Our Community
The Garden Club maintains an active presence in the community through a variety of initiatives. The club oversees the award-winning Ball Ground Botanical Garden, organizes the Annual Plant Sale and Festival, and has dedicated both Gold and Blue Star Memorial Markers within the garden. Additional activities include hosting Christmas in the Garden, annual A Hometown Tree Lighting event and preparing a float for the annual Toys for Tots Christmas Parade, participating in the Annual Pollinator Census, awarding 4-H Scholarships, celebrating Fall with a Trunk and Treat event, and collaborating with the STEM Academy, Senior Center, local public library and Dominic's Food Mission.
Ball Ground Botanical Garden
In June 2015, the Garden Club, in collaboration with the City of Ball Ground, officially opened the Botanical Garden to the public. Situated at 215 Valley St. in Ball Ground, the garden is accessible year-round and offers free admission for all visitors. In 2025, the Botanical Garden received recognition from Cherokee County residents as Best Park, Best Family Amusement, and Best Event Venue.
Annual Plant Sale and Festival
Find plants, including native and heirloom varieties, cultivated by club members and available for purchase at the festival. More than 40 local vendors will be present, offering arts and crafts, a range of foods, snacks, beverages, desserts, children's activities, and additional items. The Garden Club Raffle will also be held, providing opportunities to win prizes and plants. The funds raised from this event helps us maintain the botanical garden, provide scholarships and other community activities.
Blue Star - Gold Star Memorial Markers
On September 28th, 2024, The Garden Club and Community held a heartfelt dedication ceremony to unveil the Blue Star and Gold Star Families Memorial Markers in the Botanical Garden; The Blue Star Memorial Marker recognizes active and former military service members whereas The Gold Star Families Memorial Marker pays tribute to those who have lost their lives in service to the country.
Bluebird Monitoring Project
We invite you to participate in a valuable conservation initiative with the Ball Ground Garden Club. Become a Bluebird Nest Box Monitor and assist in efforts to preserve local bluebird populations. Contact us to join this opportunity to monitor nest boxes along trails in Ball Ground parks and other Cherokee County parks. Volunteers will receive training, contribute data to an international bird research database, and have the chance to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. Your involvement will help support bluebird conservation and expand your understanding of these remarkable birds.
STEM
The Ball Ground Garden Club collaborates with the Ball Ground STEM Academy to assist with elementary class projects and school activities. Garden Club members have planted gardens at the school, set up bluebird houses, delivered classroom lessons related to gardening and pollinators, guided field trip tours of the botanical garden, and volunteered for various school events.
Library Sessions
A committee works with the Ball Ground Branch of the Sequoyah Regional Library each June to run Summer Youth Program activities, teaching kids about pollinators, trees, birds, or home gardening. Materials are usually provided by members and librarians, though sometimes the club budget covers take-home items.
We also host a mid-winter workshop during school break. Members collaborate to design engaging, age-appropriate sessions with quality information for young children.
Senior Center Projects
The Ball Ground Garden Club actively participates at the local Senior Center several times each year, supporting residents and leading educational gardening programs. The club installs fresh flowers in large entrance planters and cultivates a standing garden bed with vegetables, providing seniors with opportunities to tend to and enjoy these gardens throughout their time at the center.
4-H Scholarships
The garden club provides multiple $500.00 scholarships to the 4-H summer camp program to deserving recipients chosen by 4-H officiants. The summer camp program gives children 9 and up an opportunity to travel to Georgia’s unique 4-H centers. Each camp offers adventure, friendship and fun and seeks to develop the child’s Head, Heart and Health to make her or him a better person.
Hometown Tree Lighting
You are cordially invited to an evening celebrating our community, featuring caroling, complimentary hot cocoa and cookies, and the ceremonial lighting of the hometown tree, as well as the annual measurement of Bruce Spruce, which stood at 7 feet last year. Please join friends and family in welcoming the holiday season in a spirit of unity and goodwill. We also encourage guests to take time to enjoy a walk through the fully decorated botanical garden. This year the event will take place on November 29th at 6PM.
Halloween in the Garden
The Ball Ground Garden Club hosts an annual engaging afternoon event in the Ball Ground Botanical Garden where community members gather for trunk-or-treat activities, interactive games, and a selection of delicious treats. Numerous props are arranged to provide opportunities for family photographs. In 2025, the event will be held on October 25th from 1 PM to 4 PM. Please refer to our homepage event list for updates regarding the 2026 schedule.
