From its first meeting of the 2022-2023 season in September to a year-end “warm winter vibes” event in December, the Garden Club of Woodbridge has been busy! This active club began its year in September, with members sharing some of their special gardening tools — a Fiskars serrated pruner, described as the best dead-header; a hand sickle to cut down spent day lilies; and a spear-headed spade.

In early October, the club held its fall plant sale, which featured perennials donated from members’ gardens and contributions from area businesses. Later in the month, club members were guests of the Garden Club of Orange, where they saw guest speaker Lisa Oberholzer-Gee demonstrate creative autumn floral designs.

Civic Beautification chairperson, Nancy La Bianca, and her gardeners wrapped up the 2022 season. Meeting for 1 hour every Thursday morning from April through the first frost, members spruced up, cleaned up and planted at the town library, the Adella Baldwin Stewart Garden and the Darling House.

The Woodbridge Garden Club’s Philippines Room at Osborne House.

At its November meeting, co-sponsored with The Woodbridge Land Trust, members heard guest speaker Mary Hogue discuss “The Pollinator Pathway.” Mary is a member of the Pollinator Pathway Steering Committee and spoke about Woodbridge connecting to Pollinator Pathways in Canada and nine US states. Integral to the Pollinator Pathway plan: rethinking your lawn, reducing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, planting native plants, and providing fresh water.

Club members Mary Ann Tyma, Mary Leigh Sabshin, Maria Kayne, Cindy Marien and Debbie Schlegel participated in designing the Philippines room feast for the Osborne Homestead Museum holiday tour “Holiday Feasts around the World,” was held from November 25 to December 17. Nine area garden clubs participated in decorating the Museum for this annual event.