: Need not be a long excursion. Select a facility for the meeting where there are native plantings on the grounds, or a nearby nature trail.

To Apply:

At least two months in advance send two copies of the tentative program and a copy of the proposed budget to this chairman.

If approved, half of the grant requested will be sent by NGC.

At the conclusion of the workshop, within two months, send a short report, including a financial statement and the number of people in attendance, two copies of the final program, and any publicity.

Remaining funds will be sent if merited according to the scale of points:

Scale of Points

Program 40
Field trip 25
Exhibits 10
Attendance 15
Participation of other groups 5
Report 5
Total 100

For information on any or all of the awards above contact your State Awards Chairman Vickie Godwin.

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