By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Doing something you love and sharing it with others is how it all began in 1959 when the Colonial Garden Club was formed. Today, 56 years later, the very positive effect the club has had on the community continues to grow steadily in activities, programs and membership.
“We joined the Massachusetts Federation of Garden Clubs in 1996,” said President Valerie Cowan. “We plant and keep up several gardens around the city including Women’s Veterans’ Park on Route 85, the Memorial Garden in Ghiloni Park, the circle garden behind City Hall and the gardens announcing you are entering Marlborough. We also give scholarships each year to a graduating senior from Marlborough High and Assabet Valley [Regional Technical High School] planning to enter any field in natural sciences.”
Most local and area residents became acquainted with the local club through their two major fundraisers – the Pear Tree Boutique held the first Saturday in December where they sell fresh evergreen arrangements and holiday crafts for the holidays, and the Plant Sale planned for the second Saturday in May. At the May event, members “pot up” excellent specimens from their gardens and make them ready for sale, along with summer crafts.
In September the club featured a guest speaker, Jean Anderson of Garden Sense in Wakefield, who spoke on “Closing the Gardens in the Fall.” In October, members and guests were educated on “Pruning Do’s and Don’ts 101” with the help of guest speaker Gretel Anspach.
In September, Colonial Garden Club member Nancy Alley supplied buckets of dahlias and hydrangeas for seniors at the Senior Center. She and Holly Evangelous showed them how to arrange the flowers attractively, much to their delight.
The club meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Senior Center and hosts speakers about
gardening, environmental and nature topics. The meetings are open to the public. For additional information, visit gefm.org/colonialgardenclubofmarlborough or send an email to [email protected].
