News

Don’t miss the Rowayton Gardeners annual Christmas Market on Saturday, December 7 from 9 am to 1 pm in the Potting Shed at the Rowayton Community Center, 33 Highland Avenue, Rowayton. This popular fundraising holiday event features designer-quality wreaths and centerpieces, one-of-a-kind gifts, plum pudding, as well as mini trees and ornaments – all reasonably priced. Plus there will be a range of fabulous items offered at the Silent Auction.

The 2024 Christmas Market is sponsored by Fairfield County Bank and supporting sponsors Cross Private Client Insurance (Rand), Tammy Langalis & Katie Sparkman with William Raveis. Come support the garden club’s mission of spreading the word about conservation, maintaining public spaces, and introducing children to the joy of growing living things, along with raising community awareness about the environment.  Join us and treat yourself to something beautiful for your home, family and friends!

Rowayton Gardeners’ Program Chair, Amy Tyson, presented “Seasons of Change at Egret Landing”  on Thursday, November 7 at 10:30 am in the Moose Room at the Rowayton Community Center.

Tim and Amy Tyson have owned ‘Egret Landing,’ located in the private community of Wilson Point, since 2009. The presentation details the magical transformation of the property over the past fifteen years.

Amy allowed a ‘virtual walk-about’ of the 1.6-acre property which has been featured in CTCottages and Gardens and East Coast Home and Design. Egret Landing was selected to participate in the highly esteemed Garden Conservancy tours, in June 2024.

Amy shared the vision, planning, and process required to create this one-of-a-kind wonderland. Following the presentation, there was a drawing for a few of Amy’s favorite books on Gardening.

Trees in Our City: Why They Matter and How You Can Get Involved

An In-Person Talk by Arborist Sarah Cruz  at Norwalk Library

Thursday, November 7, 6:30-7:30pm – Register by email HERE

Join in a discussion on the importance of trees and how Norwalk is working to grow and maintain our urban forest. Learn about the tree planting program, the Tree Master Plan and how the community can participate by requesting or adopting a tree as well as volunteering. Learn about projects like the Microforest at Meadow St Park. Help shape the future of our trees—your input is welcome!

Presenter: Sarah Cruz is Norwalk’s City Arborist and Horticulturist, dedicated to keeping Norwalk’s Urban Forest healthy and thriving. She leads the Tree Planting Program, Tree Master Plan, and Tree Inventory projects, working closely with City departments to ensure proper care and long-term sustainability of Norwalk’s trees. With a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and certification as a CT and ISA Arborist, Sarah has been worked in urban forestry since 2016.

The talk is co-hosted by Norwalk River Watershed Association, Norwalk Land Trust, the City of Norwalk, and the Norwalk Library. Norwalk Library is at 1 Belden Avenue, Norwalk.

Thanks to all who came to our Carvathon 2024 – here are photos of the festive fun around our potting shed at the Rowayton Community Center. Then it was a perfect evening for the Rowayton Gardeners’ Pumpkin Stroll which showcased dozens of artfully carved pumpkins by the kids of Rowayton at the Carvathon sessions. RGs spent the day transforming the Potting Shed into a spook-tacular funhouse (special appreciation to members Amy Tyson, Pamela Proctor and Frani Taylor!) The evenings festivities included donuts and cider, Halloween-themed music, Bingo, a Spider Toss and a bevy of costumed RG volunteers aka the ‘good witches’ of Rowayton.

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45 enthusiastic members and non-members attended the Rowayton Gardeners’ October 10 evening program at the Rowayton Community Center. Our speaker Jen Plasky, horticulturist, educator and container gardening expert, shared tips of the trade on “Perfect Performing Planters for Fall and Winter.” One lucky attendee took home the planter that Jen created during the presentation!

There’s a new tick in town! According to the Norwalk Hour, “a tick-borne disease previously seen in the southeastern part of the country had a human case in Connecticut, marking the first report of this disease in the Northeast, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The disease — Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis — is transmitted by the Gulf Coast tick, which previously was restricted to the southeastern part of the country but has expanded northward in recent decades.”

Read more in the full article at the link here.

What a picture perfect day for our September General Meeting and Luncheon at Bailey Beach Pavilion to kick off the year!  Thanks to all who attended and especially to new RG Hospitality Chairs Sally Walker and Sarah Messmore for putting everything together for our lovely lunch.

Here’s a link to our full listing of the current RG Leadership at the link here.

Members are invited to join us for a private tour of the Seven Bridges Foundation on Thursday, September 26 to view their special collection of fine art as well as the extensive outdoor collection of sculptures located throughout the beautiful 80-acre property.

To start our excursion, we’ll meet at the Community Center Parking Lot to carpool to our destination. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a bagged lunch from Aux Delices followed by our curated group tour of Gallery One. Then we’ll explore the bucolic grounds to view the contemporary sculptures installed throughout the country estate – at the heart of which are a large lake, hilly terrain and no surprise, seven bridges.

More info here!

Please note that the new rules for leaf blowers in Norwalk start on Labor Day! See below for details.

Fall and Spring clean up October 15 – December 15 and April 1 – June 1: Gas and electric powered blowers may be used between October 15 and December 15 and then again between April 1 and June 1.

Off season prohibition: December 15 – April 1 and June 1 – October 15: No gas or electric powered blower use on “lawns, gardens, parks, woodlands, playing fields and other landscapes.” Electric blowers can be used all year on hardscape such as driveways, walkways and patios. Norwalk may allow gas blower use for storm clean-up when necessary.

A warning and subsequent fine of $250 per violation may be levied. The city stipulates that landscape companies comply with manufacturer recommended protective gear such as hearing, eye and respiratory protection for gas-blower operators.

The Rowayton Gardeners are happy to announce their children’s after-school nature program is back in action this fall! Join us at the Potting Shed to explore autumn’s wonders and support your child in developing a love of science. Guided by instructors, children will learn about the interdependence between people, animals and plants. Our first program will focus on summer abundance and the second on the autumn harvest.

These two sessions will be offered individually to allow students to sign up for one or both sessions. The program is available to children ages 7-10 and will be held at the Potting Shed after school on Wednesday, September 18 and 25 from 4:00–5:00 pm. Each class costs $35 and the fee will cover the cost of class materials plus a snack. Scholarships Available.

We can only accommodate 15 children, so please register as soon as possible. Hope to see you there!Continue reading“Fall Nature Explorers Program September 18 and 25”