Page 36 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 56 Autumn 2025

The Wallingford
The Wallingfor d by Karen Ciosek

Garden Club
Gar
den Club

Projects and Personalities Past and Present

June 9, 1930. There were 36 names on
Ninety-Fifth Anniversary (limerick) the paperwork and annual dues were
Our club has reached 95
We are grateful for staying alive set at $1.00, with meetings March
We’ve planted a bunch through October, the growing season.
Served many a lunch The following day Lydia and the mem-
And with you we’ll continue to thrive! bers of the Wallingford Garden Club
By Carmelina Villani had their first meeting at Mrs. Tibbetts
home on North Main St. Membership
I could not have said it any better than was set at 65 and it was reached within
one year.
Carmelina, our past President. Togeth-
er the Wallingford community and the During that first meeting members de-
Garden Club have joined forces through cided to create a perennial garden at the
depression, wartimes, peace times, rev- Wallingford Historical Society on South
olutions, pollutions, pandemic, and the Main Street. Members would donate a
need to preserve our environment. The perennial from their gardens and plant
original purpose of the Club clearly di- it on the Historical House grounds. They 1940's: The Wallingford Garden Club
rects members “… to stimulate interest also set their First Annual Floral Exhibit celebrated ten years with a large cake
in horticulture, aid, protect, and con- at the Potter Mansion on South Main at the St. George’s Inn. Members took
serve natural resources, preserve heri- Street for September 3 and 4. Members a train to the New York Flower Show. A
tage, promote civic beauty, advance the discovered that The Yalesville Garden decorated door contest, a tree planting
art of floral design and sound landscap- Club was also having its Fifth Annu- in Dutton Park, a monetary donation
ing.” Clearly, we stick to our mission.
al Flower Show on the same dates. At to the Red Cross and Arboretum of
As president, I wanted to discover that time Yalesville was not an official Connecticut College marked 1940. The
section of Wallingford and I am unsure Federated Garden Club of Connecticut
more about projects and individuals how their shows fared. promoted a highway beautification
who have made The Wallingford Gar- program planting mountain laurel and
den Club a success for 95 years. Here is At each meeting, members were urged dogwood trees. The WGC donated 100
some interesting history.
to bring a flower from their garden. laurel plants in that effort. The Club
The flowers were judged by Mr. Hall also supported legislation for “No Bill-
then auctioned off to members. Mon- boards” on our highways. The 1943
ey raised provided gardening books for Club president, Mrs. Wilmar Schultz,
the library. Throughout this decade, sponsored lectures on “War Gardens
they conducted a yearly flower show and What Wallingford Can Do About
and landscape design contest. They Them” as well as “Trash” and “Victory”
motorcaded to other towns for garden gardens. In 1948, The Club, headed by
tours. Once they collected recipes from Mrs. Francis Carroll, established a WWII
residents and made a cookbook to sell memorial planting to honor local sol-
locally. Lectures included “Importance diers who made their ultimate sacrifice.
of Native Plants,” “Landscaping,” and The site was at the approach to Wallace
“Grafting.” To promote and protect Bridge on the Wilbur Cross highway.
First meeting place of beautifying one’s yard, members sug-
The Wallingford Garden Club June 10, 1930 gested a town ordinance that stated if 1950’s: Members still met at various

1930's: Lydia Hall founded The Walling- children were caught in thievery or de- church and public halls. Projects includ-
stroying plants, their parents could be ed creating a birdfeeder tree and foun-
ford Garden Club with help from Mrs. brought to court. The ordinance never dation plantings for a new YMCA. In
Wilcox of the Madison Garden Club on
got passed. 1954, Mrs. William Curtis headed open
36 WALLINGFORD MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2025