About Us

Cottage Gardeners of Marblehead & Swampscott was organized in 1940 by a group of friends who shared an interest in gardening.  The club was federated in 1956.  There are now approximately 65 members.  The club is affiliated with the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts National Council of State Garden Clubs, Northeastern District.  The object of the club is to foster knowledge with regard to home gardening, decorative arrangements, and caring for our environment.  We also encourage members to participate in the maintenance of two vibrant gardens within the town of Marblehead.  Meetings traditionally take place the second Tuesday of the month from September through June.  Each meeting has a program presented by a qualified specialist in gardening and/or conservation.  We try to offer at least one field trip a year.

The major community projects for our club are maintenance of the Hooper Garden on the grounds of the Marblehead Arts Association (8 Hooper Street) and the gardens at the Devereux Beach.  Each member is expected to do maintenance at these gardens during the summer and early fall months.  We host a plant sale in May of each year where members contribute perennials from their gardens to be sold.  Members can also donate purchased plants, garden supplies, gardening books, etc. to the sale.  All members are encouraged to work a shift at the plant sale.

Other activities include holiday decorating at the Hooper Mansion (along with Marblehead's other four garden clubs), donating food supplies to Marblehead Food Pantry at our December meeting, and working with the Edith Dodge Fund to prepare cookies for distribution during the holidays.  The club also plants daffodils at Crocker Park in October for spring blooming.