SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – At the annual meeting of the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont (FGCV) held on June 3, at the Rutland Country Club, awards were given out for work accomplished between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. The FGCV is comprised of 16 garden clubs throughout Vermont which are divided into three districts: North, Central, and South. The Springfield Garden Club (SGC) is part of the Central District. Out of 16 different categories, the SGC received five first-place awards, one Certificate of Merit, and one Golden Trowel Award. This represents efforts by their 29 active members. Also, for three out of the six FGCV executive board officers, the SGC has been well represented by Cheryl Pierce, secretary for the past six years; Therese Burton, treasurer for the past six years; and Barb Riotte, assistant treasurer for the past two years. Burton was also Center District director from 2013-2015 and 2018-2020. She will be co-Central District director again from 2025-2027.
The SGC received first-place awards for the following categories: Yearbook, Level 4 (45-69 members) for the best-designed yearbook; Social Media, Facebook; Education, Public Meeting, for their sponsorship of a talk by Charlie Nardozzi in March; Best Ongoing Project that has Merit, Community Gardens, for their management of the gardens at the Route 10 and Route 106 intersection, the plaza, the Blue Star Memorial, town hall, the Plant-it-Pink Memorial Garden, and the Eureka Schoolhouse; and Window Boxes and Containers.
A Certificate of Merit for Garden Therapy was awarded for work done by Ann Herrick at the Adult Day Care Center on River Street, which fulfilled part of SGC’s mission to provide gardening as a healing therapy. Herrick, along with assistance from a few of the center’s caregivers, provided a seasonally themed activity every month for about 10 clients. Projects included mini-pumpkin arrangements at Halloween, planting mini shamrocks into tiny flowerpots in March, and small arrangements in tea cups for Mother’s Day. Seeds were started indoors last spring to plant in outside raised-bed gardens during the summer. Clients helped with each stage, including watering and harvesting. Ann also coordinated with the center’s activities director to maintain a planter out front that was filled with seasonal plantings.
Deb Smith earned a Golden Trowel Award for her significant contributions to the SGC. She has worked on many committees, including the holiday market, the Meals-on-Wheels floral arrangements, and the Hostess Committee, where she has provided many refreshments at club activities. Smith is also the head of the crew managing the Blue Star Memorial Garden, and is on the Junior Gardening Committee, where she leads a garden club for students at the Union Street School.
You can find more information at FGCV’s website, www.vermontfgcv.com; SGC’s website, www.springfieldgardenclub.org; and SGC’s Facebook page, Springfield Garden Club of Vermont.