Local Gardening Groups

Join one of these gardening groups to network with other gardeners and share your particular plant passion!

Liberty Hyde Bailey Garden Club Our members have a wide range of interests - vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs, houseplants, or just about any other garden topic you can think of! We are a down-to-earth, friendly group of gardeners and we welcome new members with open arms. We meet each month, on the second Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m. in the Horton Room at the Floriculture Greenhouse, Tower Road on the Cornell University campus. Visitors are always welcome.

Finger Lakes Native Plant Society Meetings Dedicated to promoting the appreciation of our native flora. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Unitarian Church annex in downtown Ithaca. Go to their website or contact Rosemarie Parker at 257-4853 for more information.

Finger Lakes Native Plant Society Plant Walks meet at different times and locations. Topics vary from wildflowers to lichens to winter twig ID. For more information call Anna Stalter at 379-0924 or Susanne Lorbeer at 257-0835.

The Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society Group members enjoy growing alpine plants, low-growing perennials, dwarf evergreens, bulbs, and woodland plants. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month (excluding January) in the Whetzel Room on the fourth floor of the Plant Sciences Building, Cornell University. For more information or to become a member contact Carol Eichler at 269-7070 or visit their website.

Auraca Herbarists The goal of this Herb Society is to study and discuss the past, the culture, and the growth of herbs. Anyone interested in herbs or gardening is encouraged to call for information or attend a monthly meeting. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at noon for lunch with the program following at 1 pm. Meeting locations vary but are often held at the Cornell Plantations.For more information contact Fran Helmstadter at 272-3914 or email franhelm@yahoo.com

Volunteer Gardening Groups in Tompkins County

Another way to learn more about gardening while socializing with other gardeners is to join a volunteer group that works together to plant and maintain public planting areas.

Ithaca Beautification Brigade Volunteers help to make Ithaca more beautiful while learning useful gardening tips and techniques. The Brigade plants and maintains spring and summer flowers on city traffic medians and the Ithaca Commons. Training is held annually in March and is free and open to anyone who wants to volunteer with the program. 

Last updated July 3, 2024