CURRENT OFFICERS
Presidents:
Valerie Howes & Lee Guertin
First Vice Presidents (2021-2022 Programs):
Vicki Harrington & Anita McFadden
Second Vice Presidents (2022-2023 Programs):
Keri Ferland & Diane Hayden
Karen Pinkham, Support/Mentor
Recording Secretary:
Deborah Kingston
Treasurer:
Victoria Mei
Public Relations:
Kirsti Frazier
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Club Overview
The mission of the Holliston Garden Club is to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening and floral design, to aid in the protection and conservation of natural resources, and to promote the beautification of our town. We are members of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts (GCFM) and National Garden Clubs (NGC).
The garden club is an active, vital part of the town of Holliston. Our many committee members bring beauty and gardening knowledge to our community, often working with other community civic groups to achieve our goals. The balance between gardening, floral design, horticulture, and civic activities makes our club attractive to all.
Our program meetings are dedicated to the education and appreciation of horticulture, landscape and floral design, gardening, and environmental issues. The program topics reflect the interests of our club and the larger gardening community. Workshops are offered from time to time to provide hands-on experience.
What We Do in the Community
Education, Conservation, Beautification. The garden club is very active locally, regionally and nationally. Members have won awards in floral design, landscape design, and civic affairs. Each year the club awards scholarships to students and grants to educators to promote horticulture and environmental studies. We also provide civic grants to other Holliston organizations involved in beautification and education. Our members have designed several gardens around Holliston, and have planted, pruned, tended and maintained myriad sites in the town.
What we do is guided by our members. Please feel free to discuss any ideas or to propose a project at any business meeting.
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Current Civic Projects
Beautification
- Holliston Public Library
- Memorial Square
- Traffic Island at Norfolk and Franklin Intersection
- Planter at Central and Fiske Streets
- Holliston Fire Station flag pole and planter
- Horse Trough at Town Hall
- Town Hall Side Garden, including Koshivas Memorial
Community Outreach
- Juniors Programs at the Holliston Public Library
- Holiday Wreaths for the Food Pantry
- Massachusetts Horticulture Society Festival of Trees
- Arbor Day tree planting and events
- Passes for Tower Hill Botanical Garden through the Holliston Public Library
- Holiday decorating at Holliston Public Library
- Wayside Inn decorating
- Holliston tree survey
Floral Design
- Holliston Art in Bloom
- Boston Flower Show
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Awards
National Garden Club Awards
- Certificate of Commendation, Youth Horticulture Education for “Tree Detectives” (2012)
- Certificate of Appreciation to Carol Holly for the Tree Survey book (2011)
- Standard Flower Show Achievement Award to Joan Butler (2010)
New England Regional Awards
- Certificate of Recognition to Carol Holly for the Tree Survey book (2010)
Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Awards
- Barbara May Website Award (2012)
- Mitzi Belitsky Youth Award for “Tree Detectives” (2012)
- Margaret Bell Newsletter Award (2012)
- Charlotte Lane Connor Arbor Day Award for Arbor Day display (2011)
- Presidential Citation to Maureen Marshall for her work on numerous committees (2011)
- Charlotte Lane Connor Arbor Day Award (2014)
- Norma Zettler Award “For the Love of Birds” (2017)
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2021-2022 Committees
Conservation
Promote conservation education for club members, including newsletter articles, program speakers or workshops and field trips. The committee works with the vice president(s) in developing these educational programs.
Children’s Ornament Workshop
Members create ideas for ornaments, supply materials and assist children with making ornaments at the Holliston Public Library.
Flower Show Support
Organize programs and workshops to prepare the membership to participate in flower design and horticultural shows. The committee works with the vice president(s) in developing these educational programs.
Garden Therapy
Conduct workshops and other garden therapy projects for Holliston seniors.
Gift Baskets
Create gift baskets for donation to other local organizations upon request.
Historian
Maintain club’s archival and photographic material.
Holliston Pantry Shelf Wreaths
Organize annual wreath decorating for Holliston Food Pantry clients; includes buying 40 wreaths, sourcing dried material and decorative artificial items; reserve Holliston Senior Center for the event.
Horticulture
Promote horticultural education for club members, including newsletter articles, program speakers or workshops and field trips. The committee works with the vice president(s) in developing these educational programs
Hospitality
Coordinates the yearly commitment worksheets and distributes results to the club. Maintain the club’s hospitality supplies and act as resource for hosts for the monthly program meeting.
Library Beautification
Maintain the Holliston Public Library landscape.
Library Holiday Decorating
Decorate the library for the holidays. Schedule during the week of Thanksgiving to prepare the library for the annual holiday stroll.
Membership
Coordinate applications of prospective members and manage the orientation of new members. Distributes yearbooks, welcome gifts, name badges and aprons.
Mentoring
Educate new members about club procedures for their first year, encourage them to participate in activities, and continue to be a resource while they are members.
My Tree, My Shrub
Adopt one or more of the prominent trees or shrubs the club has planted in town and care for it throughout one year. This includes weeding, pruning, general plant upkeep, watering, and fertilizing.
Native Plant Committee
Promote native plants in our club and community
Newsletter
Gather articles and design, publish and distribute a monthly newsletter.
Penny Pines
Collect pocket change from members at monthly meetings to reach the goal of $68 per certificate in support of NGC and USDA national reforestation projects.
Photographer
Take photos of club events and make them available to club members and the club historian.
Publicity
Send information to all media outlets and be in charge of all publicity for the club.
Scholarship and Grants
Seek out appropriate candidates and award club scholarship to qualified Holliston students pursuing advanced degrees in garden-related fields. Award educational grants on a yearly basis as funds are available.
Seed Library
Stock and maintain the seed lending library.
Tree Spotters
Oversee Arbor Day and community education on trees. Promote the Arbor Day Foundation mission, which is to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.
Ways and Means
Includes Holiday Open Meeting/Holiday Bazaar and the Plant Sale, the committees that are responsible for all fundraising for the club. See Policies & Guidelines on website for additional details.
Wayside Inn Decorating
Decorate two rooms at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury for Christmas. May also include making new ornaments for both the club and for the Inn.
Website
Develop and maintain the club website.
Yearbook
Obtain correct, up-to-date information; edit and print yearbook to be available and online by the September meeting.
HOLLISTON GARDEN CLUB 