2023-2024 Annual Reports

Co-Presidents Report

The Annual Reports that follow recount the varied, impactful and

entertaining activities carried out with, by and for members of the Lenox

Garden Club in the past year.

Many committees contributed to the meetings, workshops, discussions,

visits, plantings and of course, refreshments. Your Co-Presidents are

enormously grateful to you all for the spirit of cooperation, affection and

enthusiasm you all showed for the Lenox Garden Club and each other.

Many, many thanks to all of you.

At the same time, this has been a year of transition and change. Many of

the same people who kept things moving along were also planning

changes that would direct the future of the Lenox Garden Club as it

moved into its 114th year.

Thanks to the foresight of past president Deb Deres and the Executive

Committee, a Strategic Planning Committee was chartered in March

2023 to develop a plan for our next five years. The SPC was chaired by

Pam Johnson, working with consultant Debbie Edwards, an experienced

strategic planner and former Garden Club of America president.

A full-club survey last summer, with an astonishing 88% response rate,

pointed to five areas of concern: leadership, structure, membership,

communications, and mission and values. In November, the SPC

presented the survey findings and strategic recommendations to the full

Executive Committee. By January 2024, with direction from the

Executive Committee, the Strategic Plan 2024-29 and next steps had

been approved and shared with the membership.

Implementing the recommendations of the Strategic Plan is an ongoing

process. It will take time; there will be challenges as we work together to

“get it right” for the future of the LGC. As we move forward, we ask that

you focus on the core values of

The Lenox Garden Club:

Commitment: action, responsibility, collaboration and knowledge.

Respect: cordiality, friendships, trust.

With thanks, gratitude and affection.

Susan Dana & Gloria McMahon

Co-Presidents

ARCHIVES

The Lenox Garden Club archives is a system of institutional memory,

created and recreated by its members as they share information and work

to achieve the club’s goals. Shared memories define its history and

culture. The work of the archives committee preserves the historical

record with a thought to future generations and is organized around the

concept of “findability.” The challenge of finding and bringing memories

to life means that the archives must be accessible and responsive to

members’ ever-changing, often unanticipated, needs.

As archives committee chair, I was invited to serve in February and

March on the ad-hoc Communications Task Team with Lynn Edelstein,

Pam Johnson, and Angela Cason Hickey. In alignment with the club’s

2024-2029 Strategic Plan, our first task was to study the public-facing

and member-only features of other GCA-member club’s websites. The

goal was to focus on improving community engagement as well as

providing reliable access to important club information. We issued a call

for proposals and evaluated the submissions from website-design firms

for specified features that would extend the functionality of the club’s

legacy website. The results of the initiative were reported to the EC and

await further implementation.

A single request was made to archives in March by the GCA to provide

documentation regarding the Berkshire Garden Club’s merger into the

LGC, in which 12 former BGC members accepted the invitation to join

us in 2015. The details were recorded in the club’s 2015-2016

membership roster, annual meeting minutes, and correspondence.

To increase member awareness and interest in the club’s past

achievements and activities, we undertook a project to prepare an

updated 1911-2023 edition of the LGC chronology created in 2011 for

the club’s centennial. Aided by Nancy Miller’s club history and the

documentation and recollections provided by Stephanie Bradford, Debbie

Smith, Barb May, MaryEllen O’Brien, and others, the handout also listed

our community partners that have received grants totaling more than

$500,000 since 1991. We distributed the handout to attendees at the

French Gardeners’ Breakfast on April 10.

Past committee members worked diligently over recent years to establish

a permanent, secure home for the archival boxes housing these physical

records in the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Center House attic. The

committee meets infrequently during the year on an as-needed basis, and

adds new digital materials systematically to the archival Google Drive

platform. Ongoing work will involve discussion of ways to provide better

2access to the club’s digitized records and enhanced awareness of the

club’s past and present programs through its public-facing website.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela Sandstrom

AWARDS

The Awards committee recognizes Lenox Club members who have

generously and graciously served the Garden Club of America and the

Lenox Garden Club. This year the committee, with approval from the

Executive Committee, added a new award, Floral Design Award. This

award is presented to an individual who creates and fosters skills in

others in floral design and/or who participates in floral design activities

in an imaginative, artistic manner.

At the December Holiday Tea the following members received the GCA

Years of Service Awards:

25 years: Mary Howard

Tanny Jones

Wendy McCain

Megan Schwarzkopf

Mary Taylor

40 Years: Kimberley Crocker

At the Annual Meeting other LGC members were commended for their efforts.

GCA Awards

Club Appreciation Award – The Strategic Planning Committee

Pamela Johnson, Chair, Susan Dana, Mary Manning, Loretta Scheel

LGC Awards

Beverly Hallock Award – Jane Shea

Floral Design Award – Diana French

LGC Service Award: Zone 1 Scholarship Rep 2021-2023- Pamela Sandstrom

Susan Malevsky-Malevitch Award – Paula Gimblette

President’s Award – Susan Dana and Gloria McMahon

Trusty Trowel – Cynthia Tindale

Serving as an interim chair, I am so grateful to all the committee members who

attended meetings, engaged in thoughtful discussions, and shared laughter.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanne M. Davidson

COMMUNICATIONS

The Communications Committee strove to keep communications flowing

smoothly and efficiently during the 2023-2024 year. It presented some

challenges – hybrid meetings, the resignation, sadly, of the Chair, Mary

Talbot, and a change in leadership of the Club. Despite all of this, we

kept communications going and, thanks to Angela Cason, produced an

informative and attractive monthly newsletter.

A Lenox Garden Club private Facebook group was created; membership

is by invitation only to ensure that the group will remain exclusive to

LGC members. Members can participate in lively discussions, ask

questions, seek advice, share resources, and celebrate achievements

related to our shared interest.

At the advice/suggestion of the Strategic Planning Committee a

Communications Task Team was formed to develop an internal and

external plan to identify communication categories, including frequency

of communications and methods of communications. The

recommendation was to have a user-friendly website for keeping LGC

members informed. The Executive Committee agreed with this proposal,

requesting that we first take a look at the current website to see how it

can be updated or made a little more user-friendly. This is currently in

the works, and, thanks to Mary Ellen O’Brien, several LGC members

have access to the website and are currently considering some

changes/updates.

Also, at the suggestion of the Structure Task Team, more responsibilities

will fall under “Communications” – calendar management, newsletter,

public relations, website management, Yearbook and Zoom coordination.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynn Edelstein

CONSERVATION

We continued working on our Reduce/Reuse/Recycle initiative based on

the local resource guide that we produced and distributed to members last

year. We encouraged members to eliminate buying products in wasteful

materials (especially plastic), to reuse items to the fullest extent possible,

and to recycle what is left.

Caring for the native plant pollinator garden on the grounds of the

Stockbridge Congregational Church was a priority May-October of 2023

and again in the spring of 2024. Now in its third year, the plants are

4maturing, self-sowing, and thriving! Our efforts are informed by the

knowledge that the garden is planted on land once cared for by the

Mohican native people.

In 2024 we organized the club’s March program – Concrete Ways to

Mitigate Climate Change – via conserving water, choosing sustainable

practices, and reforestation. It was a workshop style meeting where we

divided into three groups to brainstorm one of those topics. Suggestions

and ideas from each of the groups were reported to all attendees at the

conclusion of the meeting.

Two plant-related efforts occurred in early May 2024: a pansy planting

project with kindergarten students at Muddy Brook Elementary School

and a garlic mustard pulling “party” at two public properties – Parson’s

Marsh in Lenox and along a woodland section of New Lenox Road in

Pittsfield.

Respectfully submitted,

Lenore Sundberg and Anna Smith

Co-Chairs, LGC Conservation Committee

FLORAL DESIGN EDUCATION

On September 13, 2023 the Lenox Garden Club, acting on the initiative

of the Floral Design Committee, staged a hugely successful event with

acclaimed floral designer Jane Godshalk. The floral demonstration,

which was held at The Mount, was open to the public for a fee, and free

to Lenox Garden Club members. A limited workshop with Ms. Godshalk

was held that afternoon at the Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Enthusiasm for floral design proved contagious, as two workshops

followed on November 17th and December 8th at the Richmond

Congregational Church. Members of the Floral Design Committee also

provided arrangements for the Holiday Tea on December 13th.

Three more design workshops were well attended on January 12th,

February 23rd and March 1st. Participants have enjoyed learning the

principles and techniques of floral design, and have watched their

abilities and confidence grow. It is hoped these workshops will continue.

On February 14th the Floral Design Committee hosted the monthly LGC

meeting with a floral design demonstration by MaryEllen O’Brien,

followed by a workshop for the members at large.

The Daffodil Derby at the Berkshire Botanical Garden on April 27-28th

saw 16 entries in four categories of Floral Design. The arrangements

5were in many cases a testament to the skills acquired in the floral design

workshops.

Looking forward, the Floral Design Committee is supporting a

community project by providing floral arrangements for a designer

showcase at Cassilis Farm in New Marlborough May 30-June 30. The

event is a fundraiser for the benefit of local housing needs.

Respectfully submitted,

Tania Deary

FLOWER SHOW

This year our beautiful show totally wowed the judges! The entire show

got a judges’ commendation: “Charming schedule with the theme well

executed throughout.” A second commendation states, “Wonderful

variety. Many opportunities for subdivision. Elegant presentation.

Exquisite show!” The floral design division won an award of

appreciation “for consistent excellence in design.” The Hort division

garnered an award for “Staging: plenty of natural light, uncrowded, love

the burlap and brown paper.” The Hort judges also commended the

novices: “plenty of novice participation including a number of blue

ribbons!”

In floral design, Pam Johnson won the Novice Award, KK Zutter won

the Burdsall, and Diana French took Best in Show.

In Hort, Pam Johnson won the Novice Award, (yes you read that

correctly! She won them both!), and Stephanie Bradford won the

Burdsall and Best in Show.

In the behind the scenes preparation for this show, thanks go to Stephanie

for chairing/organizing the Hort division, Sally Set for putting together

the judges’ luncheon and everyone who entered the show itself.

A special thanks goes to Barb May who filled every floral design class

completely! Let me tell you, this is no small feat! In my opinion, the two

most challenging aspects of a flower show are writing a clear, coherent

schedule, and getting (which usually means twisting arms) floral design

entries. Barb, there is a special place in floral design heaven for people

like you!

Respectfully submitted,

Diana French

GARDEN HISTORY & DESIGN

The Garden History & Design committee works closely with the

Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens to record and preserve and

develop an appreciation of America’s gardens through the documentation

of all types of gardens which ensures their lasting legacy for scholars,

researchers and the general public throughout the world.

Most recently, we have been documenting Community Gardens, a new

category for the Smithsonian. It was agreed that we would document

Pollinator Gardens which have been created with the involvement of the

Lenox Garden Club. After creating a template, GH&D focused this year

on evaluating that template with one particular conservation property

LGC had previously worked on, Parson’s Marsh Reserve, the first trail in

Lenox that is handicapped accessible.

An amazing job was completed by Pamela Sandstrom, a GH&D

committee member, and presented at the French Gardener’s Breakfast,

April 2024, including a detailed report on the history of the reserve,

photographs and documentation of the planting undertaken by the club.

Going forward, it is the intention of GH&D to continue to document

several gardens, working closely with our Pollinator Pathways team.

Gardens include Bidwell House, Arrowhead, Canoe Meadows and

Pleasant Valley, all of which are LGC grant recipients here in the

Berkshires Documentation is a process that takes time but is a wonderful way

for the Lenox Garden Club to archive their contribution to conservation,

preservation and civic improvement.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Manning

HORTICULTURE

Twenty-two members were assigned to join the Horticulture Committee

for 2023-24. We started our year with a softwood propagation workshop

in Megan’s garage on July 7.

We met for a committee organizational meeting July 14 at BBG to gather

topics of interest, and to start our thoughts about what kind of program to

offer to the club membership for the 2023-2024 season. Even early on,

many expressed enthusiasm for some kind of propagation event.

7We scheduled a pop-up flower show preparation workshop at BBG on

August 8 right before the BBG Grow Show, but I had to cancel. Never-

the-less, LGC was well represented with strong entries at the show.

August 21 we met again for a committee organizational meeting. Other

than expressing a general interest in propagation, we again did not pin

down how to move forward on our program plans. The Godshalk floral

design program scheduled in September dominated discussions in

preparation plans. Our committee collected and provided arranging

material from private gardens for Jane Godshalk’s presentation and

workshop 9/13/2023, certainly a plus as material from home gardens can

often be very special, which it was.

As we are always encouraging saving/sharing seeds, on September 20,

Eric Ruquist, Director of Horticulture at BBG, kindly led a group of our

committee around the gardens on site to collect seeds, some of which

became especially valuable for the horticulture program in May 2024.

Members organized, labeled and carefully stored these seeds for future

sharing.

For our LGC October meeting Chris Ferrero, Master Gardener, presented

a program focusing on “Putting the Garden to Bed”. I asked Chris to

focus particularly on the concept of what NOT to put to bed in the

garden, as many still meticulously handle fall clean up as the time to

remove way too much from our fall garden, leaving a void for wintering

creatures as well as visually stark surroundings.

On-going attention continued with suggesting members think about GCA

Freeman Medal entries, woody plant for 2025; nominations due 5/11/24

as well as continuing to collect and save seeds. Sharing information from

our GCA Zone Rep, October 2023, an email went to the committee with

specifics on participating in the GCA Seed Share.

On November 10, 2023 the Committee met at BBG Center House. We

continued to talk about interviewing potential speakers to introduce our

committee’s May, 2024 seed workshop. After I completed interviewing

six prospectives over the winter, Ron Kujawski agreed to the assignment

after many emails and discussions early in February for our May 1, 2024

program.

12/23. Distribution of Bee Booklet by email from Zone I Representative.

2/20/2024 Winter Seed Sowing Workshop for committee members with

handouts. New member Cynthia Tindale led this workshop at the home

of Barb May. Although only a few could attend, the feeling is that many

would like to try this again next winter.

83/9/24 Shared GCA Zone I Plant Exchange guidelines for Zone meeting

in September 2025. This is valuable in relation to our seed propagation

workshop on May 1.

3/11/24 Shared instructions by email on Forcing Branches. A number of

members shared photos of their efforts with the committee.

The GCA again launched the nationwide, multidisciplinary, cross-

committee collaboration to promote native plants by formally

establishing a Native Plant Month in almost all fifty states. Using a

proclamation, GCA club members across the country worked to formally

establish a Native Plant Month within their state for April 2024.

Massachusetts’ proclamation was successfully passed.

In April I supplied both entry cards and the schedule encouraging

members to enter horticulture classes in the GCA Annual Meeting, taking

place in Hartford at the end of April.

5/1/24. The horticulture committee hosted a seed propagation workshop

(Seed Success Seminar) for the whole club with Ron Kujawski leading

the workshop. Many committee members helped in various ways to

make this a successful presentation with Barb May hosting us in her

home’s garage. Roughly 45 members participated. There were many

varieties of seeds with focus on New England natives, some of which

were collected at BBG last Fall. Six seeds were ordered from Prairie

Moon Nursery for the event: Helenium autumnale, Monarda fistulosa,

Pycnanthemum muticum, Symphyotrichum leave, Veronicastrum

virginicum and Schizachyrium scoparium; they were TINY seeds.

Members were provided coir pots, Back to the Roots organic 3-in-1 seed

starting mix, seed envelopes and labels.

The annual LGC Annual Meeting Plant Exchange (AM PX) hosted by

our committee occurred June 5, 2024.

Submitted by Megan Schwarzkopf,

Lenox Garden Club Horticulture Chair

MEMBERSHIP

Six First-Year Members were officially introduced at the 2023 Annual

Meeting and Luncheon: Mary Lou Bradley, Jeanie Knisely, Gale Page,

Liz Stell, Cynthia Tindale and Marilyn Wyatt. Among their summer

activities were a horticultural workshop given by Megan Schwarzkopf,

and volunteering with other LGC members at the BBG Grow Show. In

October, several volunteered for “Accessorize!”, LGC’s fundraiser for

9BBG. In December, all were able to attend the Holiday Tea fabulously

hosted by Jeanie and Gary Knisely in Lenox. In January, five First-Year

Members joined the Membership Committee, Co-President Susan Dana

and standing-committee chairs for conversation and refreshments at the

home of Liz Murray in Stockbridge.

This winter, Liz Murray and Kathy Tremblay co-chaired the Strategic

Planning Membership Task Team, joined by Sarah Boyd, Janet

Egelhofer, Nancy Hickey, Bobbie Anne Salinetti, Judy Zahn, and advisor

Loretta Scheel. Two meetings hosted by Liz focused primarily on

attracting and integrating new members, with progress reports submitted

to the Executive Committee recommending stronger emphasis on

mentoring, improved club communication for the benefit of new

members, and community outreach.

Over the past year, five proposed members attended an impressive

number of lunches and membership meetings as guests, and were

approved for membership by the Executive Committee in March. They

are Sharon Cooper of Lenox, Cynthia Danforth of Tyringham, Sheila

Shechtman of West Stockbridge, Abbie Shoobs of New Lebanon NY,

and Mary Stodden of West Stockbridge. In May they gathered with the

Membership Committee and incoming Co-Presidents at the home of

Ginger Schwartz for conversation, refreshments, and a committee-choice

preview by experienced committee leaders. In late May, the five new

members contributed informal bios and photos to an introductory piece

“In Their Own Words” sent to the current members before the June

meeting.

Rejoining LGC as Active Members were Barbara May, Mary Spina, Judy

Zahn and, as of June, Julie Schwartz. Hilary Deely and Tjasa Sprague

will move to Associate membership. The following are no longer

members: Kendra MacLeod, Mary Talbot, Gale Page, Amy Raidman, Liz

Stell, Anne Fredericks, Ardith Truhan, Sue White, Elizabeth

Montgomery and Deb Deres. We note with sadness the passing of long-

time member Skippy Nixon, 2006. We also note with sadness the

passing of our most senior member, Beverly Hallock. Bev joined LGC

in 1964 and this would have been her 60th year of membership.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Tremblay

PHOTOGRAPHY

In August, members were encouraged to enter photographs in the GCA

Focus’s competition, “Inspired Adventures.” Janet Pumphre

10photograph of White Sands National Park was a non-finalist in the

abstract competition “Circles in the Sand.”

In December, members were encouraged to enter photographs in the

GCA Focus’s competition, “Symphony of the Senses.” In the Sixth

Sense Creative Technique category, Janet Pumphrey won the Editor’s

Commendation award with her composite photograph of the beach in

Provincetown.

In January, members were encouraged to watch the GCA annual

Photography Conference on January 25, “Reimaging the World.” This

GCA photography conference was especially good. It included the

amazing Japanese abstract photographer Zuan-Hui Ng who presented on

“Ephemeral Encounters;” Stephanie Johnson, who presented on

intentional camera movement; Nevada Wier, who presented on travel

photography; and Santiago Lyon, who presented on using AI.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Pumphrey

POLICY

The Policy Committee this year was relatively dormant until the report of

the Structure Task Team was presented. Since the beginning of April,

the Policy Committee has met weekly to study each of the many

proposals the Structure Task Team recommended in the LGC’s Bylaws

and Guidelines. In addition, the Policy Committee is proposing other

changes to make the Bylaws and Guideline more up-to-date.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Pumphrey

PROJECTS REVIEW

The Projects Review Committee is happy to report that we will fund two

projects that went through the application process and were presented,

discussed and voted on at an Executive Committee and membership

meeting this winter.

Our projects for the Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 Projects Review cycle are as

follows:

An award to the Vincent J. Hebert Arboretum at Springside Park in

Pittsfield, MA of $500.00 to rejuvenate the current entrance garden into a

welcoming, inviting introduction to the Park. As a club, we felt that this

award would enhance the northern gateway to Pittsfield and support the

11ongoing improvement efforts of the Arboretum put forth by the

community, city and volunteers.

An award to the Adams Beautification of $1,500.00 for the Visitor

Center garden installation at the Adams Visitation Center will create a

welcoming, inviting entrance. This award will continue to build on the

exciting projects that are unfolding in the Adams community bringing

this lush, vibrant green space back to life fueled by volunteer

involvement.

2023 Grant Cycle Updates:

The George B. Crane Memorial Center community grant for the planting

of a tree at their Linden Street location was completed. The tree made it

through the winter and is blooming and beautifying in the West-side of

Pittsfield.

Trinity Church received a grant for the planting of 3-4 trees as part of a

much larger landscape/hardscape plan. This project is coming to

completion and will be celebrated by the community later in Spring ‘24.

Continued effort to get the word out and increase application numbers is

an ongoing effort. Application numbers increased from the previous year.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Guenther King

SCHOLARSHIP

In Fall 2023, the LGC Scholarship Committee reached out to updated lists of

guidance counselors, science and horticulture instructors from 14 Berkshire

public and private high schools, urging graduating seniors who are in the

process of applying to an accredited two- or four-year college, university or

technical program to apply for a $500 scholarship offered by the Lenox Garden

Club. The scholarship reflects the club’s mission to develop and stimulate

interest and participation in horticulture, floral design, civic beautification and

environmental concerns. In March 2024, the winner (and class Valedictorian)

Mr. Aidan Garcia of Wahconah High School, was chosen from four applicants,

and plans to attend Middlebury College in the fall, majoring in biology and

environmental science. Mary Jane Piazza was honored to awarded the LGC

scholarship to Mr. Garcia at the Wahconah High School Senior Awards Night

May 30, 2024.

The committee thanks MaryEllen O’Brien for her generosity, contributing the

first two of three $500 scholarships at the local/club level, which had not been

done by LGC before. The club has also received additional generous

12contributions to cover the current year’s award, and going forward, will seek

EC and members’ approval to make the scholarship a regular line item in the

community budget.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jane Piazza

STRATEGIC PLANNING

In March of 2023, the Executive Committee commissioned a Strategic

Planning Committee to create a plan that would guide the activities of the

club for the next 5 years. Members were Pam Johnson, chair, Susan

Dana, Loretta Scheel, Mary Manning and Deb Deres (until September

2023). The President secured the volunteer help for the group of Debbie

Edwards, one of the architects of the GCA Strategic Plan and an

experienced mentor of several clubs. After interviewing a cross-section

of members, the team created an on-line survey which had a response

rate of 78% of the membership.

Analysis of the results identified five key areas of focus: leadership,

structure, membership, communications, mission and values. The

committee proposed strategic goals and possible action steps for each

category. The plan was approved by the Executive Committee in

December, 2023 and task teams were formed to address specific topics.

One of the first proposals adopted was a set of guiding values, included

in the presentation of the plan to members on January 10, 2024.

The plan will be implemented gradually, with the full participation of

membership, and it will be treated as a living document with periodic

review, revision, and reporting by the Executive Committee.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Johnson

VISITING GARDENS

This year’s LGC Visiting Garden’s Meeting took place on August 2, 2023

we toured the Private Garden of Kristin Hatt in Lenox with Arborist,

Tom Ingersoll ” “Embracing the Advice of Arborists and

Environmentalists in the Care of Our Property.” About 20 members

attended the meeting and enjoyed the opportunity to hear first-hand the

garden’s philosophy and design – a collaboration of Kristin’s and

Tom’s over many years.

Since then, we have been hard at work planning two Visiting Gardens

events for 2024 – 2025. On July 10th, 2024 members of the LGC will

visit the gardens of Suzanne Yale, Dan and Sherry Kasper, and John and

KK Zutter and followed by a Midsummer Celebration at the Zutter’s.

Another travel experience further afield has also been planned: LGC

members have been invited to go on a trip from July 25- 28, 2024 to

Maine to visit a number of gardens open to the public including

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, The Abby Aldrich

Rockefeller, Asticou and Thuya Gardens on Mount Desert Island, and

other beautiful private gardens featured on Garden Club of Mount

Desert’s Open Garden Day tour.

Respectfully submitted,

Kimberley H. Crocker