HISTORY &
AFFILIATION

The house, now the Marietta Educational Garden Center, was built by the Newton family between 1850-1852, on a Cherokee Indian Trail today called Kennesaw Avenue.

The Garden Center is at the base of Kennesaw Mountain, the top of which the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain raged for the month of June, 1864. The southern leader was General Joseph E. Johnston, reported to have headquartered in the house

for a short time.

Mrs. Meyers, who owned the house after the Newton family, named the house “Fair Oaks” because of the two large oak trees flanking the front entrance. The next two owners of the house were Dr. Squires, followed by the Fowlers. The last owners of the home were Clara and Howard Benson, from 1919-1962.

On November 4, 1966, the home and 3.5 acres were deeded to the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. by the Bensons to be used as a Garden Center.

The home went through restoration maintaining the basic structure, completed in 1969, and opened for garden club and community activities. The center has been expanded to meet the demand for civic, educational, and cultural events.

Every effort has been made to preserve the original architectural style of the house.

The Marietta Educational Garden Center is listed in the National Registry of Historical Places and has received many local, state, and national awards. Link to the MEGC website

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9 GARDEN CLUB AFFILIATION

You Belong to the: Marietta Daisies Garden Club

The Marietta Daisies were chartered in 2015 and belong to the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs, Inc., which was organized in 1949 and is included in the Laurel District.

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The Laurel District is one of seven districts serving the Garden Club of Georgia. Each district has a District Director. Yearly district meetings are held in October under the leadership of the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. which was federated on June 8, 1928.

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The Garden Club of Georgia is made up of seven regional districts and is a member of the Deep South Region

established in 1961. It includes the following: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

 

​Eight regions across the United States make up the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

The regions are New England, Central Atlantic, South Atlantic, Deep South, Central, South Central, Rocky Mountain,

and Pacific.

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National Garden Clubs, Inc. was founded in May, 1929

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National Garden Clubs, Inc.

2025-2027 President: Donna Donnelly

Website: https://gardenclub.org/

Theme: PLANT AMERICA for the next 100 years!

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Deep SouthGarden Clubs, Inc.

2025-2027 Director: Denise Thorne

Website: https://www.deepsouthgardenclubs.com/

Theme: Plant the Deep South with Flowers and Trees for the Birds and Bees.

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Garden Club of Georgia, Inc.

2025-2027 President: Diane Hunter

Website: https:// garden cl ubofgeorgia.org/

Theme: Tending the Heart of Georgia: Creating Community through Beautification, Conservation, and Education.

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Laurel District

2025-2027 Director: Merrell Holden

Web page: https://gardenclubofgeorgia.org/laurel-district-page/

Theme: Let's get out there and have fun!

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Marietta Council of Garden Clubs, Inc

President: Kathryn Coffee

Executive Director: Kate Millholland mgardenc@bellsouth.net

505 Kennesaw Ave. Marietta, GA 30064

770-427-3494 mariettagardencenter.com

 

Marietta Council meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month and are open to the public.

Social time begins at 9:30 and the meeting begins at 10 AM.

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CONVENTIONS 2023-2024

LAUREL DISTRICT FALL ANNUAL MEETING  October 22, 2025, Rome, Georgia

DEEP SOUTH REGION CONVENTION  March 16-21, 2026 Caribbean Cruise 

GARDEN CLUB OF GEORGIA, INC.  April 1-3, Peachtree City, Georgia

GA NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INC.  May 4, 5, and 6, 2026St. Louis, Missouri

 

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We give special thanks to our past Daisie Presidents to date:

2015-2016 Cathy Prillaman-Brooks & Beth Ann Reichman

2016-2017 Cathy Prillaman-Brooks

2017-2018 Deanna Slone

2018-2019 Meg Calhoun

2019-2020 Kathryn Coffee

2020-2021 Carol Fey

2021-2022 Lyric Garten

2022-2023 Melissa Snyder

2023-2024 Elizabeth Buford

2024-2025 Martha Lee Sanders