Westminster Cares works with seniors and disabled adults in Westminster, Vermont to help them remain healthy and independent in the community. Volunteers deliver meals, visit those who appreciate some company, and help with rides to the grocery store and appointments. Our healthy aging programs provide social and educational opportunities in exercise, art, and nutrition and are open to residents of Westminster and surrounding towns. Westminster Cares is a local community-based volunteer organization started in 1988.
Thank you for supporting
The 20th Anniversary
WESTMINSTER CARES
2023 GARDEN TOUR
This Tour is now officially over
The Weather Held Out
Making for a Very Successful Garden Tour!
Westminster Cares held their 20th Garden Tour on July 8th and 9th, 2023. The weather forecast was dire, but the rain held off and garden hardy attendees came prepared for any weather. People enjoyed strolling through the lovely gardens; taking photos of plants, flowers and even a camel (!); having lunch at the garden café and enjoying the puppet performance and workshops offered throughout the weekend. We set an attendance record with about 430 people coming through the gardens over the weekend. Many attendees were residents of Westminster and surrounding towns who support the event each year; many were visitors and garden club members from out of state including NH, MA, CT, ME, NY and FLA!
Westminster Cares’ board members and president Lori Larue wish to thank everyone who came out and attended the event. “We are thrilled to have such a wonderful turnout. It is not possible to pull it off without the help of those who support us; our garden hosts, sponsors, local businesses, advertisers, prize donors, volunteers, board members, committee members, and our director, Donna Dawson. This small community has such a big heart. We are truly grateful to everyone who made this event successful and we thank you for supporting our mission.”
Sincere appreciation goes to Gordon and Mary Hayward for 20 years of support; without them this event would not be possible. We estimate that over the many years of Garden tours, the Haywards have helped raise over $150,000 to support Westminster Cares’ programs and services.
Every year several additional community members open their private gardens to the public. In addition to the Haywards, this year’s hosts were Bianca Fernandez of Hope Roots Farm; Elsa Waxman, (with Cyndy Fine of Genius Loci), and Garden Coordinator, Mandy Walsh and Emily Lisai of the Westminster Center School’s garden. A special thank you goes out to Sandglass Theater’s founders Eric Bass and Ines Zeller Bass, for their lively and entertaining puppet performance in celebration of the 20th anniversary of this event. Julie Moir Messervy, landscape designer and author gave a talk and video presentation titled, “Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love” and bee specialist and apiologist, Nancy Frye gave a talk and demonstration titled, “Introduction to Beekeeping”.
This event would not be possible without their design talents, expertise and generosity to Westminster Cares.
The following contributors helped make the tour a success:
Sponsors: Our sponsors provide key financial support to defray costs so that all of the funds raised at the event can go directly to programs and services: Mascoma Bank, Silver Forest, Savings Bank of Walpole, Faith’s Toyota/Ford, Cota & Cota, and 802 Credit Union
Raffle prize donations and winners: Ann Ashcroft for creating and donating the garden-inspired quilt - won by Ginger Manning; Overnight stay including breakfast for two donated by the historic Grafton Inn – won by Melissa Hensen of West Springfield; Outdoor wooden garden bench won by Pat Fowler of Bellows Falls; Weeping cherry tree donated by Matt Conklin & Claudia Giese – won by Celeste Majek of CT; Whimsical rabbit bird bath for the garden donated anonymously – won by Joyce Sullivan of Westminster; Stained glass panel and two decorative hangers made and donated by Maple Leaf Designs – won by Harry Peterson of Westminster; Buddha garden statue (donated anonymously) and Woodstock Windchimes donated by Elise Manning-Sterling – won by Cindy & Don Anderson of Bellows Falls; Large ceramic flower pot filled with annuals donated by Cindy Moses – won by Beverly & Brad Dunbar of Westminster West; Café Loco gift certificate (donated by Michael Lenox) and one half gallon of maple syrup donated by Collins Tree Farm & Sugarhouse – won by Beth Shrader of Westminster; Canvas garden tote by Gardener’s Supply (donated anonymously) and several garden tools donated by Matt Conklin – won by Judy Anderson of Kinderhook, NY; Ecuadorian hammock donated by Wilma Skovinski – won by Beth Spicer of Westminster West; Gift certificate donated by Morning Star Perennials & Trees and one half gallon of maple syrup donated by Collins Tree Farm & Sugarhouse – won by Dick Doyle of Bellows Falls; One hour garden design consultation donated by Cyndy of Genius Loci – won by Ann Ashcroft of Bellows Falls; Gift certificate donated by Halladay’s Flowers & Gifts and hand forged plant hangars by Fred McKenny of Westminster – won by Connie McCarthy; Set of handmade, cotton tote bags made and donated by Raine Kane – won by Lilly Richards of Westminster West.
Ad Program: All the local individuals, businesses and organizations who purchased ads in the Garden Tour program.
Food for Luncheon: Guilford Country Store & Café.
Donations of equipment and services: Best Septic Services (for donating a portable toilet), Walpole Rent-A-Center (for donating a refrigerator), Ruth Grandy (safety vests), Doug & Tina Smith (tent and card tables), Bellows Falls Opera House (publicity), The Westminster Institute (tables; chairs and building use), the Westminster Fire Dept. (tables & chairs).
Printing and graphics: Amie Walter of Amie Walter Design designing all promotional materials; C & S Wholesale Grocers Print Shop for printing all event materials.
Music: Martha Mitchell, guitarist and vocals.
Photography: Ira Wilner of Wilner Associates.
Plant Sales and Flower Arrangements: Morning Star Perennials & Trees; Judi Petry and Melinda Underwood for flowers and table arrangements. Special thanks go to all the volunteers and board members, who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, served on the garden tour committee and donated their energy, time and effort in planning and executing this year’s Garden Tour.
Proceeds from the tour support the services and programs of Westminster Cares, a volunteer organization whose mission is to create opportunities for seniors and adults with disabilities to live with independence and dignity in the community.
Making for a Very Successful Garden Tour!
Westminster Cares held their 20th Garden Tour on July 8th and 9th, 2023. The weather forecast was dire, but the rain held off and garden hardy attendees came prepared for any weather. People enjoyed strolling through the lovely gardens; taking photos of plants, flowers and even a camel (!); having lunch at the garden café and enjoying the puppet performance and workshops offered throughout the weekend. We set an attendance record with about 430 people coming through the gardens over the weekend. Many attendees were residents of Westminster and surrounding towns who support the event each year; many were visitors and garden club members from out of state including NH, MA, CT, ME, NY and FLA!
Westminster Cares’ board members and president Lori Larue wish to thank everyone who came out and attended the event. “We are thrilled to have such a wonderful turnout. It is not possible to pull it off without the help of those who support us; our garden hosts, sponsors, local businesses, advertisers, prize donors, volunteers, board members, committee members, and our director, Donna Dawson. This small community has such a big heart. We are truly grateful to everyone who made this event successful and we thank you for supporting our mission.”
Sincere appreciation goes to Gordon and Mary Hayward for 20 years of support; without them this event would not be possible. We estimate that over the many years of Garden tours, the Haywards have helped raise over $150,000 to support Westminster Cares’ programs and services.
Every year several additional community members open their private gardens to the public. In addition to the Haywards, this year’s hosts were Bianca Fernandez of Hope Roots Farm; Elsa Waxman, (with Cyndy Fine of Genius Loci), and Garden Coordinator, Mandy Walsh and Emily Lisai of the Westminster Center School’s garden. A special thank you goes out to Sandglass Theater’s founders Eric Bass and Ines Zeller Bass, for their lively and entertaining puppet performance in celebration of the 20th anniversary of this event. Julie Moir Messervy, landscape designer and author gave a talk and video presentation titled, “Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love” and bee specialist and apiologist, Nancy Frye gave a talk and demonstration titled, “Introduction to Beekeeping”.
This event would not be possible without their design talents, expertise and generosity to Westminster Cares.
The following contributors helped make the tour a success:
Sponsors: Our sponsors provide key financial support to defray costs so that all of the funds raised at the event can go directly to programs and services: Mascoma Bank, Silver Forest, Savings Bank of Walpole, Faith’s Toyota/Ford, Cota & Cota, and 802 Credit Union
Raffle prize donations and winners: Ann Ashcroft for creating and donating the garden-inspired quilt - won by Ginger Manning; Overnight stay including breakfast for two donated by the historic Grafton Inn – won by Melissa Hensen of West Springfield; Outdoor wooden garden bench won by Pat Fowler of Bellows Falls; Weeping cherry tree donated by Matt Conklin & Claudia Giese – won by Celeste Majek of CT; Whimsical rabbit bird bath for the garden donated anonymously – won by Joyce Sullivan of Westminster; Stained glass panel and two decorative hangers made and donated by Maple Leaf Designs – won by Harry Peterson of Westminster; Buddha garden statue (donated anonymously) and Woodstock Windchimes donated by Elise Manning-Sterling – won by Cindy & Don Anderson of Bellows Falls; Large ceramic flower pot filled with annuals donated by Cindy Moses – won by Beverly & Brad Dunbar of Westminster West; Café Loco gift certificate (donated by Michael Lenox) and one half gallon of maple syrup donated by Collins Tree Farm & Sugarhouse – won by Beth Shrader of Westminster; Canvas garden tote by Gardener’s Supply (donated anonymously) and several garden tools donated by Matt Conklin – won by Judy Anderson of Kinderhook, NY; Ecuadorian hammock donated by Wilma Skovinski – won by Beth Spicer of Westminster West; Gift certificate donated by Morning Star Perennials & Trees and one half gallon of maple syrup donated by Collins Tree Farm & Sugarhouse – won by Dick Doyle of Bellows Falls; One hour garden design consultation donated by Cyndy of Genius Loci – won by Ann Ashcroft of Bellows Falls; Gift certificate donated by Halladay’s Flowers & Gifts and hand forged plant hangars by Fred McKenny of Westminster – won by Connie McCarthy; Set of handmade, cotton tote bags made and donated by Raine Kane – won by Lilly Richards of Westminster West.
Ad Program: All the local individuals, businesses and organizations who purchased ads in the Garden Tour program.
Food for Luncheon: Guilford Country Store & Café.
Donations of equipment and services: Best Septic Services (for donating a portable toilet), Walpole Rent-A-Center (for donating a refrigerator), Ruth Grandy (safety vests), Doug & Tina Smith (tent and card tables), Bellows Falls Opera House (publicity), The Westminster Institute (tables; chairs and building use), the Westminster Fire Dept. (tables & chairs).
Printing and graphics: Amie Walter of Amie Walter Design designing all promotional materials; C & S Wholesale Grocers Print Shop for printing all event materials.
Music: Martha Mitchell, guitarist and vocals.
Photography: Ira Wilner of Wilner Associates.
Plant Sales and Flower Arrangements: Morning Star Perennials & Trees; Judi Petry and Melinda Underwood for flowers and table arrangements. Special thanks go to all the volunteers and board members, who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, served on the garden tour committee and donated their energy, time and effort in planning and executing this year’s Garden Tour.
Proceeds from the tour support the services and programs of Westminster Cares, a volunteer organization whose mission is to create opportunities for seniors and adults with disabilities to live with independence and dignity in the community.
Photo credit: Ira Wilner
Donate to Westminster Cares!
Click on the DONATE button below. Choose the amount that's right for you. Know you have our gratitude and appreciation for your support!
Click on the DONATE button below. Choose the amount that's right for you. Know you have our gratitude and appreciation for your support!
wecares@sover.net Westminster, VT 05346