MEADVILLE —
It’s a “Trees” year, but that doesn’t mean it just happens overnight. From creating unique decorations for the trees and the boutique to decorating the exterior and interior of the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, the process of preparing for Trees of Christmas takes the Meadville Garden Club two years.
This year’s event began in the spring of 2011. The chairwomen, Joanne Ende and Mary Gurney, selected the theme “Deck the Halls” to be carried throughout the interior and the exterior of the house.
In June 2011 the members selected the room or area they would decorate. After the initial planning stages, the groups researched, planned, and made the ornaments for their room and tree. The exterior and interior committees did the same. This in itself took a year and a half.
Some ornaments can be created far in advance. But many of the Garden Club members use dried or fresh flowers. This necessitates planting and harvesting these plants during the summer and fall of the Trees of Christmas year.
In September the trees were selected. Piling into hay wagons at Carroll’s Nursery, the members were driven to the various tree groves where they selected the perfect tree for their area. Whether a blue spruce, Frasier fir, Douglas fir or white pine was chosen, it will suit the room and support the decorations that will adorn it.
The Friday before the event, the trees are delivered. Telliho Tree Service hoists the trees in a bucket to the second floor of the museum. The husbands of the members trim and carry in the first-floor trees, and then they secure the trees with wire because many are quite tall due to the eleven foot ceilings.
The next day the house explodes with activity as the members arrive toting boxes of decorations. After two days of decorating, the house is ready to be cleaned for the public.
Over the next two weekends, the patrons, sponsors and visitors provide funds that are used to support the maintenance of the house and the grounds until the next Trees of Christmas. At $5 for adults and $2 for students, it is a very affordable visit.
The greatest compliment is when community members say their grown children are planning to come home just to see the Trees of Christmas display, members of the group agree.
This year’s event is Nov. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 to welcome the Christmas season and to support this historic gem of the Meadville community.
YOU CAN GO
This year’s Trees of Christmas, hosted by Meadville Garden Club at the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, is Nov. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 to welcome the Christmas season and to support the museum. Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students.
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