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Three Cheers

If I may say it, three cheers for the Garden Club of Madison! This year, we won a National Garden Club award for our Bees at Bauer initiative, and our hives, Hyacinth and Sunflower, have received visits from many local schoolchildren anxious to see the bees in action. Bauer Park has also been the location where our club has added new fruit trees and is working to create a pollinator border and gardens in the old Farm Project area, which will be another attraction for budding gardeners. In addition, our youth program has held programs on pollinators, planted native plants, and encouraged youngsters to get "dug in."

At the other end of the age spectrum, the Garden Club of Madison has been working with Meals on Wheels to deliver flowers to recipients. October was breast cancer awareness, and pink bouquets (containing flowers grown by members and others donated by Bauer gardeners) were the theme.

Our latest offering was an evergreen spray with a holiday ribbon and message. They were so lovely and fragrant that we were sure they'd bring cheer to any home. We've undertaken a lot of work restoring and renewing various gardens in town, specifically the 9/11 garden, which was particularly important to us. We drew up new plans and made a financial contribution to landscaping the renovated American Legion site, and we have an ongoing commitment to maintain the gardens in front of the Post Office.

Further afield, the Garden Club took beautiful donated hydrangeas and tulip bulbs and planted a garden at a Habitat house in New Haven.

Our club is now over 100 members strong and will be celebrating its centenary in 2024. Gardening and caring for our environment is ever more important for our community and our world.

Philippa Mannino, Co-President

Garden Club of Madison