This fall, Trustees Director of Southern Berkshires Properties, Brian Cruey was presented with one of the highest awards that the Garden Club of America bestows – The GCA Civic Beautification Award. In conjunction with the Lenox Garden Club, Brian’s award is reflective of a six-year transformation at Naumkeag, a beloved Trustees public garden and historic home in Stockbridge.

Naumkeag has long held the imaginations of all who visit, as well as those who live in the greater Stockbridge area. During Brian’s tenure, The Trustees completed a major restoration of the gardens designed by Fletcher Steele that surround the Gilded Age cottage, once home to the Choate Family. Since the completion of this restoration, Brian and his team have created programming opportunities that have welcomed thousands of visitors from near and far. Once a property best enjoyed during the months that the gardens are in bloom, Naumkeag now offers year-round experiences that showcase all aspects of the historic house, phenomenal gardens, and the natural beauty of the Berkshires.

In their remarks during the award presentation, members of the Garden Club of America and the Lenox Garden Club said, “Brian Cruey’s imaginative vision has given our beautiful village of Stockbridge VITALITY during the seasons when daily life in a New England Village is usually very slow.”

The Trustees is responsible for the stewardship of 12 public gardens, some of which also have historic houses and others that offer parkland space. The statewide horticultural staff works in collaboration with not just the property engagement teams, but also with Trustees interpretive, curatorial, and archival teams. Their collective endeavors have driven the transformations at Naumkeag and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover, and the ongoing revitalization at Long Hill in Beverly.

To be recognized by the Garden Club of America is an honor. The entire Trustees organization is proud of what Brian, the horticultural team, and property staff have achieved, working tirelessly to connect visitors with the glories of our gardens.