Despite the frigid temperatures at 8 a.m. on the morning of November 14, a determined group of Camden Garden Club members, spouses and friends gathered at the American Legion Hall on Pearl Street.  Their mission:  To, once again, bring the beauty and joy of the holiday season to downtown Camden, a club tradition since the 1970s. 

The fragrance of 98 fresh balsam wreaths, delivered before sunrise, was intoxicating as these hearty souls set about their task. 

Work stations were set up around the perimeter of the room and the first step was to form a string of sparkling white lights into a circle, one for each wreath.  Each string had been pre-tested to make sure it was working properly. 

The light circles were then passed to the next group who attached them securely to the individual wreaths.  Large crimson bows, fashioned by club members in October, were then wired into place.  When a wreath was completed it was added to the ever increasing rows on the floor until all 98 were finished and the group could breathe a sigh of relief for a job well done. 

A fire brigade style line was formed to pass the wreaths from the hall to the parking lot where they would be collected, transported into town and hung on the lampposts by the Camden Public Works Department.  What a welcome sight they are each year, how festive they make the town feel, aren’t we fortunate that Camden Garden Club has been able to maintain this tradition for over 40 years? 

Camden Garden Club is always pleased to welcome guests and prospective members to their monthly meetings held April through October at the First Congregational Church in Camden.  The club also hosts a Winter Horticulture Series at Camden Public Library in January and February.  To learn more about the club and its activities, visit camdengardenclub.org or email camdengardenclub100@gmail.com .  Camden Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine and National Garden Clubs, Inc.