The Garden Club of Old Greenwich held its annual meeting and awards ceremony at the Riverside Yacht Club on Friday June 9. The event featured a horticulture competition, annual meeting, and an elegant tea and award presentation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for members to celebrate all the accomplishments of the Garden Club this year including the decorating and maintenance of the gardens in Old Greenwich Village, the Gateway Garden and the Butterfly Garden at Greenwich Point, beautification of the Old Greenwich Train Station, decorating the village for First Light and the holiday season, community outreach programs at Hill House and Pathways, design and horticulture workshops and lectures, a garden project at the Old Greenwich Elementary school with the Girl Scouts, planting trees for Arbor day and a joint sponsored lecture series with the Perrot Library.
The club had a very busy year with some new activities including a spectacular 10 foot tall “Floral Burst” display at the Art on Sound Beach event. In May, the club held a very successful plant sale, with proceeds from the sale going towards community projects. The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut honored the Old Greenwich Garden club with 12 awards at its 93rd annual awards ceremony.
Next year, the club will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Many special educational and fun events will be planned to celebrate 100 years of dedication and service to the community.
Congratulations to all the award winners for their hard work, great skills and dedication to gardening, the environment and to the beautification of our town.
Susan Wynne. The Carter Trophy for the greatest number of points in the horticulture competition.
Helen DeLago. The Dogwood Award for the second highest number of points in horticulture competition for the year.
Jan Linskey. The Barbara Bainbridge Trophy for outstanding work in horticulture.
Betsy Kreuter. The Jane Sargent Trophy for her garden related skills in perpetuating the aims and purpose for which the Garden Club was founded.
Linda Grunow. The Harriet Benner Volunteer Award for outstanding volunteer service to the Garden Club and other outside volunteer organizations.
Julia Gray. The Robert Soule Kieffer Memorial Trophy for members with not more than three years standing for a significant contribution to the Garden Club.
Kelly Forsberg. The Lois M McLeod Award donated by Ross and Sheila McLeod, may be awarded annually to a Club member for outstanding accomplishment in the areas of flower design and/or club hospitality.
Carol Ducret. The Nicole Standish Award for outstanding service to the Garden Club.
Char Barnes. The Council of Presidents aware for dedication in furthering the purposes of the Garden Club.
Wendy MacDonald and Wendy Yu. The Louise Weber Bowl for introducing a new project that benefits the Garden Club’s programs, management or role in the community.
Monica Meskers. The Yumi Smith 1980 / Bunny Tufts Award in honor of Yumi Smith and Bunny Tufts, both known for their creative accomplishments, may be presented annually to the member who best exemplifies the characteristics of the artist – creativity, imagination, and sensitivity.