Lake Placid Garden Club Celebrates Local Gardeners with Awards

The Garden Club of Lake Placid has recognized local gardeners for their contributions to the community by presenting them with the annual Green Thumb Awards. This year, the awards were given to four homeowners, highlighting their efforts to beautify the neighborhood with vibrant flower displays. The recipients were honored with handcrafted copper garden markers and tulip bulbs to encourage their springtime gardening endeavors.

The awardees included Jenifer Briggs of Church Street, Deborah Pelkey of Acorn Street, Dorine and Ed Peregrim of Liberty Hill Lane, and Carol and Karl Scott of Grandview Avenue. The ceremony celebrated the creativity and dedication these gardeners exhibited in their front, back, and side yards, many of which feature plants gifted by friends and family.

The Garden Club of Lake Placid has historically played a significant role in enhancing the community through gardening initiatives. Over the years, the club has transitioned from volunteer-led projects to professional landscaping, yet it continues to maintain its community roots. Currently, club members tend to the courtyard garden at Elderwood of Uihlein Assisted Living and Rehab and the Triangle Garden located across from the North Elba Show Grounds.

As the gardening season draws to a close, the club has been busy with seasonal maintenance. Recently, members added ornamental plants such as chrysanthemums, asters, millet, and kale to the Triangle Garden to complement existing black-eyed Susans, tall grasses, and hydrangeas. These enhancements provide visual interest as the colder months approach.

Despite a relatively warm start to the fall, colder temperatures have already impacted the region, with several frost events occurring in unprotected areas outside the village. As a result, many gardeners are now focused on wrapping up their gardening activities for the season. Cleanup protocols vary, with factors such as providing food sources for birds and protecting plant crowns from harsh winter conditions influencing individual approaches.

For those who may not return until spring, such as snowbirds and vacation homeowners, thorough fall cleanup is particularly crucial. Neglecting this task can result in heavy, wet plant matter that fosters rot and disease as temperatures rise in spring. Cleanup strategies often depend on the plant varieties grown and the size of the garden beds.

In addition to gardening maintenance, members of the Garden Club of Lake Placid recently enjoyed a scenic outing to the top of Whiteface Mountain to admire the peak foliage, marking the end of a busy season filled with educational events and community activities. Looking ahead, the club plans to gather for a festive project where they will create 100 winter holiday swags to adorn the village, ensuring that the spirit of gardening and community remains vibrant throughout the winter months.

This initiative reflects the club’s commitment to enhancing the beauty of Lake Placid and fostering a sense of community among its residents.