News

NCGC Goat Initiative Project

On May 12th, our New Canaan Garden Club Goat Initiative Project (representing all of Zone II in competition at the GCA’s virtual Annual Meeting Flower Show called “Around the Green” held May 11-12, 2021) was awarded First Place AND Best In Show in the 12 Zones’ video exhibition, “Education in Conservation.”

Click here to enjoy this two-minute video prepared by NCGC Conservation Co-Chairs Alice Wyman and Wendy Dewey.    

Mother’s Day Cheer!

The New Canaan Garden Club members rallied again to deliver beautiful floral arrangements to Stella Clarke, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Volunteering at Waveny LifeCare Network for Mother’s Day weekend. The spring bouquets brightened up the common areas and nursing stations for all to enjoy.    

NCGC Spreads Easter Joy!

Ellen McMahon, Co-Chair of Horticultural Therapy for The New Canaan Garden Club, recently provided over a dozen Easter arrangements designed by club members to Stella Clarke, Executive Director of Community Engagement and Volunteering at Waveny Lifecare Network.  Stella was excited by the beautiful floral donations since this is the first time in over a year that flowers have been allowed in the Waveny community due to COVID restrictions.  The spring bouquets will be on display in the dining rooms and common areas for the residents and staff to enjoy.    

Holiday Greens Workshop

Well, despite all the restrictions we had to adhere to due to Covid-19, we managed to pull it off and once again provide the beautiful wreaths that adorn our downtown area throughout the holidays!  Together, with the Beautification League, we donned our masks, moved our workstations at least six feet apart, kept our volunteer numbers low, and had a ball making our festive wreaths!  Interesting fact – since 1960 the Garden Club has convened each December to make these wreaths for our downtown, and no way were we going to let a stupid pandemic get in our way! Ho-Ho-Ho!    

Weed Wrangle at Irwin Park

On two consecutive Saturdays, September 19th and 26th, a group of energetic NCGC members cut down several patches of Japanese knotweed, opposite the goat pen in Irwin Park. Armed with clippers, horticultural vinegar and black coffee, they cut and bagged the branches, and then poured vinegar and coffee in the hollow stalks. Hopefully, this will weaken the roots of the invasive knotweed plants at the time when they are the weakest (producing seeds). This action is part of a 3-year project to find the safest way to eradicate invasives from Irwin Park and encourage more native pollinators to return.    

May Meetings and Events CANCELLED

Unfortunately we are still in lock-down so all NCGC events for May have been cancelled. We are still hopeful that we can hold our Annual June Awards Meeting and Luncheon even if we have to push the date towards the end of the month and hold it outdoors. Please stay tuned!