The Norwich Garden Club started as a women’s civic organization and has spent 91 years beautifying the downtown area. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH - The Norwich Garden Club celebrated 91 years of contributions this summer in the Norwich community with projects, charitable causes, and support to organizations.

"The Norwich Garden Club started as a women's civic organization and has spent 91 years beautifying the downtown area while supporting members of the community,” said Norwich Garden Club President Della Erickson.

Erickson said this year they continued with the downtown gardens and hanging baskets and had a booth at Chobani in the Park last Saturday. She said they used to plant trees on Arbor Day when the city would pick out the trees for the club and they would plant them in the parks in Norwich, but they haven't heard anything from the city in the last couple of years. She said she wasn't sure if that was still an ongoing project or not.

"The club meets once a month from April to November to discuss projects, civic work, and enjoy the time together," she said. "Every Spring and Fall all of the clubs in the 6th district get together for a promotion, program, and business meeting. The Norwich Garden Club is part of the New York State National Garden Clubs and Wednesday we were at this meeting with about 75 members in attendance."

She said new members joined this year and they are always looking to add to the club and continue to grow. For information to join contact Della Erickson at 607-334-7404, or club member Jean Hayes at 561-758-3696.

"We help with the other two clubs in this area, putting on the fair, and we try to encourage people about flowers and flower arranging so they can enter in the fair," said Erickson. "We have programs on that and sometimes they are open to the public. Anyone in the county can participate in the fair exhibit, you don't have to be a member to enter."

She said every holiday season they judge the Home for the Holidays downtown lighting contest. A few members from their club and a few from the Town and Country Club drive around town, judging in different categories. Winners are announced and a plaque is placed in the winning front lawns. She said no sign up is necessary.

The club is very busy throughout the year with fundraisers to provide  a scholarship to a graduating senior going into the conservation or the horticulture field and at the holidays, they are involved with Meals on Wheels, providing poinsettias to every household receiving a meal.

More information on the Norwich Garden Club can be found on the Norwich Garden Club NY Facebook page.