Apr 22, 2016 2 min read

The Town & Country Garden Club received several awards at the 85th Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania Convention in State College earlier this month.

The certificates awarded to the club at the convention from April 10 to 12 and included first place for its 2015-16 Yearbook, 2015 Publicity Press Book and 2015 Flower Schedule. Also, a third place for a Book of Evidence for the 2015 Standard Flower Show, “Beauties of the Earth” staged in a public building. The certificates awarded were in the category of small clubs of 29 members or less.

“Attending the convention offers a great opportunity to interact with fellow gardeners, attend a variety of workshops and return with a multitude of information and ideas,” club President Kay Bair said.

Maryanne Frazier from the Penn State Department of Entomology presented one of the convention programs, “Bees and Blooms,” and spoke about the bees as pollinators and their ongoing serious decline and continued threats. One study revealed as much as 31 pesticide identifications in a single pollen sample. The presentation stressed the three vital elements needed by the bees: housing, food, and protection from pesticides.

“One of the most interesting things I learned is that Bumblebees are one of the earliest seen bees in the spring and any that are seen this time of year are all Queens,” club First Vice President Terri Laird said.

The first place award for the for 2015-16 Yearbook and the 2015 Publicity Press Book have been sent to the Central Atlantic Region for further judging.