Valley Garden Center is nonprofit and self supporting; this allows us to offer more services and amenities for a very competitive price. Board members of Valley Garden Center are leaders from the garden clubs that meet there. The active garden clubs pay a nominal fee per member per year. Offering them this extremely low annual fee helps Valley Garden Center fulfill its founding charter with the City of Phoenix.
Valley Garden Center is required to be a center for demonstrating and teaching the uniquely different methods of gardening for success in the Desert Southwest. Valley Garden Center owns its building on land with a 99-year lease from the city at one dollar annually. The Phoenix Rose Garden is part of Valley Garden Center and is contiguous to Encanto Park. Eleven clubs meet at Valley Garden Center or have an annual garden show or special classes there.
Beekeepers Association of Central Arizona (Baca)
The Beekeepers Association of Central Arizona is a nonprofit club and have been around since 1984. Our goals are to educate and encourage our members and others interested in bees with their beekeeping skills and for an opportunity to meet and to share their knowledge and experience. Some of us are professional beekeepers and some are hobbyists with just a few hives and then there are those with no hives that are just interested in bees. Several members produce honey and various hive products for personal use and as gifts. We meet once a month, except for the months of July and August.
Desert Sun African Violet & Gesneriad Society
The Desert Sun African Violet and Gesneriad Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month at various members’ homes throughout the Valley from September through June. Meetings start at 10:00 a.m.
Judges Council
The Judges Council is a frequent host of meetings, shows, and other events at the Valley Garden Center.
Phoenix Bonsai Society
The Mission of the Phoenix Bonsai Society:
Foster and encourage the enjoyment of the Art of Bonsai.
Assemble and make available information on the culture of Bonsai.
Promote the collection and the exhibition of Bonsai.
Acquaint Bonsai fanciers with each other.
Provide educational opportunities for members and nonmembers.
Phoenix Chrysanthemum Society
The mission of the National Chrysanthemum Society is to:
(1) educate by researching, teaching, and disseminating procedures for the propagation and cultivation of the chrysanthemum; (2) improve the standard of excellence of the chrysanthemum; (3) promote a wider interest in the cultivation of the chrysanthemum; (4) encourage a greater use and display of the beautiful blooms of the many cultivars of the chrysanthemum; and (5) increase the bonds of fellowship among growers of the chrysanthemum.
The Phoenix Chrysanthemum Society meets on the third Sunday of each month at 2:00pm. The meetings are rotated among member's homes. Contact Wayne Wight for the location of the current month's meeting at 602-943-7418.
Phoenix Rose Society
Since 1958, Phoenix Rose Society has been an affiliate of the Pacific Southwest District of the American Rose Society. This group of local rose growers in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area gather for the purpose of sharing knowledge and learning about growing roses. Meetings are held at 7pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Valley Garden Center.
Sun Country Iris Society
Sun County Iris Society provides free iris rhizomes to churches, schools, other community places and non-profit organizations. The public is welcome to our regular meetings, held the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at Valley Garden Center
Washington Garden Club
Washington Garden Club, the oldest garden club in Arizona, was started by a group of women in Phoenix back in 1929. We have 23 members and welcome anyone who is interested in home and community beautification by way of gardening and flower design. We meet at the Valley Garden Center, every second Friday, September through May, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call Orvalita for more information at 602-206-6070.
Valley of the Sun Gardeners
The Valley of the Sun Gardeners, established in 1965, is the oldest general gardening club in Phoenix. Members are men and women of all gardening skill levels. The focus of the club is as much social as it is learning. The Valley of the Sun Gardeners agree that "gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes!" The club enjoys monthly speakers, slide presentations and demonstrations of plant-related subjects. Activities include field trips, garden tours, garden parties, a July ice cream social and a Christmas potluck banquet with live entertainment. A twice-yearly raffle offering plant and garden-related items is held to benefit the Valley of the Sun Gardeners club.