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History

The Beginning Years…… (fifties and sixties)

The first major project the club did in beautification was a redo of the Town Common. The club submitted a plan to the town and it was accepted to re-landscape the Town Common particularly around the Gazebo and the War Monument.

By the end of the 50’s the Common had seen many improvements all supplied by the Garden Club.

The work  already done on the Common was recognized by the then Town Manager, Richard D. Carney in a letter stating in part, “ your efforts have transformed the common into an area of beauty befitting the center of our colonial town.”

The Seventies……

June of 1970, the Garden Club joined the Worcester County Horticultural Society. The club began to participate in flower shows and increased participation with the Worcester  County Horticultural Society.

Town beautification work continued around the Commons, Library and entrance to Mountain View Cemetery as well as the entrance to Dean Park.

1975 was also the start of the Garden Club Plant Sales held on the Common on May 17th

The Club also entered their first float in the Bicentennial parade, July 3, 1975.

The Eighties and Ninetees……..

Celebrations took place at the 1790 House in Westboro as thirty-three members gathered for the 25th anniversary of the Garden Club. Four original members were present. Sally Fleming, Alice Wright, Marion Heath and Betty Jones.

At the Arbor Day celebration in 1985  the Club presented a plaque to the Library indicating the name and origin of a rare  Katsura tree  native to China and Japan and judged at that time to be about 75 years old  growing in front of the Library. 

Unfortunately the 80’s delivered emotional times with the passing of several cherished members. The memorial fund totaled $1100.00.  A student scholarship was awarded to Brian McMahon  in 1989 in the amount of $250.00. 

The 90’s closed with yet another Town Common beautification endeavor as the Club worked with town officials to  rebuild the bandstand and members organized a third town-wide clean-up day followed by hot-dogs. The care of the Maple and Main islands happened in 1999.

The removal of overgrown hemlocks surrounding the bandstand led to an interesting development. It was learned that two of the unwanted evergreens were now  ensconced in the hemlock hedge that surrounds the swimming pool behind the Oval Office at the white House in Washington, D.C.

On to the 21st century……

The six years leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Garden Club were busy and exciting. With a restoration grant of $95,000 work could commence on improvements of the bandstand. 

 2001 began renewed participation in flower shows.  The Central Massachusetts Spring Flower Show  was the source of many award winning displays created by members. A Garden Party, Up on the Rooftop, The Three Little Pigs Garden, Doorways of the World, Dinner in the Tropics and many table designs and miniature arrangements received awards.  Tower Hill   and Flora in Winter also provided Garden Club exposure.

In September of 2003 the Club became a member of  Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. Also  that year the Club donated funds in the amount of $850 to rid the Masonic Hospital of poison ivy.  That practice continued with the development of Prospect Park.

Adopt-a-Plot program was initiated in 2004 with the help of Parks and Recreation in hopes that  town beautification would be a town wide activity.  Four initial plots were adopted. We now have more than 16 plots adopted.

Scarecrows on the Common became a community event which was anticipated each Fall in conjunction with the Spirit of Shrewsbury.

Friends of the Prospect Park……

In 2003, the Shrewsbury Garden Club presented a plan to the Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation Department and the Shrewsbury Parks and Cemetery Commission for opening a seventy acre town-owned parcel called “Prospect Park” for passive recreation.

A non-profit organization known as The Friends of Prospect Park was then formed. The Friends of Prospect Park is composed of a group of citizens interested in establishing and maintaining a passive recreation and garden area in Prospect Park.

The Shrewsbury Water Department maintains water tanks on the western boundary of the park, and the Parks and Cemetery Commission has set aside approximately one-third of the area across from the town cemetery for possible cemetery expansion.

All are welcome to find out more about Prospect Park at their website. Latest updates on the prospect park are available at their facebook page.

Fragrant Garden

In 2009, the Shrewsbury Garden Club formed a non-profit organization, The Shrewsbury Fragrant Garden, Inc., whose purpose was to build and maintain a sensory garden for the visually impaired. After an extensive search for a site to build the garden, which included both Veterans Inc. and Dean Park and several plans, town officials asked the garden club to take over the maintenance of the garden at the side entrance to Town Hall. Realizing that this garden would be the ideal place for a sensory and healing garden, the Shrewsbury Garden Club eagerly accepted the request, and have been cultivating and transforming the site ever since! Several successful fund-raisers and contributions have provided the funds to replace and replant the necessary plant material, and to maintain the garden well into the future. With a generous contribution from the Shrewsbury Lions Club, a fountain was installed in the Spring of 2018, as well as several new  memorial benches donated by residents.  A formal Dedication Ceremony took place on June 16, 2018. The garden has become a beautiful asset to the town, exemplifying the Shrewsbury Garden Club’s commitment to community beautification.

MISSION


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