Category: News

The Rowayton Gardeners are so thrilled to have four Rowayton Elementary School classes visit the Potting Shed on June 6th and 7th! Their visit will include a fabulous puppet show and a wonderful gnome and scavenger hunt all based on nature-related themes Schedule: Program 1:    Tuesday, June 6th at 9:50 AM Program …

Get ahead of the crowd and pay now online to renew your RG membership for the 2023-2024 Year! Most of our members who joined us recently have already paid the $75 for initial membership and initiation. Existing members  – it’s your turn now to renew and pay your annual $50 …

Our members recently approved a letter that will now be sent on to our local and statewide representatives concerning the proliferation of invasive plants in Connecticut and the lack of legislative action (over the past 20 years) to address this threat to our natural habitats. The complete text of the …

Mayor Harry Rilling announced Monday the city has officially begun its partnership with HELPSY, offering free at-home pickups of clothing and household textiles to residents. According to a news release provided by the city, HELPSY is the largest clothing collector in the northeast that partners with municipalities to recycle and reuse …

Ready to have a touch of spring in your house? Have a look at this helpful guide from White Flower Farm that will reassure you that “forcing” is actually “fooling” and easier than you think!  They remind us that “although we usually think of forcing Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Tulips, many …

Are you thinking ahead to spring and some warmer weather? Yearning for the chance for some outdoor activities that yield not only new tips and methods for your own home garden, but also new friends? The Rowayton Gardeners Club welcomes new members who want to “roll up their sleeves” and …

If you can wend your way amid the ads, Garden Betty’s annotated list of her favorite catalogues will bring you beyond the basics. Her intro: “If you love to curl up with a seed catalog and devour it like a good book, this is my roundup of the best seed …

Rowayton Gardeners – Are you looking for a way to get involved and help out? Now that we have resumed most of our club activities and events, there are many tasks that would benefit from your participation. To connect with those in charge and join in, visit our Current Volunteer …

Gardeners Supply Company has a nifty article on what those words used to describe plants actually mean.  Author Suzanne de John says, “Choosing plant varieties can be challenging; however, understanding certain horticulture terms can go a long way to helping you choose just the right plants for your needs. You …

Do NOT bag (paper or plastic), box or bundle recyclables! Put them loose in your recycling bin, EMPTY, RINSED AND CLEAN.  Please do NOT put the following items in your blue bin: plastic checkout bags, plastic garbage bags or plastic film (produce bags, newspaper bags), plastic bubble wrap, plastic pillows …

During the holidays, plants play a prominent role in festive decorations. However, there are some types of decorative plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. In some cases, only mild indigestion and discomfort will result; in other cases, the toxicity can lead to more severe health problems, and even fatalities. It’s …

Bill Thompson, Editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, has created an informative list of foods that will tempt and nourish North American birds.  There are a couple of surprising suggestions!  Click here to see the full article.

To rake or not to rake – that is the question! Horticulture’s Greg Coppa has devised a plan to make the most of Nature’s autumn bounty. I have come to look at fallen leaves as a gift from Mother Nature. My neighbors to the north and west smile as September …

Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) has produced a brochure on the risks of pesticide uses in homes and on lawns. This brochure is easy to read and download.  Rowayton Gardeners are committed to providing information about chemical-free, organic solutions for lawn and garden care and we thank EHHI for …

If you receive a package of unsolicited seeds from China in the mail, please DO NOT plant these seeds. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive species, could introduce diseases to local plants, or could be harmful to livestock. Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects …

Garden Gate Magazine has a wonderful article about what perennials to divide in summer – and how. “While spring and fall are traditionally the best time to divide, there are plenty of reasons you may need to divide a plant in the summer. Whether you’re moving or just haven’t had …

Thanks to Garden Gate magazine for some excellent suggestions that will bring perennial color to those shady spots in your garden:  “Struggling to find flowers for those shady spots? Not to worry. Shade offers the opportunity to grow wonderful plants that not only tolerate a lack of sun but actually …

Horticulture Magazine just published a good article on how to manage both your lawn and your expectations as you migrate away from chemicals and adopt organic lawn care products. They suggest that you ask yourself these questions: What’s your motivation? Will you like the new look? What’s your tolerance for …

Recycling can be confusing. To that end Skip the Plastic Norwalk is posting weekly recycling tips to help clear up some of the confusion. This week: OOPS! Plastic toys are not recyclable. Sharing this weekly recycling tip from Skip the Plastic Norwalk: Plastic toys (hard plastic) are not recyclable regardless of …

The City of Norwalk released a “Reopen Plan” on May 13th that includes a four-phase set of guidelines (some listed as still to be determined) for the use of recreational facilities, City buildings and school buildings. The guidelines are based on those that have been issued by the State of …

Fairy Land at the Potting Shed is open (strictly to one family at a time) for children and their parents! Join in the family fun of creating a home or two for the fairies who are sure to arrive with the flowers this spring. We’ll provide some materials and a …

ANNOUNCING the rollout of the City of Norwalk Food Waste Collection pilot program starting on Wednesday, April 29th, 2020 at the Rowayton Community Center, 33 Highland Avenue.  This is the perfect time to make good use of this program while we are all home and cooking for the whole family!!!! Food …

The Sixth Taxing District (Rowayton), the City of Norwalk and the Norwalk Health Department remind residents that social gatherings of any size are strongly discouraged until community transmission of COVID-19 has run its course. COVID-19 is a highly contagious new virus which can and is being transmitted here in Rowayton, even …

Connecticut NOFA has a new Farm & Food Guide for our area (note that you can search all of the State, too). It’s a bit early now, but you will soon be able to supplement (or replace) your trips to the supermarkets to find fresh local produce.  Find out where …

Spring is almost upon us and there are a huge number of websites that focus on how to enjoy gardening with your kids. Garden centers in the area are open and you’ll find the supplies of plants, seeds, tools and organic fertilizers you need to get going on some fun …

For the past two and a half months, news of the Coronavirus spread and repercussions has stunned us with the rapidly accelerating impact of the virus. We have followed the lead of our District Commissioners and canceled all of our scheduled spring activities, including meetings, speakers and workshops.  In addition, …

Thanks to Horticulture Chair Kevin Tepas for this information about winter pruning!  Adapted from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. Many garden plants benefit from pruning, but it’s important to prune at the right time of year, in the right way. Many plants should be pruned in the winter months, while they’re …

Last spring, the City of Norwalk issued new guidelines for recycling in response to the dramatic changes in the recycling business. Almost a year later, some confusion remains about what belongs in the blue recycling bin and what should be relegated to the trash. Note that plastic bags are NOT …

Happy New Year from Horticulture Magazine! Here are twelve resolutions for the coming months that include many things you may already have on your “to-do” list…but also others worth adding. Click here to read the full article.

Garden Design Magazine has just mailed a summary with links to the most loved articles from the past year: “We can’t believe 2019 is almost over! We’ve got exciting things happening in 2020, and hope you do too. While looking forward is always good, looking back can be just as fun.” To …

There are some types of decorative plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. In some cases, only mild indigestion and discomfort will result, in other cases, the toxicity can lead to more severe health problems, and even fatalities. If you are planning to bring holiday foliage into your home …

Garden Design has a good list of things to do to prepare your garden for the cold weather ahead. “In mid-to-late fall, gardeners in colder climates start thinking about winter; not necessarily because they’re looking forward to it, but because they know that without proper precautions, cold temperatures, drying winds …

A new invasive pest has emerged and it is very important that we keep a sharp eye out for signs that it is in our area. The Spotted Lantern Fly, is yet another unwanted invader from Asia. These flying/jumping insects propagate readily and have no known natural predators to keep …

A recent issue of Garden Gate Magazine includes a look at some beneficial insects you actually want living in your garden because they eat the bad bugs. Learn to identify and attract them.

“So you say you love birds, Friend. That means you want a healthier, safer world for them. With these simple ideas, you can show it — and you can start today.” National Audubon Society offers 10 simple ways to attract and protect these lovely creatures. Have a look!

Horticulture Magazine has a nice piece on “eco-friendly gardens” that  begins,”When people think of solutions to climate change, solar panels, electric vehicles and shuttered coal plants are often the images that come to mind. But these all have to do with reducing emissions. The other side of the climate-change equation …

Children ages 2-4 and their caretakers are invited to join us in our summer Rowayton Library program at the Potting Shed! This year we will be focusing on nature inspired and upcycling projects: Please register 1 child at a time for each session so we can have an accurate headcount. …

Garden Design Magazine has a lovely article on trees and shrubs with colorful berries.  They say, “A garden really can have something lovely to look at in every season. Just remember the four F’s—flowers, foliage, form and fruit. The last one, fruit, is often the most overlooked and underutilized as …

Horticulture Magazine has a great list of resolutions for all of us who enjoy our gardens. They preface the article: “The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past and dream for the future and maybe set some new year’s resolutions. These 12 ideas can help you …

Thanks to all who participated in the jointly sponsored environmental program at the Community Center last week!  More than 70 attended the forum and their comments were universally complimentary.  It was a time for learning and sharing about updates to the 3 R’s of decades ago. Norwalk’s recent revision of …

Thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers under the guidance of Gardener Priscilla Feral, Rowayton Gardeners ran the first ever vegetarian chili booth at Pinkney Park for the annual Rowayton Historical Society cookout fundraiser. Though we didn’t win a prize, the terrific compliments and stream of those …

Compost is well-decomposed organic plant and/or animal materials transformed by soil microorganisms into their original components. The process of composting allows one to enhance and accelerate this natural process to produce a regular supply of “black gold” for your landscape. Our Horticulture Chair, Kevin Tepas, has put together a fascinating …

Garden Gate Magazine just published a nifty illustrated list of fall gardening chores for us.  They say,” Taking care of your fall garden makes your garden healthy and gorgeous next year, too. Here’s a fall garden checklist that will help you know what to do now.”  Check it out! (click here)

Join us for one of our most popular family activities! We will provide the carving tools, the pumpkins, a yummy after-school snack, our ever-charming Potting Shed ambiance and friendly volunteer staff. As always, we’ll offer two afternoons (choose either Wednesday, October 24th or Thursday, October 25th from 3:30 to 5 …

Please dispose of hazardous wastes responsibly! Norwalk is holding it’s next Hazardous Waste Day for residents only from 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday, August 25th.  Bring any or all of the following substances to Norwalk HighSchool, 23 Calvin Murphy Drive:  oil based or alkyd paints, auto care products, …

The memorial garden at Pinkney is looking particularly good mid-summer.  Thanks to Pamela Proctor for all her work dividing, transplanting and continually caring for this gem on the bank of the Five Mile River.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, a hearty band of Rowayton Gardeners joined a troop of kids from Norwalk Grassroots Tennis & Education to take part in the weeding of a large section of the Rowayton School Courtyard.  Under the direction of Gardener Michele Casey and Lisa …

Rowayton Gardeners have maintained, restored and improved the berm gardens along the Bayley Beach’s parking lot for years. We’ve also tended containers, planted a flagpole garden and added screening trees and grasses plantings along the Roton Point fence.  This year, we are using our funds to build a proper stone …

As you may have read in The Hour, The Rowayton Gardeners have launched an environmental initiative for our community! Spearheaded by Priscilla Feral, the objective of the drive is to let Rowayton homeowners know how important (and easy!) it is to “go organic” when feeding and treating our lawns and …

Thanks to our civic beautification program, many public gardens around Rowayton are regularly maintained and improved.  Recently, Frani Taylor and Ellen Duggins did a significant spruce up of the triangle on Roton Avenue at the end of the Sammis Street Bridge. Thanks, Rowayton Gardeners, for helping to make Rowayton a …

Join us on five Mondays at the Potting Shed for some free and terrific summer fun.This weekly program, presented by the Rowayton Library and the Rowayton Gardeners, will take place from 2:30 to 3:30 pm and is intended for crafty kids ages 5 and up. If you’re under 6, please …

Thanks to the expertise and artistry of a Rowayton Gardeners supporter, Max Westhelle, we have a terrific video of the Mother-Son Dirt Fest that took place last April.  Have a look – just click here and turn up your volume! Thanks, Max!!!

What a fabulous Spring Market we had, despite the wind, cool temps and RAIN! Gardeners turned out in force to welcome the hoards of buyers who braved the conditions. Full of smiles, helpful advice and toting strength, Gardeners spurred sales and happy customers. We did have some prime items remaining …

Is your yard ready for the planting season?  Do you have questions about the pH level of your soil?  Do you wonder about how to amend any imbalances, excesses or deficiencies?  Horticulture Chair Kevin Tepas outlines the best way to answer your questions with a soil test in his latest …

[Thanks to Horticulture Chair, Kevin Tepas, for this informative report!]  Boxwood is a popular hedge material because it is an evergreen with a dense growth habit. Hedges of boxwood (e.g. Boxus microphylla japonica ‘Green Beauty’) can provide walls around a lawn and divide the yard into different garden “rooms”.  When other plants die back …

Horticulture Magazine notes that we shouldn’t be afraid of letting some houseplants become root bound – they prefer it! “It’s generally best to keep cacti and other succulent plants underpotted, because it guards against rot. African violets and the related cape primrose do well when kept root bound, as do …

As temperatures drop, we will soon be breaking out the snow shovels and ice chippers and whatever it is we use to make walking and driving less treacherous.  Our Horticulture Chair, Kevin Tepas, has found a couple of articles that are worth consulting before you make that annual trip to …

By all accounts, the 2017 Christmas Market was a great success!  Good weather, the delayed construction schedule at the Rowayton Community Center, generous sponsors and donors, excellent publicity, hard work by our Gardener “elves” and a wonderful selection of items (wreaths, gifts, silent auction offerings, plum pudding, tabletop trees, table …

Thanks to a generous grant, our new compost bins were recently installed behind the Potting Shed Patch and will allow us to increase our composting efforts, making our gardens richer as they recycle garden waste. Special thanks to the staff of the 6th Taxing District for help with the project!

We’re excited to once again offer 6 weeks of free garden-focused programming for children in partnership with the Rowayton Library each Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm beginning July 10th and running through August 14th. Each week, we will feature a gardening or nature lesson that carefully ties into this year’s …

Learn how to keep your family healthy at a free essential oils class on Thursday, June 29th, from 7 to 8:30 pm at The Potting Shed.  Join us as we learn to treat coughs, colds and ear infections, reduce stress and anxiety, assist in first aid and pain relief, remove …

Please join us every Friday this summer between 9 and 11am as we tend the Potting Shed vegetable and flower gardens. There are always fun gardening tasks for all ages, levels & abilities. Kids are welcome to join the fun! Contact Bridget Bennett for more information at bridget.bennett1@gmail.com.

Welcome our new officers for the coming year:   President: Kathy Leeds Vice President: Lisa Shanahan Secretary: Karin Van Sloten Corresponding Secretary: Lynn Anderson Treasurer: Ellen Duggins Assistant Treasurer: Michele Casey Ex-Officio: Betsy Bain

All Rowayton Gardeners are asked to submit a new smartphone photo of themselves for our updated  member directory now.  Many have already sent in their photos and 30 members had photos taken at the recent Annual Meeting.  Photos should show head and shoulders only with no sunglasses or hat.  With …

Gardeners and Gardeners-to-be marched to honor our veterans in Rowayton’s Memorial Day Parade. Farmer Woody (and his sidekick) led off in Woodruff’s beautiful red tractor and were followed by a host of others with signs about our worksites and the lovingly bedecked Poler garden cart. More photos are welcomed if …

Join us for a complimentary evening about essential oils.  Come  to the Potting Shed on Wednesday, June 7th from 7 to 8:30 pm to learn how to use these gifts of the earth into your cooking, cleaning, gardening and living. No need to register – just join us!

Check out some photos from our May field trip to Stone Barns for a tour of the farm and a lovely lunch. A tour of the nearby Union Church with its magnificent windows created by Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse. Thanks to Amy Tyson and Charlotte Gannon for setting up …

The Rowayton Gardeners are excited to announce the opening of their new Seed Library! Please come by the Potting Shed to browse our plentiful supply of flower and vegetable seeds generously donated by the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. We invite you to fill an envelope (or envelopes) with the seeds of your …

Member Priscilla Feral has put together a straightforward guide to Ten Things You Can Do Right Now to Fight Climate Change.  Learn how to get involved, cutback on your waste, change the way you travel, make every drop of water count, switch to “green power,” think about what you plant, make …

This event has been canceled. Please join us for our 2nd annual Potting Shed Zen Retreat on Saturday June 3rd (8 am to 5 pm). It is a day-long affair that is certain to refresh the body and soul. This peaceful experience will treat you to a wide variety of hands-on activities, demonstrations …

January 19th was warm and boasted blue skies as we set off on our annual field trip – this year to Grand Central! Our tour was terrific, the logistics worked out ahead of time guided us flawlessly from the RCC to Darien/Metro North and then via the subway and shuttle …

Horticulture Magazine says, “What better way to wile away the winter than by sinking into a great novel that includes plenty of garden and plant imagery and maybe a gardening protagonist, too? Here are some of our favorite works of fiction in which gardens and gardeners play a role (click …

Our program on January 5th featured a talk by fellow Gardener, Priscilla Feral.  You can view the slide show (with audio narration) on YouTube by clicking here.  If you have any questions (the screening prompted much interesting discussion), please contact Priscilla by email at feral@friendsofanimals.org.

At a recent meeting of the Federated Garden Clubs of CT, our Club received a lot of accolades!  Congratulations to all: FGCCT Silver Tray Arboreal Award – Planting of a Tree; FGCCT Certificate of Achievement – A small standard Flower Show – Celebrating Historical Rowayton; FGCCT Citation – Horticulture – A small …

Priscilla Feral, chair of our Environment Committee, recently distributed an article she has written on “The Joy of Backyard Birds.” It is fascinating reading for those among us devoted to our feathered friends, and the article is based on a new book (October 2016) by Stan Tekiela entitled “Backyard Birds: …

It is drawing near to that time of year where we find ourselves huddled up inside dreaming of green leaves and warmer temps.  As Gardeners, we love to surround ourselves with those “gorgeous garden fresh memories” so as to remind us that all seasons have inspirational green features. These reminders help to …

Please email torywoodruff@mac.com to be placed on a wait list – our always popular Thanksgiving Potluck is full! Fall ushers in one of our favorite Gardener events: the Fourth Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner! The cost is $30 per person and we have room for 50 adults in all. If you have registered already, bring …

The Rowayton Gardeners took advantage of a Federated Garden Clubs of CT grant to purchase and plant a beautiful columnar oak tree at Farm Creek Preserve recently. Several members welcomed the tall young oak to its new home.

Horticulture notes, “In the fall, ladybugs often enter homes, looking for shelter and warmth. To help keep these insects outdoors, caulk around your windows and add weather-striping to your doors. While they are nuisances, these bugs will not harm people, pets or homes. You can vacuum up any that do get …

Take a look at the following sites for tips about fall gardening:  TopTips for Great Fall Gardens (Mother Earth News), Fall Lawn Care (Organic Life) and the host of articles and videos on fall planting and care from gardenguides.com. Let us know if you have some favorite fall gardening resources to share …

Soccer Saturdays at the Potting Shed are designed for soccer players AND their families and run from September 10th to October 29 from 9:30 to 11:30 am.  There is no fee, but all are welcome, as are their donations.  Check out our super-fun lineup of programs for 2016 and stop …

The next time you are downtown, take a moment to visit the Pinkney Historical Garden on the bank of the Five Mile River near the Historical Society Barn.  It is gorgeously planted, staked and now surrounded by beautiful period fencing.  Parts of the fence had lived in sections behind the …

Join the Rowayton Gardens on May 19th for a visit to Untermyer Garden, the remaining 43 acres of Samuel Untermyer’s 150-acre estate which included elaborate gardens and greenhouses.  Untermyer’s centerpiece is a Persian Garden surrounded by stone walls and turrets and crisscrossed by canals. You’ll see fountains, sculptures, mosaics and …

As you are purchasing your spring plants, remember to check the labels or ask before you buy.  This photo was taken at a retail chain recently.  As we know, we should not buy plants treated with neoniconoids. Bees take the pollen back to the hive and feed it to the brood …

Our registration is full for this event.  Please contact Tory Woodruff if you would like to be put on a waitlist.  This is the rowdy evening mothers and sons (ages 6-12) have been dying for. Come get dirty with us at the Potting Shed on Friday, April 22nd from 3:30 to …

Patience!! The weather is certainly ahead of last year, but we still have at least a month to go before we can really get back into outdoor gardening. While you are waiting, and to fend off spring fever, here are a few tasks to do while waiting for the ground to …

This is the time of year when gardeners look forward to the flood of seed and plant catalogs that arrive along with tax forms and other harbingers of the new year. We’ve collected a sampling of links to all sorts of garden-related information, including the section on “Sources” and it’s catalogs. …

Our Horticulture Chair, Carol Giunta, has the following gardening tips for November:  Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation! Does this sound like a repeat of last month? It is! After researching good task ideas, you will do your yard the biggest favor by staying on top of leaf raking chores. Not only do diseases and …

Horticulture Chair Carol Giunta has suggested three terrific articles for your reading pleasure. Gardenista’s True Colors:  9 Best Shrubs for Fall Foliage has some old favorites and a few new ideas for the fall palette. Fine Gardening’s 10 Tips on Dividing Perennial Plants is a must read now as we clean up our …

Tips from our Horticulture Chair, Carol Giunta: October’s Theme is Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation! Make next year’s garden healthier by giving it special care now!  Even though we’re expected to get above average rainfall the first week in October, remember to continue watering plants until we have a hard frost as plants need …

Registration is full for the Gardeners’ Third Annual Carvathon at the Potting Shed.  Parents and other volunteers will help carvers create cute or creepy pumpkins on Monday, October 26th or Tuesday, October 27th from 3:30 to 5 pm.

Tuesday night, October 13th, from 6 to 8:30 pm, we will spend an inspired evening with Terrian’s fabulous designer, Deb Herbertson! Many of you may remember the trip we took to see her create table decorations and terrariums a couple of years ago at the Westport Terrain store & restaurant.  Both charming and …

Fairy World is the ultimate free-play space at The Potting Shed.  There is nothing better than watching families step back and simply observe their children creating small shelters, teepees, kingdoms, etc… for our rarely-seen resident Rowayton fairy community.  Each week the “building materials” are replenished and changed to suit the …

Carol Giunta reported today that the drought that’s developed over the summer is changing the ways in which we should nurture our lawns, plants, shrubs, and trees as fall begins. Her list of things to do is extensive and thoughtfully compiled.

Join us as we open our doors and lower our screen for Movie Night at the Potting Shed starting this fall! Bring a beverage & a blanket. Kindly let us know you are coming so that we can save you a chair. Upcoming films include (October 14th) Fed Up and (November 11th) Grey Gardens. …

Every Saturday (10 am to noon) from September 12th to November 7th, our fabulous team of Rowayton Gardeners will host kids and parents for some amazing fall experiences and all are welcome to join us at the Potting Shed! Enjoy free nature-inspired crafts, garden art and harvest snacking for kids …

Take a look at this lovely Dirt Simple blog post on hydrangeas from landscape designer Deborah Silver!  It’s timely and full of information about planting and caring for these gorgeous blooms.  Thanks to Carol Giunta for passing it along. We are all reveling the blossoms that simply didn’t appear last …

We all love to be outside in the summer – gardening, golfing, hiking, even just entertaining in our own back yards. WebMD has published a nifty bad bug slideshow that can be truly helpful in identifying what has bitten you and how to treat (or avoid) that bite. Click here …

Laura Tangley of the National Wildlife Federation considers native bees the “Wild Pollinator Champs. She says that they are unsung heroes, even though honey bees (imports from Europe) are getting lots of buzz: “…with all the attention being paid to honeybees, I wonder if we’re overlooking an even more important …

From Carol Giunta: Fertilize spring bulbs so they will bloom next year Direct sow summer annuals such as zinnias, cosmos and marigold to fill in any empty spots in your garden

The Monarch butterfly is in grave danger, but in these 8 simple steps you can help reverse the trend and revitalize the species! Click here to read the entire article from our Greenpeace friends.  

Concern about native bee colony collapse has brought attention to the critical pollination role of all bees and their plight, and also spotlighted what people can do to help, says David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. To create a yard that’s safe and attractive to native bees, it’s important to understand them …

Growing your own food successfully is a constant process of learning which techniques work best for you and your plants. Often simple bits of advice from other gardeners can help provide shortcuts to achieving success in your garden.  Take a look at this wonderful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31l960Ggx0&feature=youtu.be  

A national public health and environmental group, Beyond Pesticides, is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stop the use of the country’s most popular herbicide, glyphosate, in the wake of an international ruling that it causes cancer in humans. The …

We have recently begun working with a local Norwalk organization called Grassroots Tennis (GRT).  They are located only minutes from town and are a group dedicated to improving the lives of youths from broad socio-economic and cultural backgrounds with programs based on the ideals of tennis legend Arthur Ashe.

For all of us, becoming indigenous to a place means living as if your children’s future mattered, to take care of the land as if our lives, both material and spiritual, depended on it. –Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous        Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of …

“Does the bleak, cold dullness of winter sometimes get you down? Then why not bring springtime into your home by forcing tree and shrub branches into bloom? Branches can be used as background for an arrangement or for an entire floral display, and you can prune your shrubs and trees …

As you pour over the seed catalogs this winter, keep pollinators in mind. Thanks to our Horticulture Chair Carol Giunta for letting us know about a nifty online guide specifically for our area entitled, Selecting Plants for Pollinators.  For farmers, land managers and gardeners, the 24-page guide is most complete, …

The National Gardening Association says, “Everyone needs a little R and R, and for houseplants winter is the time to get it. Daylight is dramatically reduced, the air is dry, and temperatures are cool — not the perfect growing conditions. Follow these tips to keep your houseplants in shape through …

Thanks to Mary Verel for sharing this chuckle!  If you know of a particularly good seed catalog or website, let our webmaster know and we will add it to the “Helpful Sites” page. Not that having more resources will solve this particular seasonal disorder!

Take a look at this list of 10 lovely New Year’s resolutions for us provided by the Gardener’s Supply Company. They’re simple and easy to accomplish…the best sort of planning for the future!

A valiant crew braved gusts of wind on an otherwise mild and sunny December day to neaten up the Potting Shed beds for winter.  Pictured here are just a few of the diligent souls who got the area neat and clean, cutting back perennials, raking leaves and filling planters with …

Funded by donations and fees from Potting Shed workshops and events with additional Rowayton Gardeners underwriting, the fence for our organic teaching garden is in the midst of installation.  Stop down and take a look!  It will match the fence behind the rose garden when it is completed and will serve …

The date for our much anticipated NYC outing has been set as Thursday, January 22nd!  Members (only) are encouraged to join us  for a trip to the Museum of the City of New York and catch a glimpse of the visual culture of elite New York in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. After …

Following up on their fall centerpieces and decorations, the Hill Top Gardeners spent time with our “Garden Therapy” Committee and put leftover Christmas Market greens to good use. Their resulting centerpieces were beautiful and festive. Click below for photos of the work session.

If you have resident or visiting furry friends for the holidays, please refresh your memory about the toxicity of many of our favorite seasonal decorations.  Thanks to Pet MD for this important rundown of the dangers!

Hard work was made easy, thanks to great planning from our Christmas Market Committee and the presence of scores of members on hand for the various workshops and then the sale itself. Even the sprinkles and then the downpour on Saturday could not slow the purchasing frenzy or dim holiday spirits. Click …

Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed; their caterpillars only eat milkweed plants and monarch butterflies needs milkweed to lay their eggs.  With shifting land management practices, we have lost much milkweed from the landscape and our monarch population is in decline.    Please consider planting milkweed – November is the best …

On Wednesday afternoon, at the Annual Awards Meeting of the FGC of Connecticut, our very own Rowayton Gardeners won several important awards and citations!  This formal recognition of our efforts was applauded by almost 400 garden club members from around Connecticut (a thrill for attending Gardeners June Klopfer, Carol Hooper …

The second annual Carve-A-Thon at the Potting Shed was a huge success. Kids, parents, Gardeners – a recipe for fun when pumpkins are thrown in for seasoning. Creative juices were flowing, as were grins and giggles as a record number of pumpkins were carved for Halloween. See more photos of …

The Hilltop Gardeners have requested a name change for their periodic work with the Rowayton Gardeners (formerly called “garden therapy”).  This lively group enjoyed a recent work session overseen by our Club members Ellen Bieber, Rilla Neafsey, June Foster, Ann Purcell, Bev Hennessey and Susanne Miller using pumpkin containers to create …

Pesticide Free New Canaan has some great tips to get our lawns into good shape for next year.  A SOIL TEST will take the guesswork out of fertilizing.  See link.  AERATE & SEED – now is the time!  MOW your grass a little shorter, to about 2″, to promote growth. …

Recently, the Rowayton Gardeners hosted the UCNS Fours for garden fun.  They dug and planted in the new Potting Shed Patch beds, then watched a terrific puppet show about the glories of compost!  Lots of smiles and dirty hands were a recipe for fabulous fun!

What a thrill to be in our new “home” for the annual cocktail party!  Members and their spouses/significant others got together as they do each year to bid farewell to an exceptionally busy summer and greet the fall.  This year the Potting Shed provided the backdrop for our festivities.  Click …

Our Pot Luck Harvest Supper was a tremendous hit on September 21st.  Families celebrated the opening of the Potting Shed Patch with  scarecrow making, pumpkin & gourd bedazzling, a kids’ garden puppet theatre, a worm feeding session, and a “fun with compost” talk. Check out some photos by Club Photographer, Petrea …

Kids ages 7 and up were invited to come to the Potting Shed to build a fairy or gnome house out of clay with resident artist Denise Bennett Minerly.  The four-part series has already proven to be a great hit, giving participants a chance to create their own clay house, compose a creative …

Every Saturday (9:30 – 11:30 am) from September 6th to November 8th, our fabulous team of Rowayton Gardeners will host kids and parents for some amazing fall experiences and all are welcome to join us at the Potting Shed! Enjoy free nature-inspired crafts, garden art and harvest snacking for kids …

The Wilton Garden Club will host this standard flower show at the Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, on Thursday, October 9th from 1:00-5:00pm, Friday, October 10th from 10:00am-4:00pm and Saturday, October 11th from 10:00am-2:00pm.  Almost 50 spectacular floral designs, plus hundreds of horticultural specimens, photography and educational exhibits will be …

The Rowayton Gardeners & our good friends at Round Meadow Landscaping have worked together to create a magical new educational garden patch alongside the greenhouse.  Eight new raised beds were installed inside beautiful stone retaining walls, a custom super-sized picnic table was built to enhance our outdoor classroom, an outdoor …

Please try to resist tidying away the hollow plant stems in your garden in the autumn and instead wait until the following year.  They may have tiny bees hibernating inside!  For more information, check out the Buzz About Bees website.

Thanks to our Environmental Awareness Chair, Mary Verel, for a thought-provoking article from the Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens website. When you’re shopping for native plants there are a few very important questions to ask your local nursery before buying anything. This article lists them and makes the point that there are many …

Sign up soon for this terrific opportunity – space is limited!  The new UConn Master Composter Program will take place on five consecutive Saturdays, starting with October 4. The first and fourth classes will be held in the Silver Education Center at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, 151 Brookdale Road, …

Regular weekly weeding days have been put on our calendar and the continuous and formidable efforts are making a difference around the Rowayton Community Center!  The Rose Garden/Flagpole crew works 8:30 – 10 am on Monday mornings and the Field/Building Beds crew works Saturdays from 10:45 am – noon throughout the …

Our crack program planners have designed a delightful day of gardens and art on Thursday, September 18th in Old Lyme, CT.  The Florence Griswold House, Museum and Garden together form a mecca for those who love art (particularly American Impressionism) and history.  Tours of house and museum will be followed …

Thanks to Club Carpenter Michael Poler and Jim Ackerly who have just installed a handrail to the basement at the Potting Shed!  The underground area provides newly cleaned and organized storage for hundreds of clay pots and other goodies we will be using in months to come.  Stop by and …

Be sure to stop by the Potting Shed often in the next few weeks to see the how our new “educational garden patch” develops!  There will be lots of opportunities to help as well.  The week of June 30th, the Sixth Taxing District arranged to have several trees next to the …

It has long been known that some plants can respond to sound. But why would a plant evolve the ability to hear? Now researchers are reporting that one reason may be to defend itself against predators.  A new study suggests that response is linked to self defense.  To see whether …

The Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station have published an article “Protecting Bees from Pesticides” which includes advice to homeowners on insecticide use.  Note that some common trademark names of pesticides containing neonicotinoids, which pose a special hazard to pollinators, are:  Bayer Advanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub, Bayer Advanced 3 in 1 Insect, Disease, and …

Please join us in signing a petition that will be delivered to Gina McCarthy( EPA Administrator) urging the EPA to adopt new herbicide restrictions to save monarchs.  The National Resources Defense Council explain the need for action:  As Big Ag has dramatically increased its use of genetically modified crops resistant to …

The Garden Education Center is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting horticulture, conservation and the arts through educational programs, outreach activities and special events.  Be sure to check their website and you may want to sign up for their newsletter to stay abreast of all the wonderful learning opportunities they …

Want to add beauty and wildlife value to your yard? Consider these native plant champions suggested by editors of the National Wildlife Federation website.   To identify North American species worthy of “gold medals,” they turned to gardeners across the country for their recommendations.  The article contains a beautiful picture and description …

This is the time of year that the big nurseries and seed houses fill our mailboxes with catalogs.We’d love to include links to to your favorite online sources for those who start planning their planting season early.  Even if it’s too early to order, is there anything that chases  the …

If deer are munching on your shrubs, try this organic solution recommended by speaker Colleen Plimpton and vetted by Gardeners Michael & Petrea Poler:  In a blender, mix 2 eggs, 1/4 cup wilt proof , 1/4 cup extra, extra hot sauce, one cup water. Mix thoroughly and add mix to …