Founded 1962
The Garden Club was so happy to kick off our new year with our Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 15. Pumpkins were the theme for our artistic exhibits and there were some beautiful dahlia specimens for horticulture. And the hospitality team this month went over and above with a spooky-themed refreshment table. So yummy! We’ve got some great programs planned for 2027.
Club members had a wonderful time at Shakespeare’s Garden this month. We had a great hands-on opportunity to discuss and learn how to divide our perennials.
Thank you Donna Katsuranis for your great presentation on Food Share Gardens and the history of the Giving Garden on Nabby Road in Brookfield. Great artistic and hort exhibits, too!
On December 11, twenty members of our club, decked out in the colors of the season, celebrated in style at our annual holiday luncheon. Hospitality Chairs Karen Frank and Karen deFriesse organized a great party. The tables were decorated with small holly arrangements, handmade gardener ornaments we could each take home, and homemade cookies for dessert. FGCCT 2nd Vice President Norma Jean Macauto (who is a club member) installed our officers for the 2025-2027 term: Joanne McKendry (President), Annie Casella (Vice-President), Pam Liming (Treasurer) and Dianne Mariano (Recording Secretary). The Club also surprised Joanne with the gift of a life membership in the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, a well-deserved tribute for all Joanne’s dedication. Such a fund and festive event. Happy holidays!
The Garden Club was hard at work once again last week. It was time for our annual wreath-decorating project where we decorate door wreaths for town buildings and make a large wreath for over our Town Hall main entrance. Our members love this project and it really gets us excited for the holiday season. Check out our photo album and be on the lookout for these wreaths to start popping up around town.
And Happy Birthday greetings to longtime member as well as a former president, Betty Ziegler, who celebrated a milestone birthday this year. The club recognized this very special occasion at the start of our event. We were so glad that Betty’s daughters Kathy and Deb could join us and so proud that Betty is a member of our club.
The Garden Club of Brookfield held its 2025 Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 16 at Valley Presbyterian Church. Committees presented annual reports. The Club’s Outstanding Service award was presented to new member Karen Frank. And the meeting tables were graced with artistic exhibits – “a design of choice displayed in a pumpkin, squash or gourd…”. And what creative designs they were. Even the refreshment table was representative of the autumn season. The club looks forward to another year of great programs and great gardening!
On Thursday, September 18, the Garden Club was pleased to welcome Rose-Ann Chrzanowski, retired art teacher for the Naugatuck school district and a former part time professor at Quinnipiac Graduate School of Education to teach a members-only workshop on pressed flower mandalas, a class Rose-Ann teaches as an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCONN Waterbury. Our members liked improving their skills at drying and pressing flowers as they readied for the class and enjoyed releasing their creative energies in some very expressive designs. Thank you, Rose-Ann.
Congratulations to Sarvesh Ram Sankarnarayan of Brookfield High School who won first place in The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. 2024-2025 Youth Essay Contest and first place in the New England Garden Clubs Regional 2024-2025 Youth Contest for his essay: Innovative Solutions for Plastic Waste: From Pollution to Progress. The youth contest was announced and sponsored by National Garden Clubs. On Thursday, June 4, club Vice-president Norma Jean Macauto was pleased to meet with Sarvesh and his science teacher, Heather Biancheri, to present him with the two certificates. Well done, Sarvesh!
Here it is already. Day 7 of National Garden Week. Our final garden visit is to the Flagpole Triangle.
Twenty years ago, after two years of raising $5,000 dollars and negotiating state, federal, and utility company regulations, the Garden Club of Brookfield installed a 30-foot tall Flagpole at the Triangle intersection of Routes 25 and 133. On Veterans’ Day 2005, the flagpole was officially dedicated by the club with local veterans in attendance. This flagpole in the heart of the historic district stands as a tribute to our country and our veterans. The first flag to be raised and flown was donated by former Garden Club member Nancy Keefe to honor the military service of her son. Following the installation, the Garden Club designed and created a garden for the base of the flagpole. The garden is maintained by the Garden Club of Brookfield in support of its mission to beautify Brookfield. Over the years more native perennials have been added to the garden to attract pollinators so important for sustaining insects, butterflies and birds.
National Garden Clubs reminds us that “Gardeners have a passion for nurturing the beauty and resources of the earth through the planting of seeds, the care of all plants and the riches of their efforts…”. Our garden club enjoyed taking you on a tour of these wonderful green spaces in our town this week and we hope you are able to visit and experience them in person. Happy Summer!
Welcome to Day 6 of National Garden Week. Let’s stop by Heron Park and the Still River Greenway today.
In June of 2023, Brookfield created a small pocket park in front of the Dunkin Plaza at 756 Federal Road. Trees were planted including native dogwood, serviceberry, fringe tree and sweet gumtree along with winterberry shrubs. A perennial bed was also added and includes plants such yellow yarrow, purple baptisia and ilex glabra.. The baptisia, yarrow and fringe tree are all currently in bloom at the park. In July of 2024, two bronze herons were installed at the park which was officially named Heron Park. The name was recommended by the Brookfield Arts Commission and approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Arts Commission hired Jordan Rose of the Randolf Rose Collection to create the sculptures. They are a permanent installation in this small park. One heron is 9 feet tall, the other is 7 feet tall and each one weighs about 100 pounds. This small space is a wonderful place to enjoy a coffee with friends, read a book or spend some self-reflection time.
And after you’ve had time to sit and enjoy the park, you can head across the street to the Still River Greenway, a two-mile multi-use pedestrian and bicycle trail managed and supported by Brookfield’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Still River Greenway Ad-hoc Committee.
Maple, oak, tulip, pine, and even a native American Hophornbeam line the trail which features a ten-foot wide paved surface and a 170-foot pre-fabricated bridge over the Still River. It’s a haven in any season. Wildflowers and fern patches poke out in spring and summer. The understory is home to a bevy of four-footed creatures. Birds chirp and sing in the trees and the Still River glistens and babbles. Need a rest? Sit down at one of its benches or stop at the covered gazebo.
The trail is considered an easy route and takes an average of one hour to walk. Each day, at all times of the day, the trail is in use by residents of all ages who walk, run, bicycle, and rollerblade. So, get out there and join them!
Happy National Garden Week!
