Boca Raton Garden Club History

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The Boca Raton Garden Club was founded in June of 1953. Our charter states as its purpose "To stimulate knowledge of gardens among amateurs, to encourage civic beautification, to help maintain Florida's natural beauty and to further the Garden Club programs as outlined by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs." We are also part of the Deep South Region, and in the course of growth we joined the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

BRGC was federated in June 1954 and incorporated in June 1964.  The garden center was dedicated on October 21, 1964.

We can thank founder Mrs. Florence Machle, a Boca Raton resident whose foresight and leadership brought about the creation of the club. Mrs. Machle said, "When I moved to Boca and learned from one or two women that they favored my suggestion of forming a garden club, I consulted with our then District 6 Director and learned that 15 interested gardeners were needed to organize such a club. Being new in town I didn't know that many women, so I called Myrtle Fleming to learn if she/he could find 15 interested women." The next day she/he called and asked if we would be permitted to have more than fifteen and I assured her the more the merrier. We were all amazed when 34 women appeared at our first meeting on June 2, 1953 and organized the BRGC. The club soon became one of the fastest growing clubs in Florida and at the end of the first year had grown to 119 members.