January Brunch Recap
Happy New Year! 55 members turned out for our January New Year Kick-off Brunch with delicious savory and sweet offerings as well as good company. The group watched an inspiring retrospective video featuring RG highlights of 2025 (see link above) and debuted the “Sowing Seeds for Tomorrow” initiative for 2026.
Christmas Market 2025 Recap
The Rowayton Gardeners annual Christmas Market was the place to be on Saturday, December 6! Thanks to all who came and shopped our festive decor in Pinkney Park plus sponsor Fairfield County Bank and supporting sponsors Howard & Gay Insurance, Tammy Langalis & Katie Sparkman with William Raveis. Happy Holidays!!
November Meeting Recap
It was standing room only for the Rowayton Gardeners’ November General Meeting and Program. Trish O’Sullivan, Master Floral Designer, delighted our members and guests with a beautiful array of floral materials and tips of the trade during her presentation on how to create a “Thanksgiving Modern Centerpiece.” Jean Lippincott was the lucky member who won the door prize drawing for the autumnal arrangement at the end of the demonstration. VP Kathleen Raby and our Hospitality Team served seasonal goodies for all to enjoy!
Fall After-School Nature Explorers Series
WINTER IS COMING…
Leaves are on the ground
Nights are long, days are cool
For some animals, it’s time to GO! For others, it’s time to get ready to stay! Join us for two hands-on, nature-filled sessions where we explore how animals and plants prepare for winter — right here at the Potting Shed.
NOVEMBER 5 – SESSION 1: ON THE MOVE
Become a Migrator
Think and sense like a migrating bird, butterfly, or whale to discover how they travel thousands of miles to warmer places. How do they know when to leave — and where to go? Navigation • ️ Instinct • Epic Journeys
NOVEMBER 12 – SESSION 2: WINTER SURVIVORS
Life Underground and All Around
Explore how year-round residents survive the cold — from furry mammals to birds, turtles, and plants. Peek into the chipmunk’s enormous underground winter home right beneath the Potting Shed! (Spoiler: we’re too big to fit in there!) ❄️ Adaptations • Hibernation • Hidden Homes
Location: The Potting Shed at the Rowayton Community Center
Dates: Wednesday, November 5 & 12
Time: 4:00–5:15pm. Cost $35 per session
Ages: 7 to 10 years old
What to Bring: Weather-appropriate clothes, curiosity and a sense of adventure!
Register and pay online. Scholarships to support students are available upon request. There are no refunds for classes missed by the students. Should a class be cancelled by the Rowayton Gardeners, there will be a make-up class or refund offered.
Click HERE to sign up!
Questions or need further info? Contact: Elizabeth Harleman (eharleman@gmail.com)
October Meeting
The Rowayton Gardeners held their general business meeting at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford, followed by a tour of the grounds. Under a beautiful clear blue sky, we enjoyed hearing about the history of the Arboretum and many fun side stories from our guides, led by CEO Tracy Kay along with educators Josh Appel, William Carter and James Flynn. The Bartlett is open from dawn to dusk and we encourage a visit to this very special piece of CT!
Fall Fest at the Community Center Saturday, October 4
Petals & Play: A Family Workshop in the Potting Shed
‘Gardeners Gold’ at Prospect Gardens
The Rowayton Gardeners are hosting a fabulous Fall Field Trip to Prospect Gardens in Westport. Club members last visited these magnificent gardens in the Fall of 2020 and there have been many wonderful additions since then.
The property dates to the 1812 original Victorian farmhouse and surrounding acres of the Wakeman Onion Farm. Through acquisitions of abutting properties, Prospect Gardens is now a contiguous arboretum-style garden of 8.5 acres featuring: open lawns, winding pathways, two orchards, berry houses, a meditation garden, tennis court, two pools, internationally renowned sculptures, an amphitheater, a grassy meadow and a native perennial meadow. As part of their ‘planting for the future commitment’ the owners installed nine new specimen trees last fall. The three-tiered vegetable garden is planted and maintained by the Greens Farms Garden Club as part of their Growing Food for Good program.
Cindy Shumate, Principal Landscape Designer for Prospect Gardens for nearly 30 years, will share details of the Gardens and guide us through the spectacular grounds. We’ll enjoy lunch after our tour at The Little Barn, Westport.
Date and Time: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Meet at the RCC Lower Lot at 9:20am to form carpools
Tour: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Lunch: The Little Barn, Westport *Select lunch choice when you register
Return: We’ll arrive back to the RCC Parking Lot between 2:00 and 2:30pm
Registration: Starts Thursday, August 28 for members; non-members may register beginning Sunday, September 7 (last day to register is Sunday September 14)
Cost is $50/member; $60/non-member
Space for this trip is limited to 22 attendees
No refunds will be issued unless your spot can be filled from our waiting list.
SIGN UP HERE!!!
Rowayton River Ramble 2025
Join the Rowayton Civic Association (RCA) at Pinkney Park to help with this year’s River Ramble, our coastal town fair for all ages! It’s the RCA’s biggest event of the summer – a 50+ year tradition with tons to offer residents and it takes a village to bring it to life.
Sign up for the event via SignUpGenius at the link here. Thanks for continuing to offer volunteer hours at so many of our town events!
June Meeting
There was a good turnout for the Rowayton Gardeners annual meeting and end of year luncheon. Members brought a dish-to-pass and newly elected officers were installed while outgoing officers were celebrated. Last photo below of the President’s gavel shows a miniature arrangement made by member Amy Tyson, in honor of members who have recently passed away.
