From the beginning, the Rye Garden Club has endeavored to promote the love of gardening, floral design and the natural world among its members and the community and to contribute to the wellbeing of Rye. Spanning generations we are 60 active members strong, with over 40 sustaining or affiliate members. Together we are a tireless force in the promotion of environmental awareness and the preservation of natural resources. We take tremendous pride in our association with The Garden Club of America, and we look forward to continuing our mission in perpetuity.
More than a century has passed since Mrs. William Rand gathered a small group of ladies together at her home on Forest Avenue for the first meeting of the Rye Garden Club. The group dedicated itself to the ‘advancement of gardening' and the protection of the natural resources of our beautiful coastal community. Over the years our club has stayed true to this mission. It is fitting that one of the first programs on record offered by Rye Garden Club was on the topic of the interrelationship of insects and plant life. One hundred years later, we installed a pollinator garden at Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary as our Centennial Gift to the Rye residents. Rye Garden Club members will continue to embrace critical environmental concerns and help lead the way as ambassadors of education and advocacy.
