Club Projects

Civic Beautification

The club’s main project is the creation and maintenance of plantings at sites around Old Lyme and East Lyme. They vary in size from individual planters to large in-ground plantings. A design team chooses the plants to coordinate the efforts throughout the town. A site leader oversees staffing and maintenance of each site. All members sign up to work at a specific site each year. Plants are chosen for year-round beauty. Presently the sites are at the town entrance at Exit 70 off of I-95N, McCurdy Road Island, Fire House (Lyme St.), Town Hall (Lyme St.), Post Office (Halls Rd.), Town Green (Lyme St. & Sill Lane); Police Station (Rte 156), the Lyme s Senior Center, and our newest site, at the Miracle League field in East Lyme.

Full membership participation

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Scholarship

The Duck River Garden Club currently offers two college scholarships to deserving high school seniors who reside in Old Lyme or Lyme, and East Lyme.  Since 1980 the garden club has awarded at least one college scholarship to students in our community.  Eligible fields of study have always included horticulture, biology, botany, forestry, natural resources management, landscape architecture, and related agricultural fields.  In recent years, as academic studies and career fields have evolved, other fields, including environmental engineering, ecology, and sustainability have been added.  

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Civic Flower Arrangements

Throughout the year, members create floral displays for the reception area at the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, and more recently, the East Lyme Public Library.  Members incorporate fresh flowers, plants, or dried flowers.  Members are encouraged to include related items in their designs.

Full membership participation

 

Garden Therapy

Members assist residents of Bride Brook Health Center in Niantic (East Lyme) to make seasonal flower arrangements to enjoy in their own room or share. Club funds provide plant material and mechanics; a small group of members provide assistance and encouragement for interested residents. We typically make 5 visits per year.

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Holiday Wreath Making

In early December, members join together to create wreaths and pillows for public buildings, schools, the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme, the Lymes' Senior Center, the Lymes Youth Service Bureau (LYSB), and Old Lyme Day Care. Club members gather fresh greens, create the wreaths & large bows & personally deliver them to their designated locations. In addition, some of the greens are used to make "tussie mussies" to decorate trays at Bride Brook Health and Rehabilitation Center in Niantic, CT.

Full membership participation

 

Newsletter

The newsletter is sent to all members electronically from September through June. Each issue includes: the President’s letter; Minutes of the previous meeting; Program details; Host Committee and Library Exhibit assignments; news of upcoming events; and timely information regarding Horticulture and Conservation/Environmental and Legislation issues. In past years the newsletter has won Federated Garden Clubs of CT recognition for quality in its printed format.

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Youth Outreach

The Duck River Garden Club’s Youth Outreach activities are aimed at instilling a love for gardening in residents of all ages in our community.  Duck River Garden Club partners with multiple Old Lyme organizations on outdoor gardening and nature activities to reach families and children/youth of all ages.

At our annual wreath making event, club members donate to Lymes' Youth Services Bureau in support of their holiday gift program.  ​

 

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Community Outreach

Through out the year, the garden club provides monetary donations to organizations that support and promote aims similar to our club.  Some past recipients include the Common Food Garden, Enders Island Fund, Food Share Garden, Mile Creek School Cultivated Garden, Old Lyme Historical Society, and the Old Lyme Land Trust.​

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The Duck River Garden Club participates in the Midsummer Festival held annually in Old Lyme.  Our booth is typically on the grounds of the Lyme Art Association.  We also partner with the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library each September for the houseplant giveaway.  The annual event provides free houseplants to library visitors for several weeks in September. 

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During December, at the annual wreath making event, club members to donate non-perishable foods to the local food pantry.