Rehoboth Garden Club News

The Rehoboth Garden Club held its 90th Anniversary celebration during our annual meeting on April 16, 2024 at Crossroads Pub. President Paul Nunes spoke about the history of our club. He recalled the positive impact our club has had on our community throughout the years. Throughout 2024 we will celebrating our 90 years as a club at several events.

The Carpenter Museum herb garden and the gardens at the Blanding Library and Goff Hall have been cleaned, weeded, mulched and are ready for this growing season. Thanks to Susan McIlwain and all members who helped out. Our sincere appreciation goes to J&J Materials for donating the mulch.

On April 27, 2024 we celebrated Arbor Day with the planting of a hybrid cornus kousa dogwood tree near the gazebo at Francis Farm. The tree was dedicated to the memory of Ali Solas, daughter of George and Lissa Solas. Rehoboth town officials, Representative Steve Howitt, Solas family members, friends and club members attended the special ceremony led by President Paul Nunes.

Several members of the community, as well as members of the Attleboro, Dighton and Fall River Garden Clubs attended our May 20, 2024 meeting. Cindy and Ed Moura, owners of Prickly Ed’s Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium were our guest speakers. Using a foundation of northeast native plants and embracing resilient gardening principles, they showed us how our landscapes can become a buzzing birdscape and pollinator paradise.

Our May 4, 2024 Plant Sale Fundraiser was a great success thanks to the efforts of so many people, including:

Our Rehoboth Selectmen, who have allowed us to hold our fundraiser at Francis Farm since 2022. Selectman George Solas, who is our greatest advocate and supporter. Tish Vadnais and the Agricultural Commission, for their ongoing sponsorship. Buildings and Maintenance Supervisor Mike Viveiros and his crew, for cleaning and setting up and the pavilion. Deputy Police Chief Brian Ramos and his officers, who protected our plants and equipment from theft or vandalism. Adam Latham, the Department Head of Landscaping Design and Contracting at Bristol County Agricultural High School, who makes unique bushes, shrubs and trees that were grown at their school available to our customers. Val Sousa, owner of Sousa Family Farm on Agricultural Ave. Rehoboth, Barbara and David Frerich, owners of Frerichs Farm in Warren, Rhode Island, and Marie Pray, owner of Oakdale Farms on Wheaton Ave. Rehoboth, all of whom provided us with beautiful annuals, herbs and hanging plants at deeply discounted prices. Our dedicated club members who dug up and donated plants from their gardens, grew plants from seed, and volunteered their time and hard work before, during, and after the sale. Our hundreds of loyal customers from Rehoboth and our surrounding towns who supported our annual fundraiser.

As always, all plant sale profits will fund our scholarship, educational and civic programs. This year’s fundraiser was the most successful one in our club’s history. As a result, we are thrilled to announce that we will be able to increase our 2024 scholarship from $4,000 to $5,000!

The Rehoboth Garden Club sincerely thanks everyone who helped in any way. It truly “Took a village” to make this fundraiser so successful!