Branford Garden Club
The Branford Garden Club has two sections – Daytime, and Evening which best accommodates people who work. The monthly speaker/topic is different for each group and members are welcome to attend all the meetings. All meetings are open so that members may include guests. Programs are selected for their relevance to our mission, are appealing to members, and offer diversity in topics. Speakers may come from experts within our membership or external expert speakers, or programs may include demonstrations, field trips and civic projects.
DAYTIME MEETINGS are held at 11:45 AM on the first Thursday of the month. There are no meetings in January, July and August. A light lunch of finger sandwiches and salads is served at noon, followed by a business meeting and program speaker. We are delighted to include members guests. We do not serve drinks in Styrofoam cups, so everyone must bring their own cup. Thank you!
Meetings held at Joe Trapasso Community House
46 Church Street, Branford unless noted.
CLUB PROGRAMS for 2026 -2027
A summary of our day and evening program topics and dates are listed below. The entire pdf of our Programs & Activies for 2026-27 can be downloaded using this link.
Tuesday, September 1, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: Garden Talk Please join us for a lively discussion about our gardening experiences in the 2026 season. We will share successes and failures, tools and techniques. Please bring in any new (or old) cool and helpful tools. We’ll have a “Gardeners Potluck”. Bring food from your garden (or someone else’s) to share.
Thursday, September 3, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
BGC Community Luncheon - Welcome!
What will you enjoy doing in the club this year? Committees are where you get to know the other members and focus on an activity that you bring something to or can learn for your own personal growth. Meet the Chairs, learn about their committees, ask questions, decide, sign up and have fun!
Thursday, October 1, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
Program: Gardening for Hummingbirds Speakers: Sally Armstrong Leone & Duncan Himmelman, PhD,
Tuesday, October 6, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: A Closer Look at the Genus Hamamelis Speakers: Adam Wheeler and Barbara Arrow, Broken Arrow
Thursday, November 5, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
Program: Sparkle & Glow with Larry A program of floral designs featuring classic red and green to winter white, to festive statement pieces all with a creative touch!
Tuesday, November 10, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: Horticultural Workshop: How to Enter and Showcase Your Horticulture at the CT Flower Show. Be ready to have some fun and learn the tricks of the trade. Please sign up so that enough materials are provided. Bring your clippers. Speakers: Cheryl Cappiali & Cindy Eadie, our Horticulture co-Chairs.
Thursday, December 3, Holiday Social, 5:30 pm
This is our holiday social gathering for daytime and evening members at Pine Orchard Yacht Club. Please join us for our wonderful holiday party when we can all mingle with old and new friends. Dinner choices and cost will be announced in Scattered Seeds. Cash bar. Add a little sparkle!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! JANUARY 2027 ~~ No Membership Meetings ~~
Tuesday, February 2, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: An award-winning movie, Secrets of the Forest, with plenty of popcorn and movie treats. Discussion will follow. Also, please bring in your seed catalogs to share.
Thursday, February 4, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
Program: Cupid’s Garden We will be guided down a virtual romantic 17th-20th garden path using century examples of missives from his extensive ephemera collection. Featured in the talk are symbolic flowers popular in the Victorian Language of Flowers, garden architecture, curious and witty gardening themes, and other horticultural-related motifs which illustrate the long evolution of Valentines. Speaker: Michael Russo – Master Gardener, former owner of Trout Lily Farm, floral designer, and VP of the National Valentine Collectors Association
Tuesday, March 2, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: Encouraging insects in your diverse gardens feeds and nourishes our threatened songbirds and their babies.
Speaker: Catherine Dugas, Entomologist, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
Thursday, March 4, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
Program: Join us to learn about Save the Sound’s work to protect and restore the Long Island Sound region. Hear about projects happening right here in the shoreline area and how this work is helping to protect the local waters and communities we all care about.
Thursday, April 1, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
Program: What do Plants Know? The Intelligence of Plants. Speakeres: Barbara and Peter Rzasa are nature photographers who provide presentations on such subjects as trees, lichens and wildflowers with the goal of encouraging people, especially children, to look more closely at the wonders of our natural world.
Tuesday, May 4, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: Forests and Brain Health Speaker: Dr. Susan Masino, Trinity College, PhD Biology, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology
Thursday, May 6, Daytime Meeting, 11:45 am
Program: Cooking, Baking and Garnishing with Herbs & Edible Flowers. Using fresh herbs and edible flowers that are grown in the home garden. Short introduction to culinary herbs, finding places in your yard that are suitable for herb cultivation. Many different ways to use your bountiful harvest deliciously. Speaker: Gina Mita
Tuesday, April 6, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: Lovely Spring Wildflowers of CT Speakers: Peter and Barbara Rzasa.
Tuesday, June 1, Evening Meeting, 6:30 pm
Program: A Place Called Hope, Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center This is a 501c3 non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Their goal is to heal injured, orphaned, or ill birds of prey and return them to the wild where they belong. They will attend our meeting at the Harrison House. Wine and cheese end of the year potluck
Thursday, June 4, Daytime Meeting 11:00 am
99th Annual Meeting Pine Orchard Country Yacht Club
Social – Brief Business Meeting -Lunch choices to be announced. Cash bar.
Annual dues are due!