As part of our 40th anniversary, the Olde Ripton Garden Club presented a proposal to the Board of Alderman that the Rudbeckia fulgida be named the Shelton city flower. The proposal was approved and in 2016, Rudbeckia fulgida was designated the Shelton City Flower.

Rudbeckia fulgida, also known as the orange coneflower or Black-eyed Susan, is a perennial wildflower native to the eastern US. It’s known for its daisy-like flowers with yellow-orange rays and brownish-purple centers that bloom from mid-summer to fall.

The plant can grow to 4 ft tall and has sturdy stems, dark green foliage, and bristly hairs on the leaves and stems. 

It is easy to grow and can be grown in containers or naturalized in meadows and planted freely around homes. Rudbeckia fulgida is a perennial assuring that it will return to our gardens year after year. It is attractive to birds, bees and many pollinators that are needed for our gardens to thrive.

For the first meeting of the year we welcomed Marie Hayes who gave the Power Point presentation “Victorian Gardening.” 

Ms. Hayes is a Master Gardener and former Head Gardener at White Flower Farm in Litchfield, CT.  and has specialized in perennial borders and cutting gardens for over 35 years.

She also provides garden consultation and floral design through her business Gardens Unlimited. Continue reading →

The first meeting of the year for the Olde Ripton Garden Club will be held on March 3, 2025 at 10:00 in the Shelton Community Center.  We will be welcoming Marie Hayes of Gardens unlimited who will present a program on Victorian Gardening.

Ms. Hayes is a Master Gardener and former Head Gardener at White Flower Farm in Litchfield, CT.  and has specialized in perennial borders and cutting gardens for over 35 years.

She also provides garden consultation and floral design through her business Gardens unlimited.

Join us as we recall the Victorian era of gardens filled with hollyhocks, lilacs, roses and wisterias.

Meetings may be cancelled due to inclement weather and road conditions.  Check our Facebook page for information.

Dues are $35 per year, guests are welcome to attend, there is a $5 Visitor Fee for non-members.

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 generally start at 10 a.m.

Our first meeting of the year will be held 10:00 on Monday, March 3, 2025 at the Shelton Community Center, Suite 2.

The members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club wish everyone a safe, healthy, happy holiday season.

Huntington Branch of the Shelton Post Office

Some of the holiday decorations created by the members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club.

At our December meeting, Teya Bell was honored with an award for her work on the “Shelton Seed Library.”

Teya along with committee members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club in conjunction with the Plumb Memorial Library opened the Shelton Seed Library to the public on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

The purpose of the Seed Library is to provide Shelton gardeners with free seeds to use in their home gardens.  The Seed Library is located on the second floor of the library and is open to residents of Shelton.

Wreaths were purchased from Wells Hollow Creamery for the annual wreath decorating event.  Members decorated 35 wreaths to be distributed to Shelton municipal buildings, civic gardens, and Shelton Schools.

Club President Lisa DiNardo and Dan from Wells Hollow Creamery

Rich with history, symbolism, and aesthetic beauty, the wreath is a favorite decoration year-round.  The beginning of December welcomes boughs of fir, spruce, and holly to the wreath form — since ancient times, evergreens have served as symbols of life and strength against the bitter cold, snow, and ice.

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Originally a farmhouse built around 1840, the Osborne Homestead Museum is now one of fifteen distinctive historic sites in Connecticut.  Frances Eliza Osborne (1876-1956) was the last of the Osborne family children and deeded the 350-acre property to Connecticut to preserve it as a state park for future generations.

Every December for more than 30 years, local garden clubs have prepared lavish holiday decorations following an annually chosen theme.  The theme for the 2024 Holiday Season is “Eco Holiday.”  The Olde Ripton Garden Club decorated Eva’s Bedroom in the spirit of Wetlands.”

Museum Holiday Hours for the 2024 “Eco Holiday”

Friday, November 29 – Saturday, December 21
Thursdays thru Sundays 10 AM – 4 PM

Holiday Twilight Tours
Fridays – December 6, December 13, and December 20 ~ 4:00 to 7:00 PM

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At our November meeting member Linda Hooper received the Federated Tribute in Horticulture/Artistic Design Award.

Linda received the Tribute Award for her many years of service in Horticulture and Artistic Design and for her creative and remarkable talent at the heart of everything she does.

In addition to being an active member of our club since 2012, Linda has been Horticulture/Artistic Design Chair for many years.  She has been a leader and active member of the Osborne Homestead Museum Holiday Decorating Committee for several years and was the Plumb Library Garden Chair for many years, adding her special touch to those gardens.

For our November meeting we had an apple tasting event.  Members had the chance to taste a variety of apples from Beardsley Cider Mill and Orchard, including Jona Gold, Topaz, Winesap, Braeburn and Empire apples.

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For our October meeting, club members Debby Garrow, Lori Kniffin and Linda Hooper led us in a pumpkin decorating session.

Examples of decorated pumpkins were on view to lend ideas to members.

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For our September meeting we welcomed Karla Dalley who gave the presentation “Putting the Garden to Bed for Winter.”

Club Vice President Jen Lombard and Karla Dalley

Karla’s presentation covered the basic winter preparation for gardens, removing diseased foliage, removing perennial weeds and annual weeds with seed heads.  Also important is removing diseased foliage, putting away statuary and bird baths and pruning dead or broken branches from trees and shrubs.

Karla also explained how applying mulch to gardens as the ground freezes and wrapping fragile evergreens with burlap is important.  Fertilizing evergreen shrubs should also be done in the fall.

Continue reading →

Join us on September 9th for a presentation by Karla Dalley.  Karla is currently the garden columnist for We-Ha Magazine and the Book Reviewer for the Connecticut Horticulture Society, as well as the sole author of an organic gardening blog, “Gardendaze.”

Her presentation will be “Putting the Garden to Bed.”

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.