Chelmsford Garden Club Up and Running

The Chelmsford Garden Club had its first meeting of the year Tuesday, and more than 50 members started off the season right.

The club, which was founded in 1922, has been around longer than any other garden club in Chelmsford. Some of the members have been involved for more than 60 years.

The Chelmsford Garden Club is a chapter of the National Garden Clubs Inc., the New England Region Garden Clubs, and the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. The club has a strong membership of 85 women. There are also 11 honorary members, those who have been in the club for more than 20 years, said Alice Dossett, an honorary member herself.

The Chelmsford Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of every month, and this month, the club welcomed guest speaker Sue Kaplan. Kaplan was in charge of all the floral arrangements when the   national conference was   held in Boston years ago.

"She is absolutely spectacular," said Brenda Lovering, a past president.

Kaplan displayed several of her original arrangements while suggesting tips of the trade to the members. Kaplan demonstrated her methods of creating a floral arrangement, and made about five different fall themed decorations.

The Chelmsford Garden Club is involved in many community activities, adding delicate floral touches throughout the community.  The club works each year to plant flowers in the town offices, the quarries, the fire and police station, and many senior homes.

In past years, the garden club worked to beautify Vinal Square in North Chelmsford, the garden at the Garrison House and the Lime Quarries as well. Member Elaine Bamford explained that it was important to make the town beautiful.

They also volunteer at nursing homes and adult daycares, adding floral touches and doing arts and crafts with the residents.

Minnie Collins, publicity manager, said that the Chelmsford Garden Club strives for "civic improvement", and is an "organization that tries to beautify the town."

"Gardening is a marvelous therapy," said Jean Kydd, a past president of the club. She explained that it's great to share gardening tips and ideas with others. The garden club is also a resource to trade plant seeds for a more colorful garden each year.

Virginia Pontefract, a longtime member, said the garden club had a great social aspect.

The club works to raise money for an annual scholarship awarded to a Chelmsford resident and graduating senior. Candidates plan to attend college to study horticulture, agriculture, wildlife biology or another related field.

Last year, the club won a prestigious award for their work in the community.

"The national organization presents the Golden Days program each year," said Lovering "They ask (garden) clubs in the country to plant daffodils that will bloom in the spring to cheer people."

The Chelmsford Chapter worked to plant 1,100 daffodil bulbs at three community nursing homes in town last fall, for a beautiful spring bloom. The club won first prize out of all competing clubs in New England for beautifying the senior centers.

Next Tuesday, the Chelmsford Garden Club will be planting daffodils in the center of Chelmsford, near the bike path. They will meet in the parking lot behind the old town hall in the center, 1 North Road. The club is looking for any volunteers. The more participants, the more bulbs can be planted.

"Bring a shovel, rake, gloves, and a happy attitude," said Lovering

Anyone who wishes to join the Chelmsford Garden Club can attend the daffodil planting next Tuesday, or attend their November 2^nd meeting. The speaker will be Marisa McCoy, presenting holiday floral designs.  The garden club meets at 11:30 at the All Saints' Episcopal Church, on 10 Billerica Road.