WESTFORD — This past holiday season, the Westford Garden Club launched its first year of community wreath making, a project that quickly exceeded expectations.
Led by Wendy Lane, chairperson of the wreath project, the fundraiser brought together longtime members and newcomers alike, while keeping holiday shopping local.
“It was so much fun and so well received, we weren’t really sure how it was going to go,” Lane said. “And Maria helped us out every step of the way.”
The wreath project was passed on to the Westford Garden Club by Maria Davis, a Master Gardener who had run the wreath business independently for over a decade as an online operation. For nearly 15 years, Davis made wreaths for the community and allowed customers to donate proceeds to charities of their choice.
Lane and Judy Corbett, president of the Westford Garden Club, met Davis last spring, when Davis approached them about transitioning the wreath business into a fundraiser for the club, with profits supporting its nonprofit work.
With Davis’s guidance, the club eased into its first season, emphasizing craftsmanship and teamwork over volume.
“When we set up the garage space, she came over to demonstrate how to make a wreath, and it was all about quality over quantity,” Lane said.
While Davis typically produced between 100 and 150 wreaths annually, the Garden Club decided to start with 60 wreaths for its first year. The wreaths sold out quickly.
“Next year, we will do at least 100 and start advertising a little earlier,” Lane said.
The wreaths were handmade by Garden Club members in a donated space at the Princeton Westford Apartments. Materials included greenery and supplies from previous years lent by Davis, along with fresh materials purchased by the club. Members also participated in multiple workshops leading up to the season, including bow-making, berry-picking, and wiring workshops.
The entire operation was coordinated through the Westford Garden Club’s Facebook page, and customers were able to fully customize their wreaths. Buyers could choose from 31 different bows, select between natural or ornamental designs, and choose between delivery or pickup.
“In the description, natural meant pinecones and berries with a bow and sometimes a little ornament,” Lane said. “And the ornamental one was the bow, pinecones, berries, and at least a dozen bobbles.”
“They all were beautiful,” she added. “Just when I thought I had a favorite, the next one was even better.”
Lane said many customers were drawn to the fundraiser because the proceeds stayed within the community.
“Many of the people said that they were so thrilled and so glad that the money was staying in the community,” she said. “Instead of buying something at a store where the money doesn’t come back, they liked knowing they were supporting something local.”
Proceeds from the wreath fundraiser go toward the Westford Garden Club’s annual scholarship for a graduating senior at Westford Academy, as well as multiple town-wide beautification and community projects.
Those projects are part of a long tradition for the Westford Garden Club, which was established in 1963 and continues to grow. This year, the club doubled its membership. Corbett, who has been a member for 10 years, said the club’s mission remains rooted in beautification, service, and positivity.
“I think it just beautifies the town,” Corbett said. “I think it makes people smile when they drive by and see them, and we all love growing things, so we’re very happy to do that for the town.”
The club maintains the herb garden in front of the Westford Museum and updates flowers and seasonal decor four times a year near the town common, Town Hall, and the police station.
This past spring, the club donated money to the Board of Health for the yellow tulip project, which celebrates hope and raises awareness for mental illness. Members also planted yellow tulips around Town Hall as part of the initiative.
The Westford Garden Club recently tied for first place at the Rotary Club’s Festival of Trees and continues to expand its outreach.
On Feb. 9, the club will host a small business fair at the Cameron Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring local artists.
All of the club’s work is funded through volunteer-run fundraisers like the wreath project, which also serve as opportunities for members to connect.
“We did really well fundraising, but it was also really good team building,” Corbett said. “With half the club being new members, it was a really good project for the older and new members to work together and get to know each other.”
Both Corbett and Lane said the club continues to welcome new members, whether they are experienced gardeners or simply interested in learning something new and meeting people in the community.
