​The Haddam Garden Club, Inc.
Haddam Garden Club Meetings
The Haddam Garden Club typically meets at 10:00 a.m. on the Second Wednesday of the month from September through June at the Haddam Community Center. Exceptions to this are in November for our annual meeting which begins at 11:00 a.m., December when we meet on the first Wednesday to make holiday arrangements, and for field trips which sometimes can't be scheduled on our regular meeting day. Some meetings may be open to the public. A small donation is greatly appreciated. We do not meet in July and August.
​
2023 Meeting Program
​
We've made this printable copy of the 2023 program available for your files.
January 2023 Program/Topic: "Weather, Wit, and Wisdom"
Wednesday
January 11, 2023
10:00 am
Haddam Community Center
7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum
​
Guest Speaker: Meteorologist, Art Horn
​
Art Horn has worked as a meteorologist for TV stations in Maine, Boston, Florida and most recently CT. He teaches meteorology at Tunxis Community College and serves as an expert witness in weather litigation. He received and Emmy nomination in 2007 for a PBS documentary, “Hurricane Direct Hit.” Stay and enjoy a fabulous member-prepared lunch. Guests welcome - $5 donation suggested.
​
​
Hostesses: Marijean Conrad, Rogene Gillmor, Lynne Cooper,
Celeste Benoit
​
February 2023 Program/Topic: Making a Valentine's Day Arrangement
Wednesday
February 8, 2023
10:00 am
​
Haddam Community Center
​
7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum
Guest Speaker: Cathy Bowe, Town & Country Nurseries
Spark your creativity in a loving way at this hands-on seminar by making a Valentine’s Day arrangement lead by flower stylist and top-notch arranger, Cathy Bowe from Haddam’s Town and Country Nurseries. Delicious lunch provided by members. Guests welcome - $5 donation suggested.
​
​
Hostesses: Donna Brickerhoff, Lorraine Reiss, Lori Chadwick, Bob Waller
March 2023 Program/Topic: Connecticut's Historic Gardens
Wednesday
March 8, 2023
10:00 am
​
Haddam Community Center
​
7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum
Guest Speaker: Caryn Davis, Author and Photographer
Be virtually transported on a tour of CT’s beautiful, historic gardens. Connecticut Gardens: A Celebration of the State’s Historic, Public and Private Gardens is a new book by photographer Caryn B. Davis that showcases 44 of our state’s most breathtaking gardens. The second meeting highlight is a fabulous lunch. Guests welcome - $5 donation suggested.
​
​
Hostesses: Gail Christie, Elizabeth Adams, Myra Aronow, Kate Hull
April 2023 Program/Topic: "Gardening is Murder"
Wednesday
April 12, 2023
11:00 am meeting
1:00 presentation
​
Haddam Firehouse Complex
​
439 Saybrook Rd.
Higganum
​
Guest Speaker: Neal Sanders, Mystery Author
This program “Gardening is Murder” is a husband’s point of view of gardening filled with humor and insight from someone who gardens less from and abiding love of horticulture than for the love of a spouse. The lecture is very entertaining and enlightening. Delicious lunch provided for members followed by sweets and beverages for guests during the lecture. Guests are welcome to arrive at 12:45 p.m., but we are requesting an RSVP by Friday April 7th to Donna Brinckerhoff at donnabr@comcast.net for planning purposes. A $5 donation is suggested. Please see this flier for details.
​
​
Hostesses: Linda Rigano, Caroline Gold, Susan Nygard, Anne Marie English
May 2023 Program/Topic: Civic Project Day
Wednesday
May 10, 2023
Time TBD by Team Captains
​
Haddam Community Center
​
7 Candlewood Hill
Road, Higganum
​
This is the HGC’s major work day which is dedicated to the maintenance and enhancement of Haddam’s civic gardens and welcome signs. Team captains will designate a start time and assignments. A well-earned lunch is provided at the Community Center after the projects are completed. This meeting is limited to Members and Membership Applicants Only.
​
​
Hostesses: Pat Gill, Barbara Smith, Donna Vaccaro
June 2023 Program/Topic: Annual Pot-Luck Lunch and Plant Auction
Wednesday
June 14, 2023
10:00 am
​
At the home of
HGC Member
Stephanie Denckowicz
268 Walkley Hill Road, Haddam, CT
​
Members share the wealth of their gardens by providing cuttings, divisions and seedlings for a group auction/fundraiser. This meeting is limited to Members and Membership Applicants Only.
​
​
Hostesses: Dodi Ruimerman, Lynne Cooper, Marge DeBold, Kate Renwick
July 2023 Program/Topic: Possible Wildflower Field Trip - Details TBA
​
​
​
September 2023 Program/Topic: St. Edmunds Dahlia Secrets
Wednesday
September 13, 2023
10:00 am
​
Haddam Community
Center
​
7 Candlewood Hill
Road, Higganum
Guest Speaker: Gayle Wentworth, Enders Island Dahlia Specialist
When we visited St. Edmund's Retreat on Enders Island last September we all wanted more information on the stunning variety of dahlias planted there, but their specialist was home with an injury. The dream will come true this September when Gayle Wentworth shares a slide show and some of her Dahlia secrets with us. Guests welcome - $5 donation suggested.
​
​
Hostesses: Lori Munson, Pat Gill, Terry Twigg, Margaret Adams
October 2023 Program/Topic: Broken Arrow Nursery - More Information TBA
Wednesday
October 11, 2023
10:00 am
​
Haddam Community Center
​
7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum
​
Guest Speaker: TBD
​
​
​
Hostesses: TBD
November 2023 Program/Topic: Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Wednesday
November 8, 2023
11:00 am
​
Location TBD
​
This is HGC’s annual meeting and luncheon which celebrates our achievements throughout the year. Member recognition and the election of officers for the next year are followed by a festive lunch at a local restaurant. This meeting is limited to Members and Membership Applicants Only. Location TBD.
​
​
Hostesses: Since we are dining off-site, no hostesses will be required for this meeting.
December 2023 Program/Topic: Making Civic Holiday Arrangements
Wednesday
December 6, 2023
10:00 am
​
Haddam Community Center
​
7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum
This is the day we make festive arrangements for the municipal buildings of our town. Members are asked to bring holiday containers, decorations and ribbons as well as fresh cut greens from their yards. This is a festive and fun meeting which includes lunch, and often a Christmas Carol serenade by a ukulele playing elf! This meeting is limited to Members and Membership Applicants Only.
​
​
​
Hostesses: Kate Renwick, Lynda Birch, KC Alexander, Margaret Adams.
H
Directions & Map to the Haddam Community Center
Street Address: 7 Candlewood Hill Road, Higganum, CT 06441
​
NOTE: CT Dept. of Transportation is in the process of changing all the exit numbers on CT interstate highways, and it may be a while before your GPS system catches up with the changes! Please double-check your route before leaving home!
​
Take the Interstate Highways to CT Route 9. From I-95, Route 9 North is Exit #69 in Old Saybrook. From I-91, Route 9 South is Exit #22S in Cromwell.
​
From Route 9 heading North, take Exit #15 (old exit #9) (Rt. 81/Killingworth/Clinton). Make a left at the end of the ramp onto Route 81 North. Go 1.9 miles to the first traffic light and turn left onto Rt. 154 North. Take an immediate left onto Candlewood Hill Road. The Community Center will be the 4th building on your left set-back off the road. It is red with a cupola.
From Route 9 heading South, take Exit #19 (old exit #10) (Rt 154 South/Aircraft Road). Make a right at the end of the ramp onto Route 154 South. Go 3.5 miles. Just BEFORE the traffic light, make a hairpin right-turn onto Candlewood Hill Road. The Community Center will be the 4th building on your left set-back off the road. It is red and white with a cupola.
