CAMDEN — In 1950, members of the Camden Garden Club took it upon themselves to bring the joy of the holiday season to downtown Camden by filling each lamp post basket with seasonal evergreens. Sixty-nine years later this dedicated organization continues the tradition. 

On October 30, the wrappers, twisters and pouffers gathered at St. Thomas’ Church to create the brilliant red bows that adorn fresh balsam wreaths that are hung just before Thanksgiving. The wrappers wound flocked ribbon around wooden templates in three stages, stapled them together, and passed them on to the twisters who used florist wire to secure the 18 loops that make up each bow.

“Finally, the pouffers took over and artfully pulled and twisted the loops into place to produce 102 perfectly stunning bows,” said the Garden Club, in a news release. 

In mid-November the greenery will be delivered to the American Legion Hall in Camden where garden club members and helpers will embellish each wreath with a bow and string of twinkling white lights. The wreaths will then be transported to town, secured to the lamp posts and lit, creating the magical holiday atmosphere that is Christmas in Camden. 

Anyone interested in helping with the wreath assembly should contact camdengardenclub100@gmail.com.