Polly Brooks

Director, New England Garden Clubs, Inc.

2025-2027

Theme:

"We Grow Gardens & Gardeners"

Here is the link to Northern Exposure, our New England Garden Clubs, Inc. newsletter.

Late June in the Northwest Connecticut Hills photos by Polly Brooks

May and June are intensely busy times of year for members of garden clubs. We have May markets and spring clean-ups, garden tours, flower shows, and oh yes, our own gardens to prep and maintain.

That said, as you get into the mood this coming week for the semiquincentennial celebrations on the 4th, or get ready to hear the Declaration of Independence read in every city and town across the country on July 8 at 6:05 Eastern time, keep cameras or phones with you. Review the six Photography Classes descriptions the better to enter the NEGC Competition. Finalists' work will be on view at Killington when we meet in October. Do register and come!

We keep developing the NEGC Photography Group- we’ve identified a Steering Committee, NGC Photography Judges and Experts. Put Hunt’s new offerings in your calendar. This partnership is going to become more and more useful as members look for “standardized” instruction.



You’ll see how we’ve morphed as you scroll down. Thank you for your participation. Do invite your club members to join, too.

Happy 4th,

Polly

New England Garden Clubs Photography Group 

is partnering with 

Hunt’s Photo Education Dept. to strengthen our photographic knowledge and experience!

Hunt's is offering the members of the NE Garden Clubs Photo Group online classes at discounted prices.

Thank you Jill Corr for helping me to set up these programs up with Hunt's Education team - Paul Nelson & Emily Hojnowski.

Hunt's Photo Classes for Summer 2026

July Sessions

Digital Photography Basics- These classes cover many of the basics of photography that are important to know. While they aren't necessarily directed at using phones, the concepts presented are important for every photographer and pieces of that information can be applied to phones as well! You will also have access to the recordings after the class.

Digital Photo Basics Part 1 July 15th, 7pm ET

Our NEGC members Discount Code is NEGC

and

Digital Basics Part 2 July 22nd, 7pm ET

You will have access to the recordings of both courses afterwards.

Our NEGC members Discount Code is NEGC

In addition, Hunt's is offering us a  $10 discount to their rerecorded Phoneography class.

Use promo code NEGCPHONE.

August Sessions

Hunt's is offering offering us discounts on two

Lightroom Classic courses:

"Storing and editing your images can be a big part of photography! The program Adobe Lightroom Classic is an extremely powerful storage and editing tool. While this program is not for everyone, if you're trying to take your photography to the next level, this can help. Hunts is offering us two Lightroom Courses - one on storing and managing our files and the second is a series on editing our images using Lightroom Classic."

1. a $15 discount for

Online Lightroom Classic File Management class August 12th, 7pm ET (Discount code NEGCLRFM)

2. a $20 discount for the multi-session

Online Lightroom Classic Editing class

Tuesdays August 11th, 18th, & 25th, 6:30pm ET

(Discount code NEGCLR).

Dont forget to enter The NE Garden Clubs, Inc. Photography Group

2026 Photography Show:

"Our New England!"

OCTOBER 13-14 2026

ENTRIES CLOSE AUGUST 31, 2026



This is a juried photo competition open to all our NE Garden Club members. Here is the link to download the 2026 show schedule:

Our New England! Photo Show schedule

Here is the entry form where you can upload your images.

The finalists's images will be displayed

at the

NEGC Annual Meeting:

October 13-14, 2026

"Vermont’s Green Mountains: Fostering the Birth of the Republic "

at Killington Lodge & Resort, Killington , VT

Here is the link to the registration information for the meeting

and the QR code is below!

As we,

the NEGC Photo Group,

are members of

THE NEW ENGLAND CAMERA CLUBS COUNCIL, INC. ,

We may attend this virtual conference

on July 18th, 2026



It is 2 sessions -

but you must register in advance.

Here is the link to register, and to pay your $15.

Vermont is offering two really fun zoom photo workshops



READY, FIRE, AIM..

FEATURED FOCUS FORUM !

in order to register, please send your contact information to both

Doris vanMullen

and

Becky Rizzi

UPCOMING PHOTO SHOW OPPORTUNITIES

FOR YOU

The 2026 New England Flower Show - September 18-20, 2026 Sponsored by the MASS HORT SOC. - has a photo division.

Here is the link to the 2026 New England Flower Show's photo division (the schedule, the class list, rules and regs etc.)

Your photo choices should be saved in the specified format in a folder that you can access quickly in preparation for entering.

2026 Sandwich Fair photography schedule

Mark your calendar now for the

2027 Connecticut Flower & Garden Show

February 18-21, 2027

Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford CT

"ART BLOOMS IN CONNECTICUT — Where Creativity, Nature and Artistry Flourish"

More details coming soon!

Vonice Carr, 2027 CT Flower Show Chair.

The Philadelphia Flower Show 2027

March 12 to March 21



at the Philadelphia Convention Center, has an extensive photography division.

It is highly competitive, juried, and attracts entries from across the country and beyond.



Philadelphia Flower Show 2027 Photography Division

From the PHS web site:

"Grab your camera and start capturing the beauty of the season today. Your blue ribbon moment starts now! All entries in the Photography Classes are juried. Full rules will be announced in the 2027 Exhibitor’s Guide.

• 191- BLOOM STUDY. A still life photograph showcasing an abundant floral design. Color.
• 192- WEATHER OR NOT. A black and white photograph highlighting weather or atmospheric conditions, emphasizing mood, movement, or environmental impact. Black and White.
• 193- A PLACE TO PAUSE. A photograph featuring seating within a public garden. Color.
• 194- GROWING UP. A diptych showing the evolution of seeds. The print has two photographs placed next to each other – one of seed(s) and one of the plant or plants that grows from them. A border surrounding each of the two photographs required in this class. Color.
• 195- BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT. A landscape photographed during the blue hour. Color.
• 196- THE LINES OF TIME. A close-up photograph showing the amazing texture, color, or features of bark. Color.
• 197- THE POWER OF COLOR. A colorful photograph of plant material transformed into an abstract using creative techniques. Color.
• 198- BIRD BATH. A photograph of a bird or birds bathing. Color.

to get more information

https://join.phsonline.org/competitive-classes

RECENT HISTORY

Thank you Lisa Cuchara for your fabulously informative Zoom Workshop. If you missed it, contact Lisa to get the link to the recording of our Nature Photography Program.

She is offering a discount on upcoming workshops if you contact her.

Here is the link to Lisa's website and below is a screen shot of one of her amazing eagle shots where she was taking 50 shots per second.

Newport Flower Show 2026

Judy Gray, Past President of the RI Federation of Garden Clubs, won a blue for her elegant design.....

Class Title:  'Dancing in the Fountain'

Judges Comments: The skillful leaf manipulation brings distinction to this sculptural design.  The inclusion of the garlic scapes is an inspired choice which delivers movement and excitement!

Judy also shared her photos (below) of the Photography Division.

Class 1 - Cose-ups of A Rose and

Class 2 - a Fowering Shrub in the Landscape.

This was a juried competition, with just the 4 finalists in each class being displayed at the show. As all the exhibits in Class 1 scored so highly, the class was given a commendation. Entries came from all over the USA!

CLASS 1 - CLOSE-UP OF A ROSE

Class 1 Entry 1 Anne-Marie Lamarch - CA

BEST IN SHOW AWARD

Class 1 Entry 3 - Camille Westervelt - RI

Class 1 Entry 2 Debbie Laverell n- PA

NEW EXHIBITOR AWARD

Class 1 Entry 4 Wendy Fulginiti -MA

CLASS 2 - FLOWERING SHRUB IN THE LANDSCAPE

Class 2 Entry 1 Jean Jarvis - CA

Class 2 Entry 4 Diane Dua -NJ

Class 2 Entry 2 - Corina Simian - MA

Class 2 Entry 3 Marianne Conese - RI

BEST IN SHOW AWARD

Ileene Chernoff SHARES THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2026 BRISTOL RI DAFFODIL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTAST

🌼 2026 Bristol Daffodil Photography Contest winners! 🌼

🌳 Public

🥇 Tina Harvey — "Front Row Seat to Spring" ⭐ BEST IN SHOW

🥈 Gail Burmeister — "Gail's Daffs"

🥉 Ileene Chernoff — "Old Flora Guarded by Daffodils"

🏡 Residential

🥇 Andrea Smiley — "After the Rain"

🥈 Kristin Faraone — "Untitled"

🥉 Barbara Jean Curtis — "Star of the Show"

✨ Creative

🥇 Andrea Smiley — "Daffodils — Oil Painting Effect"

🥈 Ileene Chernoff — "Beauty Among the Chaos"

🥉 Crystal Pacheco — "Woodland Sunplay"

The photos were on display at Rogers Free Library. 

More about the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show's Photo Division

Here are the classes, with their blues, and some info about the New Englanders ribbon winners.

Class 191 - Dwelling

Class Commentation



Chris Wood Noanett Garden Club Class 191 - DWELLING - Honorable Mention

Class 192 - Details

Beth Tarde Sasqua Garden Club Class 192 - DETAILS - Honorable Mention

Class 193 - Vibrant

Anne Friday Hortulus Class 193 - VIBRANT - 1st & PHS Award for Photography Classes Outstanding Blue Ribbon

Class 194 - Quench

Beth Paisner Noanett Garden Club Class 194 - QUENCH - 3rd

Class 195- Cellared

Class 196 - Foundations

Jill Corr Stonington Garden Club Class 196 - FOUNDATIONS - 1st

Class 197 - Legacy

Class 198 - Record

Our New England State Photography Coordinators: WHAT a TEAM We have!!!!

The following members - one from each of our New England States - are our liaisons and will keep us informed about upcoming photo events in their states. That would include shows with photography divisions and workshops and other photo educational opportunities etc. in each state!

CT Jill Corr

MA Beth Paisner

ME Suzanne Bushnell

NH Michelle Mensinger

RI Ileene Chernoff

VT Becky Rizzi

The New England Garden Clubs Photography Judging Group

For all our National Garden Clubs Standard Flower Shows, a photo judging panel consists of 3 judges: A professional, National Garden Clubs flower show judge, (master or accredited) and a photo expert.

If you wish to be a NEGC Photography Judge, or are a professional photographer or photography expert, here is the link to the jotform where we collect your photography experience/information for our files. More information about our photo judging program is below.

Here is the list of the New England Garden Club members

who are officially NEGC photo judges as of Feb. 2026

Beth Paisner - MA

Doris Van Mullen - VT

Ileene Chernoff - RI

Jill Corr - CT

Mara Sfara - CT

Michele Mensinger - NH

Wendy Yu - CT

Robin Turnbaugh - NH

These Photo EXPERTS/JUDGES are already judges , and are approved to serve on our NGC photo judging panels.

Many of these photographers are approved Garden Club of America Photography Judges and others have extensive professional expertise, and/or both! Your state coordinators have their contact information.

Anne Franzen - CT

Evelyn Lorenzen-Bell - CT

Susan Brewer - CT

Jeanette Barrows - CT

Anne Friday - CT

Susan Hight - CT

Ellen Avellino -CT

Patti Spaght - CT

Susan Rotando - CT

Lisa Cuchara - CT

Gail Cyr - RI

Arabella Dane - MA NH WI

Beverly Kazickas - NY NJ MA

Roberta DuBeshter - NY

Helen Glaenzer - MA

Christine Paxhia - MA

Betsy Ridge - MA

Chris Wood - MA

Martha Gangemini - MA

Vicki Saltonstall - MA

Karen Werner - MA

Tori MacMillan - MA VA

Thom Williams - NY

Terry Cook NH ME

Becky Rizzi - VT

NECCC - New England Council of Camera Clubs - update from Susan Mosser, NECCC Steering Committee Chair

www.neccc.org 

Enjoy the link to the NECCC's gallery

Enjoy the NGC photography page! We will be adding photographic tips and articles here; hosting a facebook page and a blog featuring discussions about photography

The New England Camera Club Council (NECCC) is a nonprofit umbrella group for 70 camera clubs and photography groups in the New England states (CT, RI, ME, MA, NH, and VT). 

Consider taking advantage of PSA's extensive educational opportunities and free programs that are exclusive to individual members.

This remarkable organization offers its members great opportunities for workshops. lectures and field trips for nature photography

They, like PSA, offer contests too.

NEGC Photography Group Leadership

Arabella Dane, arabellasd@aol.com, Chair

Suzanne Bushnell, Assistant

Michelle Mensinger, Derry GC

Susan Miner, New England Garden Clubs, Inc. Director 2023-25

Polly Brooks, New England Regional Director 2025-27

Photo Coordinators by State

CT - Jill Corr

MA - Beth Paisner

ME - Suzanne Bushnell

NH - Michelle Mensinger

RI -Ileene Chernoff

VT - Becky Rizzi