Horticulture is the marriage of the Science with the Art of growing flowers, fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The origin of the word horticulture is from the Latin hortus, “garden”, and colere, “to cultivate.”
Many Horticulturists today work as researchers or plant breeders or tend orchards and greenhouses—but most American households contain at least one amateur horticulturist.*
“Horticulture is divided into the cultivation of plants for:
- Food, including pomology and olericulture.
- Pomology deals with fruit and nut crops
- Olericulture deals with herbaceous plants for the kitchen, including, for example, carrots (edible root), asparagus (edible stem), lettuce(edible leaf),cauliflower(edible flower buds), tomatoes (edible fruit), and peas (edible seed)
- Plants for ornament (floriculture and landscape horticulture).
- Floriculture deals with the production of flowers and ornamental plants; generally, cut flowers, pot plants, and greenery.
- Landscape horticulture is a broad category that includes plants for the landscape, including lawn turf but particularly nursery crops such as shrubs, trees, and vines.”**
Through its activities The Garden Club of Newtown seeks to share horticulture information regarding the art and science of gardening through speakers, newsletters, displays, and communication at club meetings.
* (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
** (Source: @2022 Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.)
Horticulture Awards
2023
Horticulture, 2023 CT Flower Show
Club Competition Division Award
First Place Blue Ribbon
- Seven varieties of boxwood uniquely displayed on a weathered log.
- Club Display created by Paula Toi, Vicki Boccuzzi, Vicky Taloni, Eileen Holleran, Peggy Townsend, and Joyce DeWolfe
First Place Blue Ribbon
Growers’ Choice Division Award
- A dish garden featuring five types of locally grown moss
- Created by Peggy Townsend
2022
Rhythm and Blooms the 40 Annual Flower & Garden Show
Deb Osborne won a First Place Blue Ribbon Award; the Section Arboreal Award: rosette of green ribbons; and the NGC Division Award of Horticultural Excellence: rosette of green, orange, and blue ribbons for her 5-year-old Christmas Curl Begonia.
Peg Jepsen won a Blue Ribbon for her Container Grown Geranium
2020
“Spring into Connecticut” the 39th Annual Flower & Garden Show
Joyce Pogers won a Blue Ribbon for her Ponytail Palm that stood six feet tall and was more than 20 years old.
2019
“April in Paris” the 38th Annual Flower & Garden Show
Marilynn Klepfer won a Blue Ribbon and the Top Educational Award for her entry: Vermicomposting- Making Compost Indoors 365 Days a year.
Peg Townsend won a Blue Ribbon and The Grower’s Choice Award for her Dish Garden.
