More scarecrows are showing up in civic gardens around town

Plumb Memorial Library

Perry Hill School

Richard O. Beldon Cultural Center

For the September and October meetings the Olde Ripton Garden Club members collected items to be sent to U.S. Military Personnel overseas.  We collected individual packs of nuts, almonds, peanut butter, trail mix, sunflower seeds, tuna and protein bars.  Also collected were puzzles books and decks of playing cards.

For our October meeting we welcomed Pam Bosward, owner of West Woods Flower Farm in Hamden, CT.  Pam shared the Power Point presentation “Growing Beautiful Dahlias.”

Pam Bosward and Club Vice President Jen Lombard

Pam is a member of the Connecticut Dahlia Society and the American Dahlia Society.  She’s been growing dahlias since 2014 but officially opened the farm business in 2020,  she grows over 700 dahlias on her property.

Her presentation covered the various forms and sizes of dahlias, how to grow and care for them throughout the growing season, and dividing and storing them over the winter.

Pam took the time after her presentation to answer questions and do “hands on” of her dahlias with club members. Continue reading →

The Olde Ripton Garden Club had a booth at the 2026 Shelton Day celebration.

Joanne Brunelle, Pat McDonald and Joy Reho

Club Treasurer Joanne Brunelle organized our booth with the help of club members.

Helping with the set up were (pictured L to R:) Joy Reho, Pat McDonald, Loreta Carrero and Liz Griffin.

Olde Ripton Garden Club

Loreta Carrero designed a beautiful fall arrangement to adorn our table

Fall arrangement by Loreta Carrero

Shelton Day October 2026 – Shelton Day is an annual community festival organized by the Rotary Club of Derby-Shelton.  It is a long-standing tradition of celebrating community spirit, local businesses and family-friendly fun in Shelton, CT.

• Over 200 vendors and exhibitors
• Delicious food trucks and local food vendors
• Live entertainment throughout the day
• Family activities and children’s attractions
• Community organizations and nonprofit groups
• Local businesses and artisans
• Handmade crafts and specialty products
• Interactive exhibits, demonstrations, games, and much more!

Be sure to stop by the Olde Ripton Garden Club booth this Sunday and pick up free seeds and bulbs!

Many Hands Make Light Work

Club members met to divide up free bulbs and seeds that will be available to the public on Shelton Day.

Clockwise L to R: Pat McDonald, Holly Secskas, Deb Callahan, Joy Reho, Lydia Locke and Joan Mauri

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 streets, highways, and 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.

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.

As the days get shorter and the leaves begin to change color, the Civic Gardens around town celebrate Autumn with colorful pumpkins, flowers and committee made scarecrows.

Huntington Center Green

Shelton City Hall

Shelton High School

Huntington Community Center

Shelton Police Department

Huntington Branch of the Shelton Post Office

For our September meeting, club member Cheryl Dziubina, with the help of her husband, made scarecrow frames and provided stuffing, ribbons and other fixings to use on the individual scarecrows for civic gardens around Shelton.

Cheryl Dziubina

Pat Robik and Club President Lisa DiNardo

Club members separated into groups and created scarecrows to decorate Civic gardens for the Autumn.  Each scarecrow was unique, with members supplying clothes, hats and decorations for their scarecrow.

Continue reading →

Richard O. Belden Cultural Center

Huntington Center Green

Shelton Community Center

Huntington Fire Department

Huntington Branch of the Shelton Post Office

Shelton Historical Society

Shelton City Hall

Shelton High School

Shelton Police Department

Plumb Memorial Library

For our August meeting we welcomed Interfaith Minister and Advanced Master Gardener Donna Katsuranis who shared the Power Point presentation, “Color, Texture and More – Garden Design for Four Season Interest.”

Donna Katsutanis and Club Vice-President Jen Lombard

Donna has taught numerous Advanced Master Garden classes and has lectured throughout the Northeast to Garden Clubs and the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show.  She is also a principal for the Kiwanis Giving Garden in Brookfield, which grows vegetables for local food pantries.

Donna showed us how to look at our gardens during the spring, summer, autumn and winter and design the gardens to have interest in all the seasons.

Some of the plants shown were interesting in each season, pictured here are the Dogwood tree with showy white flowers in the spring and bright red leaves in the autumn, Pussy Willow in all the stages of its buds and Winterberry with its attractive red berries in the winter.

Continue reading →

On Thursday, August 6th Club President Lisa DiNardo along with club members Elizabeth Griffin, Joanne Brunnelle and Joan Mauri spent the day placing shrubs in planters at the Riverwalk and around downtown Shelton.

Pictured clockwise: Club President Lisa DiNardo, Elizabeth Griffin, Joanne Brunnelle and Joan Mauri

Two shrubs were placed at the Riverwalk and three were placed in downtown Shelton on Howe Avenue.

For our July meeting we welcomed George Trecina who gave the Power Point presentation, “Unraveling the Mysteries of Pruning.”

George Trecina and Club Vice-President Jen Lombard

George has a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Design and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree.  He owns and operates Land Design and Horticultural Sales in Meriden, CT doing residential and commercial landscape design, installation and aftercare.

His presentation, besides teaching us the best pruning techniques, showed us which pruning tools we should use to get the best results when pruning our trees and shrubs. Continue reading →

The United States will commemorate its Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, honoring the nation’s founding in 1776. The celebration is supported by federal, state, and local initiatives, as well as cultural institutions and community organizations

America’s 250th birthday represents a nationwide moment of reflection, celebration, and historical appreciation across all levels of society.

There are many ways to celebrate the 250th birthday of America including:

SAIL 250, A flotilla of tall ships and military vessels is making its way up the Atlantic coast as part of the summer-long Sail250.

GETTYSBURG REENACTMENT, A massive recreation of the battle (July 3-5) with hundreds of uniform-clad reenactors takes place every year at historic Daniel Lady Farm.  The reenactment complements various 250th anniversary events in Gettysburg like a “Revolutionary Reads” book club series that explores the people, conflicts and ideas that shaped the American Revolution (July 9 and August 13); “Voices of 1776: The Diverse Faces Behind America’s Founding” (July 16); and “1776, The Musical” (various dates in July and August).

TURNING POINT PARADE, The Turning Point Parade in Schuylerville, New York, on August 2, commemorates the American victory over the Redcoats at the 1777 Battles of Saratoga.

RECREATING WASHINGTON’S CROSSING OF THE DELAWARE, General George Washington and his troops cross the Delaware again. Twice this time! As costume-clad reenactors in this celebration spanning Pennsylvania and New Jersey will make their way across the river in replica wooden Durham boats from Pennsylvania’s Washington Crossing Historic Park.

To see the complete list visit https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/26/travel/unique-ways-to-celebrate-america-250

As we prepare to leave Spring behind and enter the Summer season, the Civic Gardens are coming alive with color.

Huntington Center Green

Shelton Community Center

Huntington Branch of the Shelton Post Office

Shelton City Hall

Shelton Police Department