The Club enjoys very active participation within the Town of Southbury and the immediate surrounding area.
  • Certificates of Appreciation are awarded annually to local businesses for their landscaping efforts.

  • Spring and summer annuals are planted in large wooden containers in front of the Probate Court Building.

  • Decorated Christmas wreaths are made for the outside of all Town of Southbury office buildings.

  • The Southbury Garden Club has planted and maintains an herb garden at The Bent of the River Audubon. This herb garden is for public enjoyment and educational purposes.




  • The Club maintains community gardens at four Southbury locations: one garden at the entrance and one at the exit of Ballantine Park, one at Ewald Park, one at Seman Park, and a colonial garden at Bullet Hill School.


  • The SGC and the Children’s Department of the Southbury Public Library co-sponsor several annual children’s events, including a Sunflower Growing Contest and a Holiday Floral Arrangement Workshop.

  • A Garden Therapy Workshop is held several times a year to decorate and fill baskets for Safe Haven, a local organization that helps women attempting to leave abusive relationships.




The Southbury Garden Club presents “Annual Awards for Plants and Landscape Design” to local businesses and corporations in recognition of their efforts to beautify Southbury through the use of plants, flowers and landscaping. These plantings help make Southbury a more beautiful place to live and shop.

Below are several of the 2011 award winners

The awards were presented by Faith Moss, SGC’s acting civic chairman, president Lynne Ramsden and VPs Claire Macrae and Peggy Fainelli, who also brought her camera to preserve the event for posterity. 

This year’s award in the Newcomer Category was presented to Jeff Raether, (above, right,) proprietor of Lake Wine and Spirits at 180 Main Street South. Since opening the shop, he has brightened that location with gorgeous hanging baskets, rose trees and striking flower gardens. 

The Continuing Excellence Award, given to prior year winners, again went to Tom and Casey Cole, co-owners of Leisure Time in Southford. Their massive landscaping effort is breathtaking. 

Winner in the Independent Business category was Chainsaws Unlimited, 558 Main Street South. President Dave Blersch accepted the certificate (above left.) 

The Southbury Green Plaza and Corporate Offices garnered this year’s award in the Plaza or Corporate Office category.

2011 SUNFLOWER GROWING CONTEST WINNERS CHOSEN

Winners were recently announced in the 16th Annual Sunflower Growing Contest, sponsored by the Southbury Garden Club and the Children’s Department of the Southbury Public Library. Area school children and their families descended upon the library, proudly bearing the sunflower heads they had planted and cultivated all summer.

First place winner was Kim Theleen of Southbury with her massive sunflower head measuring over 13 inches. She plans to place the seed head outside this winter to attract and feed the local birds. Kim is a seventh grader at Rochambeau Middle School where she participates in cross country, swimming, softball and triathalon. Every year her family plants a home garden and Kim especially likes growing sunflowers and corn.

The brother and sister team of Henry O. James and Zinnia James tied for second place with their wonderful plants. They are students at Housatonic Valley Waldorf School and they both love all the activities the school offers. After pausing to think about it, Henry decided that everything they do at school is fun. He is a third grader with an obvious natural curiosity about the world around him. After pausing to think it over, he said that his favorite thing to do is to “come to the Southbury Public Library and get lots of different books to read.” The family recently moved to Southbury.

The winners each received a certificate and a packet of daffodil bulbs to plant in their gardens this autumn for spring blooms, and a bulb planting tool to make the task easier. Southbury Garden Club president, Lynne Calabrese presented the certificates to the children.

In May, SGC Children’s Activities chairman, Rita Mosca, put together 85 packets of ten seeds each, which were then distributed to young library patrons by Joan Stokes, head of the SPL’s
Children’s Department. The participants then planted and tended their flowers all summer until mid-September, when they brought their sunflower heads to the library for judging.

The contest is held annually to help cultivate a love of gardening in children. Hopefully this experience will lead to a lifetime hobby of enjoying nature and gardening.

The Southbury Garden Club and the Children’s Department of the Southbury Public Library co-sponsor several activities annually. The next event will be a holiday centerpiece workshop. Full details will be advanced closer to the date.