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Laurelwood Garden Club wraps their season up with color

FITCHBURG — For the 17th year now, members of the Laurelwood Garden Club have come together to plant an array of full-blooming, vibrant, colorful flowers in the 18th century half-ton cast iron water basin, located in Renaissance Park.

The park, which is open to the community for relaxation and inspiration, is home to the water basin, which was used in the historic Civil War era as a horse trough. The park is located next door to Fitchburg’s City Hall.

“I could not be more thrilled with this year’s display of the beautiful festival of flowers we planted,” said Julie Palioca, Laurelwood Garden Club member, public relations coordinator, and Civic Beautification Project coordinator. “I am so thankful for all of our club members who volunteer to do the planting and for those who volunteer to water the flowers during the week to keep this spectacular floral garden in full bloom all summer long.”

In July of 2017, the Laurelwood Garden Club converted this horse trough into a Memorial Garden in memory of club member Julia Casey.

“Club members strive to continue to honor Julia’s legacy for her dedication to the Laurelwood Garden Club and the community by beautifying the city of Fitchburg with floral art,” said Palioca.

This year’s Civic Beautification Project was made possible through a grant awarded to the Laurelwood Garden Club, under the project title Art/Beautification/Public/Benefit by the Fitchburg Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

During the four-day Art in Bloom event recently held at the Fitchburg Art Museum, the Kay Previte Award went to Laurelwood Garden Club member Jo Ferrell for her interpretation of Biophony, Fred Liang (#10) Paper Town exhibition.

On Sunday at the close of the event, the People’s Choice Top Winner Award went to Laurelwood Garden Club members Joan Pease and Debbie St. Vran for their interpretation of Tara (In The Flowers) Bekaatat Kanaan, Lebanon (#4) Rania Matar: Oceans by the Door-Ansin Gallery.

The Laurelwood Garden Club will hold its Annual Meeting on Friday, June 9, at Dario’s Restaurant, 655 Main St., with election of officers and annual reports.

The recipient of the $1,000 Scholarship Award will be announced at this meeting.

Monthly meetings will resume in September; however, the Laurelwood Garden Club will be busy planning their programs for the 2023-2024 season during the summer months.

The Laurelwood Garden Club was organized in l965 and is affiliated with the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (New England Region) and the Garden Club Federation of Mass., Inc. within the North Central District.

The club meets on the second Friday of the month at 9:30 a.m. at the Fitchburg Art Museum, from September through June.

For information regarding the Laurelwood Garden Club, contact Julie Palioca at 978-537-7630.