Garden Club of Woodbridge Holiday Festivities

The Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby is hosting holiday tours of Frances Osborne Kellogg's home from November 28 through December 20. Garden Clubs in the area volunteer to decorate different rooms in the Museum before the tours begin. This year's subject is "Businesses that began in Derby." Mary Ann Tyma, Mary Leigh Sabshin, Debbie Schlegel, Cindy Marien, Mary Jane Purcell, Teresa Gagliardi and Angela Bradley, members of the Garden Club of Woodbridge, decorated Frances's childhood bedroom and bathroom. The business the club members were assigned was Charlton Comics, an American comic book publishing company established in Derby from 1945-1986. Its first publications were song lyrics, puzzles and books. Charlton Comics had crime, science fiction, Western, horror, war, and romance comics, as well as talking animal and superhero titles. Numerous items from the comic book era, books with song lyrics, and old photos enrich Frances's bedroom and bathroom.

A "Holiday Magic" party was held at the home of a member of the Garden Club of Woodbridge. After a delicious lunch was served, club members' artistic designs, which were displayed throughout the house, were discussed. "Winter Gems," horticulture specimens provided by members, were critiqued in order to focus on what should be entered into the Federated Garden Show in February.

What a fun afternoon members of the Garden Club of Woodbridge had on December 12 at the Woodbridge Senior Center. Garden club members aided seniors in selecting pine branches, pinecones, berries, and flowers to build holiday flower arrangements. Club members guided seniors along the way. There was plenty of "bling" (stars, mini-ornaments, etc.) to enrich the designs. Baskets, glass vases, ceramic dishes, and silver bowls held the festive, completed arrangements.