Years of Service
Volunteers
Local Gardens
Garden Tours
in scholarships
Warwick Valley Gardeners is a member the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc., as well as the National Council of State Garden Clubs. Our members come from diverse backgrounds and have varying degrees of gardening experience.
As a nonprofit organization, all proceeds from the Garden Tour and other fundraisers are used to enrich and beautify the Warwick community.
What Drives Us
Our Mission
Warwick Valley Gardeners seek to develop an active interest in gardening and horticulture, aid in the protection of wildflowers, birds, and insect habitats, encourage the conservation of natural resources, promote the benefits of garden therapy, and stimulate interest in community service and civic beautification.
Experience the Flower power!
Visit Our Gardens
RAILROAD GREEN gardens
Chair: Cathy Garofalo • 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of this garden! Railroad Green is in the center of the Village of Warwick at the intersection of Oakland Ave and Railroad Ave. The Green was designed in 2002 by a committee headed by Bill Iurto, Warwick Valley Gardeners and community volunteers. Renowned gardening author Ken Druse helped us pull it all together. The Green is the hub of events for our club and our community. Year round you can see people enjoying the award-winning landscape, relaxing on the lawn, or swaying to music from a summer concert.
Pine Island Butterfly Garden/Habitat
Co-chairs Betsy Bowes, Jim Bowes, Kathleen Cerkvenik • The Butterfly Garden and Habitat at the Pine Island Park continues to be a focal point of beauty and education for young and old alike. During peak butterfly season, children walk the paths in search of and counting how many different butterflies they can spot. The life cycle displays add to their knowledge as does the fun of the Monarch photo cutout.
Butterflies and many other pollinators frequent the garden. The wetlands garden (formerly the dragonfly area) also adds to the texture of the area as well as being a habitat for moisture-loving insects.
World Trade Center Memorial Garden
Chair: Janet Hauser • Located on the left side of Veterans’ Drive as one enters the park, this garden was designed in 2002. The tragedy that affected our nation left families still feeling the loss of seven residents. Alongside Wawayanda Creek, this memorial garden, which is illuminated at night, was designed with two black granite pillars representing the towers that are surrounded by plantings. Benches at the base of the pillars allow for quiet remembrance. A memorial ceremony is held at the Memorial annually on September 11.
Doc Beers Garden
Welcome to Warwick Garden, Forester Avenue
Co-Chairs: Patti Leo and Camille Tanzella • Bordering Hallowed Ground Park and located at the corner of Galloway Road and Forester Avenue, this Four-Season Garden was established in 1996. In the spring, flowers and bulbs blanket the ground in front of gorgeous Kwanza Flowering Cherry trees. The garden flows into summer with a mix of annuals and perennials. Fall mums excite in purple and gold celebrating the school colors of Warwick and a winter scene welcomes all who are “Home for the Holidays.”
Local heroes' garden
Chair: Bettye Hill • The Local Heroes’ Garden was created to honor Police, Fire, EMT and first Responders who put their lives on the line every day on our behalf. Created in an abandoned area at the end of Veterans’ Memorial Park by Warwick Valley Gardeners and members of the community, this lovely perennial garden offers a display of color and blooms throughout the growing seasons. In 2013 it was awarded First Place in the Community Gardens category by the Federated Garden Clubs of America. This garden is now maintained by the committee and volunteers from Warwick Grove.
Village hall garden
Chair: Marcela Gross • Village Hall Garden is a small but well-established perennial garden on the side of Village Hall on Wheeler Avenue. It is a four-season garden with daffodils and tulips in the spring and colorful annuals to augment the perennials of hydrangeas, roses, hosta, spirea, and sedums for the summer months. Ornamental cabbages are added for fall adornment and the winter berries are always a pop of red against the bleak winter snow.
Welcome to Warwick Garden, Rt. 17A/94
Co-Chairs: Nancy Arthur, Laurie Unick • Established in 1997, this garden is located on Route 94/17A south, a well traversed entry into Warwick Village. The welcoming sign surrounded by a tiny garden grabs your eye with its beauty. Dedicated and daring members of our garden club have climbed the steep slope to plant and maintain this garden with inspired seasonal designs.
The Flagpole Garden
Co-Chairs: Nancy Arthur, Ginny Adams • Located in the driveway in front of Warwick Town Hall at 132 Kings Highway, the circular bed of perennials and colorful grasses that coordinate with the two seasonal flower pots serve as the perfect accent for this imposing building. This garden was established in 1993.
We make a difference
Special Community Projects
HOLIDAY DECORATION
Chair: Laurie Unick • In November this committee ushers Railroad Green Park into the holiday spirit. The planters and green are decorated with colorful ribbons, swags, and lights that are lit in a ceremony enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Donations
We participate in the Community Trex Recycle Challenge which has rewarded us with a Trex bench for collecting 500 pounds of film plastic in a 6-month period. We raffled 3 of the benches and donated a bench to the new Pickleball courts at the Warwick town park at Kutz Camp. Our recent donations include Digdeep.org, the 911 Memorial in Stanley Deming Park, and Pacem In Terris.
Academic scholarship
Bettye Hill • This committee has been established to forge a relationship with Warwick Valley High School to create an annual scholarship in the field of horticulture and environmental science.
Garden Therapy
Chair: Mary Pohlman • Garden Therapy is the use of live plants to conduct plant and flower arranging workshops. WVG has a very active program at our local nursing facility, Mt. Alverno. Our club meets every few months to conduct workshops, such as simple planting and flower arranging projects. On Saturday mornings you will find members of this committee lending a helping hand in guiding the senior residents at Mt. Alverno, an Assisted Living Center on the St. Anthony Community Hospital campus. We have six activities throughout the year.
Pacem in Terris
Library book donations
Chair: Marcela Gross • As part of WVG’s mission to develop an interest in gardening and horticulture, the club donates to three libraries in the Warwick Valley Library system. Often, these donations include books for children to instill an interest in gardening at an early age.
Arbor Day
Chair: Pat Conroy Reinhardt • Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Over the years WVG has planted many trees in celebration of this event. The last Friday in April has been designated Arbor Day in New York State, and as always, the club will participate with a planting ceremony and observance.
Youth Gardeners
Chair: Mary Berrigan • The Youth Gardeners involve the youth of the town and community volunteer organizations to learn together about planting and care of the environment and their interdependence. Our most recent project involved working with a local Girl Scout Troop to do Fall planting on the Carriage Path in the Warwick Village business district. Currently, our Youth Garden is located on the grounds of the Pine Island Elementary School. The committee helps children from several Town of Warwick elementary schools, plant and maintain a flower/vegetable garden. Children enjoy this activity and the produce and flowers from their garden!
Executive Board
Kristine Kent
President
Cathy Garofalo
Executive Vice President
Pat Conroy Reinhardt
Vice President
Ginny Adams
Recording Secretary
Camille Tanzella
Corresponding Secretary
Elaine Huang
Treasurer