By Christine Galeone, Contributing Writer
Northborough – Delighting our senses, gardens are truly amazing. The sight of delicate purple petunias, vibrant pink geraniums and bold yellow marigolds can bring a smile to the weariest of souls. And in the summer, what aroma can rival that of freshly-picked herbs? For almost 90 years, the Northborough Garden Club has been brightening residents’ lives and the town in many beautiful ways.
Founded May 15, 1925, the original members of the club would gather in each other’s homes. Now, with more than 40 active members and a different program featuring horticultural/design experts almost every month, the group normally holds its meetings in the Northborough Senior Center. The club’s goal is to “promote, encourage and foster an active interest in gardening, horticulture, beautification of the home and community, local civic projects and conservation.”
Amy Graham, who serves as co-president of the club, finds that working with members to achieve that goal is what she enjoys most about being one of the group leaders.
“I just love the whole atmosphere. The people are wonderful,” she said. “What we do is wonderful and fun. And it keeps us involved in the community, so I love it.”
Graham said that she especially likes doing so by working on the “town beautification through the many plantings that we have around town as well as garden therapy, where we provide two arrangements each month – one to be displayed at the senior center and the other at the library.”
She believes another one of the club’s greatest accomplishments is the encouragement it provides to students.
“We also offer scholarships to Northborough residents graduating from high school, if they are pursuing studies in the environment or horticulture,” Graham noted.
But the scholarships and the serene floral displays the club creates for places such as the town fire station, the town police station and the St. Rose of Lima Memorial Garden aren’t the only fruits of its labors. Many members appreciate the variety of events and the social aspect of the group. Betty Marston, a Northborough resident who joined the garden club around 2012, has had an interest in gardening for years. However, while she counts the holiday events, the hands-on floral design workshops and the excursions to places such as Tower Hill Botanic Garden as some of her favorite group endeavors, she says she enjoys the people most of all.
“I just like going. I really do,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of nice friends there.”
Francesca “Cessy” Bombara, the other co-president, and Graham hope to see more friendly faces in the coming years.
“We’d like to get ourselves out there a little bit now – the garden club – and, hopefully, get some new members and younger people, so that we can continue all of this stuff that we do for the community,” Graham said.
As for the more immediate future, both Bombara and Graham are looking forward to next year.
“Our 90th anniversary is coming up, during the same year Northborough celebrates its 250th anniversary, so we hope to have a special celebration at that time,” Graham said.
For more information, visit www.northboroughgardenclub.com.
