Flower Power
On August 5 the FLOWER POWER gala will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Celebrating 100 years of gardening in New Milford festivities will include a flower show, speakers and exhibitors on invasives, monarch butterflies, bees and other pollinators, gardening for the birds, paint along with an artist for 12 years old and up, and a kid's craft for age 6 and up. At 5:00 p.m. on the Town Green there will be a cake for the public plus pizza and entertainment.
100th Year Preparation
On July 11 Garden Club members will meet at the home of member Sandy W to view her extensive varied plantings. Members will enjoy pizza and construct tissue paper flowers which will be displayed at our August 5th celebration.
Dedication
On June 14 at 6 PM there will be a Dedication of the Blue Star Memorial at the town hall on New Milford’s Green. This will honor all who have served in the Armed Forces of our country. If you know of any people in our area who have served in World War II please have them contact our club at: info.nmgardenclub@gmail.com so they can be recognized.
Plant Sale
The Garden Club will hold its annual Plant Sale May 20 on the Green from 9 AM to 2 PM. There will be perennials, annuals, native and vegetable plants for sale.
Poppy Project
The Garden Club of New Milford is sponsoring the "Poppy Project" - A tribute to all those that have served in the Armed Forces. The Dedication will take place on Sunday, May 28 at 1 PM at the All-Wars Memorial on the New Milford Green. Area and state elected officials have been invited and all attendees will be able to view 2000 knit and crocheted poppies standing row by row on the Green.
Growing Dahlias
On May 9 Michele MacKinnon advised us on "Growing Dahlias." She is passionate about Dahlias and provided beautiful pictures.
Composting & Natural Gardening
On April 11 Monique Bosch presented a talk on "Composting and other Natural Gardening Methods." She assisted us in preparing our gardens for planting in the spring.
Spring's Bounty
At our Garden Club meeting on March 14 Carol King Platt presented a program "Celebrating Spring's Bounty." This dynamic speaker also created five floral arrangements.
Starting Seeds
On February 14 Garden Club member Bob Gambino presented a talk on "Starting Seeds at Home." He showed various containers with potting soil and chart showing germination times and tips like temperature and watering.
Holiday Happenings
On December 13 the Garden Club held their annual Holiday Luncheon at Italia Mia Restaurant, 12:00. Coming in 2023 the Blue Star Memorial Marker, which honors all veterans, will be placed near the town hall in New Milford.
Service Project
At our Garden Club meeting on November 8 members made crafts and/or favors for area nursing homes. The workshop was led by club members Kathi Barringer, Kathy Elmore and Jan Parsons.
Shrub Talk
On October 11, 2022, Richard Rosiello, from Meadowbrook Gardens, presented a talk on the "Best Shrubs for the Landscape."
Garden Club members decorated the Town Green and surrounding areas for fall.
Fall Events
On September 13, Karla Dalley, who is a freelance garden writer and lecturer, garden designer and consultant, spoke on "Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter." On September 24 the Garden Club took part in the local Apple Fest on New Milford's Town Green.
Succulents
On August 19 Garden Club President Kathi Barringer conducted a workshop on succulents as part of the General Membership Meeting. Members put together an arrangement which they took home.
Brush Hill
On June 25, 2022 several Garden Club members took a field trip to Brush Hill Gardens in Washington, CT as part of Garden Conservancy Open House. At the General Membership Meeting on July 12 member Sally Milligan will present a workshop on "Flower Arranging—A Bouquet from the Grocery Store."
Annual Luncheon
On June 14 we held our annual luncheon at Agora Restaurant in Brookfield along with the installation of new officers.
Plant Sale
At the general meeting on May 10 members prepared for our annual plant sale. This took place on New Milford's green on May 21 and included annuals, perennials, herbs and shrubs as well as a garden-themed Tag Sale.
Critters
On April 12 Margery Winters from Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, CT presented a Powerpoint on "Critters in the Garden." On April 30 member Bob Gambino held an Open House at his greenhouse on 4 Old Mill Road.
Invasive Plants
On March 8 former mayor of New Milford and GC member Bob Gambino presented a Powerpoint show on "Invasive Plants." He correlated his talk on thirteen commonly found invasive plants with a small informative booklet, which he gave to each member.
Birdfeeders and CT Flower Show
Garden Club members resumed meeting in person at Trinity Lutheran Church on February 8. Member Elizabeth O'Connor presented a program entitled "Birds at Winter Feeders." She showed us how to identify birds through color, shapes of beaks and tails, and behavior. Her presentation included colorful slides of many common birds. Member Kathy Elmore told us about the Bird Count we would have in New Milford. On February 22 Elizabeth presented a Zoom meeting on vegetable gardening. On February 26 several members served as host and hostesses at the Federated Garden Clubs of CT Flower Show in Hartford.
Each month a Garden Club member makes an arrangement which is displayed at the New Milford Public Library.
Planting bulbs with students from Holy Infant Pre-School.
Making arrangements with seniors.
Garden Club members plant flowers in town gardens, in sidewalk tubs, in front of monuments, and at town hall.
To stimulate interest in gardens & gardening, encourage conservation of natural resources, promote civic improvement, and study & enjoy the artistic use of plants. Some of our affiliations include the National Garden Clubs Inc., New England Region of National Garden Clubs Inc., and the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Inc. Join us!
We tend gardens at:
All-Wars and WWI monuments
Main & Church St planter boxes
Mayor’s Garden at Town Hall
Town Hall Church St. Garden
New Milford Historical Society Garden
Service projects have included:
Garden Therapy for Seniors
Support for Local Fundraisers
CT Flower & Garden Show
Halloween Festival at Harrybrooke Park
Christmas decorations on the town green, at New Milford Hospital, and at local rehab centers
Since 1923, the Garden Club of New Milford has been an active, non-profit organization serving our town. From planting trees, landscaping public places, designing gardens, educating, exhibiting, and funding projects, the club has been influential in caring for the community in which we live.
Club meetings address a variety of topics related to gardening, conservation, and public service while providing fun and social interaction with friendly people from our town.
Anyone can attend a meeting to determine if they are interested in joining.
Meetings are every second Tuesday of the month from 1–3PM, location announced the prior month. Membership responsibilities include:
• Attend meetings regularly
• Take an active part in activities
• Support fundraising projects
• Host twice a year
• Pay annual dues
Interested in joining? Fill out the form below to apply:
(submit sends an email)
These links may also be of interest to New Milford gardeners:
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