A century old: Garden club is still growing and going

Photos by Mark Jahne

by Sarah Barr

Staff Writer

Audrey Hepburn once said that “to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” The Wethersfield Garden Club has been believing in tomorrow for 100 years.

Founded in 1926 by a group of civic-minded women, the sole purpose was to stimulate a greater interest in flowers so that this town would be famed for its beautiful gardens.

“Looking back over historical records, the club has stayed true to its roots,” Jayne Lawson said.

She is a 26-year member and former club officer who now lives in Cromwell after residing in town for more than three decades.

Lawson, along with past president Joann Sullivan and newly installed president Katie Sullivan (no relation, but both of Wethersfield), spoke about the milestone and the mission that has bloomed to include promoting the conservation of natural resources and encouraging civic planning.

Plant, promote and encourage they do. This group of volunteers, 32 strong, is known as “dirty knees gardeners.”

Wethersfield Garden Club members gathered for a garden party to celebrate the club’s 100^th anniversary. It was held in the Amy Cogswell Colonial Revival Garden at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.

“We don’t do a lot of flower arranging. We are true gardeners,” Lawson said.

Their most recent donation and planting came in commemoration of their centennial celebration. They placed a white oak tree at the Solomon Welles House, where the group meets the first Monday of every month at 1 p.m.

“We chose oak because it supports a lot of life – wildlife, pollinators and all that,” Katie Sullivan said.

“The swamp white oak tree was funded through our seasonal plant sales,” Joann Sullivan added.

The project was coordinated in conjunction with Town Tree Warden Brian Kenny.

But the club’s efforts go far beyond Cove Park. They branch out to maintain the flagpole garden located on the traffic island at the intersection of Marsh, Main and Church streets in Old Wethersfield.

Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut President Nan Merolla, left, and First Vice President Kelle Ruden, right, were in attendance. They presented certificates of merit from the National Garden Club, Inc., and the state federation to Wethersfield Garden Club President Joann Sullivan, center.

This garden serves as a beautiful welcome to residents and visitors alike,” Joann Sullivan said. “Club members also frequently volunteer as ‘Garden Angels’ to help preserve and maintain the historic Webb-Deane-Stevens Gardens.”

Their hands get dirty across town lines as well. Members come from all over the state, actively contributing to regional historic preservation, including the dedication of a Blue Star Memorial marker in Rocky Hill.

A second such marker is scheduled to be dedicated at the Frank Weston Garden outside Wethersfield Town Hall to honor all the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Service is nothing new for the town’s oldest garden club and neither are accolades.

At its centennial gala, the organization was honored with a certificate of merit from the National Garden Clubs, Inc.; issued a presidential citation from the Federated Garden Club of Connecticut (both of which it is a member) and the State of Connecticut awarded the group an official citation from the General Assembly.

Members say what the club needs now is to build upon its legacy and that means recruiting more members. Membership has organically hovered over 30 and as some age out, new ones need to be brought in to replace them.

Linda Traue played the harp to provide background music for the garden party.

Katie Sullivan said that interested people can “come to a meeting, complimentary, to check it out,” with yearly dues of $50 to cover all programming between October and June.

“This year, we talked about ground covers, bulbs and house plants because some members can no longer maintain a full garden. We even had a speaker talk about birds,” she added.

There are also group trips to parks around the state as well as volunteering for popular events such as Scarecrows Along Main and Bicycles on Main. Members are encouraged to participate on at least one committee.

“We want people to be active,” Lawson said.

Green thumbs are not required.

“We will train you to have a green thumb,” she added. “All different levels of gardeners are welcome, from an inkling of an interest to master gardeners.”

“I started gardening after COVID hit,” Joann Sullivan said. “My favorite part is the knowledge that I’ve gained. I started as a novice when I joined the club.”

“Everyone is so welcoming. It’s the social aspect that I enjoy most, the camaraderie,” Katie Sullivan added.

“It’s wonderful to be able to get together with a group of people who share the same interest,” Lawson said. “When we’re at garden club, we focus on gardening.”

That lives up to the group’s new tagline of “100 years and still growing.”

“If our founding sisters are looking down on us here today, I can only imagine it is with great smiles and much pride,” she added.

“A 100^th anniversary is a big deal,” Mayor Ken Lesser said.

“It’s wonderful to have you in our community,” state Rep. Amy Morrin Bello added.

Let that plant the seed for 2034 when the town will celebrate its 400^th anniversary. WL

For more information on upcoming educational programs, community updates, or to inquire about membership, visit the Wethersfield Garden Club Facebook page or email wethersfieldgardenclubest1926@gmail.com.