Beautification League, Garden Club Create Large Wreaths That Adorn Major Buildings through the Holidays

More than two dozen volunteers from a pair of the town’s longest-serving and most hands-on nonprofit organizations gathered at the New Canaan Nature Center on Thursday to create the giant wreaths that adorn major buildings in town through the holidays.

The New Canaan women who led this year’s effort to create the wreaths that adorn several major buildings, L-R: New Canaan Beautification League President Faith Kerchoff, New Canaan Garden Club President Jane Gamber, NCGC wreaths Chair Maryjane Markey and NCBL wreaths Co-Chair Liz Orteig. Not pictured: NCBL wreaths Co-Chair Sharon Johnson. Credit: Michael Dinan

Officials say the New Canaan Beautification League and New Canaan Garden Club have collaborated for some 50 years to create the wreaths—an effort that’s also supported by the town in that public works supplies evergreen cuttings and mounts the creations each year.

“It’s a tradition. This is really a tradition,” Beautification League President Faith Kerchoff said from the bustling, sunlit Sturgess Room, which smelled sweetly of the wide variety of evergreens used for the wreaths, including holly, arborvitae, spruce, boxwood, pine, cedar and juniper.

A “two-way” wreath hangs above the new, north entrance to the addition at Town Hall. On Dec. 3, 2015. Credit: Michael Dinan

Buildings that will get large wreaths include New Canaan Library, the Railroad Station, Police Department, Outback and Town Hall.

Maryjane Markey, head of the wreaths effort from the Garden Club, said the organization kickstarted the tradition some 60 years ago. She noted that in addition to the large wreaths, smaller arrangements were being created for deliveries to Meals On Wheels clients with their food.

Members of the New Canaan Beautification League and New Canaan Garden Club collaborate to create the wreaths that adorn several major buildings in town. Here they are on Dec. 3, 2015 at the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan

Crews from the DPW are expected on Friday morning to pick up and place all wreaths around town, including several smaller ones, Markey said.

The raw materials for the wreaths are all local—Markey said that several of the clubs’ members bring their own cuttings, and the town waits for this time to do its own pruning of evergreen trees in order to supply them for wreath-making.

Members of the New Canaan Beautification League and New Canaan Garden Club collaborate to create the wreaths that adorn several major buildings in town. Here they are on Dec. 3, 2015 at the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan

Liz Orteig, a co-chair of the wreaths effort for the Beautification League, said the day draws plenty of volunteers because they’re “excited about making the town beautiful.”

“It makes them feel good, gets them in the Christmas spirit,” she said.