Westport Garden Club celebrates 100 years of gardening beauty | Westport Journal

By Samantha Russell

WESTPORT – The Westport Garden Club celebrated its 100th anniversary with the beauty of horticulture with the centennial exhibit “Westport’s Town Treasures” Saturday at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.

Club members showcased their creations and attendees appreciated the arrangement of the various floral designs and styles.

The event had many arrangements and pictures in many flower groups with special instructions for the participants to meet.

On one side of the Hoskins Hall church visitors can admire traditional pieces, and unusual displays on the other.

First prize winner for traditional design was Cheryl Cappiali, Milford Garden Club member and event judge (who refrained from judging entries).

Peggy Townsend came up with a plan using artichokes that responded quickly: Make an artichoke with vegetables. He combined the beautiful artichokes with the Croatian pink flower in a long arrangement of wood, flowers and leaves.

Next to Townsend’s piece was a Lydia Menendez design showing a bright orange flower and additional plates placed on a wooden tray. Menendez is an art lover and has been a member of the Westport Garden Club since the 1970s, she said. Her background in the arts influences her designs when arranging flowers, she said. He found all the things in his piece around his house in Fairfield.

Kara McKenna-Wong, co-chair and eight-year club member, used recycled materials in her piece. It contained laundry detergent and a packet of Gatorade to match the white flowers. He was inspired by the 3-D images on display at the Westport Library, he said.

Karin Pyskaty, president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, displayed an abundance of purple leaves and flowers from her garden. The purpose of the flower show is to share the beauty of horticulture with people, he said.

Several environmental health organizations were also on hand to promote their work. An art exhibition was also displayed in the main square.

In honor of the show’s theme of “Westport Town Treasures,” Kelle Ruden, former club president, created a floral piece that used a book about Westport and other information that won first prize in that category.

Many from Westport and out-of-towners attended for their love of art, photography and horticulture.

Photographer and Federated Garden Club member Peggy Boissoneau attended with her sister – and brought her a camera. When his travels brought him closer to the area, he decided to attend the show in Westport, Boissoneau said.

Ellie Bowman and Betsy Kreuter, both members of the Garden Club of Old Greenwich, visited the show in support of their fellow Fairfield County garden club. Their club held a garden show on September 25, and members of the Westport Garden Club attended. So, it only made sense for Bowman and Kreuter to return the favor, he said.

The Westport Garden Club’s mission is to promote interest and knowledge of horticulture, horticulture and flowers among local residents, according to the club’s website, and to promote environmental protection.

“In partnership with the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., and the National Garden Clubs, Inc., we contribute to the beautification and sustainability of Westport through the maintenance of many public gardens, and special projects, and by providing support to public organizations that share. the most important principles of education, conservation, protection, and beautification.”

Samantha Russell is a student of the Westport Journal.