10/24/2026
The North Haven Garden Club and gardeners from across the state recently gathered for a lovely luncheon at the Aqua Turf, in Plantsville for the Federated Garden Clubs Annual Awards where they celebrated an incredible year of accomplishments and awards. We are very proud to share the many honors our club and its members received in recognition of their dedication, community involvement, environmental awareness, and horticultural achievement
Special Honor for Our Club
President Gerri Giordano accepted the Award of Honor on behalf of the North Haven Garden Club. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding participation in community and Federated activities, along with exceptional achievement in upholding the aims and purposes of the Federation. What a wonderful honor for our club!
Environmental Awareness and Horticultural Achievements
Our club received a Certificate of Achievement for presentations on a variety of environmental topics and issues, including plastic nip bottles, Mylar balloons, gas-powered leaf blowers, and the use and misuse of pesticides such as neonicotinoids and rodenticides (rat poison). These issues can have serious consequences for wildlife, including ospreys, eagles, hawks, foxes, and bobcats. Our members stay informed about these concerns and pending environmental legislation through club meetings and Facebook.
Cindy Golia received a Certificate of Individual Achievement for her efforts in planning and creating the Jan Tracey Memorial Garden. She also received a Federation grant through the Bee Resilient program in recognition of her garden design and selection of pollinator-friendly plants.
A Club Citation was awarded for creating a memorial garden in honor of our recently deceased member, Wini Colleran. Many of the plants came from Wini’s own garden, including two French lilac shrubs she had lovingly grown and set aside before becoming ill. This garden is a beautiful tribute to Wini and her love of gardening.
Ellie Tessmer received a Horticultural Club Citation for sharing a variety of horticultural topics of public interest through Facebook and newspaper articles. Her contributions help educate and inspire others in our community.
The North Haven Garden Club also received a Public Relations and Membership Awareness Award for its work through social media, its website, and Facebook.
Celebrating Our Junior Garden Club
Our youth program was another source of great pride! The North Haven Junior Garden Club received the Luckner Club Certificate of Achievement for preparing, planting, maintaining, and harvesting its four gardens. The young gardeners, ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, learn valuable gardening skills and the importance of caring for the environment. They also enter their projects in the North Haven Fair, where they have proudly won ribbons.
We are especially proud of third grader Annette Babu, who earned first place in the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut (FGCCT) Youth Contest for her poem, “A Sea as Tiny as a Bead.” She also received an Honorable Mention in the National Garden Clubs (NGC) Youth Poetry Awards and won a first-place certificate in the regional youth contest.
Cindy Golia and Maria Yankura were also recognized as NGC Youth Poetry Coordinators for their work encouraging young people to express their creativity through poetry.
Special Recognition for Our Members
Under Special Awards, a Club Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Lauri Falco, who graciously opens her beautiful home and gardens each year for the North Haven Garden Club’s annual summer garden party.
Members enjoy touring her remarkable landscape, featuring an extensive collection of nearly 300 hydrangeas, followed by a potluck luncheon. Laurie generously shares her horticultural knowledge, beautiful gardens, and warm hospitality with our members. Her garden tour was such a hit that the luncheon speaker even asked if she could be invited to attend next year!
A Special Visit from Our First Selectman
We were pleasantly surprised by a visit from North Haven First Selectman Mike Freda, who was attending another event next door. He took the opportunity to thank our members for everything we do for the Town of North Haven and congratulated us on our many awards and accomplishments.
It was a wonderful day filled with friendship, recognition, and pride in all that our club and its members have achieved. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this outstanding year!
The North Haven Garden Club has much to celebrate, and we look forward to another year of gardening, community service, environmental education, and making a difference in our town.
