National Garden Club Objectives, Continuing Club Projects, and Activities
Arbor Day – Arbor Day plantings in memory of members and their family members who have passed away. This committee orders and places a plaque and a tree in memory of the deceased and makes the short presentation.
Awards/Grants – This committee actively reviews all available awards/grants from LGC, Deep South and LGCF and prepares submissions as appropriate. The club was honored to have member Zelda Rose serve as president of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation in 1983. In her memory, the Covington Garden Club continues to sponsor the Louisiana Garden Club Federation's Zelda Rose Award each year, recognizing the most comprehensive activity in an Educational Exhibit presented in an NGC Standard Flower Show. 
Beautification/Love The Boot/Keep Covington Beautiful- CGC works with the City of Covington on any and all of these projects which may include participating in the Louisiana Garden Club Federation’s Keep Louisiana Beautiful - Litter Free Schools and Love Our Waterways Program/ and maintaining and replacing plantings in the troughs on Boston Street. This committee is the liaison with other organizations and helps with any of those tasks.
CGC Scholarship – The CGC awards an annual scholarship to a college student from St. Tammany Parish who is enrolled in accredited university or trade school classes that pertain to the goals of CGC. This committee actively solicits scholarship applicants, reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Board.
Community Outreach- Twice a year (once in December and once in May) the CGC solicits donations from members, couples those donations with a donation from the Club, and submits those donations to a selected charity.
This committee makes charity recommendations to the Board, collects and delivers those donations to the Board-approved charity. Our community outreach this year will again be the Northshore Food Bank (NFB) and the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary. The NFB serves more than 375 individuals and families each week in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. The food bank serves the needs of the most vulnerable in our community by providing food, clothing, and dental care. We plan a large food drive in the Spring. In addition to our members’ contributions, Covington Garden Club’s monetary donation to the Northshore Food Bank is $100 per year. CGC will be collecting donations for the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary located at 813 Florida St, Mandeville, LA 70448. They are a no-kill center that conducts rescues and community outreach and is supported by private donations. 
Design Exhibits – At least three times a year, a member demonstrates the creation of a floral design of a type of design recognized by the NGC. This committee coordinates with the Flower Show Committee in order to highlight designs that will be featured in the annual Flower Show.
Garden of the Month – CGC awards one residential and one commercial garden of the month in each of the following months – September, October, November, March and May. In designated months, this committee tours the area, selects the winning gardens, presents the owners the award and communicates all information to the Publicity Committee for publishing on the CGC Facebook page etc. 
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Major garden projects maintained by club members area The Healing Garden, the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker, and Triangle Park.
The Healing Garden - is located at 100 N. Columbia St, also known as the Columbia Street Landing, near the Bogue Falaya River. A grant from Shell Oil Company helped create the Healing Garden, which has become a special place in the community for concerts, weddings, photography, and quiet reflection. The Gazebo at the street entrance of the Healing Garden is maintained by the City of Covington and lovingly decorated by the Covington Garden Club for the holidays.
The Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker - is located at 19375 LA Hwy 36, the intersections of Highways 21 and 36. The Covington Garden Club sponsored and dedicated this marker in May 2011 and received a Plant America Grant in 2026 to revitalize the marker and its garden. Blue Star Markers honors all men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Created by the National Garden Clubs, this program started in 1945 after World War II. The name comes from the blue star seen on service flags during World War II. Families hung these flags in windows to show a loved one was away at war. The project began as a way to create a living memorials - such as planted trees and highways - instead of stone monuments.
Triangle Park - is located at 419 N. New Hampshire St in downtown Covington, also known as the St. Tammany Trace Covington Trailhead, is the site of weekly outdoor concerts in the spring and fall, art exhibits, and antique shows.
Holiday Decorations – CGC provides, installs and removes holiday decorations (Christmas, 4th of July, etc.) for the Gazebo near the Healing Garden and at the Blue Star Marker. This committee documents those efforts and communicates such to the Publicity Committee.
Plant Exchange – Every year, at the May meeting, CGC hosts a plant exchange where members are encouraged to share and receive “pass along” plants. This committee coordinates the necessary setup and staffs the tables for this annual plant exchange.
Publicity – This committee is responsible for informing the community of the activities of CGC. It maintains and regularly posts on the Club’s Facebook page, provides information to the mayor’s office for inclusion in the newsletter and is responsible for providing information about the Club’s activities to local newspapers and/or magazines. This committee also posts notable activities to the Deeds & Doings section of the LGCF website. St. Tammany Parish Fair – This committee solicits members to participate in the St. Tammany Parish Fair through the entering of horticulture specimens. 
Special Events – This committee helps stage and host any special events planned by the CGC Board, including the annual flower show, semi-annual style show/luncheon, rummage sale and an other such events as directed by the CGC Board.
Tours – This committee develops ideas and organizes tours and day trips of interest to CGC members. Ways & Means – This committee develops ideas for and organizes fund raising activities including the Belk Charity Day Sale and periodic raffles at meetings. Website – This committee maintains and regularly updates the Club’s website and directs any public inquiries to the appropriate committee. 
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