FITCHBURG — The annual Laurelwood Garden Club scholarship tea held over the weekend was an elegant affair with heart behind it.
“Where else can you travel around the world in three hours?” asked club member Julie Palioca at the festive event held on Jan. 31 at the Fitchburg Art Museum, which drew 72 ladies who enjoyed a variety of delicious appetizers, sandwiches, and sweets.
Each of the nine tablescapes were designed by club members and represented a different country — Bermuda, England, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Turkey, and the United States. In keeping with the theme, Marilyn Talley and Ashla Bahli Madam both wore saris and showed off the India table they had beautifully decorated with colorful peacock plumes that sat in an antique pitcher that belonged to Madam’s grandmother.
“Very elegant,” Madam said of the vibe they were going for, and they certainly achieved it.
Palioca does beautification and publicity and public relations for the club she has been a member of for many years. The Leominster resident was in charge of designing the U.S. table where she sat with seven other women, which of course featured all things red, white, and blue, and she was also decked out in the same patriotic colors.
“We truly enjoy planning this tea,” she said, adding that there is a lot of “talent and inspiration that goes with it.”
Leominster residents Helena Coscia and Betty Sims were offered tickets to be guests at the tea when a club member couldn’t make it. They both enjoyed their time sitting at the Ireland table, which was meant to be for Coscia — both her parents were born there.
“It was fabulous,” Coscia said when asked what she thought of it with a warm smile on her face and a green and gold shamrock brooch pinned to her sparkly sweater.
The Laurelwood Garden Club was founded in 1965 with the intent of beautifying Fitchburg and the surrounding areas. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the club is heavily involved in local civic projects including maintaining the Renaissance Park memorial garden and partnering with Fitchburg Art Museum for ‘Art in Bloom.’
The club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts and National Garden Clubs and welcomes anyone with an interest in gardening to join them in focusing on civic beautification, gardening education, and community.
Its next meeting will be held on Friday, Feb. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm. St., a member workshop titled ‘Spring Mossy Bulb,’ where members will create a living piece of seasonal art using a hyacinth bulb and green moss. For more information on club membership and such email Julie Palioca at [email protected].
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