Former TV Show Host & Reporter Deborah Kent will visit the Olde Ripton Garden Club at their August 3rd Meeting.  Deborah is also a Master Gardener and professional landscape designer who will give a talk about “Great Plants for 4-Season Interest”.  It will cover low maintenance trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals, including many natives for your garden.

Club members will also be displaying “Hot Summer” arrangements with bright colors as well as perennial flowers, all green arrangements and fragrant vines.

Those interested in gardening are encouraged to attend.  The Club is always looking for new members at all levels of gardening to join.  Volunteers who want to assist in working at community gardens through Shelton are invited.

Meetings are open to the public and refreshments are provided.  Non-member fee is $5. The meeting will be held on Monday, August 3 at 10 am at the Plumb Memorial Library, Community Room (downstairs), 65 Wooster Street downtown Shelton.

This meeting was held at the Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum.  Curator Susan Robinson spoke about the life of Frances Osborne Kellogg, conservationist dedicated to preserving open space.  A tour of the Homestead followed by Club members.

The Club discussed collecting milk weed seeds to send to the Monarch Program at the University of Kansas which is developing seedings for the spring which will increase the food supply for the Monarch Butterfly.

A presentation on little and and big brown bats, the pollinators of the month was enjoyed by all along with a discussion on the artistic and horticulture displays of the month.

Our meeting on August 4th was a big success.  We screened the spectacular film “Wings of Life” a Disney nature film directed by Louie Schwartzberg and narrated by Meryl Streep.   This intimate and unprecedented look at butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, bats and flowers was a stunning adventure full of intrigue, drama and mesmerizing beauty.    The film utilized riveting high-speed, closer-than-close filmmaking techniques to showcase in spectacular detail these unsung heroes of our planet.  The movie also provided welcome advice for preserving our fragile ecosystem.  A large crowd attended the viewing.

“Wings of Life” Disney Nature Film

This luncheon meeting was held at Knapp’s Landing in Stratford for the installation of new club officers for 2014-2016.

The Installation of Officers was conducted by Fran Hope.  The ceremony was based on the symbolic meanings of herbs with colors of ribbons adding to the meanings. Corresponding Secretary:  Donna Pensiero received a mint tied with a red ribbon representing hospitality and cheer.  Recording Secretary:  Sandy Nesteriak received a rosemary tied with a yellow ribbon representing fidelity and remembrance with the yellow ribbon representing alertness.  Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, Diane Moran and Marie Vitka receive dill plants representing protection.  The white and gold ribbons represent honesty and wealth.  2nd Vice President:  Marie Allen received a lemon balm symbolizing smoothness.  It was tied with a green ribbon symbolic of peace and dependability. 1st Vice President:  Renee Protomastro received a thyme plant symbolizing activity.  It was tied with a blue ribbon for loyalty to the President and the members.  President:  Renee Marsh was presented with a sage plant, the number one seasoning in the United States.  The sage was tied with a purple ribbon symbolizing high rank.

A pleasant luncheon followed and a delightful afternoon was had by all.

Fran Hope (left) presents Donna Pensiero (right), new Corresponding Secretary with a Mint Plant.

New Officers Installed. (front left to right) Renee Protomastro, Vice President with Renee Marsh, President Olde Ripton Garden Club at the Club Installation Luncheon.

Outgoing President Joyce Donnelly (left) who served for four years is presented a plant in thanks by new President Renee Marsh (right) from club members.

We were recognized by the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut with a certificate of achievement for our garden therapy word and an award for the club yearbook.   Congratulations to all the club members for their contribution to these efforts.

The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut awards luncheon was held on October 31.   The Olde Ripton Garden Club received the following 2012 Awards:

• Certificate of Recognition – Tributes of Spring  for contribution of Mountain Laurel to the Merritt Parkway Conservancy

• Horticulture Certificate of  Achievement for plantings at municipal areas

• Garden Therapy Certificate of Achievement for work with residents of Crosby Commons
• Recognition for participation in “Plant It Pink”celebrating breast cancer awareness
• Yearbook Award  (2^nd Place)

 Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the club’s efforts.