GCOG Awards

Received from The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc.
93rd Annual Awards Meeting, October 26, 2022

Civic Development, Award of Excellence - The GCOG continues to add beauty to their village by planting and maintaining 17 sidewalk beds and 67 planters. These gardens are located at the Post Office, the train station entrance, the Route 1 Village Gateway, Greenwich point Beach, Shore Road traffic Island and the Old Greenwich School Secret Garden. In addition, their First Selectman asked the Club to work in a private/public partnership to design, purchase and install landscaping at the newly constructed Lockwood-Tomac traffic island. The Garden Club designed and installed the mostly native, pollinator friendly plantings, and the Town will water the site with the water truck in the summer. Total expense was $2,563.20, which was funded by the Club’s annual plant sale.

Connecticut Arboreal Awards - The GCOG celebrated Arbor Day with a program at Old Greenwich Elementary School. Club members distributed Eastern white pine seedlings to 120 Kindergarten to 2nd Grade students. A short talk on the value of trees was presented to the students. The Old Greenwich School Green Club Parents and Girl Scouts helped to organize the event and wrap up the seedlings for distribution.

Club Citations- Environmental Concerns - The GCOG as committee members of Greenwich Green and Clean participated in checking in registrants and handing out buckets and gloves at the International Clean Day and Environmental Fair.

Award in Excellence in Flower Show Achievement - (given for a Flower Show evaluated and scoring 95+)
Awarded to the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and Riverside Garden Club: A NGC Small Standard Flower Show - “ The Book Club”

Flower Show Award Citation - Horticulture - (For outstanding horticulture division)
Awarded to the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and Riverside Garden Club: An NGC Small Standard Flower Show - “ The Book Club”

Flower Show Citation - Design ( For an outstanding design division)
Awarded to the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and Riverside Garden Club: An NGC Small Standard Flower Show - “The Book Club”

Flower Show Citation - Staging ( For distinguished staging)
Awarded to the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and Riverside Garden Club: An NGC Small Standard Flower Show - “The Book Club”

Flower Show Citation - Schedule ( for a superior schedule)
Awarded to the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and Riverside Garden Club: An NGC Small Standard Flower Show - “The Book Club”

Awards of Excellence -The GCOG emphasized horticulture in multiple ways. To orient new members and polish the skills of seasoned members, the Horticulture committee critiques specimens brought to the first membership meeting. Horticultural workshops expanded the membership’s botanical knowledge, piques curiosity and introduced discipline. An African violet leaf propagation workshop was held in February where participants learned how to create mini greenhouses from repurposed plastic containers to house the leaves, how to prepare the proper potting soil for propagation as well as preparing and planting cut leaves from specially selected African Violets. The Club’s second spring bulb sale and the annual Mother’s Day Plant sale exceeded expectations. Pent up demand was strong from new residents and those who had been confined to their homes and wanted to cultivate their gardens. The club also had their second Amaryllis challenge in two years where members forced Hippeastrum amaryllidaceae ‘Zombie’ and posted photos online. The spring daffodil challenge required the forced Narcissus ‘Fortune’ to bloom on a specific day. Continuing on the bulb theme, they collaborated with their local library on a presentation “ A Year of Blooming Bulbs” with Master Gardener, Ilona Ontersherenski.

Public Relations and Communications - Field Trip Record (written by Karen Handel on the club’s trip to Sleepy Cat Farm)

Youth Awards : Club Certificate of Achievement - The GCOG helped 150 kindergarten and Grade 2 students at Old Greenwich School celebrate Arbor Day’s 150th Anniversary. They gave the students a white pine seedling to plant at home and provided information on the value of trees to the environment.

Luckner Club: Club Citations - The GCOG had a Girl Scout Troup visit one of the club’s pollinator gardens at Greenwich Point and then helped them design and plant a pollinator garden at Old Greenwich School. The garden is now part of the official Pollinator Pathway.