Wollaston Garden Club HONORS and AWARDS Wollaston Garden Club Wins Horticulture Blue Ribbon at the Flower Show With its theme of “Green Architecture”, the Wollaston Garden Club, founded in 1927, entered and won top prize for its first-ever entry into the Amateur Horticulture Structure Class Competition at the 2008 New England Spring Flower Show which runs from March 8-16 at the Bayside Expo Center, Boston. The club’s blue ribbon large bay east window features a collection of twenty-five plants grown by twenty different garden club members. The plants vary in age from less than one year to the oldest plant of thirty years. Carol Fischer, Horticulture Chair of the garden club, guided members throughout this past year in the care and nurturing of their plants. Pat Artis, Carol Fischer and Cynthia Lewis, all of Quincy, formed the Steering Committee for the exhibit. Mary Brady, Karen Lundsgaard and Susan Sweetser worked with the steering committee on designing and setting up the display. The east window plants were chosen for their cultural perfection and green architecture – the structure and geometric patterns created by each plant’s varied leaf formation. Aged terra cotta pots and a copper fountain added the natural color of clay. Entries for this competition were judged individually for: their cultural perfection, suitability for an east window exposure, staging, color effect, variety and correct horticulture labeling. Judges described the window as “peaceful and serene.” Also at this year’s flower show, three members of the Wollaston Garden Club, Pat Artis, Mary Brady and Gail Morganelli entered individual plants in the Amateur Division. Brady won an honorable mention for her pair of mother and child African violets. Art in Bloom A fixture at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for the past 31 years, the Art in Bloom program allows Garden Clubs that are recognized by the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts to participate by submitting an arrangement specifically designed to interpret an art object assigned by the museum.  The WGC has participated many times over the years, and we are honored that our 2003 arrangement was selected to appear in the presentation “Art in Bloom Road show”, a traveling program of many of the most memorable submissions. The following are photographs of some of our most recent submissions.   2003   2006 entry, done by Ruth Griffin and Cynthia Antonopolous _________________________________ "Simply Vera" wins Blue Ribbon at NE Flower Show What follows is the basic press release relating to the Blue Ribbon Entry at the New England Spring Flower Show 2005  And the Blue Ribbon Goes To… “Simply Vera”. These words represent months of planning and hard work by members of the Wollaston Garden Club.  The design vignette, a wedding ceremony setting reflecting the style of Vera Wang, won a blue ribbon at this past week’s New England Flower Show.   The Wollaston Garden Club faced tough competition from show veterans representing the towns of Nauset, Holliston and Wareham. At the impetus of new club President, Marina Kelly, the club entered the New England Flower Show for the first time in its long history.  Ms. Kelly tapped Houghs Neck resident, Cynthia Antonopolous, as design principal.  Cynthia’s previous experience with the Museum of Fine Arts’ Art In Bloom, made her the perfect choice. Ms. Antonopolous spent hours reviewing bridal magazines, books on staging and internet web sites devoted to Vera Wang and wedding settings as part of her design preparation.  In the end, the greatest amount of inspiration came from a book on Kirigami, the art of three dimensional Japanese paper cutting.  Incorporating Feng Shui principles of design placement, paper and truly spectacular floral arrangements, Ms. Antonopolous created a design that reflected the simplicity and elegance of Ms. Wang’s design philosophy. Ms. Antonopolous and Wollaston resident Pat Artis created the floral arrangements.  Ms. Artis attended the Cass School of Floral designs and has created designs featured in presentations of the clubs and private weddings.  Ms. Kelly, Cynthia O’Meara and Ruth Griffin also aided in the design process.  Aiding Cynthia with set up at the show were Ms. Kelly, Ms. O’Meara and Ms. Artis. Ms. Kelly encourages all members of the club to participate in competitions and this year announced the club’s underwriting of design education relating to landscapes and floral arrangements.  The Wollaston Garden Club is a non-profit organization that welcomes new members.  Since September 2004, the club has planted bulbs at the Dorothy Quincy Homestead, created floral designs for the most recent fund raising event at the Thomas Crane Public Library and had the most successful Greens Sale ever.  The club welcomes the public to its Spring Plant Sale and an evening co-presented with Quincy Environmental Treasures both upcoming in May. 2005 New England Spring Flower Show The Wollaston Garden Club created a vignette honoring Vera Wang. A wedding ceremony setting.  Many long hours went into its creation. Enjoy the creative process. Setting the Scene Pat Artis prepares the "bones" of one of the arrangements the night before. Final Preparation Cynthia Antonopolous and Pat Artis put on the finishing touches to the arrangements. Vera's Vignette This is the Blue Ribbon winning entry as it looked upon completion.