Southbury Garden Club Spreads Holiday Cheer

The Southbury Garden Club continued its traditional activities which spread cheer throughout the community during this unique holiday season.

Club members recently donated about four dozen wrapped gifts to Safe Haven of Waterbury, a group which provides support for adults and families trying to escape abusive relationships.

Several years ago the club learned that Safe Haven ensures that the children in the program are all well provided with holiday gifts, but that presents for the adult clients would be very welcome. It is now an annual tradition that Garden Club members donate wrapped gifts of toiletries, gloves, slippers and other small items for the adults. Many touching thank you notes attest to how much joy these gifts have brought.

The Southbury Garden Club also continued its longstanding tradition of donating decorated wreaths to the Town of Southbury for use on all the public buildings. Civic Chair Irma Lesson purchased the wreaths and arranged for the town’s Public Works department to install them.

Garden Club President Elizabeth Berlenbach explained that, although COVID-19 restrictions resulted in the cancellation of in-person meetings and programs, members have kept in close touch through texts, emails and Zoom meetings.

Club members have also resumed placing weekly flower arrangements at the Southbury Public Library. The designs are displayed prominently near the check-out counter and library patrons to enjoy while they wait in the checkout line. Many patrons have made positive comments about them.

The Southbury Garden Club is a non-profit civic group which undertakes many activities within the town, including: an award-winning pollinator Garden at Settlers Park; planting three community gardens and donating the produce weekly to the Southbury Food Bank; holding a Spring Plant Sale on the Town Green each spring; awarding Certificates of Appreciation to local merchants for their landscaping efforts; donating garden therapy baskets and holiday gifts to the clients of Safe Haven; maintaining a colonial era garden at the Bent of the River Audubon facility; sponsoring youth floral projects several times a year, and presenting free monthly programs on environmental topics.

New members are welcome and full membership information is available from Eleanor Cea at 203- 262-4166 or at www.southburygardenclub.org

.The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 5th, but please check the website closer to the date.