Happy 4th of July! The Amherst Garden Club was well represented with our standing float, consisting of 13 big flowers, a handmade parade banner, and the AGC’s new “anniversary edition” banner. Also adorning the “float” were 8 garden club members, holding a gardening tool and waving to passers-by.

Our efforts were well rewarded with the top award of “Best Overall” and the General Moses Nichols Perpetual Challenge Memorial Trophy (otherwise known as “the milk can”)! A huge thanks to all who participated to represent the club: Kathy Brundage, Becky Stoughton, Jeanne Johnson, Maureen Minner, Julie Hoag, Nancy Head, Diane Merrithew & Joan Poltack.

The flowers, which were made by Joan and Diane, incorporated in the center a gold ball ornament that was repurposed from the Civic Gardens 50^th anniversary decorations this past winter. The petals were made from craft foam that was heated, shaped, cut, and glued, with the tips brushed with gold paint to relate to the 50^th Anniversary. The banner, made by Diane, points out the anniversary and our years of beautifying Amherst. Participants all wore a specially made headpiece that reads “Gardening Superstar”, since the parade theme this year was America’s Superstars. The names of civic gardens were written on paper leaves that bordered the front of our display.

We’d also like to congratulate long-time ACG member and former president Anne Krantz for being named Amherst Citizen of the Year for 2021! The rain held off and we had a lot of fun. Happy 4^th of July!