Deb Osborne has won many awards from the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut (FGCCT), but last month’s was the biggest honor to date.

The Sandy Hook resident, a longtime member of the Garden Club of Newtown, learned on February 20 that she was the top award winner at the 39th Annual CT Flower and Garden Show. For her design entry titled “Kent Falls,” Osborne picked up “Blue Plus Two:” the National Garden Club’s Award of Design Excellence, the FGCCT Designer’s Choice Award, and first place in Division II, Section D.

Osborne was one of many Garden Club of Newtown members to earn honors at this year’s show. Presented at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, the 2020 Connecticut Flower & Garden Show was open to the public Thursday through Sunday, February 20-23. Visitors were treated to nearly three acres of presentations, including over an acre of gardens in bloom created by professional landscape designers and nonprofit organizations; more than 300 booths offering displays, activities, and shopping; more than 80 hours of seminars; and the FGCCT’s Advance Standard Flower Show, filling 12,000-plus square feet with design, horticulture, and photography competitions in more than 500 judged categories.

The 2020 Flower & Garden Show’s theme was “Connecticut Springs Into Earth Day.” The Advance Standard Flower Show followed with a similar theme, “Spring Into Connecticut.”

Standard Flower Show judging was done before the show opened to the public.

For “Kent Falls,” Osborne used delphinium, eucalyptus, lily, sea holly, and grass.

Judges liked Osborne’s “excellent use of varied shapes and textures to interpret class theme.”

They noted “underlay out of proportion to allotted space,” however.

Garden Club Co-president Kerri Williams said this week that she could not be happier for Osborne, who she called “one of our hardest working members.”

Osborne, she continued, “embodies what our club is all about.”

Additional Awards

Osborne earned another a blue ribbon and the Award of Educational Excellence for her entry into the Education Exhibit (Division II), called “Plant A Native Tree.”

The display educated visitors on trees that are native to this state, the process of carbon sequestration, and the benefits of tree planting.

Osborne also served as point person, according to Williams, for the club’s multiple award-winning vignette of a vintage clothing shop.

The club earned “Blue Plus Two” honors for that entry in Class 19, Section G, “Following the Connecticut Antique Trail.” Representing the club, co-presidents Peggy Jepsen and Kerri Williams were awarded a blue ribbon along with the Nell McGuiness Award and the Club Competition Award for the display, which incorporated coronation, chrysanthemum, fern (leather), lily, limonium, and solidago.

The vignette, according to club member Peggy Townsend, was staged on one fourth of an 8-foot circle and featured authentic antique clothing and accessories staged on a mannequin, hat rack, and suitcase.

Judges said an “interesting contrast of textures and patterns creates a pleasing design,” also noting, “non-vintage hanger detracts from vintage theme.”

Five additional ribbons and honors were won by individual club members.

Joyce Pogers won a blue ribbon for her Horticulture entry, a ponytail palm that stood six feet tall and was more than 20 years old.

Peggy Jepsen won an honorable mention for her functional table entered in the “Enjoying the Connecticut Wine Trail” class of Design.

Alma Kearns won third place for her Petite Group Mass Design entered in the “Spring Salads” class of Design.

Peggy Townsend won a second place ribbon for her “90+ Dish Garden” in the Dish Garden class of the Horticulture division. She also received third place for Featured Plant Material Design in the “Meadow Breezes” class of Design, and an honorable mention for Creative Design in the “Sea Breezes and Beach Umbrellas” class of Design.

Williams focused this week on the good work done by members of the local garden club.

“I am so proud of all our club members for their incredible entries,” she said March 3. “Peg Townsend, Peg Jepsen, and Alma Kearns all worked hard to come up with gorgeous designs.”