CAZENOVIA — On Friday, Dec. 6, the Cazenovia Garden Club (CGC) will return to the Annual Cazenovia Holiday Stroll and Village Tree Lighting to sell festive arrangements to support the organization’s community beautification efforts.
The club will have a table set up in front of Community Bank at 48 Albany St. from 1 p.m. until shortly after the tree lighting.
Customers can choose from a broad selection of unique mug-sized arrangements — suitable as hostess gifts or presents for teachers — and medium-sized table arrangements. The items will start at $10, and all proceeds will go directly to the CGC.
Cash is preferred, but credit cards and personal checks will also be accepted.
CGC members will create the arrangements during a Dec. 5 workshop at the First Presbyterian Church Meeting House using various donated materials, including natural greenery, seasonal ribbons, faux berries, dried seed pods, and pinecones.
The sale is being organized by CGC Fundraising Committee members Bonnie McCabe, Mimi Weber, Julia Shotzberger, Cate McDonough, Phyllis Lawrenz, Connie Hasko, Brenda Switzer, Kay Kelly, Susan Anthony, and Pat Hill.
“Thank you to the sale committee, Community Bank, the Presbyterian Church, and Lee Dowling of Deer Hill Farm for his greenery donation,” said Hill, who chairs the committee. “The arrangement workshop is a highlight of the sale. We accomplish a lot, making over 100 arrangements, and it is a festive and fun opportunity for members to socialize while being creative. We also look forward to interacting with the community during the holiday stroll and tree lighting.”
Another aspect of the club’s fundraiser this year was a holiday boxwood topiary sale. The topiaries were offered for pre-sale during Cazenovia’s Fall Fest farmers’ market. They will be assembled during a Dec. 2 workshop led by Weber and then delivered to the purchasers’ homes.
“The Cazenovia area is so fortunate to have a large and active garden club to help beautify our village and town,” said CGC President Kerstin McKay. “For over 75 years, the CGC has contributed to the charm and attractiveness of our public spaces, and we are grateful for the continued support of our community for the work we do.”
Cazenovia Garden Club
The nonprofit CGC is a member of the VI District of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc. and the Central Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Founded in 1949 and federated in 1960, the club aims to stimulate interest in horticulture, develop skills in the beautification of home and community, create an awareness of national and local conservation problems, inspire a desire to serve in these areas, and further the goals and objectives of the regional and national organizations to which it belongs.
In preparation for the holiday season, the CGC provides lighted wreaths for the lampposts throughout the historic business district, decorates hayracks and window boxes, and coordinates with the village to hang garlands on storefronts and the village fountain.
The club provides and maintains plants at Carpenter’s Barn, the Gothic Cottage, Lakeland Park, the village fountain, the post office, and the village welcome signs on Route 20.
It also provides and maintains annual plantings in hanging baskets on lampposts, in sidewalk planters, and in window boxes throughout the village.
Additionally, the organization funds an annual scholarship for a Cazenovia High School senior to study horticulture, donates pantry items at monthly meetings to CazCares, coordinates annual cleanups at the south end of Cazenovia Lake, and supports the Cazenovia Tree Commission.
“The village crew provides help with watering in the summer and putting up and taking down the garland,” said McKay. “[We] couldn’t do all we do without them.”
The garden club welcomes new members.
To learn about getting involved with the organization, visit cazenoviagardenclub.org or contact Membership Chair Connie Hasko at [email protected].
