Bright and early on May 21, with Memorial Day weekend looming, a determined group of Camden Club members and spouses armed with rakes, clippers, brooms, blowers and edging tools descended on the town’s Village Green.  Their mission was to spruce up the planting beds surrounding the green so they would look their very best for the holiday weekend and the beginning of the “season” when Camden welcomes thousands of Midcoast visitors.  

In 1991, the Camden Garden Club envisioned the Village Green as: “A space with feasts for the eyes and comfort for the feet; from the undulating greens to a riot of flowers promising an inviting thoroughfare from Maine Street to Chestnut Street, a place to meet, or simply a spot for sitting quietly amidst the well-ordered beauties of nature.”  

The club financed a refurbishment at that time and again in 2015 to commemorate their 100  birthday.  This lively group of volunteers will continue their monthly clean up days through November to ensure the 1991 vision remains a reality.

The Village Green was not the only spot receiving attention in May.  The planter beds in front of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce offices on the public landing are now bedecked with petunias, dahlias, geraniums, daylilies and more, and the Welcome to Camden arch boxes on Union Street are similarly adorned.  Gratitude goes to Camden Garden Club’s Civic chairperson Fran Moore who was ably assisted by members Maureen O’Donnell and Sandy Hurlbut. 

Camden Garden Club also purchases the flowers for the traffic islands on Main Street, and the gorgeous red geraniums that fill hanging the baskets and planters downtown.  Countless photographs will be taken of our lovely town during the coming months and thanks to the garden club it is looking spectacular.  Camden Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine and National Garden Clubs, Inc.  Guests and prospective members are always welcome.  For more information about the club and its activities visit www.camdengardenclub.org.