Author Archives: janbroome

Happy New Year!

Join us Wednesday, January 10th, as Karen Bussolini presents “The Unsung Season: Gardens in Winter.”  Karen is a widely published garden photographer, speaker, writer, eco-friendly garden coach and, currently, the Senior Horticulturist at White Flower Farm.  She will discuss the many possibilities for creating interest in our gardens from first frost until spring thaw. Time: 1pm Location: St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk

Ready for the Christmas Fair!

Our annual fair is fast approaching; we have a new location: St. Jerome’s Church, with ample parking close to the entrance! Samples of crafts are showing on the scroll bar above. We will also have a CAFE open for coffee and treats. Please join us!

Recent happenings:

June: Annual Luncheon, Senior Center Garden planted, Student Scholarship awards, visit Untemeyer Gardens, STAR workshop

May: Annual Plant Sale, Planting the Norwalk Green in time for Memorial Day

April 12th meeting:

“Where Bulbs Shine –On and On” is the second of our two spring programs. Speaker Karen Bussolini, a nationally known garden photographer with 6 books to her credit, a writer, speaker, and eco-friendly garden coach, will discuss integrating bulbs into the designed landscape that will last and increase. Ms. Bussolini will share with us the array of bulbs she has come to depend on, which come up every spring with little to no effort, bloom their heads off and disappear without much fuss to make room for successive plantings. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12 at 1:00p.m. at St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk. Reservations are required. Contact program chairperson at mmrrmgr@aol.com

Spring program March 8th:

“Planting Design with Climate Change in Mind” is the first of our two spring programs presented for the community. Speaker Christine Darnell, who operates a landscape and garden design company, will discuss how the home gardener can make suitable choices of plants that take into account our changing climate and support pollinators and wildlife. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8 at 1:00 at St. Jerome Church, 23 Half Mile Road, Norwalk. Reservations are required. Contact program chairperson at mmrrmgr@aol.com.

This program serves to underscore the need to support work in our community to improve our natural environment and quality of life. Recently, the Norwalk Garden Club added the Environmental Concerns Committee to its list of standing committees. The committee will network with other like-minded groups on environmental protection, conservation, preservation, and education efforts.

Our Spring Market

Held Saturday, May 14th: We had a wonderful selection of plants, garden decor & seeds. We were able to donate $200 to the World Central Kitchen from our raffle basket proceeds. In case you missed it, please plan to attend next year!

Raffle basket filled with gardening goodies; proceeds donated to World Central Kitchen

Location – parking lot at corner of E Wall & Park Streets – adjacent to the Norwalk Green

Upcoming Flower Show: Federated Garden Club of CT

“Rhythm and Blooms” is the theme for the 40th annual flower and garden show at the Convention Center in Hartford: February 24-27. The show features stunning floral designs, wonderful ideas and information for garden lovers, as well as seminars on native plants, pollinators, vegetable gardening and more! Please try to attend

Visit https://ctflowershow.com

Sept. 8, 2021 meeting was terrific!

We welcomed 2 guest speakers:  Jim Carter, long-time member of the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT), and Louise Washer, President of the Norwalk River Watershed Association (NRWA). They told us about the sections of the NRVT/NRWA including the area at Broad Street & Deering Pond (Norwalk) which is being cleared. The NRVT mission is to build and maintain a 30 mile multi-use trail from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk up to Rogers Park in Danbury. Meeting: 12-noon, outdoor pavilion at Cranbury Park.  Public welcome – masks optional (outside & socially distanced).

Flowering Quince "Chaenomeles speciose" from Martha's garden (early spring bloomer)

Flowering Quince “Chaenomeles speciose” from Martha’s garden (early spring bloomer)

FGCCT award

Congratulations Rosanne, our past president, who received an award October 2020 from the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut for her work on our Star Program. “It was a total surprise to me.  It has my name on it but actually belongs to all the STAR volunteers who were committed and creative and brought joy to our participants.  Hope we can get this started up again at some point in time.”  For over 3 years the Norwalk Garden Club has worked with STAR participants on gardening, nature and craft projects.

Rosanne working with STAR participants.

Rosanne working with STAR participants.

RScal_FederatedAward