The Garden Club of Newtown was recognized with five awards during the 94th Annual Awards Meeting of The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut.

Two individual and three club honors were presented to the Newtown club.

Louise Zierzow received The Tribute Award in Photography.

Judges wrote Zierzow’s “dedication and her photography have enhanced The Federation’s 2021-2023 theme ‘We Grow Gardens and Gardeners’ as well as the club motto ‘Happiness Grows in the Garden.’”

Zierzow is a regular contributor to the local club’s monthly newsletters, providing seasonal photos of local and civic gardens. She also provides photos for the club’s annual yearbook, and maintains a historic photographic record “of all the wonderful events and work of club members,” according to the awards booklet. She regularly arranges and edits her photos, and freely shares them among the club with links for fellow members to enjoy and download. She is also a regular contributor to this newspaper for the club’s events.

During the 2022 Federation Awards Luncheon, it was further noted, Zierzow photographed each award recipient, table arrangements, and the 300+ members in attendance. Her finished images from that day provided “a historical record of the day.”

Lisa Shirk received the Environmental Concerns Certificate of Individual Achievement for being a driving force for environmental education and conservation issues and projects in her club.

Shirk educates club members on native plants, trees and shrubs and their value to the ecosystem in providing for pollinators and supporting food webs, according to the awards write-up.

She additionally “gives mini talks at each club meeting and writes articles on environmental topics for the club’s newsletter. She helps members identify invasive plants on their property, educates on proper removal and disposal, and volunteers for local land trust and community invasive removal events,” the notes continued.

The Garden Club of Newtown was honored with a Civic Development Club Certificate of Achievement for donating 370 pounds of vegetables from its Victory Garden rows to support local food pantries; a Public Relations and Membership Awareness Certificate of Merit for a Medium Club Membership Brochure; and Award of Honor-Medium Club (30-59 members).

The club has maintained rows in this town’s Victory Garden for 11 years. Members have been joined in recent years by Newtown High School environmental studies students to continue the project.

Established in 1959, the Award of Honor is conferred on a garden club for demonstrating outstanding participation in its community and Federation activities and exceptional achievement in upholding the aims and purposes of The Federation. A club does not apply for the award. The Chair of the Advisory Council tallies the annual activities of each club.

Nine members of the club attended the event, presented October 25 at The Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.