About Us
The Bar Harbor Garden Club was organized in 1934 and federated in 1940. We are located on Mount Desert Island on the coast of Maine. The Bar Harbor Garden Club is one of the seven garden clubs comprising the St. Croix District of the Garden Club Federation of Maine.
As of May 2026, our year-round garden club had grown to nearly one hundred twenty members. We have no residency restrictions and have many members who are seasonal residents. We engage in numerous programs and gardening related activities throughout the year. At our monthly meetings which are held from September through May we offer interesting educational programs on a variety of topics, and we occasionally offer field trips in the summer. Every other July, we host a full day Garden Tour of select gardens located on the island. The next tour will be held in July 2027. The communities we serve include the island towns of Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, and Tremont, along with the nearby town of Trenton.
Club Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote the love of horticulture, to protect and preserve our natural resources, to provide educational opportunities, to contribute responsibly to civic and environmental needs, and to enjoy the fellowship of our members.
Member Conservation Pledge
I pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of the plant earth and promise to promote education so we may be caretakers of our air, water, forests, land and wildlife.
Club Officers
Officers are nominated and elected biannually. The officers serving through May 2027 are:
- Pam Bowie, President
- Linda Uberseder, Vice President
- Donna Chalifour, Secretary
- Deb Smith, Treasurer
Club Committees
Members volunteer for committees that are aligned with their interests in a variety of subject areas, including:
Awards
Birds
Books
Cheer
Civic Development
Communications
Finance
History
Horticulture
Membership
Nominating
Photographer/Digital Archivist
Program/Yearbook
Publicity
Scholarship
Social Media
Ways and Means
Website
Wild Gardens of Acadia
Youth Activities
Club Funds
The Club is responsible for maintaining the following funds and scholarships:
TRUSTEE ─ Inge Weber Memorial Scholarship
TRUSTEE ─ Nell Goff Memorial Scholarship, St. Croix District
TRUSTEE ─ Peter H. Dolliver Legacy Scholarship
TRUST ─ Petite Plaisance (Marguerite Yourcenar)
TRUST ─ Bar Harbor Horticultural Society
National and Regional Organizations
The Club is a member of the following national and regional organizations:
National Garden Clubs, Inc. — www.gardenclub.org
New England Garden Clubs, Inc— www.newenglandgc.org
Garden Club Federation of Maine — www.mainegardenclubs.org
St. Croix District Garden Clubs — www.mainegardenclubs.org/garden-club-directory/st-croix-district/
We are Located on the Homeland of the Wabanaki
The projects and programs that the Club undertakes are located within the homeland and territory of the Wabanaki, the People of the Dawnland, which includes the federally recognized tribes of the Micmac, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot people. We respectfully acknowledge their sacred connection to these lands and waters.
Want to Join our Club?
There are many benefits to joining the Club, we strive to be an active organization contributing to and supporting the local community. We offer education, resources, and networking to encourage gardening and community responsibility. Membership provides opportunities beyond gardening; it connects you with others who share your interests and seek to learn about the natural world around us.
To join, please complete the membership form. We accept online electronic payments, or payment by check. Checks and the form should be mailed to: Deb Smith, Treasurer, at the address below.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like more information about the Club, please do not hesitate to reach out either electronically at [email protected] or Contact Us or send us a note at:
Bar Harbor Garden Club
P.O. Box 652
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Nonprofit Status
On July 17, 1965, the Bar Harbor Garden Club became a registered independent 501(c)3 nonprofit. Independent nonprofit status allows the Bar Harbor Garden Club to better fulfill its educational, environmental and civic goals to advance horticulture and conservation.