History of the  Academy Garden Club of Lenox

Established in 1977

The first official meeting of the Lenox Academy Garden Club was held on April 5, 1977. The original steering committee which proposed the by laws consisted of Lucy Babbitt, Marci Brown, Jeanne Dodge, Eleanor Morrisey, Linda Riewe, Adele Tane, Susan Tomasello and Marie Weatherhead all of Lenox, Massachusetts.

Our Past Presidents are ...
Our Past Year books are here ....
 

     Early in 1977 several talented women, from Lenox, wanted to form a flower garden club that would be devoted to beautifying Lenox.

     On April 5, 1977 they met and the first official meeting was held. A steering committee was formed of Lucy Babbitt, Marci Brown, Jeanne Dodge, Eleanor Morrisey, Linda Riewe, Adele Tane, Susan Tomasello and Marie Weatherhead, to compose a mission statement and bylaws. They elected their first president,

Linda Riewe, and off they went!

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     The first beautification project

they adopted was the Academy

Building in Lenox which became

their home and name. 

                                                                                                   

 

    

 

 

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                                                                                                                                The Academy Building in Lenox

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     The group was 22 members strong at first but continued to attract members through their work in Lenox.

 

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      Every spring they cleaned up in the front

yard of the town library. At that time there was

a wrought iron fence spanning the lawn beside

the Library that needed much care, and you

would often see the ladies working there.                                                                               

   

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                                                                                                                                                                  Lenox Library                                                             The Academy Garden Club partnered with Arrowhead and Chesterwood to create holiday displays. At Chesterwood they decorated a room, and at Arrowhead they decorated the whole house.

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     Then came planting the annual flowers around

the town monument each year which was expanded

to plantings in the two large urns that flanked the

doors to the Community Center annually and

obtaining a grant from Exxon to beautify the front

lawn of the Lenox Community Center with shrubs

and flowers which the Academy Garden Club 

tended for many years.                                                                                           The Monument in Lenox               

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     From the very beginning the club partnered with the Berkshire Botanical Gardens (BBG), and had their own plot to grow flowers. These flowers would be picked, dried in Liz Celli’s barn (and later in Claudia Trombley's barn) and then Liz and Claudia used the dried flowers to create wreaths and arrangements in antique containers for the BBG to sell at their Harvest Festival. Liz became our 2nd President in 1978, and Claudia became our 3rd President in 1980. The Academy Garden Club would also help make wreaths and boxwood arrangements for the BBG Holiday Sale, which members continue to do to this day.  Today we continue to support the BBG with a membership.

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     Many members entered garden shows in Berkshire county winning ribbons.

     In 1997 the club was mentioned in an article written by Maryjane Fromm for Woman's Day magazine!

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     Both Post Office windows were decorated year round

by members willing to climb into the windows and lend

their creative talents to create a horticultural themed

display every three months.

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     Lenox held an annual 4th of July parade and a Tub parade that always had a float from the club and they were usually awarded a ribbon.

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     Today we remain involved in several traditional programs

along with new ones: We provide an annual scholarship given to

a high school senior, plantings at the Academy building and the

North Lenox Fire Station.​

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                                                                                                                                                                                          Lenox Apple Squeeze   

    In 2025 a pollinator garden at the town community garden is being designed and planted.

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    This club has blossomed into a beautiful bouquet for all to enjoy.​