Karen DeLuca led an absorbing workshop on October 21, teaching our members how to create simple but creative cards using a special technique with watercolors and markers to craft sophisticated butterflies. The captivating class was designed for 10 people, but 20 enthusiasts showed up! Karen, professional artist and Montclair Art Museum teacher, provided all the instruction needed for non-artists and artists alike to take the technique home to produce their own polished hand-made cards for any and all events.

This post is strictly to record and celebrate all the awards presented at the Flower Show. Later posts will show photos of the entries and the amazing event. Winners' names in red NGC awards in purple Club awards in green Sweepstakes Award for Overall Flower Show – Debbie Moran FLOWER DESIGN Award of Design Excellence - Florence Leyssène SECTION A: “ROOTED IN TIME” The Twenties through the Fifties TriColor Award – Cheryl Slutzky Class 1: “All That Jazz” A Creative Design 1st – Barbara Baletti 2nd, 90+ – Betty Murphy 3rd – Susan Straten HM – Laurie Kroll Class 2: “Picture Perfect” An American Traditional Line-Mass Design. 1st – Cheryl Slutzky 2nd – Kathy Bachmann 3rd – Clare Kuch HM – Wendy Stahl Class 3: “Suburban Style” An American Traditional Design, limited to novice and intermediate members. 1st – Lisa Schweitzer (winner of Julia S. Berrall Award) 2nd – Guita Behbin 3rd – Michael De Castro HM – Ali Kilduff Class 4: “Mad for Modern” A Functional Tray Design for One 1st – Floss O’Sullivan 2nd – Amy South 3rd – Edith Ries HM – Carol Callahan SECTION B: “BRANCHING OUT” The Sixties through the Nineties The Petite Award – Karen Fricke Class 5: “Free Spirit” A Petite American Traditional Design 1st – Deborah Hirsch 2nd – Amy Poster 3rd – Kathy Sorkin HM – Carol Callahan Class 6: “Bold Moves” A Petite Transparency Design 1st – Celia Radek 2nd – Fran Ackerly 3rd – Heidi Muschick HM – Laurie Kroll Class 7: “Mix It Up” A Petite Multi-Rhythmic Design 1st – Karen Fricke 2nd – Debbie Moran 3rd – Olga Bequillard HM – Tracy Reilly SECTION C: “ENTWINED” The Aughts through the Twenty-Twenties Designer’s Choice Award – Florence Leyssène Class 8: “New Wave” An American Traditional Line Design 1st – Victoria Herrera 2nd – Sarah Olson 3rd – Sue Young HM – Michele Tomasik Class 9: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” A Tubular Design 1st – Sarah Stransky 2nd – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 3rd – Marie Donnelly HM – Susan Benner Class 10: “Forward Thinking” A Creative Line Design 1st – Florence Leyssène (winner of The Barbara Slockbower Schaeberle Award) 2nd – Floss O’Sullivan (winner of The Betty B. Merriam Silver Bowl) 3rd – Tova Narrett HM – Sydney Milliken HORTICULTURE Award of Horticultural Excellence – Celia Radek Section A: “The Bee’s Knees” Flowering Annuals Award of Merit – Denise Silverman Class 1: Salvia 1st – Celia Radek 2nd 90+ – Maureen Sprong 3rd – Michele Tomasik Class 2: Tagetes (marigold) 1st – Debbie Moran Class 3: Zinnia 1st – Denise Silverman 2nd 90+ – Jane Wallace Class 4: Any other worthy flowering annual specimen 2nd – Fran Ackerly Section B: “New Deal” Annuals Grown for Foliage Award of Merit – Kem Louie Class 5: Jacobea maritima (dusty miller) 1st – Anna Lee Class 6: Solenostemon (coleus) HM – Sue Young HM – Susan Yu Class 6a Solenostemon (coleus) 1st – Maria Matesanz 2nd 90+ – Susan Yu HM – Lauren Zodel Class 6b Solenostemon (coleus) 1st – Kem Louie 2nd – Debbie Moran 3rd – Sarah Olson Class 7: Strobilanthes (Persian shield) 1st – Denise Silverman 2nd – Michele Tomasik HM – Lauren Zodel Class 8: Any other worthy annual specimen grown for foliage 1st – Sarah Olson 2nd – Ana Moore HM – Celia Radek Section C: “Pop Art” Flowering Herbaceous Perennial Award of Merit – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken Class 9: Aster 1st – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 3rd – Kem Louie HM – Jacoba Coes HM – Michele Tomasik Class 11: Sedum 1st – Susan Yu 2nd – Maria Matesanz 3rd – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken HM – Kathy Bachmann Class 12: Any other worthy flowering herbaceous perennial specimen 1st – Denise Silverman 2nd – Ana Moore 3rd – Michele Tomasik Class 12a: Any other worthy flowering herbaceous perennial specimen 1st – Jacoba Coes 2nd – Debbie Moran 3rd – Anna Lee HM – Michele Trevenen Section D: “Counterculture” Perennials Grown for Foliage Award of Merit – Celia Radek Class 13: Fern 1st – Anna Lee 2nd 90+ – Maria Matesanz HM – Karen Fricke Class 15: Hosta 1st – Debbie Moran 2nd – Maria Matesanz HM – Karen Fricke Class 16: Any other worthy perennial specimen grown for foliage 1st – Celia Radek Section E: “Baby Boom” Flowering Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes, or Tubers Award of Merit – Susan Yu Class 19: Dahlia – one (1) stem 1st – Donna Karanja 2nd – Heidi Muschick Class 19a: Dahlia – one (1) stem 1st – Heidi Muschick 2nd 90+ – Heidi Muschick 3rd – Heidi Muschick HM – Kem Louie Class 19b: Dahlia – one (1) stem 2nd – Marie Donnelly 2nd – Heidi Muschick 3rd – Michael De Castro HM – Olga Bequillard HM – Michele Trevenen Class 20: Any other worthy flowering bulb, corm, rhizome, or tuber specimen 1st – Jacoba Coes 2nd – Olga Bequillard Class 20a: Any other worthy flowering bulb, corm, rhizome, or tuber specimen 1st – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 2nd – Michele Trevenen 3rd – Kathy Bachmann HM – Donna Karanja HM – Sarah Olson Class 20b: Any other worthy flowering bulb, corm, rhizome, or tuber specimen 1st – Susan Yu 2nd – Maureen Sprong 3rd – Maria Matesanz Section F: “Victory Gardens” Vegetables Award of Merit – Kathy Bachmann Class 21: Capsicum (pepper) – five (5) if small; one (1) if large 1st – Kathy Bachmann 2nd – Celia Radek Class 24: Any other worthy vegetable specimen 1st – Karen Fricke 2nd – Denise Silverman 3rd – Karen Frick Section G: “Hashtag” Herbs Award of Merit – Debbie Moran Class 25: Rosmarinus (rosemary) 1st – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 2nd – Olga Bequillard 3rd – Karen Whitehaus HM – Imke Oster HM – Pam Turre Class 26: Salvia (sage) 1st – Jacoba Coes 2nd – Pam Turre 3rd – Imke Oster HM – Karen Whitehaus Class 27: Thymus (thyme) 1st – Debbie Moran 2nd – Karen Whitehaus Class 28: Any other worthy herb specimen 2nd – Karen Whitehaus 3rd – Michele Trevenen HM – Karen Whitehaus Section H: “Outa Sight” Rosa Award of Merit – Valerie Slamka Class 29: Floribunda 1st – Valerie Slamka (winner of The Barbara Meyer Rose Award) 2nd – Valerie Slamka Class 30: Hybrid Tea 2nd – Valerie Slamka Class 31: Shrub Rose 2nd – Valerie Slamka HM – Cynthia Corhan-Aitken HM – Denise Silverman Class 32: Any other worthy named rose specimen 2nd – Valerie Slamka Section I: “Nifty” Woody Shrubs Arboreal Award – Karen Fricke One (1) cut stem no longer than 30” in length from cut end to apical tip; must include several nodes and the central leader. Must have been grown by exhibitor for at least six (6) months. Class 35: Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf) 2nd – Jane Wallace Class 36a: Any other worthy woody shrub specimen 1st – Ana Moore 2nd – Donna Karanja 3rd – Anna Lee HM – Imke Oster Class 36b: Any other worthy woody shrub specimen 1st – Sarah Olson 2nd – Susan Yu Class 36c: Any other worthy woody shrub specimen 1st – Karen Fricke 2nd – Olga Bequillard Section J: “You’ve Got Mail” Collections Collector’s Showcase Award – Michele Tomasik One (1) cut stem of five (5) different varieties/cultivars, exhibited in individual transparent containers provided by exhibitor; staging accessories such as mats, risers, etc. permitted but plant material must dominate; each specimen must be correctly identified by botanical name and its location easily identified in the collection (see HB, p. 60). Allotted space, 15” w x 24” d. Maximum of four (4) entries per class. Class 37: A collection of Dahlias – one (1) stem, disbudded; a minimum of one (1) set of leaves 1st – Maureen Sprong Class 38: A collection of herbs 1st – Kathy Bachmann (winner of The Amy Hatrak Herb Award) 2nd – Sarah Olson Class 39: A collection of Solenostemon (coleus) 1st – Michele Tomasik 2nd – Maureen Sprong 3rd – Sue Young Section K: “Hot Dish” Combination Plantings, A Dish Garden Grower’s Choice Award – Karen Fricke Miniature landscape of three (3) or more botanically different plants with similar cultural requirements. Class 41: Woodland Landscape 1st – Karen Fricke (winner of The Estelle Leibrecht Horticulture Award) 2nd – Celia Radek 3rd – Sarah Stransky EDUCATION“Deep Roots, New Shoots” Educational Top Exhibitor Award – Karen Fricke Section A: “Cultivating Change” 1st – Karen Fricke“ Creating Change: The Pollinator Pathway” 2nd – Deborah Hirsch “The Art of Flower Design: 100 Years of Flower Shows” BOTANICAL ARTS “From Garden to Gallery” Section A: Artistic Crafts “Let’s Celebrate” Botanical Arts Artistic Crafts Award – Floss O’Sullivan Class 1 “Happy 100th Birthday!” A 5” x 7” one-sided invitation to a party. 1st – Debbie Moran 2nd 90+ – Celia Radek 3rd – Karen DeLuca HM – Clare Kuch Class 2 “A Shoe Fit for a Party” A shoe, provided by exhibitor. 1st – Fran Ackerly 2nd 90+ – Michele Tomasik 3rd – Susan Benner HM – Marilyn Zaret Class 3 “Party Bling” A necklace using a structure created by exhibitor. 1st – Floss O’Sullivan 2nd – Cheryl Slutzky 3rd – Fran Ackerly HM – Pam Turre Section B, Photography: “Shifting Focus” Botanical Arts Photography Award – Clare Kuch Class 4 “Let It Be” A black and white photograph of a landscape. 1st – Michele Tomasik 2nd – Barbara Baletti 3rd – Sue Young HM – Sarah Olson HM – Amy South HM – Susan Yu Class 5 “Making Waves” A color photograph that includes the element of water in nature. 1st – Victoria Herrera 2nd 90+– Michele Tomasik 3rd 90+ – Tasha Madhok HM 90+ – Sue Young HM – Olga Bequillard HM – Mary Anne Link HM – Clare Kuch HM – Sheila Oakes HM – Celia Radek HM – Sarah Stransky Class 6 “Totally Rad” A color close-up photograph of an image in nature. 1st – Clare Kuch 2nd 90+ – Donna Karanja 3rd – Olga Bequillard HM – Kathy Bachmann HM – Barbara Baletti HM – Charlene Connolly HM – Karen DeLuca HM – Victoria Herrera HM – Mary Anne Link HM – Sheila Oakes

Always in demand, our expert flower designers Florence Leyssène, Fran Ackerly, and Barbara Baletti once again led our provisionals and novices through the basics of flower design in a workshop on Thursday, October 15. One of the best things about our club is our monthly competitions which allow us to hone our skills for our breathtaking flower shows. What our teachers did on Thursday was to explain not only what the National Garden Club judges are looking for, as well as practical information on what kind of tools to use, but they also communicated their joy in the sheer process of creating designs. They focused on Traditional American design, bringing their own designs to critique and deconstruct, since those are on the schedule for the upcoming October competition for provisionals and novices. They talked about height, width, pots, Oasis, and more abstract concepts such as space and grace. "Let a butterly move through your design," said Florence, and "Have fun!" said all three.

Avis’s friendly Clip, Dip, & Sip took a special turn on Wednesday afternoon, as our dahlia queen Maureen Sprong displayed her beloved dahlias and explained more than we knew there was to know about these spectacular flowers. See her amazing handout for everything about dahlias. Thirrty or so of our members gathered to welcome our new provisionals and to admire the beauty of an abundant fall garden filled with blooms and bees and delicious eats provided by the Avis Campbell Gardens committee. A lovely celebration as we move into our next century.

Club members and friends stand in front of a job well done. The Civic/Environmental Committee is continuing its inexorable move into every aspect of town life. Yesterday 15 members together with family and friends ― including two new provisionals who only signed up the day before ― answered the call from Lisa Johnson (shown ar right) Director of Montclair's Department of Sustainability, to plant over 600 native plant plugs outside the forbidding Church Street parking lot. The current garden is such a success that Lisa got a grant to expand it even further. Since they are natives, these tiny perennials will expand their deep roots, retaining water and creating a garden that will flourish for years to come. Sustainability! Onward and upward!

Deb Hirsch and Sarah Olson stand under a flourishing new pin oak by the high school, surrounded by Lisa Simms of the New Jersey Tree Foundation and her hard-working crew. Long ago, when our club was still under a hundred years old, our centenary planning committee suggested donating ten trees, one for each decade of our existence, to the township. And this week, on a beautiful day, those trees were planted on the open space by the high school at the corner of Chestnut and Midland where the students eat their lunch. Our Civic/Environmental Committee, under the leadership of first Deb Hirsch and then Sarah Olson, spearheaded the selection of the spot and the specific location of each of the three red maples, three yellowwoods, two fringe trees, a ginkgo, and a gorgeous pin oak. The trees were supplied and planted by the New Jersey Tree Foundation headed by Lisa Simms and manned by an impossibly cheerful crew. NJTF is a wonderful non-profit dedicated to increasing New Jersey’s tree cover, especially in areas that need it the most. They even dug out an older tree which had been planted too deep, and let its roots breathe. Thanks especially to Imke Oster who helped pursue the bureaucrats, and to Marie Donnelly, Sue Straten, Sue Young, Sheila Ochs, Meredith Bergmann, Kathryn Bachmann, and Celia Radek who came out in all weathers during the planning. We got it done!

"Great Escapes" Small Standard Flower Show Results Note: Photos of winners appear throughout the text and a slideshow of photos appears at the bottom of the page. See also schedule. The Club Room became our favorite vacation destination over the two days of our September show, “Great Escapes.” Opening the show up to the community brought in many enthusiastic visitors. Horticulture Results Horticulture presented 26 classes with a total of 43 entries. Members were awarded 20 first places, 11 second places with 5 receiving a score of 90+, 8 third places, and 6 honorable mentions. Tied for the most overall points, Kathy Bachmann and Debbie Moran both scored 22, and Michelle Tomasik came in second with a total of 21 points. Here are the award winners who were deemed the best of the best: Award of Merit: Kathy Bachmann’s lantana Award of Merit: Kathy Bachmann’s coleus ‘Red Ruffles’ Award of Merit: Barbara Meyer’s dahlia ‘Breakout’ Award of Merit: Kathy Bachmann’s sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ Award of Merit: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken’s rose ‘Crown Princess Margareta’ Award of Merit: Debbie Moran’s rosemary ‘Barbecue’ Collector’s Showcase Award: Debbie Moran’s collection of five herbs And the overall winner of the Horticulture Division: Award of Horticultural Excellence: Debbie Moran’s collection of five herbs Garden Club of Montclair ribbons awarded during this show: The Barbara Meyer Rose Award: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken’s rose ‘Crown Princess Margareta’ The Amy Hatrak Herb Award: Debbie Moran’s collection of five herbs Here are photos of the award winners. Check out the rest of the stunning exhibits from our members’ gardens at the bottom of the page. Flower Design Results Flower Design featured three classes with four entries in each class for a total of 12 arrangements in all, encompassing both Traditional and Creative designs. The creativity and skill of the designers were on full display. A Designer’s Choice Award, the overall winner in Flower Design, was awarded to Florence Leysséne for her Multi-Rhythmic design. “YOSEMITE” A Traditional Design 1st ― Lisa Schweitzer 2nd ― Sue Young 3rd ― Clare Kuch HM ― Amy Poster “MADAGASCAR” A Creative Design 1st ― Cynthia Corhan-Aitken 2nd ― Sarah Stransky 90+ 3rd ― Fran Ackerly HM ― Tova Narrett “COSTA RICA” A Creative Multi-Rhythmic Design 1st ― Florence Leyssène 2nd ― Olga Bequillard 90+ 3rd ― Karen Fricke HM ― Susan Straten Botanical Arts Artistic Crafts Results “Escape Travel Treasure” was the theme for this division which called for a necklace souvenir made of plant material. Imaginative and meticulous, these works of wearable art were a hit with the public. 1st ― Fran Ackerly 2nd ― Karen Fricke 90+ 3rd ― Pamela Turre HM ― Celia Radek Thank you to all the Members who made 'Great Escapes' a success! Melody Brown and Pamela Turre, the Properties team, for helping to break down the space. Florence Sinofsky for setting up a beautiful breakfast and lunch for the judges and committee members. Debbie Moran for preparing the delicious judges' lunch, accompanied by Florence Leyssène’s wonderful salad. Karen Whitehaus for running interference with the building team and making sure everything was ready. The helpful clerks, Karen DeLuca, Sarah Olson, Lisa Schweitzer, and last minute fill-in, Sarah Stransky. Always willing and talented photographers, the talented Sue Young, Floss O’Sullivan, and Susan Yu. The Flower Show Committee Members Debbie Moran, Schedule author, Staging and Signage Chair, chef extraordinaire, patient giver of advice and help, and tablecloth washer. Florence Leyssène, Design Classification, Judges, and Botanical Arts Chair, and able sous-chef. Maureen Sprong, Horticulture Entries Chair (and her husband Gary for delivering baked goods!) Jacoba Coes, Horticulture Classification Chair and break down helper. Heidi Muschick, Horticulture Placement Chair. Barbara Baletti, Flower Design Chair. A very appreciative THANK YOU to our Communications Committee members, Amy South, Tracey Reilly, and Sue Young, for creating such excitement and anticipation. We had a remarkable turn out both Friday and Saturday, and I'm confident that it was due to your talented efforts. And the award for the furthest travelled goes to our Awards and Clerks Chair, Floss O'Sullivan! With appreciation, Karen Fricke, Flower Show Chair. More Beautiful Entries Click on any of the photos below to open them all up as a slideshow .

Our 2025-2026 year drew to its official close with our annual meeting and awards ceremony held at the gloriously blooming Avis Campbell Gardens on June 10, 2026. Under the eagle eye of Awards Chair Tova Narrett, our members gathered together for the presentation of our annual awards and a 1920s feast catered by Florence Sinovsky and Janet Oscar and put together by their happy band of culinary elves.. We were also very happy to welcome Guita Behbin, Michael De Castro, Ali Kilduff, and Tracy White as full members, graduating successfully from their time as provisionals. The winners of our annual awards are now registered on our awards page. where you can see all the recipients back to 1980. See also a written record of tributes to our winners. Below, the photos of their smiling faces and candid shots taken of the event were snapped by our amazing photographers, Lauren Zodel and Sue Yu, with the elegant contribution of Barb Baletti. If anyone has been missed, blame the editor. We also need to thank all the members of the Awards Committee for their thoughtful selection of the recipients you see here. And how could we not thank the chair toters and table layers, especially the super powerful and ever helpful Benny? Photos of This Year's Award Recipients (Left to right): Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Louise D. Mann Award; Elsie Bristol (Advanced Plus) Award; Barbara Meyer Rose Culture Award; Special Tribute for Bricks Project Celia Radek: Howard Van Vleck Award Barbara Baletti: Till Beatty Allis Award (Left to right): Karen Fricke, Bauer Horticultural Award; Garden Club Award for Flower Design, Advanced; Lisa Schweitzer: Elsie Bristol Novice Award Kathy Bachmann: President's Trophy for Flower Design, Intermediate (Left to right): Denise Silverman: President's Award for Horticulture Ana Zalles Moore: Special Tribute for Avis Campbell Gardens Deborah Hirsch: Special Tribute as Historian Peter Hirsch: Bloomie ― Rototiller Award (Left to right): Susan Benner, Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Michele Trevenen (not shown): Special Tribute for the Bricks Project Clare Kuch: Bloomie ― the Everything, Everywhere, All the Time Award Grete Scheidl: Bloomie ― the Golden Trowel Award Jamie Chase: Emerita and 35-Year Member Not shown. Michele Tomasik was awarded the Botanical Arts Award. Photos of the Full Event As always, click on any photo to open them all up in a slideshow.

Designers taking a break after setting up their creations. Photo: © Andy Foster Another wonderful year, with breathtaking designs. Our biennial event at the Montclair Art Museum is, once again, a triumph with well over half the designs created by our own members. CLICK HERE for a PDF showing each entry together with the piece of art that inspired it as well as the fascinating thought processes of each designer. This document uses the exciting photographs of Andy Foster to give you a sense of the harmony between art and floral design. It's better to look at it on a laptop or IPad rather than a phone to ensure that you see all the details.. For those of us who just want to savor our members' designs, see the photos below, in no particular order. Click on one to bring up a slideshow. Each is captioned with the name of the designer.

From Wednesday, May 15 though Saturday, May 18, 31 members of the Garden Club of Montclair as well as other exhibitors interpreted works of art at the Montclair Art Museum, as they do every two years. CLICK HERE to view a document detailing the astonishing designs of our members and, in their own words, the creative process that led to their creation. It's better to look at this PDF on a computer to see the full glory of the art and the designs, and to read the words of the floral designers describing how they got there.

At our 100th Birthday Party and the 2026 Art in Bloom at the Montclair Art Museum, the following homage was prominently featured about a wonderful woman and committed citizen of Montclair. Julia Smith Berrall Julia Berrall: Homage from the Garden Club of Montclair Julia Smith Berrall (1904-1995) was an inspiration, a mentor, and a lifelong friend to the Garden Club of Montclair, whose members have contributed to this year’s Art in Bloom display. Julia was born on May 4, 1904, in Montclair. A graduate of Vassar College, she majored in musical studies and subsequently became a concert pianist. Later, Julia served both the Newark Museum of Art and Montclair Art Museum in various capacities for over 50 years. A longtime trustee of the Montclair Art Museum, she curated a significant number of tasteful and popular exhibitions of costumes from a variety of eras, including her first show American Costumes: 750 Years of Fashion, held in 1933. Throughout her life, Julia exhibited a great love for flowers, gardens, and their history. She maintained a spectacular garden at her Montclair home and presented lectures on gardens throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, American Horticultural Society, and Williamsburg Garden Society. She also led historical tours in the U.S., England, and France. Julia received an honor from the Cloud d'Or des Jardin, a select organization of garden authors specializing in history. She was recognized by The National Council of State Garden Clubs and the Garden Club of America. As an instructor for National Garden Clubs, she lectured in their Flower Show School program. She published many books, the last one in 2010, entitled Early American Garden Bouquets. The floral arrangement on this page was created by Brenda Bingham, friend and student of Julia, to commemorate her life and influence on the club. The arrangement was displayed at the club's 100th birthday celebration on April 27, 2026, along with the above tribute.. Return to 100th Birthday Party photos

To celebrate our centenary, 11 of our finest designers created extraordinary floral arrangements, translating their reflections on each decade into exquisite and deeply personal physical expressions. Thank you, Barbara Baletti, for conceiving of this project, and spearheading it to success. See also photographs of members and their significant others at the party held at the Montclair Museum of Art on April 27, 2026. The 1920s — “Bold and Beautiful” The era known as the “Roaring Twenties” was a time of dramatic economic, social, and cultural change. An economic boom and the mass production of cars and household appliances brought the rise of consumer culture. Prohibition led to bootlegging and “speakeasies.” Women won the right to vote. “Flappers” challenged traditional gender roles with new fashions, dancing, and bobbed hair. African American literature, art, and music were brought to the forefront by the Harlem Renaissance. My flower design was inspired by the opulent and bold Art Deco style of the time which featured dramatic, large-scale designs using clean, sharp lines. A key element was the use of soft romantic blooms with bold or unusual foliage. — Fran Ackerly The 1930s — “Softness and Grace” The 1930s favored elegance, restraint, and a return to natural beauty in the decorative arts. Even during the hardships of the Great Depression, flowers brought warmth, color, and optimism into the home. Bouquets were not simply decorative — they reflected the era’s aesthetic, blending simplicity with everyday charm. Arrangements balanced the sleek influence of Art Deco with traditional craftsmanship. Unlike the rigid symmetry of earlier decades, bouquets embraced natural movement and negative space, allowing flowers to appear as they grow in nature. The classic English garden bouquet also returned in popularity, interpreted with a more structured artistic touch. — Deborah Hirsch The 1940s — “Triumph Over Tragedy” The 1940s were a pivotal and traumatic decade for the world at large and particularly for my family. Both my parents lost most of their relatives during the Holocaust. My mother, Flory, a refugee from Yugoslavia, met and married my father, Harry, a US Army Master Sergeant, in Bari, Italy. She loved carnations. He loved tulips. The world struggled to regain normalcy, my parents began a new life in the US and embraced the future! This design is in honor of them. — Betty Jagoda Murphy The 1950s — “The Golden Decade" 1950s America was a time marked by post-war economic boom, a rise in suburban living, and a return to traditional family values. Though we didn’t live in suburbia, my parents did buy their first house as a young married couple in Brooklyn in the late 1950s. My mom, who was a traditional wife and mother, loved cooking and hosting family and friends for dinner parties and holidays. She would set her dining room table with her wedding china and would always have a centerpiece of beautiful flowers. My floral design is reminiscent of my mom and those happy times when life was good and prosperity abounded. It was the “golden age” for the middle class. — Cynthia Corham-Aitken The 1960s — “The Age of Aquarius” The 1960s saw the rise of counterculture and the hippie movement which emphasized peace, love, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Young people revolted against social conformity, rejected materialism, and demanded more freedoms for women and minorities. Music, attitudes, and clothing changed. Women’s below-the-knee skirts gave rise to minis, GoGo boots replaced loafers, and jeans and long hair were trademarks for the younger generation of both women and men. My design is a tribute to the fashion of the day, the psychedelic GoGo look with a touch of daisies as an anti-war statement. — Susan Benner The 1970s — “Romance, Flair, and Music” The 1970s in the U.S. were a time of introspection and vibrancy, blending uncertainty with bold self-expression. After the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, trust in institutions declined, but culture thrived. Disco’s frenetic nightlife, bell-bottom fashion, and iconic films like “The Godfather” and “Saturday Night Fever” defined the era. Weddings reflected a mix of romance and flair, with lush flowers like roses and carnations. Marc and I married in 1971, surrounded by a pale blue décor, blue and white roses, and many colorful flowers. Royal blue tapers sat on each table — more vibrant than typical earth tones of the era! — Cheryl Slutzky The 1980s — “Power, Glamour, and Excess” Nothing was understated about this decade — the 80s were all about power, glamour, and excess. Everything was bold and oversized, the bigger the better, and topped off with lavish bling and glitz. So I ransacked my garage for the biggest, splashiest, most over-the-top plant material I could find. The mood and colors were inspired by a photo of an iridescent 80s brocade evening gown, shimmering with pale threads of aqua, gold, and copper. — Tova Narrett The 1990s — "Love and Marriage" The 90s were a decade of economic prosperity and cultural stability in America. The Cold War had finally ended and there was relative peace in the world. Americans spent more, the population trended upward, and with it so did marriage rates. Did you know that there were 2,443,000 marriages in the early 90s, the highest number since 1984? With that in mind we decided to create a “Marriage Bouquet” as our decade design to celebrate “Love and Marriage.” — Barbara Baletti and Florence Leyssène The 2000s — “The Purity and Hope of White" The 2000s were a tumultuous decade. Our nation was enduring both economic and political crises yet experiencing a boom in technology. A seminal event that helped to temper national anxieties was the election of our first Black president who projected a vision of “Hope and Change” for America. I wanted to create a floral design that reflected a sense of purity and hope yet contained a quality of lushness and formality with an abundance of white flowers. What better way to convey this feeling than with roses, hydrangeas, and calla lilies? — Susan Brady The 2010s — “Creative Minimalism” The 2010s were a decade when flower designs, strongly influenced by social media, moved away from rigid, dome-shaped bouquets toward more minimal designs that featured a mix of textures and greenery. Modern Minimalist and Line-Focused floral designs surfaced in the latter part of the decade, using less plant material and focusing on negative space and clean lines. The National Garden Club, while maintaining its Standards and Principles, responded to these shifts in the design movement and revised its 2017 Handbook to include more creative design types using less plant material. My exhibit features a Creative, not Traditional, minimal plant material design. — Sarah Stransky The 2020s — “Short and Sweet” The second decade is witnessing a resurgence in the popularity of floral design in terrariums. First off, there is to be a wide variety of small succulents to choose from. Designers can let their creativity run wild. Chain stores such as Amazon provide prepackaged packs of soil, mosses and other growth media — everything one needs to get into terrarium gardening. Even our own Amy South even got into the fun when she owned “Moss and More”! — Susan Straten

On April 27, 2026 we celebrated 100 years of the Garden Club of Montclair's proud history. Members and their significant others gathered together at the Montclair Art Museum to commemorate our past, honor our present, and raise a glass to our future. The event, coordinated by Cynthia Corhan-Aitken and Karen Fricke with the essential assistance of many of our members, was a wonderful success, as you can see by the photos, below, and the closeups of the 11 breathtaking floral arrangements celebrating each decade of our existence (click here to view). The highlight of the evening was the movie, created by Alex Pavljuk, Creative Media Producer at MAM, which featured many of our emeriti as well as our newest members talking about our extraordinary history and what the club has meant to them, An homage to Julia Berrell was also prominently displayed (click here to read). Thanks to everyone who made the evening such a success, as well as to an anonymous member for her generous gift of splendid tote bags to mark the occasion. These photos were taken by Amy Poster, Sue Young, and of course, Sue Yu. Clicking on a photo will bring it, and all of them, up in a slideshow.

FLOWER DESIGN Note: Judges did not award Firsts in some categories. Novice An American Traditional Horizontal Line Design 2nd - Clare Kuch Intermediate A Multi-Rhythmic Design 1st - Kathy Bachmann Advanced A Creative Design  2nd - Olga Bequillard Advanced Plus A Panel Design  1st - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken BOTANICAL ARTS Macro Photograph 1st - Denise Silverman Collage 1st - Barbara Baletti

Our March program, “Gardening for Hummingbirds” took place on the 23rd with a presentation by Duncan Himmelman, the former education director at the Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware.  Duncan, a witty, entertaining speaker helped us explore the life cycle of the ruby-throated hummingbird.  We learned how to make our gardens a haven for these tiny flying jewels by including a selection of native plants to provide food sources and nesting sites from spring to fall.

On Feb. 11, under the aegis of the Adult School in a sold-out class, our president and noted designer Fran Ackerly, assisted by photographer (and noted designer) Barbara Baletti, demonstrated the step-by-step procedure to create a lovely American Traditional Galentine’s Day design with carnations, mums, veronica and ferns. The class carefully followed Fran's expert instructions and enjoyed every moment ― as was evident as they proudly and carefully carried their creations out of the Library doors.    See the beautiful results.

Workshop Chair Karen Fricke (l) and presenter Dani Scannella Soil preparation doesn't seem like the funniest topic for a workshop, but nine of us met in the club room on Feb. 20 for a hilarious workshop with Dani Scannella, our January program speaker, and owner of The Backyard Gardener . With a dizzying array of her kitchen mixing bowls, spatulas, spackling tools, toothpicks, cell trays and other bizarre instruments, Dani demonstrated how to create a enormous batch of what looked amazingly  like chocolate brownie mix! She then showed exactly how to transform this dirt into vegetable gold. We all became fans of "soil blocking" which eliminates the need for plastic pots, reduces the amount of space required, and benefits the plants by air pruning the seedlings as they grow, creating stronger, healthier root systems. There was also time for us to join in a seed swap: people brought seeds, and Dani supplied us with little envelopes to take home along with new ideas as well as the realization that winter really will end one of these days. Dani provided the following handouts to remind us of what she covered in the workshop. One thing to note is that the soil blocking document only shows the recipe for the soil mix. You can just use the Vermont Compost Company Ft. Vee Mix  instead, and follow the rest of the instructions from there.  Seed Starting Supplies Soil Blocking Procedures

Our January competetion was postponed to February due to a snowstorm, but the creations were as beautiful as ever. As usual, firsts are pictured next to the list, and all the others are shown in the slideshow, below. Flower Design Advanced Plus 1st - Fran Ackerly 2nd - Sarah Stransky 3rd - Cynthia Corhan-Aitken HM - Barbara Baletti Due to the number of entries, Advanced was divided into two sections. Advanced Section 1 1st - Olga Bequillard 2nd - Cheryl Slutzky 3rd - Michele Tomasik HM - Susan Benner Advanced Section 2 1st - Karen Fricke 2nd - Sarah Olson 90+ 3rd - Celia Radek HM - Susan Brady HM - Susan Straten Novice 1st - Lisa Schweitzer 2nd - Sue Young 3rd - Clare Kuch Provisional Sonali (Tasha) Sekhri Botanical Arts ARTISTIC CRAFTS - Getting Ready for Valentine's Day: A Decorated Purse 1st: Michele Tomasik 2nd 90+: Jacoba Coes PHOTOGRAPHY 1st - Olga Bequillard 2nd - Sheila Oakes 3rd - Michele Tomasik HM - Barbara Baletti HM - Marilyn Zaret

What a great opening presentation for our first program meeting of our 100th year! Dani Scanella led us clearly and simply through the creation of a backyard kitchen garden. She covered everything from what to plant and ― very important ― when, to ensure a year-long supply of fresh vegetables. Using the example of her own backyard, she showed us how to set up your raised beds and thwart the critters. She shared some of her favorite local suppliers with us, as well as her top 5 takeaways for new backyard farmers. GCM members (members only) can sign up for a workshop on Feb. 20 led by Dani where she will go deeper into the basics, including components needed for a successful setup, what seeds are best started indoors as opposed to in the garden, and she’ll demonstrate planting seeds in both traditional trays as well as her new favorite method, soil blocking. She’ll share her favorite seed catalogs and we’ll finish the workshop with a “mini seed swap." The meeting finished with the opening salvo of our celebration year: one hundred cupcakes!! Created by Liliane Gooch , they vanished like, well, hot cakes. Delicious.

A Deron student watches closely as his instructor shows the correct placement of a daffodil bulb. From Committee Chair Jacoba Coes ― We all joined the Garden Club because we believe in its 100-year-long mission to spread the joy of gardening and creating beauty with plants and flowers. The Youth Committee is well positioned to promote that goal by involving the next generation in garden projects and art with nature.  Our mission ― ignite a life-long passion for gardening!   Our 2025-26 year started with events at Van Vleck, sparked by Donna Karanja’s and Suzy Straten’s outreach to Van Vleck. (See the pictures, below, with photos from the other events described in this post.) On a hot day in October we participated in Sensory Day when we created tissue flowers to provide an activity suitable for all ages. In November we participated in Van Vleck's Art and Nature Day with a tree silhouette inviting children of all ages to use glue, leaves and tissue paper to decorate. Both events were hits!   In October we planted bulbs, a long tradition of the Club. Our long-time partners, the YMCA and Mountainside Hospital, will glow this spring with the beauty of tulips planted by eager groups from MHS and Deron, lead by our team. This was a rewarding experience for all of us and for the students; we can’t wait to do it all over again next year!   We also, for the first time, planted daffodils at Sawtelle Learning Center with a group of students who had not been exposed to gardening before. The pride these youths took in getting bulbs into the ground was heartwarming and, according to the school faculty, they talked about it for weeks afterwards. We cannot wait to hear about their reactions to the flowers when they appear!   In January we continued to focus on planting for the future, this time by conducting winter sowing workshops. At Hillside School we co-hosted a winter seed-sowing program with Master Gardeners of Essex County. Science teacher Susan Bartol showed a slideshow on how native perennials grow from seed and the classes examined a variety of seeds. We taught and facilitated sowing seeds in plastic baggies that are now sitting outside in the garden, awaiting spring. All in all, three classes of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders planted 25 baggies of natives. We hope that our efforts provide many plants for the new native plant garden.   At Sawtelle Learning Center we held a garden brainstorming session and winter sowing training with teachers. This will allow the seed activity to be conducted in multiple classes with students working one on one with their counselors. We reviewed planting out locations for the winter sowing including one next to their daffodils. A steep slope recently cleared of vines and saplings will be seeded after last frost with California poppy, partridge pea, nasturtium, and zinnia seeds provided by our Club. We will come back to support their efforts and do a train-the-teacher workshop on planting out.    Our next event will be on April 20 to train Sawtelle instructors on creating aroma jars for Mother’s Day gifts. This will be rolled out to classes during their art time, and, as with winter sowing, we will occasionally, as requested, mentor instructors with their classes. This is a good year.