Since 1981, the New Canaan Garden Club (NCGC) has maintained the Colonial Herb Garden at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. Designed as an educational space, the Herb Garden is used by museum docents to teach visiting students, about the vital role plants and herbs played in the daily life in the colonies. The garden is open to the public for self-guided exploration.
In 2018, NCGC members Kris Johnson and Stephanie Radman founded Flowers on Wheels. Having volunteered together for many years delivering meals to clients of Meals on Wheels of New Canaan, they began cutting flowers from their own gardens to bring along with the meals. This small gesture—a single flower—brought joy and comfort to the clients.
Since 1960, the Garden Club has convened each holiday season to make large holiday wreaths for our downtown area and buildings. In 1976, NCGC joined forces with the New Canaan Beautification League for this annual project. As a result of this collaboration, we have expanded our wreath-making efforts, and our beautiful wreaths now adorn the entrances to Town Hall, the Police Department, the Library, the Train Station, and the Nature Center.
New Canaan Garden Club annually decorates trees for the annual Holiday Stroll held in downtown New Canaan prior to the holiday season. The trees surround the stage that features Santa’s arrival and additional festive performances. After the stroll, the trees are donated to the Town’s Social Service department to be given to New Canaan families who otherwise would go with out a tree during the holiday season.
The Horticultural Therapy Program at Waveny Care Center was established when Waveny opened in 1975. Professionally trained volunteers, including several New Canaan Garden Club members, met weekly with residents to work on plant-related activities. The original program won several awards, including a Certificate of Achievement from the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut in 1981. Horticultural Therapy is known to help focus, mood and motor skills. Well-being is promoted through engaging with nature and the social interaction that takes place among residents and volunteers during the activities.
A Cherished Retreat in the Heart of New Canaan
Nestled just moments from downtown, Irwin Park is a 36-acre haven of rolling lawns, an apple orchard, and a remarkable collection of specimen trees. At its heart is a 1.2-mile Flexi-Pave walking trail, providing a safe and scenic path for visitors. Once a private estate, the park became public in 2008, thanks to the generosity of the Irwin family, and the dedication of the New Canaan Garden Club (NCGC), and the New Canaan community.
NCGC has a history of providing Tray Touches (originally referred to as Tray Favors) to Meals on Wheels clients. Small miniature arrangements are created by our members and delivered to Meals on Wheels clients as well as to the residents of the New Canaan Inn.
NCGC’s involvement at Waveny Care Center is longstanding, starting when the center opened in 1975. Championed and nurtured by pioneer flower volunteer and NCGC member Allison Caesar, the volunteer-based flower arranging program has grown over the years. Many local organizations in town are involved and send volunteers at the beginning of each week to create beautiful floral designs to brighten the building and bring joy to the residents. The volunteers return over the following days to change water and freshen the arrangements. These arrangements bring beauty to the dining rooms, reception areas, and various other common areas at Waveny.
The Waveny Walled Garden was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted’s firm as a formal rose garden. The garden had fallen in disrepair and in 1995 a committee of Garden Club members restored and redesigned the garden as a “Wedding Garden”. Alice Parker, then NCGC President, spearheaded the renovation and fundraising efforts. The design today incorporates roses in a long border along the east side. The remaining three sides, bordered by brick walks, showcase deep herbaceous borders that include perennials, small trees, flowering shrubs, bulbs and annuals.