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is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to developing interest, appreciation and
involvement in horticulture, nature and the arts through educational programs,
outreach activities and special events. In 1956, a group of Greenwich
citizens saw the need for a non-profit community garden center. They
envisioned its focus to be garden and horticulture education, open
to all, and in 1957 the Garden Education Center was founded. Today,
the GEC remains true to its founding vision, having grown to encompass
over 1100 members and featuring a comprehensive program of classes,
lectures, workshops, trips and special events throughout the year.
Highly regarded as an important educational resource to the community
through its horticultural building and extensive outreach programs,
the GEC is the only organization of its kind between New York City
and Boston. |
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A
multi-faceted organization, the GEC offers a rich and varied program
designed to appeal to both the dedicated horticulturist and the home
and garden aficionado. Over 100 lectures, classes, workshops, and
field trips are offered to members and the general public each year.
Topics range from garden design, seasonal plantings, landscaping and
horticulture cultivation techniques to topiary creating, innovative
floral arranging, festive holiday decorating, and other home decorative
arts. Top names in horticulture, landscape, home and floral design
are among the many guest lecturers at the GEC, including Renny Reynolds,
Rosemary Alexander, Ina Garten, Bunny Williams, Marcella Hazan, Patrick Chasse,
Dominique Browning, John Danzer, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Chruchill, John Brookes
and Frank Cabot. Their lively
demonstrations, insights, and anecdotes provide a rich dimension to
the classes and lectures that are a part of the daily life of the
GEC. Trips to famous gardens and prestigious flower shows in the Northeast
are offered regularly. Workshops designed with the youngest gardeners
in mind, include everything from creating holiday ornaments to bulb
planting. On-going art exhibits by the Greenwich Art Society, The
Art Society of Old Greenwich, and individual artists are featured
in the Garden Gallery. |
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The
Center provides over two dozen outreach programs, bringing the joys,
satisfaction, and science of gardening to senior citizens, children,
and community organizations. An annual scholarship is awarded to a
graduating high school student who plans studies in a horticulture
related field. |
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Built
in 1994 and housed separately from the main building of the GEC, the
Horticulture Building is run by a professional horticulturist, assisted
by trained volunteers. It contains a state of the art working greenhouse,
potting room and classroom. An extensive horticulture training program
is offered along with individual classes on all aspects of indoor
and outdoor gardening and general plant cultivation techniques. Plants
are grown for sale, and horticulture advice is available to the public
free of charge. |
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Two
shops, housed in the main building, offer extensive collections of
unique containers, silk and dried flowers, wired and decorated ribbons,
baskets, holiday and seasonal ornaments and decorations, books, gifts,
china, ceramics, garden ornaments, tools and equipment. The Horticulture
Building provides plants for sale, outdoor containers, and gardening
mechanics for indoor and outdoor gardening. |
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The GEC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and draws upon
a large constituency of dedicated volunteers who are involved in every
aspect of the organization. A professional staff manages the daily
operation of the GEC. |
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The
GEC is chartered as a non-profit organization by the Town of Greenwich
to operated within the 102 acre town park, the Montgomery Pinetum.
Funding sources include membership dues, program fees, special events,
contributions and profits from the shops. No funding is provided by
the town or state. |
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Main
Building:
- Auditorium
and the Garden Gallery
with seating capacity of 120
- Classroom,
capacity 30
- Library
with horticulture reference
books, videos, and journals
- Administrative
offices and kitchen
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Horticulture
Building:
- Greenhouse
- Potting
Room
- Classroom,
capacity 30
- Office and
kitchenette
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GEC is located within the Montgomery Pinetum, a registered historic
site and public park in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich. It is surrounded
by a lush forest of 102 acres of wooded trails, majestic trees, and
a broad variety of unusual specimen plantings and vibrant wildflowers.
The Pinetum was formerly the estate of Colonel Robert Montgomery,
a successful businessman and avid horticulturist. Colonel Montgomery
collected rare conifers on his estate and in 1947 donated 200 specimen
trees to the New York Botanical Garden, which transplanted them from
the Montgomery Pinetum to the NYBG. He also founded the Fairchild
Tropical Garden in Coral Gables, Florida. |
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