On Wednesday, April 13, the annual meeting of the Stroudwater District’s garden clubs was held at Brunswick Golf Club, with our Harpswell Garden Club hosting the event. The day began with coffee, muffins and other goodies to enjoy during the registration. Attendees perused the raffle prizes, dropping tickets into the prize bags.

Some of the Harpswell crew at the greeter’s table

District Director Harriet Robinson called the meeting to order at 10:00 am, and the day’s activities followed. After introductions, Garden Club Federation of Maine President, Suzanne Bushnell, offered her remarks on the state of the federation. The morning’s keynote speaker, Jane L. Taylor, founding curator of the Children’s 4-H Garden on the Michigan State University campus, displayed slides of several children’s gardens, and explained her theories on providing interesting, interactive garden spaces that children will enjoy. Her presentation was concluded by a standing ovation from the audience.

Jane L Taylor speaking at the annual meeting

Following a buffet lunch, the business meeting resumed with each garden club’s president giving a brief summary of her club’s activities in the previous twelve months. The day concluded with a beautiful demonstration of floral design by Megan Hevenor of FieldFloralStudio from Portland, Maine. The finished designs were then auctioned off, raffle tickets drawn, and some lucky attendees were able to purchase the centerpieces from the tables.

District Treasurer Martha Maguire chats with Harpswell member Janet Callowhill (seated, left) and Harpswell President Ann Standridge (right)

GCFM President Suzanne Bushnell chats with attendees from Osewantha Garden Club