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History

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Duck River Garden Club of Old Lyme was founded in 1970 by Priscilla Bayreuther Swanson and a group of friends. The club met at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church on the second Monday of September 1969, and elected officers, planned programs for the year and had articles written for The Day and Hartford Courant newspapers. The club 

celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2025.

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The club met under the name “Old Lyme Garden Club” for almost one year before deciding to join The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. The local newspapers frequently confused the Old Lyme Garden Club name with the Lyme Garden Club. The club name was changed to Duck River Garden Club of Old Lyme when it joined the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut in 1971. Ms. Swanson was the first president, 1969-1971.  The original logo was by John Colton.

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The goals of the club are to stimulate a greater interest in gardening and landscaping, to learn the elements of floral design, to create a greater awareness of nature and conservation, and to maintain the beauty of our town.

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Click here to download a History of Duck River Garden Club, authored by Priscilla Bayreuther Swanson.

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Click here to view photo albums

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​                           "Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back

                       into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace."

                                                                                  — May Sarton —

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Recent Awards

2025 Awards
Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Awards
  • Certificate of Commendation for Newsletter, Public Relations and Communications.
  • Electronic Media: Website Certificate of Merit (Medium Club), Public Relations and Communications.
  • Garden Therapy-Club Certificate of Achievement, for work with residents at the Bride Brook Health and Rehabilitation Center in Niantic, CT.
  • Civic Development Award of Excellence (Medium Club) for floral displays on eight sites around Old Lyme in celebration of the club's 50th Anniversary (golden marigolds and mums), signs honoring our first responders, town civic wreathmaking, and fundraising for the town ambulance association during the pandemic.
  • Club Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Suzy Bolduc, who energized the club through many projects.
  • Tribute Award and Pin for Photography awarded to Fred Verillo, for artistically photographing club events and weekly members' floral displays at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, and posting on Facebook.
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2024 Awards
Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Awards
  • 1st Place Yearbook-Class IV (45-69 members).
  • Historic, Memorial and Public Gardens: Club Certificate of Achievement for the Ted Hillhouse Memorial Garden at the Old Lyme Police Department.
  • Luckner Youth Award for Medium Club (membership 30-59): Cross Lane Playground/Native Plant Project with the Jr. Womens' Club and local school children, replacing invasives with natives and pollinator friendly plants, led by member Suzanne Thompson.
  • Youth-Certificate of Achievement-Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Middle School students planting flowers at the local library and interacting with live birds through the Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center, led by member Eleanor Hufford.
  • Individual Citation for Horticulture awarded to Linda Clough-for promoting knowledge about invasive species in the community.
  • Individual Certificate of Achievement for Environmental Awareness awarded to Suzanne Thompson, who holds membership in several regional organizations which promote conservation of the environment.
  • Conservation Award (for work at Soundview Garden).
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2023 Awards

Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Awards

  • Civic Creativity Award for two displays at the town library, "Houseplant Renaissance" and "Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds"

  • Garden Therapy Award of Excellence

  • Historic, Memorial and Public Gardens: Traveling Silver Tray; as well as FGCCT Club Citation for work on renovating the garden at the Old Lyme Police Department

  • 1st Place Newsletter - Class IV medium club

  • 1st Place Yearbook Certificate - Class IV medium club

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2022 Awards

Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Awards

  • 1st Place Yearbook - Class IV (45-69 members)

  • 1st Place Public Relations and Communications, Newsletters in CT

  • Youth Club Certificate of Achievement DRGC is recognized for its work with 20 elementary school children at a planting station in a restored playground.

 
2021 Awards

Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Awards

  • 1st Place Yearbook

  • 1st Place Website

National Garden Clubs of America

  • 1st Place Website

 
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Our Past Presidents

2022–2024    Linda Clough

2020–2022    Karen Geisler

2018–2020    Fay Wilkman

2016–2018     Kathy Burton

2014–2016     Barbara Rayel
2012–2014     Kathi Green
2010–2012     Lesley Chick
2008–2010    Barbara Beal
2006-2008    Jeanne Munnelly
2003-2006    Ellie Krasney
2002-2003    Deborah O’Meara
2000-2002    Nancy Strohla
1998–2000    Nancy Cyr
1996–1998     Maureen Friedmann
1994–1996     Joanne DiCamillo
1992–1994     Heidi Niblack
1990–1992     Linda Cantner
1988–1990     Audrey Hass
1986–1988     Mim Oberg
1984–1986     Kathy Nadeau
1982–1984     Gail Magaldi
1980–1982     Glynn McAraw
1978–1980     Doris Johnson
1976–1978     Judy Cleaver
1974–1976     Jan Hine
1972–1974     Blossom Tierney
1970–1972     Priscilla Bayreuther

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