Special thank you to all who supported our first ever 2025 Books & Blooms Flower Show, a joint fundraiser between the Friends of Richards Memorial Library (FRML) and the Paxton, MA Garden Club (PMAGC).  This three day event featured 19 floral arrangement entries created by PMAGC Members that drew inspiration from literary works. 

Kudos to all of our members who got out of their comfort zone to create stunning works of art, and hats off to the show winners.

Literature & Botanical Arts & Award:

Children's Literature CL4 Designers Shannon Richards & Rosemary Regan for their piece “Bountiful Life”

Gardening G1 Designer Helen Urbanovitch for her piece “The Bird Garden”

Murder Mystery M3 Designers David Mangus & Beth Vietze for their piece “Petals of Betrayal”

Poetry P1 Designer Ann McDougle for her piece "Mending Hearts” 

Travel T3 Designers Beth Vietze & David Mangus for their piece “Cascade”

People's Choice Award:

Children's Literature CL2 Designers Anne Weagle & Jane McTigue for their piece “A Day in The Hundred Acre Wood”

Off the Shelf: Books and Blooms at the library 

Originally published in The Landmark, August 7, 2025

By Pam Chenevert, Richards Memorial Library 

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero

The Friends of the Richards Memorial Library and the Paxton MA Garden Club embrace this quote in an upcoming event, the Books & Blooms Flower Show and Fundraiser. The event runs from Thursday, Sept., 11, 2025 through Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at the Richards Memorial Library, 44 Richards Ave.

“In my experience, folks love flowers and books, so the combination makes perfect sense,” said Robin Tasca, president of the PMAGC said.

The seed for this program was planted in Tascas’s head when she and Sara Root-Simone first created PMAGC in 2022.

“It was something that I had in the back of my mind since we created PMAGC back in 2022. When RML was at risk of losing its accreditation due to the fiscal 2025 budget crisis, I felt the time was now to really pursue this project as a way to showcase how RML is such an asset and hidden gem in Paxton,” Tasca said.

She also divulged: “I love a good mystery, especially a series set in a small community with quirky characters.”

Accordingly, her favorite genre is represented in the floral themes for the show.

The literary themes are Murder Mystery, Travel, Children’s Literature, Poetry, and Gardening/Secret Gardens.

The three-day event features 20 floral arrangement entries created by FRML & PMAGC members that draws inspiration from literary works, flowers and plants, styles, themes and designs. Two separate receptions will feature a presentation and a live floral arranging demonstration with Joan Laracy, local floral expert. The All ticket holders will be entered into a drawing to win Laracy’s floral arrangement. Flower Show entrants will be on hand for a meet and greet, and light refreshments will be served.

The schedule is as follows:

● Opening Night Reception: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, $25 per ticket.

● Open to the public: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, free.

● Morning Floral Social: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, $25 per ticket.

The true beauty of Books & Blooms is that PMAGC members can showcase their creative talents and we can raise vital funds for both the library (Friends of RML) and the garden club.

Purchase tickets now, because tickets are limited to 35 per reception, and are available via online purchase only at https://www.paxtongardenclub.com/fundraisers/books-blooms-flower-show-sept.

For more information about the Paxton MA Garden Club, visit Paxtongardenclub.com.

The Richards Memorial Library is open Tuesday and Thursday 1-8 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Search our catalog at Paxton.Cwmars.org. View our website at RMLPaxton.org.

Pam Chenevert is the library director of the Richards Memorial Library in Paxton, Massachusetts. She is currently reading The Lost Masterpiece by B.A. Shapiro, The Unwedding by Allie Condie, and recently binge-watched The Gilded Age. She earned her Masters of Science in Library Science (MSLS) Degree from PennWest Clarion (formerly Clarion University), and BA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.