Meetings

SEPTEMBER 2026
 
Sept. 8, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall
Horticulture Exhibit — Bring entries between 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. 
                    Section A: Flowering Annuals 
                    Section B: Native Flowering Perennials 
                    Section C: Ornamental Flowering Perennials 
                    Section D: Culinary Herbs [1 stem] 
Program Speaker:  Warren Leach, “Beyond Blooms: Creative Design with Color, Structure and Seasonal 
Senescence” 
*Hospitality Coordinators: Sue Kelley and Jane Stegina 
Committee: Nancy Lilburn, Susan Yoshimine, Gladys Waltemade, Gail Grossman, Judy Van Heiningen, Isabel Castellano, Tom Cleveland, Francesca Jones
 

OCTOBER 2026
 
Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall  
Artistic Design Exhibit:  “Pink Tribute” for Breast Cancer Awareness Month Traditional or Creative Floral Design using pink flowers.
Exhibitors:  #1 Debbie Riley. #2 Kate Knell.  #3 Susan Yoshimine.  #4 Carolyn Bernard. 
Horticulture Exhibit — Bring entries between 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. 
                 Section A: Native Flowering Perennials 
                 Section B: Ornamental Flowering Perennials 
                 Section C:  Fall Branches with Berries 
                 Section D:  Arboreal Fall Color, Branches with majority of leaves firmly attached  
Program Speaker: Dr. Susanna Kerio: “How Trees Communicate” 
*Hospitality Coordinators: Judy Whitehead and Bette Zollshan 
Committee: Dianne Roberts, Catherine Ferguson, Jacinta Rafferty, Hillary Griffin, Julie Elting, Esther Magee, Mary Didiuk, Gail Evarts 
 
Oct. 14, 9:30—12:00   Decorating Winter Holiday Doorways, Design Workshop, instructed by Clairlyn Davis, taking place at the homes to be decorated. The two doorways will be near the center of Madison.
 
Oct. 17, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Bauer Park Harvest Festival

Oct. 21, FGCCT Annual Awards Meeting and Luncheon, Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, CT.  All members invited.


NOVEMBER 2026

Nov. 10, 11:30 – 2:30 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall 
Artistic Design Exhibit: “Pot-et-Fleur” A Botanical Art Design combining rooted plants with cut plant material arranged harmoniously in a single container. 
Exhibitors:  #1 Marleen Pacelli.  #2 Carolyn Barnard.  #3 Dotty Budnick. 
Program: Andrea Cander, “The Healing Kitchen” 
*Hospitality Coordinators: Philippa Mannino and Kate Wilkes 
Committee: Debbie Hernandez, Carolyn Varone, Valerie Mason, Lindyl Arno, Michele Moran, Karin Peterson, Anne Hering. Paula Steere
 
Nov. TBD – Botanical Arts Artistic Crafts. Details to follow. Lois Nichols will demonstrate techniques for crafting jewelry or other items from fresh and/or dried plant materials.


DECEMBER 2026
 
Dec. 8 Greens Workshop: 10:00 – Noon, Hubley Hall 
Holiday Luncheon: Noon – 1:30 p.m., Hubley Hall 
*Hospitality Coordinators: Terry Kedves and Phyllis Nolan  
Committee: Heather Connolly, Linnea Cunningham, Lois Nichols, Barbara Rosenblum, Annamarie Lane, Debbie Riley, Jane Ketterer

 
JANUARY 2027
 
Jan. 12, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall 
Program Speaker: Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center and Coogan Farms “Winter Birds of Connecticut” 
 *Hospitality Coordinators: Barbara Lynch and Kellie Brady 
 Committee:  Elinor Griffith, Denise Rose, Becky Coffey, Dotty Budnick, Nan Sutherland, Inger Connery, Kathy McMahon


FEBRUARY 2027   No General Meetings
 
Feb. 18-21, 2027 – CT Flower and Garden Show, Hartford Convention Center  
“ART BLOOMS IN CONNECTICUT — Where Creativity, Nature and Artistry Flourish” (All members encouraged to attend.)

 
MARCH 2027
 
Mar. 9, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall  
Program Speaker: Leah Van Ness, “The Right Tool for the Job — Flower Arranging” 
*Hospitality Coordinators: Roberta Velez and Antonia Jibilian 
Committee: Pam Gallagher, Melissa Donlan, Marleen Pacelli, Terry Morgan, Karen Seligson, Martha Gay Stewart, Claudia Schechter, Laurel Anne Carta
 
 
APRIL 2027
 
April 8, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 – Design Workshop, Scranton Library,  “Palettes to Petals” – Floral interpretation of your selected artwork. Lois Nichols will lead this Workshop and provide more details closer to the Workshop.
 
April 13, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall   
Artistic Design Exhibit: “Palettes to Petals” Floral interpretation of art. 
Exhibitors: Several members who participate in the April Workshop will bring their designs to the meeting.  
Horticulture Exhibit — Bring entries between 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. 
                    Section A:  Flowering Spring Bulbs 
                    Section B:  Native Flowering Perennials 
                    Section C:  Ornamental Flowering Perennials 
                    Section D:  Native Spring Flowering Branches 
                    Section E:  Ornamental Spring Flowering Branches 
Program Speaker: John Himmelman, “Butterflies in Their Gardens” 
*Hospitality Coordinators: Joan Powers and Andrea Scranton 
Committee: Alana Hoar, Jane Stegina, Lauraine Ryan, Pam Molenaar, Marion Rizzo, Cathi Petrick, Margot Roane


MAY 2027      

May 15, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Plant Sale, Deacon John Grave House
 
May 18, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall   
Program Speaker: Clairlyn Davis, “Tablescapes and Floral Design” 
*Hospitality Coordinator:  Connie Grabenstein (Pizza & salads) 
Committee: Karen Heck, Roz Cama, Kate Knell, Tina Shebell, Joan Mormile, Liz   Duffy
 
May Date Details TBD.  Workshop on Tablescapes and Flowers for the Annual Luncheon. Clairlyn Davis will hold a Workshop with a small group to discuss ideas and execution.


JULY 2027
 
July 13, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00p.m. – General Meeting, Hubley Hall 
Horticulture Exhibit — Bring entries between 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. 
                    Section A: Flowering Annuals  
                    Section B: Native Flowering Perennials 
                    Section C: Ornamental Flowering Perennials 
                    Section D: Vegetables 
                    Section E:  Lavender [2027 Horticulture Challenge] 
Artistic Design Exhibit: Colonial American Design with flowers from our gardens in July. Informal, mixed bouquets with natives, if possible. 
Exhibitors:  #1 Kate Knell.  #2 Sue Kelley.  #3 Nan Sutherland.

July 13, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00p.m. (cont.) 
Program Speaker: Karen Bussolini, “Landscaping with Native      
Plants: Healing Our Home Turf”
*Hospitality Coordinators: Colleen Cummings and Kim Henderson  
Committee: Clairlyn Davis, Kathy Walker, Maureen Gagliano, Denise Forrest, Carol Angelino, Carolyn Bernard
 
 
AUGUST 2027   No General Meeting