REGISTRATION IS OPEN – DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MAY 22, 2026 UNLESS SOLD OUT SOONER

The 2026 MGC State Conference will feature a statewide NCG Standard Flower Show on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton
Ann Arbor North
3600 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
Reserve Now Click – Read More

Read More to Register, for the Flower Show Schedule and who to contact to enter, to place an Ad or Sponsorship and to Reserve Your Room

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

In-person Thursday & Friday April 23-24, 2026 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM The Boardman River Nature Center 1450 Cass Rd. Traverse City, Michigan 48685

Read More for the Brochure with details of the course.

Thru the Garden Gate is published quarterly with content from clubs from around the state of Michigan on upcoming events as well as news from our Central region and NGC National Garden Clubs.

List of MGC Flower Shows with link to National Garden Club Schedule

Millions of pounds of fresh food are wasted each year, while at the same time many are experiencing food insecurity and lack access to nutritious produce. This gap between surplus and need presents a powerful opportunity. Gardeners are uniquely positioned to help close this gap.
Gardening With Purpose connects the joy of growing with the simple act of giving—helping provide fresh, healthy food to neighbors in need. Across Michigan, food pantries and community organizations welcome fresh produce. You don’t need a large garden to participate. Whether you grow a few herbs on a patio, tend a backyard vegetable plot, or simply have extra produce to share, you can make a meaningful difference.
How You Can Help
 Grow what you love.
 Find a local pantry, food bank or soup kitchen.
 Drop off your extra produce.
 Bring produce to club meetings and have a volunteer make a pantry delivery.
 Visit local farms and farmers markets to facilitate donations of surplus produce.
 Invite community gardens to join our initiative and be included in tracking produce donations in Michigan for those in need.
 Organize a non-perishable food drive – this will allow all club members to contribute.
 Report your donations!
SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS ADD UP—one garden, one harvest, one donation at a time. In 2024, Michigan Garden Clubs contributed more than 74,000 pounds of fresh produce to the National Garden Clubs’ Plant America – Feed America initiative—an impressive 67% of the total recorded nationwide. In recognition of this outstanding achievement, Michigan Garden Clubs received the prestigious National Garden Clubs Award of Excellence.
Together, we can reduce food waste, support our communities, and ensure that more people have access to fresh, nourishing food.
Each Michigan Garden Club District has a representative who can help your club with making and reporting your donations.
Find your rep on our MGC Gardening with Purpose District Rep List.

NGC Conservation Pledge: “I pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet earth and promise to promote education so we may become caretakers of our air, water, forest, land and wildlife”