Awards

 Congratulations to the Friends of Oak Cliff Garden Club for another successful year at the awards presentation of Texas Garden Clubs State Convention this past month. After successfully having 18 first place submissions advance from the district level to the state level, FOCP had 13 first place winners for the state of Texas Green Division. With these results, FOCP was awarded Green Garden Club of the year for the state of Texas for the fifth time in the last seven years. In addition, this was the first year the state awarded an overall garden club of the year for all divisions and we were fortunate to be awarded that honor too. This is a great tribute to all the hard working members and volunteers that spend hours working in our four parks. We are lucky to have such dedicated individuals and a president, Ellen Fitzsimmons, who inspires that dedication. Awards won in 2026 are for the work completed in 2025. Eligible state winners now advance to the national level. 

The awards that were submitted this year were:

1. Butterfly preservation - maintenance of the nectar beds at the Kiest Memorial Garden, 1st at district and state

2. Wildflower preservation - for work done in the native prairie meadow at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

3. Beautification project - for work done at the Lake Cliff Park pineapple fountain beds area, 1st at district

4. Native prairie restoration - for work at the Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

5. Conservation Education - FOCP trail walk program, 1st at district and state 

6. Wildlife Survival - maintenance and addition of bird and bat houses at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

7. Community projects with native plants/wildflowers - work at Kiest Memorial Garden, 1st at district and state

8. Native plant and wildflower venue - work at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district

9. Container gardening (national) - for FOCP club member’s home container garden, 1st at district and state

10. Container gardening (southeast central regional entry) - for FOCP club member’s home container garden, 1st at district and state, this award advances to the SCR

11. Media award - for the FOCP website, 1st at district and state

12. Conservation activities - prairie restoration at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st at district and state

13. Digital presentation - for member submitted power point on use of coffee ground in the garden, 1st at district and state

14. Backyard habitat - for member submitted back yard report, 1st at district

15. Community service - for participation in Oak Cliff Earth Day, 1st in district

16. Wildflower Eduction - for wildflower and bug walk presentations at Kiest Conservation Area, 1st in district

17. November/December Award - for the “big four prairie grass” project at Kiest Conservation Area (club project accomplished after the general awards deadline of November 1st but before January 1st), 1st at district and state