This month we welcomed Cathy Ritch who shared flower arranging techniques with us.

Cathy’s arrangements are unique and simplistic in design.  Using striking leaves and greenery to compliment the flowers, an attractive centerpiece is fashioned.

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For our first meeting of the new year we will welcome Floral Designer Cathy Ritch who will demonstrate several easy floral designs that incorporate plant material we commonly have in our own yards.  At the end of the meeting we will hold a raffle for the completed designs.

Cathy Ritch is an accomplished and enthusiastic floral designer, instructor and National Garden Clubs (NGC) Accredited Life Judge.  Her designs have won numerous blue ribbons and top NGC design awards at the Connecticut Flower and Garden Shows.  Her work has been exhibited at the New Britain Museum of American Art’s show “Floral Expressions.”  The NGC Vision of Beauty Calendar has featured photos of her designs.

She was the chair for the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut annual flower show for three years and leads Beyond Beginning Floral Design Workshops for which she won a prestigious NGC “Award of Excellence.”

A member of the Long Hill Garden Club of Trumbull and Creative Arrangers of Connecticut, Cathy is happiest when she can create floral designs using plant material grown in her own gardens.

Olde Ripton Garden Club will meet at 10:00 on Monday, March 2nd at the Plumb Memorial Library.  Visitors are welcome and asked to donate $5.00 towards the program and refreshments.

Pictured is the carpet that was purchased for the Children’s Department of the Plumb Memorial Library.  The purchase was made possible by a donation from the Olde Ripton Garden Club.  As a tribute to our club this carpet was chosen because it focuses on trees, flowers and the beauty of nature.

For several weeks each winter, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Osborne Homestead Museum is transformed into a holiday showcase.  Talented and dedicated garden clubs beautifully decorate all the rooms in this historic homestead.  This year’s theme is Nature’s Friends and the Olde Ripton Garden Club Committee, chaired by Joyce Donnelly, decorated the children’s bedroom and bathroom with lemurs.

On December 5th a Christmas tree was decorated by members of the ORGC, led by Judy Pavone, in the upstairs reading room at the Plumb Memorial Library.  Pictured are l to r:  Patti Leung, Diana Wehger, Ruth Pesavento and Judy Pavone.

Volunteers from our Youth Gardening Program worked with students on Friday, May 31 at Perry Hill School’s Garden Club to beautify and plant flowers around school. The kids worked hard and learned a lot about flowers, the soil, plants and the environment. Proceeds from our Plant Sale go right back into the community. Bravo students for caring about your surroundings! Special thanks to Deb Tucker and her teaching staff!

We owe a special thanks of gratitude to many for the work at the Green which is still in progress.  First,  the Olde Ripton Garden Club Volunteers, the City of Shelton and especially Mark and Chris Hansen, a Shelton High School volunteer who came to us to perform his community service hours.  Chris and his dad went above and beyond to make this renovation complete.  He is a shining star and we salute him!  Thank you.

The Olde Ripton Garden Club Annual Perennial & Plant Sale  – many from member’s gardens, is coming to Shelton.  Featured at the sale will be a large assortment of perennial plants as well as organic vegetables, annuals, house plants and locally made jams, jellies and pickles.  There will also be a bake sale.

Proceeds from this annual event benefit the Garden Club activities including maintenance of the Shelton community gardens and scholarships.

The popular Shelton event will be held Saturday, May 18th from 9 am to 12 noon, Rain or Shine, at St Paul’s Episcopal Church Parking Lot, 25 Church Street across from the Huntington Green in Shelton.

Also on sale will be the Shelton City Flower, Rudbeckia Fulgida goldstrum, a yellow coneflower designated in 2016 by the City Board of Alderman.  This item was very popular with residents last year and is expected to sell out quickly once again.  For more information please visit the Club’s Facebook page and Like Us at: https://www.facebook.com/SheltonORGC.

All About “ORCHIDS”

Olde Ripton Garden Club Program May 6

The Olde Ripton Garden Club will feature a Club member as their speaker at the next meeting on May 6.  Kimberly Wehger will present a colorful and informative program about “Orchids”.

Kimberly will walk the audience through an impressive array of photos and facts about the care and cultivation of “Orchids” on Monday, May 6 at Plumb Memorial Library, 10 am in the newly renovated Community Room (downstairs), 65 Wooster Street, Shelton.  Members are free; visitor fee is $5 and refreshments will be served.

The Club will also present a talk by the new horticulture chair Dee Blewett on projects for May in the Garden.  Members will display flowers and arrangements from their homes and gardens of the season.

A membership drive is currently underway for the Club and new members are encouraged to join who have an interest in gardening and want to volunteer in the community.  Projects include working on public gardens around town, holiday decorating at schools and public buildings in Shelton, a garden therapy program with seniors, and youth gardening in Shelton schools.

Annual dues for membership are $35 for monthly meetings (except January & February). Meetings include speakers, a light lunch, great conversation and friendly activities.   Interested parties are invited to attend this meeting if they want to join.  For more information Like Us on Facebook at:  facebook.com/SheltonORGC.

A scheduling change for our April meeting meant switching our topic from iris cultivation to a presentation of Martha Stewart’s spring gardening tips.  So what does a lemur have to do with spring gardening and the ORGC activities?  Check out the rest of our 2019 April Meeting post to learn more! Continue reading →