CAMDEN — The rainy weather outside the American Legion Hall in Camden did not dampen the spirits of Camden Garden Club members, spouses and friends on Nov. 16, when they gathered as they have for more than 30 years to create the magic that gives downtown Camden its storybook appeal during the holiday season.

Inside the hall were 98 fresh balsam wreaths, delivered that morning by Evergreen Farms in Damariscotta, 98 strings of twinkling white lights, 98 velvet red bows that the group made by hand in October, and the large contingent of willing volunteers ready to go to work.

First the lights were tested and passed to the stringers, who wound them round wreath-sized templates to form a perfect circle. The lights were then passed to the group who would wire them onto the wreaths before handing them over to the final team who attached the bows. Cheer on the effort was organizer Karen Cease, whose shouts of encouragement as each wreath was completed added to the group's overall camaraderie.

The task was finished in record time, after which the group enjoyed some well-deserved coffee and pastries before cleaning up and heading out. The finished wreaths were collected by Camden's Public Works department, which completed the transformation of the lampposts - and the downtown - just in time for Thanksgiving.

Camden Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine and National Garden Clubs Inc. New members are always welcome.