Southampton Garden Club Awards 2025
Member Years of Service Awards
(Two from Last year (2024) who were absent at the 2024 annual meeting)
2024
Laurie Carson 35 years With deep appreciation for her many years of commitment, leadership, support, and enthusiasm in numerous club activities and events.
Victoria Johnston 35 years With deep appreciation of her many tears of support and enthusiastic participation in Garden Club events
2025
Lisa Gillespie 35 years With gratitude for her dedicated commitment, unwavering support and thoughtful participation in club events and activities.
Jamee Gregory 35 years With warm appreciation for her active participation and commitment to our club, especially for generously sharing her love for horticulture and growing.
Jane Fear 35 years With warm appreciation for her many years of commitment, loyal service, and willingness to participate in numerous club events and activities.
Clelia Zacharias 35 years With warm appreciation for her enduring commitment, loyal participation, and generous hospitality following her distinguished service as club president.
Club Awards
Christl Meszkat – Civic Improvement Award
Proposed by Barbara Glatt
It is with great excitement that we present the Civic Improvement Award to Christl Meszkat.
Christl has been a valued and active member of the Southampton Garden Club since 1998. For over a decade, she has chaired Civic Improvement projects, working tirelessly to enhance our community spaces in collaboration with our local partners.
Each spring, Christl leads our planting projects, generously sharing her expertise and passion. These hands-on experiences offer club members the opportunity to learn from Christl and to give back to our community in a meaningful way.
Christl is also known for her deep knowledge and love of roses. She graciously opens her garden and home to members, offering her time and wisdom to educate and inspire. Her leadership, dedication, and generosity continue to enrich our club and community.
Audrey Gruss – Club Appreciation Award
Proposed by Linda Fraser
We are pleased to honor Audrey Gruss with the Club Appreciation Award for her outstanding contributions to the Southampton Garden Club.
A member since 2008, Audrey has warmly welcomed us into the natural beauty of her home on numerous occasions, creating special moments of shared enjoyment and inspiration.
Several years ago, Audrey established the Audrey Gruss Lecture Fund, which has helped secure world-renowned speakers for our club programs. These events have become a major highlight of our calendar, often selling out due to their wide appeal.
Audrey’s generosity and vision have elevated our programming and brought exceptional learning experiences to all members. We thank her for her continued support and dedication.
K.T. McFarland – Club Flower Show Award
Proposed by Linda Fraser
We are thrilled to recognize K.T. McFarland for her creative and thoughtful contribution to our flower show.
K.T. volunteered to host a pre-show tea, beautifully rooted in British tradition. She curated unique table settings using a variety of antique china patterns, authored a pamphlet explaining the history of British tea and the stories behind each china design, and even paired each pattern with a corresponding floral or horticultural class from the flower show schedule.
Her attention to detail, creativity, and storytelling brought a deeper connection to the show and inspired greater public attendance. K.T.’s efforts created a memorable, engaging, and truly charming event that captured the spirit of our community.
Paige Louthan – Environmental Leadership Award
Proposed by Cindy Willis & Nancy Hebert
We are proud to recognize Paige Louthan for her unwavering commitment to sustaining natural ecosystems through the preservation and cultivation of native plants.
Paige is a passionate advocate for the importance of native species, sharing her knowledge through education and outreach. Her dedication to ecological health and biodiversity makes a lasting impact on our environment and our community.
She inspires us all to be better stewards of the natural world.
Janis Murphy – Medal of Merit
Proposed by Nancy Hebert
It is with great pleasure that we present the Medal of Merit to Janis Murphy.
Janis has been a dedicated and engaged member of the Southampton Garden Club for over 38 years. Her leadership has touched nearly every facet of the club: she has served as Secretary, Nominating Committee Member, Horticulture Chair, Awards Chair, Photography Chair, and currently as Programs Chair.
Janis consistently contributes to our flower shows and was recently honored with the Photography Award at the 2024 “Best of British Gardens” Flower Show.
As Program Chair, Janis thoughtfully researches and selects outstanding speakers, ensuring that our meetings are educational, engaging, and well-attended.
Her tireless dedication, leadership, and mentorship have left an indelible mark on our club. We are deeply grateful for all that she has done—and continues to do.