For more than seven decades, a dedicated group armed with trowels, pruning shears and rakes has quietly kept Bridgewater beautiful.
Founded in 1950 as the Roycefield Garden Club, the organization became the Bridgewater Garden Club in 1974. Today, it includes about 40 members—from novice gardeners to master gardeners—who live in Bridgewater and neighboring towns.
The club’s impact extends well beyond backyard borders.
Members plant and maintain flowers at the Richard Hall Community Health & Wellness Center and tend gardens at the Bridgewater Library. They assist with floral programs at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center and host a monthly educational program at the Martin Luther King Youth Center focused on gardening and environmental topics.
“These kids don’t have much exposure to these topics, and they seem to enjoy it a great deal,” says Bonnie Johnson, an associate member who joined in 1980.
The youth program pairs educational presentations with hands-on crafts, introducing students to nature in an engaging way.
A Garden Restored
In 2019, member Beth Spinelli discovered a neglected therapy garden behind the Adult Day Center of Somerset County.
“It was filled with garbage and dead leaves,” she says. “But it had good bones.”
With approval from Executive Director Diann Robinson, Spinelli began clearing the space, filling dozens of bags with debris. Soon, other members joined the effort.
Today, Spinelli and fellow members—many in their 70s, 80s and 90s—maintain the garden from April through November. The revitalized space offers comfort and connection for visitors and residents.
“People love to look at the garden through the windows,” Spinelli says. “Many of them once had gardens of their own.”
In the spring, she cuts fresh flowers to create bouquets for residents, often receiving waves and thanks in return.
Education and Enrichment
The club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Sanctuary and Seed on Washington Valley Road. Meetings feature guest speakers on topics such as floral design, herb cultivation and climate impacts on trees.
Each December, members create holiday arrangements using boxwood clippings, pinecones and ribbon. Proceeds support a scholarship for students at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School pursuing agricultural studies.
Growing More Than Gardens
Beyond beautifying public spaces, members say the club fosters connection.
Spinelli joined about 14 years ago as a novice. “They teach you and make something rather complicated simple,” she says. “It encouraged me to try something new after retirement.”
Margaret Esposito, a former president, found support in the group during a difficult time.
“The women were so welcoming and kind,” she says. “It’s an accepting group where everyone uses the gifts that they have.”
For 75 years, the Bridgewater Garden Club has done more than plant flowers. It has nurtured friendships, restored overlooked spaces and created beauty that continues to shape the community.
For more information, visit bridgewatergardenclub.org.