Awards by Category

Award of Excellence in Civic Development:  Certificates may be awarded in each of the four club sizes.

Civic Creativity Award:  (established 2007 by the Suffield Garden Club) This award may be presented to a club for an unusual or outstanding and creative project in the area of civic development.

Lee Bauerfeld Award:  (established in 2002 by the Branford Garden Club)  This award may be awarded annually to a club or individual for an outstanding civic project that benefits the community both aesthetically and environmentally and is designed to encourage further improvement.

Presidents’ Award:  (established in 1985 to honor all former Federation Presidents) This award may be presented to a club for an outstanding community project. The award was donated by Sally Shumway, former Federation President (1983-1985).

Awards Contact:  civicdevelopment@ctgardenclubs.org

Conservation Award (established 2002):  This award,  established in memory of former FGCCT President Jeanne Lena (1981 – 1983), may be awarded to an individual, couple, or group for excellence in conservation. The Awards Committee shall name the recipient from suggestions submitted to the State Conservation Chair or the Awards Chair by May 31.

Pauline B. Tyler Award (established 1990 by The Federation Board of Directors):   This award may be presented annually to an individual, couple, garden club or group for excellence in promoting conservation or legislation.

Awards Contact:  conservenvr@ctgardenclubs.org

Arboreal Award  (established 1984, later expanded to all club sizes):  This award may be presented for an outstanding Arbor Day or tree-planting project. Awards may be presented in the four club sizes.

Environmental Awareness Award (established 1993):  This award may be presented to a club or individual for outstanding involvement in areas of environmental awareness.

Awards Contact: conservenvr@ctgardenclubs.org

Tribute Award in Design:  Pin and certificate awarded to an individual member who has made outstanding contributions in this area.  Award Contact:  secondvicepres@ctgardenclubs.org

Tapestry of Design Award (established 2006):  This award may be presented to a club or individual for an unusual or outstanding Project, Flower Show, Program, Event, or combination of such that promotes the art of Floral Design.  A club or multiple clubs working together may apply or be nominated.

Flower Show Achievement Awards:   Achievement awards, awards of merit and citations are given for an entire Flower Show as well as an outstanding division, superior schedule, staging, etc. by the Federation to a Club or a Group of Clubs for a flower show put on by the Club(s). To be considered for an Achievement Award, a Flower Show first must be evaluated.  Flower Show chairs should contact the Evaluations Chair well in advance of the show so that a panel of judges may be selected to evaluate the show. You need not apply for these awards; the evaluation process puts you in the running.

For a complete list of Awards FOR a Flower Show and GIVEN AT a Flower Show, plus procedures, see Awards Manual – Part II – Flower Show Awards.

Award of Excellence for Garden Therapy:  Certificates may be awarded in each of the four club sizes.

Award Contact: gardentherapy@ctgardenclubs.org

Award of Excellence for Historic, Memorial, and Public Gardens: A certificate may be awarded in each of the four club sizes.

Award Contact:  historicgardens@ctgardenclubs.org

Award of Excellence in Horticulture: Certificates may be awarded in the four club sizes.

Ellen Carder Memorial Award  (established January 1971):  In recognition of Ellen Carder’s interests and achievements in the field of horticulture, this award in the form of a suitable book, shall be given annually to a garden club member for noteworthy horticulture achievement. The recipient shall be chosen from suggestions by the general membership, at the discretion of The Federation Horticulture Chair and The Federation Awards Committee.

Joyce P. Harris Award  (established 2002):  This award may be presented to an individual or group for outstanding horticulture achievement in the nominee’s club and community. The recipient shall be chosen at the discretion of The Federation Horticulture Chair.

Mary Freng Sherley Award  (established 1988):  This  award may be presented annually to an individual or club for horticultural excellence. The recipient shall be chosen at the discretion of The Federation Horticulture Chair and the Federation Awards Committee from suggestions made by the general membership.

Awards Contact: hortchair@ctgardenclubs.org

Habitat for Humanity Landscape Award  (established 2007 by Meg Bremer):  This award may be presented to a club for an outstanding landscaping or educational project.

Habitat for Humanity Landscape Award Application

Landscape Design Council Award for Excellence in Design (established 1982, revised 2021) May be given to a professional landscape design firm, other commercial landscape business and/or a non-profit or educational organization which has promoted superior landscape design standards in a planned and implemented landscape display at a public Flower and Garden Show in Connecticut.

Awards Contact: ldschair@ctgardenclubs.org

The Lovely Garden Award  (established 2006 in memory of Penny Jarvis):  An  award certificate and a donation to a cause/charity of the recipient’s choice are given by the Gardening Consultants Council for a garden created with love.  The recipient is selected by the Gardening Consultants Council from recommendations submitted to the Council Chair by the deadline.  Lovely Garden Award Online Application

Award Contact:  lovelygarden@ctgardenclubs.org

Tribute Award for Photography:  Pin and certificate awarded to an individual member who has made outstanding contributions in this area.  Award Contact: secondvicepres@ctgardenclubs.org

Publication and Website Awards: A Certificate of Merit is presented in the four club sizes for the entry judged best in each category.

• Membership brochures, leaflets or other publications designed to increase membership or bring public awareness to your club.
• Publications, such as newsletters, magazines and bulletins that are distributed at least three times per year.
• Social Media and Websites that promote your club and the objectives of FGCCT and NGC.  At least a portion of the site must be available to be viewed by the public.
• Digital Media Presentations for the best digital presentation recorded and submitted in the following categories:  History/Archives, Garden Tours, Flower Shows, Club Projects and Programs.
• Manuals and Handbooks supporting FGCCT and NGC objectives.
• Educational Publications promoting FGCCT and NGC objectives in design, the environment, landscape, gardening, horticulture, therapy, etc.
• A National Garden Week promotion that shows community awareness throughout the entire week and includes local and or state proclamations.

Please review the Awards Manual for more details.

Publications are submitted electronically with few exceptions using the following forms:

• Digital Media Award
• Membership Awareness Award
• Promotion of NGC Week Award
• Publication Award
• Social Media Award
• Website Media Award

The Public Relations Chair may be contacted for more information.

Award Contact: publicity@ctgardenclubs.org

Youth Award of Excellence: This award may be presented to a club for outstanding work with youth in a school setting.  Awards are presented in the four club sizes.

Luckner Youth Award (established 1993): This award may be presented to a club for outstanding work with youth programs conducted outside of a school setting. Awards are presented in the four club sizes.

For information about Youth Contests, click here.

Award Contact: youth@ctgardenclubs.org

Bronze Medal  (established 1935):  This is the highest award by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. It is awarded to an individual, couple, group or club for outstanding accomplishments in upholding the aims and purposes of The Federation. No officer, committee chairman, or member currently serving on the Board of The Federation shall be eligible for consideration for this award. This award  is granted by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of The Federation at the July board meeting. Nominations shall be made in writing to The Federation Awards Chair.  The Bronze Medal is not necessarily given each year. The deadline for submitting a nomination is July 1.

Lucille  Schavoir Award  (established 1978):  This award may be awarded annually to a club for outstanding garden club work during the awards year, June 1 to May 31. The Federation Awards Committee makes the recommendation from the club projects submitted to the committee chairs.   This award is considered the highest award presented to a club. The deadline for submission is May 31.

Lillian M. Rathbun Award (established 1990 by the Lyme Garden Club):  This award may be presented annually to an individual involved in all phases of garden club work. The recipient shall be chosen at the discretion of The Federation Awards Committee from nominations submitted by the general membership either to the Awards Chair or directly to the respective chairs of the Awards Committee by May 31.  This award is considered the highest award presented to an individual garden club member.

Club Certificate of Appreciation (established 1978):  This award allows each individual club to recognize outstanding work, length of service, or whatever is applicable to honor one of its members in a fitting manner in any given year. Applications must be sent to the Federation Awards Chair by May 31. The recommendation must be approved by the Awards Committee. Only one Certificate of Appreciation per club per year may be awarded.

Good Deed Citation  (established 1980):  A thoughtful gesture of goodwill aptly describes the Citation which recognizes an unusual worthwhile project that otherwise does not fit into the award categories. This might be a small or large one-time project, or a yearly one. The Application deadline is May 31.

Awards Contact: awards@ctgardenclubs.org

Tribute Awards are distinct awards to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions within their club, The Federation, and/or the community. A pin and a certificate are presented to the award recipients in the following categories:

• Civic Development
• Communications
• Conservation
• Floral Design
• Garden Therapy
• Horticulture
• Landscape and Landscape Design
• Photography
• Youth
• All Around Excellence

Award Contact:  secondvicepres@ctgardenclubs.org

Yearbook Award of Excellence  (established 2004 by Program Chairmen Florence Flynn and Inge Venus):  This award may be presented to the outstanding Yearbook that best demonstrates an all-around approach to furthering The Federation President’s Theme. For 2023-25, President Karin Pyskaty’s theme is Care for Our Air, Plant a Tree. If your club has planned, through a combination of programs, projects, education, outreach, support of legislation or other means, to inspire individual and/or collective responses supporting the President’s theme, your Yearbook is a candidate for the award. Note:  Your club does not need to plan all activities during the year around the President’s theme, just demonstrate a focus. This award will not be presented to the same garden club in two consecutive years.

Yearbooks are submitted by using the following Form: Yearbook Award of Excellence 

Award Contact: susan.mayne@ctgardenclubs.org