As Summer slips away into Fall, the ORGC gardens are being decorated with pumpkins, Mums, corn husks and other fall items.
Pictured below at the Shelton Police Department’s Entrance Sign are club members Joan Mauri, DonnaKay Pensiero and Joy Reho.
The Shelton Community Center gardens sport pumpkins and Mums.
For our September meeting, members were asked to identify over 20 different plants, trees and vines.
Diana Wehger, Linda Hooper and Renee Marsh
Renee Marsh, Linda Hooper and Diana Wehger gathered cuttings of a variety of plants, vines and trees for members to try and correctly identify.
For our August 4th meeting we traveled to Jones Family Farms in Shelton, CT. After a presentation by Jamie Jones, Christiana Jones led us to the flowers gardens so that we could cut flowers for bouquets.
We learned the history of the Jones Winery from Jamie Jones who started the grape vineyards.
Jamie and Christiana Jones
Club Members stand in front of the grape vineyards
Founded in 1976, the Olde Ripton Garden Club (ORGC) of Shelton, Connecticut is a community of garden enthusiasts committed to sharing the love of gardening and conservation. We provide education in horticulture and assist in beautifying the grounds around public buildings.
The Olde Ripton Garden Club Civic Gardens Committee Chairperson is Joan Mauri. To see more of the gardens that the Olde Ripton Garden Club members maintain check out the “Gallery” tab.
For our July meeting we welcomed Karen Monger of “The 3 Foragers.”
The 3 Foragers are a family from southeastern Connecticut who have been identifying, photographing, and cooking with the edible plants and fungi of New England for more than 20 years.
Karen shared a Power Point presentation of the different edible plants and mushrooms that grow in Connecticut.
On June 30, 2025 members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club took a field trip to Boothe Memorial Park‘s Rose Gardens.
Seated L to R – Jean Hirsch, Lee Stolzman and Martha Nosal – Pictured L to R: back row – Jen Lombard, Cheryl Dixon, Michelle Bernier, Joy Reho, Joan Mauri, Judy Stoddard and Fredda Monn
The gardens were in full bloom and members enjoyed strolling through the assortment of different roses.
The members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club brought non-perishable food items to our Annual Club Luncheon to be donated to Spooner House, Area Congregations Together.
On Monday, June 2nd we held our annual June luncheon at Matto Wine Bar in Shelton.
A big thank you to our 2nd Vice President Debby Garrow, who coordinated the successful luncheon. Continue reading
At our June 2nd meeting, we were pleased to see Claire Norris receive a Life Membership in the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut.
Claire is one of the founding members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club. She has held many positions in the club including club President from 2004-2006 and 2008-2010. During the years Claire has been in the club she has chaired the Artistic Design Committee, the By Laws Committee, the Plant Sale Committee along with many other positions.
Presenting Claire with the award is current club President, Lisa DiNardo.
Picture courtesy of Diana Wehger
For “National Garden Week” club member Renee Marsh designed floral arrangements for the Plumb Memorial Library and the Huntington Branch of the Plumb Memorial Library.
This week was an opportunity to encourage pride in our community, interest new members in the Olde Ripton Garden Club, and work with other groups to be part of those efforts.
Founded in 1976, the Olde Ripton Garden Club (ORGC) of Shelton, Connecticut is a community of garden enthusiasts committed to sharing the love of gardening and conservation. We provide education in horticulture and assist in beautifying the grounds around public buildings.
Meetings are held March through December (no meetings in January and February.) They are on the first Monday of the month (except for holidays) and start promptly at 10 a.m. There will be no meeting in June.
Dues are $35 per year, guests are welcome to attend, there is a $5 Visitor Fee for non-members.
On April 17th the Olde Ripton Garden Club went on a field trip to Colorblends Wholesale Flower Bulbs in Bridgeport. The Colorblends Spring Garden has finished blooming for the 2025 season. It will open again in Spring 2026 in early April.
Each spring, visitors to the Colorblends House & Spring Garden can stroll through an evolving display of color as snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs come into bloom. Design ideas and creative blends abound in this intimate garden, which is a collaboration between Bridgeport-based Colorblends Wholesale Flower bulbs and distinguished Dutch garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet.
The garden and restored 1903 Colonial Revival mansion are at 893 Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport’s Stratfield Historic District. Access is easy from I95, the Merritt Parkway and US Route 1, and street parking is plentiful.
Help Celebrate National Garden Week in our Community!
Join NGC clubs across the country to celebrate National Garden Week, June 1st–7th, 2025. This week is an opportunity to encourage pride in our community, interest new members in the Olde Ripton Garden Club, and work with other groups to be part of those efforts.
Founded in 1976, the Olde Ripton Garden Club (ORGC) of Shelton, Connecticut is a community of garden enthusiasts committed to sharing the love of gardening and conservation. We provide education in horticulture and assist in beautifying the grounds around public buildings.
Meetings are held March through December (no meetings in January and February.) They are on the first Monday of the month (except for holidays) and start promptly at 10 a.m. There will be no meeting in June.
Dues are $35 per year, guests are welcome to attend, there is a $5 Visitor Fee for non-members.
On Saturday, May 10, 2025 Olde Ripton Garden Club held its annual Plant and Bake Sale.
Debby Garrow and club president Lisa DiNardo
Thanks to Co-Chairs Lisa DiNardo and Debby Garrow, along with the help of all the members of the garden club for making the plant sale a huge success.
Thanks also to the local businesses that donated gift cards to the Plant and Bake Sale.
Master Gardener Renee Marsh was there to answer questions regarding the care of plants.
Judy Pavone, Joan Mauri, Cheryl Biros, Jen Lombard, Bake Sale Chair Pat Robik and Lori Kniffen at the Baked Goods Table.