Mark your calendar – September Meeting at Bayley Beach
September General Meeting and Luncheon – Bailey Beach Pavilion
Thursday, September 12 (11:00am – 1:00pm)
More info to follow!
Need to know – New Rules for Leaf Blowers in Norwalk start Labor Day!
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.
Fall Nature Explorers Program September 18 and 25
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”
Rowayton River Ramble Silent Auction Fundraiser
READY FOR THE RIVER RAMBLE THIS WEEKEND!!! We have offered up our Potting Shed for some lucky host to throw a fabulous cocktail party for up to 25 people – includes a server and a bartender for 4 hours, wine from The Town Cellar, a cheese board from Palmer’s Market and shrimp cocktail platter from Fjord’s. This unique opportunity is part of the silent auction online Monday, July 8 until Saturday, July 13 (closes at 3 pm).
Info at the link here!
Polinator Pathway Webinar June 27
Polinator Pathway Summer Webinar: “Goodbye Lawn!” on Thursday June 27, 6:30-8:00 pm
Register for Zoom link here!
Looking to get rid of your high-maintenance lawn? Replacing existing lawns with native plants is a great way to save water, time and energy PLUS provide much-needed habitat and food for local wildlife. The webinar will dive into the benefits of replacing existing lawns with locally native plants and leave you with practical tools to help you transform your lawn into an easy-care, pollinator-friendly space where native plants thrive.
The Polinator Pathway presenter is Jeanne McRight, Founder and President of Blooming Boulevards, an Ontario, Canada-based non-profit whose mission is to “Create networks of residential boulevard gardens that serve as a corridor for native pollinator population movement, enabling bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects to reach each other.”
June Meeting Recap
The Rowayton Gardeners had a great turn out at our June members meeting and luncheon with lovely desserts brought in by some of our members!
POP-UP EVENT! Selleck Woods Wildflower/Weed Walk June 20
Join new member Debby Boots and the environmental committee for an informal walk to learn about the wildflowers and worthy “weeds” growing along the railroad track in Selleck Woods. Meet at the Potting Shed at 8:45am to carpool or meet at 9:00 am at the end of Little Brook Road in Darien where we will begin the walk. Bring a friend! Wear a hat!
Here is a map of the area at this link for review. If you have any questions, email Debby at debboots5@gmail.com
‘Opportuni-Tea’ at the Potting Shed June 6
How wonderful to celebrate spring into summer, our achievements throughout the year and to have a chance to hear about what’s on the horizon for the Rowayton Gardeners from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025.
All are invited: new members, prospective members, longtime members, and everyone in between!
We’ll be serving up ‘Secret Garden Tea,’ some light bites, and an ‘Opportuni-Tea’ to meet, mingle and hear from RG club officers, board members, committee chairs and Master Gardeners. Come share new ideas and learn about upcoming programs, events and Garden Club initiatives.
Date and Tea-time: Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 4-6pm
Location: Potting Shed at the Rowayton Community Center
Please RSVP by Friday, May 31 – Amy Tyson (ajtyson@me.com)
Spring Market 2024 Recap
To All of the Rowayton Gardeners,
Wow, now THAT was fun! Congratulations to everyone that participated in this year’s Spring Market & Plant Sale. Saturday’s event was a smashing success!
A special thank you goes to the Committee heads and all of the Volunteers that made it possible.
Here are the highlights:
* We were blessed with gorgeous weather.
* We had customers waiting at the gate thirty minutes before we opened the Market.
* We had over 500 plants from friends and member’s gardens.
* All of the Bouquets To Go (new this year) sold out in the first hour and the Dahlias (new this year) were gone in an hour and a half.
* The food offerings at The Cafe were as visually exquisite as they were delicious, so everything sold very well.
* Second Hand Rose surrounded The Cafe and incorporated many beautiful items along with our plants and hanging baskets.
* The Veggies & Herbs area was busy with customers all day.
* The Information Allée (new this year) hosted our RG membership table with the Who We Are, What We Do & Community Map posters as well as Davey Tree.
* Davey Tree handed out 200 free trees (new this year).
* The Hold area and Cashiers kept the crowds moving smoothly through the shop and purchase process.
* The Electric Lawn Mower & Equipment display (new this year) was located in the southwest corner of the market area and appeared to have many visitors.
* Financially, we did very well, more to follow on that.
In closing, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for making The Spring Market & Plant Sale the fun, community building and successful event that it was!
Donna Sylvestri, Sarah Boles and Debbie Parnon (seen in photo below left to right)
MORE PHOTOS:
Field Trip – New York Botanical Gardens: “Wonderland Curious Nature”
Be part of a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s unbelievable. It’s unfamiliar. It’s the New York Botanical Gardens (NYBG) like never before! Head down the rabbit hole as “Wonderland Curious Nature” transforms 250 acres through the classic story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
An exhibition specialist will guide our group on a two-hour private tour through mind-bending horticultural displays, unusual and outsized art installations plus all the wonderfully weird beauty of Alice’s world of imagination, made real with thousands of technicolor flowers.
After our magical, memorable experience across the grounds and through the buildings at NYBG, our sensory adventure will continue with culinary enchantment at the Hudson Garden Grill. We’ll immerse ourselves in a three-course luncheon from the restaurant’s creatively curated Spring/Summer menu.
Registration:
Cost is $100/pp, all inclusive
Space for this trip is limited to 24 attendees (members only)
Date and Time: Thursday, May 30, 2024.
We will meet at the RCC Lower Lot to organize carpools at 8:00 am.
Tour: 10am-noon
Lunch: 12:30pm at the Hudson Garden Grill
Return: Arrival back to RCC around 3:30pm
Click HERE to register online.
Questions or need further info? Contact: Amy Tyson (ajtyson@me.com)
