The Salem Friendship & Garden Club's 2026–2027 season is in full bloom, with new members, new programs, and a calendar packed with activities, community service, and plenty of opportunities for friendship and fun.
The season got off to an exciting start in September when sixteen local residents responded to the Club's Meet & Greet. With several deciding to join, the Club reached an exciting milestone—growing to more than 50 members in just four short years!
New and returning members can look forward to a calendar filled with activities, educational programs, community service, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends.
Activities Chair Angelica Pierson has lined up four UNH Master Gardener speakers who will present a variety of gardening and horticultural topics during upcoming monthly membership meetings. She has also reserved seats for members at four Palace Theatre performances and continues to organize the Club's popular recurring social activities.
Cocktails & Conversation meets on the second Wednesday evening of each month, while Coffee & Conversation brings members together on the fourth Wednesday morning. These casual gatherings have become a wonderful way for members to get to know one another outside of regular Club meetings.
And no Club year would be complete without some of our favorite traditions! Members can look forward to our Annual Friendsgiving, Holiday Luncheon at Black Water Grill, St. Patrick's Day celebration, and our popular all-you-can-eat Cinco de Mayo Taco Extravaganza. Whether gathering over coffee, enjoying a show, sharing a holiday meal, or celebrating with tacos, friendship and fun are always on the calendar.
Not to be outdone, Community Outreach Chair Diane Koczat and her committee have been busy developing a Children's Education Program designed to teach preschool and elementary-age children about the importance of creating and expanding pollinator gardens that provide food and habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators.
The Community Outreach Committee also ensures the Club maintains an active presence throughout Salem. Members participate in numerous community events, including National Night Out, Trunk-or-Treat, the Salem Holiday Parade, and Salem's Annual Egg Hunt, to name just a few.
This year, the Club is also working to establish a scholarship for students and adults wishing to pursue education in horticulture, conservation, land management, or related fields.
And, of course, beautifying Salem remains an important part of the Club's mission. Members are thrilled that the Club's landscaping project at Michele Memorial Park has received approval from the Salem Town Council. Belko Landscaping is expected to complete the project soon, and the Club looks forward to seeing beautiful flowering magnolia trees welcome springtime visitors to the park.
From an idea shared around a kitchen table to a thriving organization of more than 50 members, the Salem Friendship & Garden Club has certainly taken root. What began as a way for people—many of whom were a little shy about walking into a room of strangers—to meet others and make new friends has blossomed into something very special. Along the way, friendships have flourished, members have given back to their community, and the Club has continued to grow.
If you are looking for a place to fit in, make friends, get involved in the community, and have some fun along the way, the Salem Friendship & Garden Club welcomes you.
Come grow and bloom with us—no gardening experience required!
To learn more or become a member, visitSFGC-NH.org or email FriendshipGarden03079@gmail.com.
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