The club schedules additional member workshops and events throughout the year beyond the meetings listed below.
Please check the Friday Frond newsletter for new information and program updates.
Please check the Friday Frond newsletter for new information and program updates.
September 2024
Creating Little Island in the Hudson River
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Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. Gather, 10:00 a.m. Meeting Location: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Hall Details: Little Island is an award-winning public park, located in Hudson River Park in New York City, where visitors can experience nature and art in a unique urban oasis on the Hudson River. The park is the product of a collaboration between UK-based Heatherwick Studio and NYC-based landscape architecture firm MNLA, led by Signe Nielsen. Ms. Nielsen is a Founding Principal of MNLA and has been practicing as a landscape architect and urban designer in New York since 1978. Her body of work has renewed the environmental integrity and transformed the quality of spaces for those who live, work, and play in the urban realm. A Fellow of the ASLA, she is the recipient of more than 100 national and local design awards for public open space projects and is published extensively nationally and internationally. She is a professor of urban design and landscape architecture at Pratt Institute in both the graduate and undergraduate Schools of Architecture and is the former President of the Public Design Commission of the City of New York. Born in Paris, she received a B.A., cum laude, in Urban Planning from Smith College; a B.A. in Landscape Architecture from City College of New York; and a B.S. in Construction Management from Pratt Institute. SWEEPSTAKES DIVISION I: HORTICULTURE Class 1: Dahlia Class 2: Zinnia Class 3: Herb Class 4: Flower Grown From Seed Class 5: Home Grown Fruit or Vegetable Class 6: Favorite From My Garden DIVISION II: FLORAL DESIGN Class 1: "Backyard Beauties" Create an arrangement using material from your garden, featuring one "star" element as a focal point. DIVISION III: PHOTOGRAPHY Class 1: A favorite summer photo. 5x7 print. (RGC Coordinators will provide a mat.) |
October 2024
Hands-On Photography With Jill Corr
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Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. Gather, 10:00 a.m. Meeting Location: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Hall Details: Take this opportunity to improve your photography skills, enabling you to see your own garden in a new light; then share your results with members and prospective members in a slide show, to be shared on the Ridgefield Garden Club website. Jill Corr, an outstanding photographer, teacher, and now President of the Stonington Garden Club will teach us to take our photo skills to a new level. When is the best time of day to photograph your garden, what should I be focusing on? How can I improve an existing photo? These questions and many more will be answered by Jill. This program is for beginners to skilled photographers. SWEEPSTAKES: DIVISION I: HORTICULTURE Class 1: Foliage Class 2: Sunflower Class 3: Aster Class 4: Goldenrod Class 5: Favorite from my garden. DIVISION II: FLORAL DESIGN Class 1: A composition of vegetables and/or fruits incorporating fall foliage. DIVISION III: PHOTOGRAPHY Class 1: Autumn in your garden or any Ridgefield garden. 5x7 print. (RGC Coordinators will provide a mat.) |
December 2024
Annual Wreath Making Workshop
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Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. Gather, 10:00 a.m. Meeting Location: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Hall Details: Please join our most festive event of the year as we create wreaths and celebrate the season. The Club will provide a variety of greenery and branches. Please bring ribbons, greens and embellishments to add to your project or to share. You may also wish to bring clippers, scissors, a hot glue gun, extension cord, and wreath wire. We will be ordering the same wreaths as in prior years. Pricing and ordering instructions will be provided in advance. We will be able to accommodate a limited number of guests. Please contact Nicole Walker if you would like to bring a friend or prospective member. |
December 2024
Holiday Party
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Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Location: Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center, Garden House Details: Ridgefield Garden Club's annual celebration of the holidays. Spouses and partners are most welcome to join. Details to follow. |
February 2025
Beekeeping for Gardeners: To Bee or not To Bee
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Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. Gather, 10:00 a.m. Meeting Location: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Hall Details: Brian Truskowski will discuss pollinators and the basics of honey bee beekeeping. Brian has been a gardener for most of his life. Early on helping in the family vegetable garden, and later, perennial gardening in his home landscapes. Brian has a special interest in native plants and spends time growing natives from seed or propagating from his various native beds. He enjoys time in his greenhouse to “get a head start” on spring. In 2023, he completed the Master Gardener program through the UCONN Extension Service. Brian retired from IBM Corporation in 2020, after a 40-year career. In his free time, he serves as treasurer for Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail and is the board president of the Park East Owners Corporation, a cooperative apartment building in Manhattan. He was on the Land Conservancy of Ridgefield board for many years. Brian also enjoys home projects, camping trips and spending time on Long Island Sound on his Boston Whaler “Solitude.” The occasional motorcycle ride is also part of his summer routine. SWEEPSTAKES: DIVISION I: HORTICULTURE Class 1: Forced Bulb Class 2: Forced Branch Class 3: Houseplant DIVISION II: FLORAL DESIGN Class 1: Compose a linear arrangement using succulents and air plants. DIVISION III: PHOTOGRAPHY Class 1: Signs of the Season, Winterscape A monochromatic or black and white photo. 5x7 print. (RGC Coordinators will provide a mat.) |
March 2025
Annual Conservation Meeting, Open to the Public
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Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: Ridgefield Public Library Details: Our Changing Forest: Past, Present, and Future in Connecticut’s Woods Changes are afoot in our woods - the old beech in the backyard is in decline, while other new plants and insects make their presence known. Turkeys and deer seem to be everywhere, while songbirds are harder to find. Though their growth is slow to our eyes, forests are dynamic places. How did our woods develop over time? What is on the horizon for the future? Join forester Laura Green to learn about the processes that shape our forests, what we can anticipate going forward, and the opportunities for us to be active stewards of the future we wish for our woodlands. Laura is the Research & Extension Forester for the Yale Forests at the Yale School of the Environment. There, she manages research programs for the Yale Forests' 10,000+ acres of forestland in Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire. She also managed the Yale Forests' outreach program, the Quiet Corner Initiative, which provides support for landowners and programming at the flagship Yale-Myers Forest in northeastern Connecticut. Laura previously worked as a consulting forester and field botanist, serving landowners across Connecticut. She also taught botany and science writing as an adjunct lecturer at SCSU and UConn. Laura is a licensed forester in the state of Connecticut. |
April 2025
Gardening With Nature at the New York Botanical Garden
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Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Location: Ridgefield Public Library, 472 Main Street Main and Dayton Program Rooms PLEASE REGISTER BELOW TO ATTEND Details: An exploration of the balance between the hand of the gardener and the power of nature in the New York Botanical Garden landscape The world-renowned New York Botanical Garden is a 250-acre multifaceted cultural destination situated in the heart of the Bronx. NYBG's natural features - rolling hills punctuated by rock outcroppings, an old-growth forest, the dramatic gorge of the Bronx River - were incorporated into its original design and have been celebrated throughout its 130-year history, creating a tapestry of gardens and plant collections that blend seamlessly with the incredible landscape. Today, NYBG embodies the principles of sustainable horticulture, and Gardening with Nature demonstrates their application. This richly illustrated new book highlights seven distinct horticultural environments captured by photographer Larry Lederman. Through his lush images, readers will witness the process of decay and regeneration in the Thain Family Forest, the carpet of millions of naturalized daffodils on Daffodil Hill, the vibrant azaleas emerging from rocky outcrops and sheltered by majestic trees, the recently installed Native Plant Garden, and more. Featuring authoritative text by Todd A. Forrest - complemented by historic images and Lederman's contemporary photographs - Gardening with Nature offers a model for professional and home gardeners alike, encouraging and inspiring readers to adopt sustainable, nature-based processes and techniques. Mr. Forrest is the Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections at The New York Botanical Garden where he leads all the programs and activities of the Garden’s Horticulture and Living Collections division, including the gardens, grounds, exhibitions, community horticulture initiatives, and a staff of approximately 80 managers, curators, and horticulturists. Mr. Forrest came to The New York Botanical Garden in 1998 as a research assistant in the Institute of Economic Botany. He joined the Horticulture staff as curator of woody plants in 1999 and became Vice President in 2005. Mr. Forrest received his Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Books on the Common will have copies for sale and signing. This program is co-sponsored by the Books on the Common, Ridgefield Historical Society, the Ridgefield Garden Club, and the Ridgefield Garden Tour. |
April 2025
The Dahlias, with Julia Cencebaugh-Kloth
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Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. Gather, 10:00 a.m. Meeting Location: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Hall Details: Join us for an inspiring presentation on dahlias with Julia Cencebaugh Kloth. Julia will share her passion and extensive knowledge about these spectacular blooms, guiding you through the essentials of growing, maintaining, and showcasing dahlias in your garden. In this engaging presentation, Julia will introduce you to the diverse world of dahlias, highlighting the myriad colors, shapes, and sizes that make these flowers so captivating. She will cover best practices for planting and nurturing dahlias, ensuring they thrive throughout the growing season. Learn soil preparation, planting techniques, and the ideal conditions for optimal growth. Julia will also delve into the art of dahlia maintenance, including tips on staking, deadheading, and pest control to keep your plants healthy and vibrant. This comprehensive session will guide you through the intricate process of growing and breeding these stunning flowers, ensuring your garden flourishes with vibrant colors and unique varieties. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, this session promises to be both informative and inspiring. You'll leave with a deeper appreciation for these magnificent flowers and the knowledge to cultivate and display them with confidence. Julia Cencebaugh Kloth is the Curator of Archival Collections for the Garden Conservancy, where she also monitors conservation easements at some of America's most outstanding gardens. She previously coordinated the UConn Master Gardener Program in Fairfield County, fostering her passion for gardening and community engagement. Before moving to Connecticut, Julia owned Cencebaugh Contemporary, a well-regarded art gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Her leadership has extended to the Ridgefield Garden Club, where she served as president, and she is an active board member of the Ballard Greenhouse Conservation Trust. Julia has been refining her gardening skills at her Ridgefield home, Old Barlow's Carriage House and Gardens, since 2008, with a special focus on cottage gardens, gardening in harmony with nature, and hybridizing dahlias. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Museum Studies at Harvard University. SWEEPSTAKES: DIVISION I: HORTICULTURE Class 1: Narcissus Class 2: Hellebore Class 3: Muscari Class 4: Tulip Class 5: Flowering Branch Class 6: Favorite from my garden. DIVISION II: FLORAL DESIGN Class 1: Create a Posy/Tussy Mussy. A Tussy Mussy is a small arrangement of fragrant herbs and blooms. DIVISION II: PHOTOGRAPHY Class 1: "Spring is Everywhere" Celebrate the beauty of spring with a color photo. 5x7 print. (RGC Coordinators will provide a mat.) |
May 2025
111th Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
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Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. Location: Silver Spring Country Club Details: Celebrate a year of beautiful gardens and great accomplishments at our Annual Meeting and Luncheon.This is the one meeting of the year which is “members only”. We’ll celebrate our members’ hard work throughout the year. Outgoing and incoming board members are acknowledged and the budget will be reviewed at this meeting. Please watch for an invitation by email with further details as the date approaches. SWEEPSTAKES: DIVISION I: HORTICULTURE Class 1: Peony or Tree Peony Class 2: Bleeding Heart Class 3: Virginia Bluebells Class 4: Fern specimen Class 5: Favorite from my garden. DIVISION II: FLORAL DESIGN Class 1: Create an arrangement using a teapot as the vessel. Arrangements will be featured as centerpieces for the Annual Luncheon. |
June 2025
Ridgefield Garden Tour, Beyond the Garden Gate
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Date: Sunday, June, 8, 2025
Details: The Ridgefield Garden Tour, Beyond the Garden Gate, marks the first garden tour in Ridgefield in over 30 years. Join us as we step inside seven stunning private gardens, along with the historic Ballard Gardens, for an exclusive experience celebrating the beauty of Ridgefield. We will kick off the weekend in style at Hats Off to Spring, a fabulous soiree, on Saturday, June 7, featuring small bites, cocktails and dancing. We are thrilled to have Todd Forrest, Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections at the New York Botanical Garden, serving as Honorary Chair. For information and tickets to both events, please visit ridgefield garden tour.org. A partnership between the Ridgefield Historical Society and the Ridgefield Garden Club, the Ridgefield Garden Tour is a natural collaboration between two nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving Ridgefield’s rich history and natural beauty. Proceeds will benefit both non-profit organizations, making this an important event for garden and history enthusiasts alike. |