The Cornwall Garden Club’s annual plant sale will be moving to a new, but nearby location – the grounds of Town Hall. The sale begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m.
Each year, on the Saturday before Mothers’ Day, the Cornwall Garden Club holds its annual plant sale. Nearly 800 plants are sold each year, and as the club’s only fund raiser, between $6,000 and $7,000 is raised. Traditionally held on the grounds of Sand’s Ring Homestead, this year’s sale is being moved across the street to the park in front of Town Hall. The sale begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds from the sale fund the club’s community beautification projects, such as the gardens at Chadeayne Circle and the Village Bandstand, as well as other endeavors.
The Garden Club, which was formed in 1929, regularly reaches out to the community by offering garden therapy to those residing in assisted living facilities. The Garden Club offers two scholarships annually; $1,000 is awarded to a high school graduate interested in pursuing environmental studies. The club also sponsors one or two children and pays for them to attend a week-long summer camp at the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum.
Starting last year, in cooperation with the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Cornwall Alliance, and local businesses, the club members are also helping to beautify Main Street. Baskets of flowers were placed on the bridge coming into town. A kiosk was added to the municipal parking lot. This year, 20 urns will be filled with flowers and greens.
Every Arbor Day, the Garden Club donates a tree to be planted. This year’s offering was placed in Donahue Memorial Park along the Hudson River.
The Garden Club meets once a month, at 6:30 p.m. either on a Tuesday or Thursday, at various locations around town – Munger Cottage, Cornwall Presbyterian Church, or the Cornwall Public Library, whatever is available and works best with the program for the evening. About eight meetings are held each year, and two months out of the year the club members take a field trip in lieu of a meeting. This year the members will be visiting the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Botanical Garden in New York City. The club holds an annual Christmas party and starts the spring with a luncheon.
In order to become a member, one must attend three meetings. Meeting dates are posted around town. Interested parties may reach the Garden Club through its website, cornwallgardenclub.org.
The officers include:
President – Jayne Petersen, First Vice Presidents – Marie-Elise Pearson and Michele Farr, Second Vice Presidents – Rita Chase and Marjorie Krupa, Third Vice Presidents – Sally Ryan, Frances Clifford, and Amy Lawless, Recording Secretary – Susan Olsen, Corresponding Secretary – Sandy Kirwan, and Treasurer – Arlene DeSocio.
The Garden Club is affiliated with the Federal Garden Club of New York State and is part of District 10 which includes clubs from Orange, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties.