April 1 marks the beginning of the season for the Ridgefield Garden Club. It is on this day, that club members gather to get the gardens in Ballard Park ready for spring by weeding, pruning, planting, transplanting, staking, and watering the gardens. There are four gardens in the park that the club members beautify on a weekly basis. Club members love when members of the public stop by to see what they are working on!
Terry McManus, the current club President states that 'the club has a rich history dating back to 1914.' Sophie Storer, a summer resident of Ridgefield for at least 20 years at the time, invited 30 Ridgefield women to her Main Street house in 1914 to form a garden club. "It is to be in no sense a social club" according to Mrs.Storer. Since 1914 our club's purpose has been to:
- stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening in our membership and in the community;
- to aid in the protection of natural resources, native plants and wildlife;
- and to encourage civic improvement.
Monthly club meetings today cover a variety of subjects, including horticulture, conservation, floral design, photography and the preservation of historic gardens. Expect a few hands-on workshops each year too!
