The Richard O. Belden Cultural Center garden is decorated for the Autumn with pumpkins and colorful mums.

The Richard O. Belden Cultural Center Civic Garden is tended by members Joanne Brunelle and Lisa DiNardo.

At our October meeting we welcomed Norma Jean Macauto, 2nd Vice-President of the  Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut.   Norma Jean is also the membership chair of the Garden Club of Brookfield.

Her presentation gave insight into the events, activities and volunteer opportunities offered by the Federated Garden Clubs.

For our October meeting, members brought their own pumpkins and club members Debby Garrow and Lori Kniffin provided all types of decorations to add to their pumpkins.

Donna Kay Pensiero proudly shows off her finished pumpkin.

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For our October meeting, Linda Hooper hosted a “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.”

Linda Hooper

The serving area was complete with theme cups, napkins and plates.  Around the serving area were quotes from the original Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Members were encouraged to wear madly decorated hats to the tea party.

Fall has arrived and the ORGC gardens are being decorated with pumpkins, Mums, corn husks and other fall items.

The Shelton City Hall garden is decorated with a pumpkin and colorful blooms.

Shelton City Hall

The Huntington Green is colorful with pumpkins, Mums and a scarecrow.

Huntington Green

The Plumb Memorial Library showcases Pumpkins and colorful Mums.

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.

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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

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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.

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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 →