The Shelton Seed Library will open for the 2024 season on Friday, March 1st at the Plumb Memorial Library.
The Olde Ripton Garden Club and Chair Teya Bell would like to thank the Shelton Library System and the City of Shelton for the opportunity to continue the Seed Library for the Shelton community.
Any questions regarding the Shelton Seed Library can be directed to info@olderiptongardenclub.org or sheltonseedlibrary@aol.com.
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 4, 2024 at the Shelton Community Center, Suite 2.
The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut present the 42nd Annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show, “Bursting into Spring.”
At our December meeting we had an instillation of our new officers for 2024.
President Lisa DiNardo, 2nd Vice President Debby Garrow, Assistant Treasurer Lori Hansen, Treasurer Joanne Brunelle, and Assistant Secretary Joan Mauri. Missing from the photo are 1st Vice President Jennifer Lombard and Recording Secretary Gail Donnelly
For 2024 our President will be Lisa DiNardo, our Vice President will be Jennifer Lombard and our 2nd Vice President will be Debby Garrow. Our Treasurer will be Joanne Brunelle, our Assistant Treasurer will be Lori Hansen, our Recording Secretary will be Gail Donnelly and our Assistant Secretary will be Joan Mauri.
We look forward to working with our new Executive Board members and wish them each a successful year ahead.
The members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club wish everyone a safe, healthy, happy holiday season.
Some of the holiday decorations created by the members of the Olde Ripton Garden Club.
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 2023 Holiday Season was “Holiday in the City.” The Olde Ripton Garden Club decorated the French Room and the Front Bedroom in the spirit of “New York, NY.”
Friday, November 24 – Saturday, December 16
Thursdays thru Sundays 10 AM – 4 PM
Holiday Twilight Tours
Fridays – December 1, December 8, and December 15 ~ 4:00 to 7:00 PM
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. Continue reading
For our November meeting we welcomed Jeffrey Eleveld, “Jeff the Plant Guy” who entertained us with the Power Point presentation ” ‘Holiday Hat Trick’ – Poinsettia, Holiday Cactus and Amaryllis.”
Jeff shared with us the history of the Poinsettia, from a small farm stand Paul Ecke turned his Poinsettias into a world wide business.
We learned the difference between the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Cacti, each of the three different holiday cacti have differently shaped stems. Thanksgiving cactus stem segments have two to four sharp points on each side, giving the stem a jagged-appearing edge. The stem segments on a Christmas and Easter Cacti have more rounded teardrop indentations.
We learned in order to have your Amaryllis bloom next year, store the dormant bulb in a cool, dark and dry place for a minimum of eight weeks; longer is fine. Then, about six to eight weeks before you want the amaryllis to flower again, repot the bulb in fresh potting soil and place it in bright, indirect light. Resume watering — sparingly at first. Once you see new growth, increase watering.
At the close of the presentation each member was given a curly spider plant from Jeff. The Curly Spider Plant has the traditional green with white stripe variegation of the ‘Vittatum’ but with uniquely attractive leaves that curl and swirl. It is characterized by its rounded and compact plant habit. Flowering stalks are yellow and plantlets are as curly or curlier than the parent.
Join us in November for a presentation by Jeffrey Eleveld, CHT, “Jeff the Plant Guy.” Jeff is a therapeutic horticulturist who has over 45 years of experience in horticulture. He will present “Holiday Hat Trick” – Poinsettia, Holiday Cactus and Amaryllis. Jeff along with his wife and daughter are owners of the Li’l Plant Shop in Downtown Plainville.
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.
Dues are $35 per year, guests are welcome to attend, there is a $5 Visitor Fee for non-members.
For our October meeting we welcomed Adam Wheeler of Broken Arrow Nursery.
Adam shared with us a Power Point presentation of “Fire Engine Red, Russet and Bronze: A Look at Trees and Shrubs for Fall Color.” We learned why trees change color in the fall season.
There are three types of pigments that are involved in Autumn color, they are Carotenoids which produce yellows, oranges and browns, Anthocyanin which produce reds, purples and blues, and Chlorophyll which gives leaves their basic green color.
During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanin that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.
For our October meeting we welcome Adam Wheeler of Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden.
We will learn about the hallmark colors of the New England Landscape, why they develop as they do and how they can be promoted. He will showcase a diverse selection of landscape trees and shrubs for brightening your home gardens.
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.
Dues are $35 per year, guests are welcome to attend, there is a $5 Visitor Fee for non-members.
On Saturday, September 16th, Olde Ripton Garden Club had a field trip to Hilltop Blooms.
Pictured from L to R: Debbie Garrow, Teya Bell, Lydia Loche, Joan Mauri, Janet Spann, Zofia Ramos and Judy Pavone
The field trip was arranged by club member Teya Bell and Club Vice President Ruth
Pesavento.
The owner of Hilltop Blooms, Allison, conducted a lesson on the correct way to forage for fresh flowers and greens from her flower gardens. Continue reading
Even though the male Hummingbirds have already started home, please remember to keep feeding these little pollinators as the females and juveniles are still around plumping up for their long migration back home. Even if you don’t see much activity, Hummingbirds migrating from further north will be passing south through Connecticut during October and will be looking for food along the way.
Photo courtesy of Eric Wehger