GCSA Circles

Welcome to the Circles of the St. Augustine Garden Club!

By 1955, the Circles functioned as individual clubs, each federated with the Florida Federation. This led to a brief separation, with no joint meetings for two years. In 1957, the Circles reunited under the leadership of Mrs. Chester V. Loach (Hibiscus Circle), forming the Presidents’ Council, Garden Clubs of St. Augustine. At that time, there were nine Circles:

Amaryllis, Azalea, Camellia, Carissa, Cherokee, Gaillardia, Hibiscus, Iris, and Las Adelfas.

Poinsettia joined later in 1957, followed by:

• • Dogwood (1962) – serving northwest St. Augustine
  • Woodland (1962) – Anastasia Island
  • Dianthus (1972) – second Circle to meet at night
  • St. Augustine Shores (1978), later renamed Shores Geranium (2006)
  • Shamrock (1986) – serving the St. Augustine South community
  • Sunflower (2016) – the newest Circle

Over the decades, some Circles disbanded, including:

• • Iris (disbanded 1983)
  • Cherokee (left 1994, later disbanded)
  • Azalea (1952–2002)
  • Carissa (1952–1967)
  • Hastings–Elkton (1957–1966)
  • Wisteria (1964–1968)
  • Magnolia, Men’s Garden Club, Staghorn (2001–2003)
  • Dogwood (disbanded 2015)
  • Poinsettia (disbanded 2025)

In 1996, the Garden Club restructured again, and the existing clubs formally rejoined as Circles of the Garden Club of St. Augustine to align with statewide organization. At that time, 11 Circles remained:

Amaryllis, Azalea, Camellia, Dianthus, Dogwood, Gaillardia, Hibiscus, Las Adelfas, Poinsettia, Shamrock, and Shores Geranium.

Notably, in 2012, the Camellia Circle reorganized after some members chose to leave. The remaining members reestablished the Circle and installed new officers.

In 2013, the Club launched Circle Grant Projects, encouraging Circles to engage in community outreach. These initiatives brought national recognition—Hibiscus Circle received a National Garden Club Award for their efforts.

Though the geographic boundaries of Circles have faded, each Circle continues to thrive, drawing members from throughout St. Johns County. Today, they remain at the heart of the Garden Club’s structure, traditions, and community service.

We encourage you to explore the different Circles and discover the perfect fit for you! Visit a meeting – or even several – to experience the unique atmosphere of each group. Whichever Circle you choose, you’ll be greeted with warmth and camaraderie.

More than just gardening, you’ll build lasting friendships, exchange creative ideas, and flourish alongside others who are passionate about making a difference in our community.

Circle Charitable Donation Program

Each year, the GCSA Board provides a set amount for Circles to give back to the St. Augustine community. Circles select one or more local nonprofits to receive a donation in their honor and present it at their hosting Council meeting. Together, we make a meaningful impact in our community! 

Camellia Circle

Organized in 1947 as the Camellia Circle of the Garden Club of St. Augustine, Inc.

The Camellia is a beautiful, waxy flower, borne on a medium-sized bush with shiny, dark green leaves. It blooms from late Fall to early Spring. The common Camellia is also known as “Japonica”. Charter members of Camellia Circle were Mary Elizabeth Bergmann, Caroline Craig, Alice Jackson, Annie Lou Kastel, Norma Poli, Marian Rogero and Gina Spiller.

PROJECT: Environmental Stewardship
MEETING TIME: Fourth Wednesday – 9:30 AM

Chosen charity for 2025-2026: Matanzas River Keeper

Gaillardia Circle

Organized in 1950 as the Gaillardia Circle of the Garden Club of St. Augustine, Inc.

Gaillardia, native of the American prairie, is a member of the composite
family and is listed as a perennial, annual, and wildflower. The flowers are a
mixture of red and yellow or a solid of either color. Gaillardia thrives in
sandy soil, with little or no cultivation, making it excellent for beach areas.

PROJECT: Garden Therapy, Beach Conservation
MEETING TIME: Third Tuesday – 1:00 PM

Chosen charity for 2025-2026:  Ayla’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue & Homeless Coalition Food Bank

Geranium Circle

Organized in 1978 as the St. Augustine Shores Garden Club

The name was changed to the Geranium Circle in 2006. The Geranium plant was first developed in England, Germany, and France. Continuous cultivation and crossing have led to many extremely decorative varieties having single or double flowers ranging in color from purple through red to white.

PROJECT: Community Beautification and Landscape Design
MEETING TIME: Third Friday – 12:00 PM

Chosen charity for 2025-2026:  Pie in the Sky

Hibiscus Circle

Organized in 1939 as the Hibiscus Circle of the Garden Club of St. Augustine, Inc.

The hibiscus is a tall shrub of upright growth and rounded form. It is valued for its late flowering season and colorful flowers which range from white to pink, yellow, red, and bluish lavender. The Hibiscus plant thrives best in well-drained soil.

PROJECT: SJC Food Pantry, Blue Star Marker Beautification, COA support
MEETING TIME: Second Thursday – 1:00 PM Social, 1:30 PM Business Meeting

Chosen charity for 2025-2026: COA Nutritional Services https://coasjc.org/meals-on-wheels/

Las Adelfas Circle

Organized in 1939 as the Las Adelfas Circle

Las Adelfas is Spanish for Oleander, an ornamental shrub, native to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. It is hardy in Florida. The foliage is glossy, green leaves; the flowers are single or double, fragrant, and white, red, yellow, or pink.

PROJECTS: Environmental Education – Civic and Residential Beautification –
Youth and Community Projects
MEETING TIME: Third Tuesday – 9:30 AM Social, 10:00 AM Meeting

Chosen charity for 2025-2026: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Science, University of Florida https://www.whitney.ufl.edu/

Shamrock Circle

Organized in 1986 as the Shamrock Circle

The Shamrock is a low-growing clover-like plant with three-lobed leaves, used as the national emblem of Ireland. For the Shamrock Circle, the three leaves of the Shamrock represent: Commitment to Nature and Protecting our Environment, Service to the Community in which we live, and Unity through the Friendships made within our Circle and the Garden Club.

PROJECTS: Annual floral arranging project with Council on Aging, Ongoing Wildflower Clinic project to clean up and beautify the landscape, and donation of needed supplies, Environmental education, and Youth community projects.
MEETING TIME: Third Thursday – 1:30 PM

Chosen charity for 2025-2026:  St. Augustine Wild Reserve

Sunflower Circle

Organized in 2016 as the Sunflower Circle

An annual plant, Sunflowers have big, daisy-like flower faces of bright yellow petals (and occasionally red) and brown centers that ripen into heavy heads filled with seeds. While the vibrant, strong Sunflower is recognized worldwide for its beauty, it is also an important source of food. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the few crop species that originated in North America.

PROJECT: Community Gardening
MEETING TIME:
Third Thursday – 9:30 AM Refreshments, 10 AM Meeting

Chosen charity for 2025-2026: St. Johns Botanical Garden

Woodland Circle

Organized in July 1962 as the Woodland Garden Club

A Woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants, including grasses.

PROJECT: Garden & Craft Programs at Assisted Living Facilities
MEETING TIME: Third Wednesday – 1:00 PM

Chosen charity for 2025-2026: St Johns Botanical Garden

Garden Club of St. Augustine Circles 

The Circles of the Garden Club of St. Augustine hold a fascinating place in the club’s nearly century-long history, reflecting the vibrant community spirit that has characterized local gardening enthusiasts since the club’s inception. Established in 1926, the club was among Florida’s pioneers in the garden club movement.

To accommodate the expanding number of clubs, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs introduced an innovative organizational structure in the late 1920s, dividing these clubs into smaller groups known as Circles. This made Florida unique, as it was the only state to adopt such a system. St. Augustine embraced this approach with the formation of its first Circles, Iris and Cherokee.

The Circles flourished as small, intimate communities within the larger club, each with its distinct flavor and focus, and they soon became an integral part of the club’s activities. In 1936-1937, under the guidance of Mrs. H.N. Rodenbaugh as the First District Director from St. Augustine, the Circles continued to thrive, even though she did not serve as president of the club.

The resilience of the Circles is exemplified by Hibiscus and Las Adelfas, established in 1939, which remain active to this day as some of the oldest continuous Circles. Post-World War II, the Camellia Circle emerged in 1947, inspired by young mothers who balanced their love for gardening with raising children, often bringing along their babies to meetings. This sense of community extended further with the creation of the Amaryllis Circle in 1949, formed by members from the northeast section of the city on San Marco Avenue. Just a year later, the women of Vilano Beach came together to establish the Gaillardia Circle.

These Circles have played a crucial role in fostering relationships, encouraging community involvement, and nurturing an enduring passion for gardening in St. Augustine over the decades. Each Circle not only offers a shared space for members to connect but also contributes to the overall growth and success of the Garden Club of St. Augustine.