Garden Club News
We are happy to announce the new date for the Monarch Butterfly Festival!
We will be holding the Festival on Saturday, April 5, 2025. To add to the good news, this event will be held in conjunction with the Dade City Garden Club's NGC Small Standard Flower Show, "Blooms & Bees--The Buzz in the Garden," enlarging even more the potential audience for our special event. All other details including the location, time and the Jolley Trolley remain the same.
The Dade City Garden Club and The City of Dade City are proud to present the Monarch Butterfly Festival in our newly renovated Touchton Park, with festivities flowing out into the gardens of the Dade City Garden Club! We will have an extraordinary Plant Sale featuring Native Plants often so hard to find, a Kids’ Zone, entertainment, educational exhibits and an eclectic market that will satisfy any shopper. Check out the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS so you don't miss anything! We have alot going on.
We are no longer accepting applications but have a wait list. To be added to the waitlist, please email a few photos of your products and display to
Saturday Morning Coffee and Design
Member Only Exclusive FREE Program
Email Diane Scott at
Ever wonder--What the difference is between a flower arrangement from a florist shop and a Floral Design created by a designer. . .How can one actually create a stunning design that will bring elegance to your home. . . Can I do this by using grocery store flowers?
Well, here is your chance to get your questions answered!
We held a very well-received program in June and Diane is gracious enough to offer the program again for those who missed the June lesson.
DCGC is offering a FREE basic instructional design experience as a member-only program! This is not a make-and-take but an opportunity to get together with your DCGC friends to learn the basic rules of design and how to use them. Be assured, this will be entertaining and instructional at the same time.
2024 Arbor Day and Memorial Tree Celebration
The Dade City Garden Club will host its annual Arbor Day and Memorial Tree Celebration on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Garden Club, 13630 5th Street, Dade City, FL, at 10 am. This year marks the 29th year that the City of Dade City and the Dade City Garden Club have jointly sponsored the Arbor Day/Memorial Tree program.
Memorial trees purchased throughout the year will be recognized. Trees are dedicated in memory or in honor of a person or special occasion and are living and lasting tributes that add beauty for the city and quality to the environment. Speaking at the event will be Dr. Whitney Elmore, UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Director and Foresters Jessica Clark and Arthur Clothier from the Florida Forest Service.
The Dade City Garden Club again sponsored an art contest for local students, with this year’s contest
being held at the Lacoochee Elementary School. The students learned about the history of Arbor Day and were asked to design a cover fitting for the Arbor Day Program to be printed for the event. The overall winner, Kellan Lopez, won a $50 cash award and will have his art featured on the program.
Ribbon Cutting Opens the Door for the Monarch Butterfly Festival
Bad weather on the forecast has prompted the reschedule of the Touchton Park Ribbon Cutting!
The City of Dade City will host a Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Touchton Park on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 11am. Previously known to Dade City residents as Polly Touchton Park and located across 5th Street from the Dade City Garden Club, Touchton Park has undergone a dramatic renovation as a gift from one of “Miss Polly” Touchton’s grandsons, who has also honored his grandfather and his parents with the renovation. The public is invited to attend.
J. Thomas Touchton, who lives in Tampa but grew up in Dade City, credits the examples set by his parents and grandparents for his own community involvements during his lifetime and has expressed great appreciation to the community of Dade City for its positive influence in his life. This prompted him to create a vision for renovating the Ruth Embry “Miss Polly” Touchton Park—both to honor his family and to offer a “thank you” to the people of Dade City. Consequently, he has worked with The City of Dade City for over two years to make this vision a reality.
The Dade City Garden Club will present a program on the Ruby Throated Hummingbird at its March general membership meeting on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 9:30 am at the garden club. The presenter will be Christine Rowland, President of Pasco Audubon Society. Attendees will learn about this tiny bird’s amazing migratory journey and how to attract this flying jewel to your yard.
Members will also conduct their annual election of officers and consider nominations for the garden club’s 2024 annual historic ornament at the March meeting. The ornament, which honors a local landmark or organization, will be for sale starting in September and will be the 31st ornament issued in this exclusive Dade City collection.
Let nature, fine wine and craft beers ignite your senses at the UNCORKED GARDEN PARTY!
Tickets available by calling 813-766-4849 or at Eventbrite at an additional charge.
The Dade City Garden Club invites you to the UNCORKED GARDEN PARTY, a delightful wine and beer tasting experience to be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 2 pm to 5 pm. Guests will be offered a unique opportunity to sample a variety of wines and craft beer, nibble deliciously paired appetizers, and enjoy festive music all while immersed in the lush surroundings of the enchanting gardens.
Inside the Dade City Garden Clubhouse will be a display of original artwork by local artist Gabriela Noanea. Floral designs created by garden club members will complement each piece of art creating a delightfully dramatic display. Visitors to the Clubhouse will also be able to learn about pairing food with wine and beer from two knowledgeable speakers during the afternoon.
Make and Take FUN WITH FLOWERS for Valentine’s Day
SOLD OUT
To be put on the waiting list, email Becky Maxwell at
Thursday, February 8, 2024; 6 pm to 7:30 pm
Dade City Garden Club
$15 per person for members
$20 per person for non-members and guests
Your Valentine’s Day table will never be the same!
Gather up some friends and come on out to the Dade City Garden Club for our next Make & Take program. Our instructor is Diane Scott who will teach you fun, easy techniques to turn a simple flower arrangement into a unique, artistic design to wow your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day! Diane serves as Hibiscus Circle president, is a past President of the garden club and comes with great experience in creating unique designs. Anyone who has attended one of her programs knows attendees are in for a treat!
Using simple grocery store flowers along with greenery and sticks or other natural elements from your yard, you will learn how to create a composition that is an eye-catching, balanced work of art. You will take home not only your exquisite centerpiece, but new knowledge to use again and again at home or to create a unique gift.