Camelot Garden Club: A Legacy of Growth, Community, and Conservation

Camelot Garden Club members landscaping the Camelot Neighborhood entrance, 1968

Founded in December 1965, the Camelot Garden Club (CGC) began with 15 passionate gardeners and has since blossomed into a vibrant force for environmental stewardship and community enrichment. From its earliest days promoting beautification through the planting of cherry trees and hardy bulbs, to present-day sustainability initiatives like Camelot ReLeaf, CGC has remained rooted in service, education, and horticultural excellence.

Throughout its history, CGC has:

• Promoted beautification and conservation, planting hundreds of trees, shrubs, and flowers across public spaces, schools, and hospitals.

• Supported community institutions, from Ronald McDonald House and Camelot Elementary to Leewood Nursing Home and the George Mason Regional Library.

• Offered therapeutic gardening, particularly through long-running programs at healthcare centers, bringing nature’s healing touch to patients and residents.

• Educated generations of gardeners through hands-on workshops, floral design, environmental programs, and partnerships with organizations such as Plant NOVA Natives and the Virginia Native Plant Society.

• Celebrated horticulture through flower shows, including the award-winning “The Legend of Camelot” and multiple nationally recognized standard flower shows.

• Engaged in sustainable fundraising, including wedding floral services, annual plant sales, and neighborhood-favorite lamppost swag sales and birdseed wreaths.

• Connected members socially and intellectually, through field trips, educational programs, and participation in regional and national garden club activities.

Annual clean up of the Camelot Neighborhood entrance, 1968

Notable milestones include:

• Hosting the 25th, 30th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries with commemorations that honored past members and celebrated decades of community impact.

• Joining the National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs in 1968, and remaining actively engaged in the Federation’s activities.

• Launching Camelot ReLeaf in 2021, aiming to restore the neighborhood's native tree canopy for future generations.

The club’s themes over the years—such as "Gardening Is in Our Nature", "Let Us Grow!", "Plant America – Grow Our Future", and "A Greener Camelot"—reflect its evolving mission: to nurture not just plants, but people, partnerships, and the planet.

Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the club adapted, held virtual meetings, and even hosted safe garden tours. In 2024-25, the focus on sustainability and native plant advocacy remained strong, with engaging workshops, expert speakers, and touching tributes to beloved members Carmine Carosella and Connie Harden, both remembered for their profound contributions to the club.

After nearly 60 years, the Camelot Garden Club continues to be a flourishing example of what can happen when neighbors dig in, plant deep roots, and grow together.