Present:

Adler, Amato, Benavides Gallagher, Buckley, Cavicchio, M. Collins, Coombs, Copus, Cummins, DeGraw, Donahue, Dowling, Duncan, English, Eyler, Franck, Galgano, Gonzalez-Molina, Julian, Konigsbach, Lambert, Macleod, Majeski, Mark, Millard, Murphy, Murray, O’Hare, O’Keefe, Parker, Patafio, Porzio, Schmiedeberg, Schbert, Shea, Stora, Striffler, Sullivan, van Reesema, Walsh (40)

President's Welcome:

Mary Julian welcomed members to her home and to the Club’s first meeting of the year, thanking Jess and Chase for hosting the luncheon. She thanked Anna, Chris D., Rosario, Cheryl, and Tracy for bringing finger desserts and nibbles and Cheryl for the beautiful arrangement of flowers from her garden. Mary asked members to help Jess and Chase by signing up to bring coffee and nibbles or a floral arrangement to one of the meetings during the year. Mary said that she has received a letter of thanks from the GCA Scholarship Committee for the Club’s 2025 donation to the GCA Scholarship Fund. Members unanimously approved the June 4, 2025 meeting minutes. Treasurer Marilyn Donahue reported a balance of $40,347 in the Club checking account and two CDs worth $56,000 and $52,000. She asked that members submit reimbursement requests promptly to help budgeting and tracking expenses. Receipts with an explanation can be mailed or emailed to Marilyn.

Communications/Newsletter: (Franck) Peggy asked members to send her submissions for the Newsletter, which will come out bi-monthly or quarterly.

Communications/Social Media: (Porzio) Erica will work with Marilyn to get the website working. She asked members to send their photos to littlegardenclubofrye@gmail.com for inclusion on the website and club Instagram. She also pulls photos from our WhatsApp.

Community Stewardship: Mary J. asked leaders of the various sites if one of them would be willing to chair the committee.

Rockridge: (Benavides Gallagher) Rosario reported that the garden is doing well and has an excess of echinacea. Members will be offered an opportunity to take some and some could be taken to Rye Nature Center.

Train Station: (Schmiedeberg) Phyllis reported that the plants from the spring are still doing well, but she plans to put in fall plantings soon.

Post Office: (Millard/Cavicchio/Gonzalez-Molina) Plantings are doing well. The committee watered this summer.

Gazebo: Mary J. reported that Liz Garrett and team spruced up the Gazebo for the 9/11 remembrance.

Rye Nature Center: (Julian) Mary J. said that since the planned construction project will affect the garden, we’re not planting now.

Knapp House: (Lambert) An intern hired by the Club did watering this summer. Miriam plans to contact her committee to do a fall clean-up soon.

Daffodil Show: (Adler) Cheryl announced that we will be holding the Daffodil Show at Wainwright House this year on April 16. She asked members to volunteer to help with planning and running the show. The new venue has good space and will allow the Club to have a cocktail party, raffle, and door prize. The Club will be planting daffodils at Wainwright House. Cheryl has chosen Delibes as the challenge bulb this year. Ice Baby, the challenge for last year’s cancelled show, will be a secondary challenge bulb. Chris D. (Botanical Arts) and Pam (Photography) are looking into adding those categories to the show.

Cheryl plans to do a group bulb order from Brent and Becky’s next Monday (September 22). She will send members a list with recommendations and noted that members with fewer than three years in the Club should definitely order and plant at least ten bulbs.

Floral Design: (Majeski) Kady passed around a sign-up sheet for the November 10 Floral Design Workshop. The cost for the workshop is $50. The maximum number of participants is 15 and newer members will have priority. Kady asked for a volunteer to bring coffee and light refreshment. Conditioning buckets are needed and should be dropped off with Mary J.

Membership: (Murray/Adler) Chris M. announced that 4 people have indicated an interest in joining the Club. Members who refer potential new members should provide Chris M. or Cheryl with detailed contact information so that they can follow up.

Horticulture:

(Lambert) Miriam encouraged members to register to watch some of the virtual lectures of the GCA Shirley Meneice Conference on September 18 or view the recordings later. Erica and Miriam will be offering a workshop on making tea from dried herbs from the garden. The workshop will be held Wednesday, October 22 at the Rye Nature Center at 6pm. Winter seed sowing this year will focus on native plants, herbs and flowers.

Visiting Gardens:

(Dillon) Mary J., speaking for Victoria who is away, spoke about last week’s trip to visit Bunny Williams’ and other gardens in Litchfield Connecticut. It was a great success. She reminded members that Victoria is working on a Gardens of Italy Trip for fall 2026 and encouraged participation. She also recommended that members look into the GCA sponsored On-The-Road trips listed on the GCA website. She has signed the interest form for Ina Garten’s Garden in East Hampton on May 20, 2026.

Programs: (Dillon/DeGraw) Sheri announced that the October program is Creating with Dried Garden Flowers with Elizabeth Brown. Members can create a floral wreath or hair comb at a workshop following the talk for a fee of $30-$40. Sheri will send an email with more information.

Photography:

(McGuire/Benavides Gallagher) Rosario passed around a sign-up sheet asking for information on members’ photography equipment and knowledge of editing photos to see what level of experience members have. Two events have potential for Club photographers: Members could take photos of people planting trees for the 250 Acorns to Oaks project and take pictures of some of the Rye Heritage trees identified by Paul Hicks. Rosario is working on getting a list of the Heritage trees. Pam is exploring adding a photography category to the Daffodil Show. Rosario suggested that members look at their photos of daffodils from prior years.

Conservation/NAL:

Stora/Shea) Tracy had brochures available for the 250 Acorns to Oaks project and encouraged members to adopt an oak tree to plant in their gardens. It is not necessary to plant the trees in Rye City proper. They can be planted in neighboring communities as well. She recommended that interested members attend the Rye City Council meeting tomorrow (September 17) for a presentation on nitrogen pollution from fertilizers. Rye Nature Center is holding a Pollinator Pathway Workshop on September 24 at 2:30 p.m. on how to create a pollinator friendly habitat.

Announcements:

• Mary J. encouraged members to attend the Wainwright Gala on October 9 where Club member Tracy Stora will be honored for her years of conservation advocacy. An ad has been placed in the event journal congratulating Tracy. A link to order tickets is here: https://www.wainwright.org/events/benefit2025 Tracy also said that if people prefer to write checks they can give them to her or send them to Wainwright.
  

• The Club will join RGC again this year as Silver Sponsors of Light Up Rye for the holidays. The cost is $500.
  
• Edith Read Sanctuary is having a Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct 11. Rena Hecht asked if we wanted a table or could help decorate. Holly had spoken with Rena and said she volunteered to decorate the front of the building. Would anyone want to help her? Tracy is manning a table and can oversee an additional table if we wanted. Chris D will draw a coloring cover for people to cover. We will have info about WinterGarden at the table.
• Chris D. will send out information on the Fairfield Flower Show which will be held in May 2026. She suggested that members consider entering. Registration begins on October

The meeting ended at 12:15 p.m., followed by lunch

Karen Coombs, Recording Secretary

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Creating with Dried Garden Flowers, talk and workshop by Elizabeth Brown, 9:30 a.m. at Rye Free Reading Room

​

l