website.) Individual garden clubs may apply for funds up to $1,000 for direct project expenses. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2017, but the project does not have to be completed by then.

Attendance at the Convention was outstanding, with attendees welcomed from 48 states and also a strong international participation with many affiliate members from Central and South America. In addition to our former President Jane Waugh and NGC Board member Maria Nahom, I was privileged to represent our Federation President Inge Venus who was unable to attend.

The many programs offered were extremely informative and entertaining. A highlight for me was the one-woman play based on the life and works of Rachel Carson. Seminars offered opportunities to learn more about Restoring Pollinators and Growing Organically, Floral Design, the 2017 Handbook for Flower Shows, and numerous others. Tours provided the opportunity to visit Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg and other historic Richmond sites. The keynote speaker, P. Allen Smith, captivated the audience with a program that was both interesting and pertinent and delivered in a light-hearted manner.

We were impressed to learn about his beautiful farm that is organic and conserves water.  

I'm pleased to report that Connecticut received numerous recognitions at the awards dinner, which our former President Jane Waugh was privileged to accept on behalf of our Federation.

Jane is shown accepting one of several awards from NGC President Sandy Robinson and Third Vice President Mary Warshauer.

Go to our FGCCT website www.ctgardenclubs.org  to find a mini-  poster of the 2018 CT Flower Show, entitled "Breath of Spring", that can be included in your 2017-2018 Yearbook. 

Cathy Ritch, 

CT Flower Show Chair 

Another Wonderful President's Theme

Congratulations to Inge Venus, our 44th President of The Federated Garden Clubs of CT, Inc. Inge was sworn in at our Annual Meeting on April 19th.

At the Luncheon, Inge introduced her President's Theme and Project for 2017-2019 "Plant Connecticut - Be a Conservation Champion" and invited all  Clubs to participate in her project. During her acceptance speech, Inge told a very touching story about how she became a conservation champion after losing her pet that was exposed to a hazardous lawn chemical. 

Now, more than ever, it is important for our Garden Clubs to lead by example for  the protection of our environment and spread the word that pollinators need of our help. Loss of habitat through development, climate change, and overuse of pesticides are wreaking havoc on our pollinator populations. The President's Theme cites three main topics that support a healthy environment "for today and for future generations": Conserve Water, Assist Pollination, and Garden Naturally. 

The President's Project includes a contest for both Garden Clubs and individual Club members. Awards will be presented in April 2019 for gardens chosen for best design. Garden Clubs can choose to design and plant either a Xeriscape Garden or a Pollinator-friendly Garden in a public space. The minimum garden dimensions are 20' x 30' in any configuration and should include a plan for maintenance of the garden. A Conservation Champion Award will be presented in each of the four club size categories. Individual Club members can also participate by creating a Xeriscape Garden

on their own property. Up to five member gardens will receive the Conservation Champion Award for most impressive design. There is no size requirement for member gardens. Details and contest rules are printed in the President's Theme and Project brochure which is posted on the FGCCT website. Information can also be obtained by contacting Holly Kocet at [email protected]. Best of luck to all Garden Clubs and members who participate and many thanks for supporting another wonderful President's Project. 

Holly Kocet,

State Projects Chair

The registration form will be available on our FGCCT website for download in early June, so be sure to mark your calendar.

Eye on Horticulture

One native wildflower that always brings a smile to my face where ever it may

pop up is Arisaema triphyllum or aptly nicknamed Jack-in the-Pulpit.

I have never planted it in my garden yet it has popped up in several places, thanks to birds that must have eaten its bright red fruits. I know most of you are familiar with this intriguing native whose odd flower consists of a green or purple striped pouch-shaped spathe with an overhanging hood that surrounds a digit like central spadix. Producing one or two lobed leaves it grows to 12"- 18" in height although I have seen it attain greater stature if given optimum conditions. It prefers shade and humus rich moist soil. By late summer the spathe will have died back to reveal a single stem topped by a clump of bright red fruits which contain the seeds. 

If you enjoy our native species you may be tempted to try some of its foreign cousins. Arisaema sikokianum (Japanese Cobra Lily) is native to Japan but does well here in zones 5-9.

I am one who is attracted to the unusual so a few years ago in late spring on a whim I purchased a bag of corms labeled "VooDoo Lillies". They weren't expensive and the name intrigued me so I brought them home and planted them. I didn't see any sign of life for the rest of the summer. I figured a vole must have feasted on the corms so I chalked it up to nothing ventured nothing gained. The following spring I didn't give them a second thought until one morning I was doing my usual garden stroll when I caught a whiff of something awful. I remember thinking to myself 'what did the darn cat catch this time?' In order to remove what I thought would be a carcass of some sort I followed the buzzing sounds of flies and to my surprise it wasn't a half eaten bird carcass it was one of the "VooDoo Lillies"! I later found out this particular species emits a foul odor for only a short period of time to  attract flies and other insects for pollination purposes. How lucky was I? Besides the extremely unpleasant scent it was almost alien in appearance. The twisted brownish yellow spathe was internally mottled a sickly yellow and deep reddish purple. The "hood" of the spathe elongated over the next few days and flopped over backwards to reveal a long protruding, tapering maroon spadix resembling an alien's tongue. The leaves  which appear after the flower are just as unusual. The petiole was similarly mottled as the spathe with a semicircular blade that was pedately lobed, reaching a height of about 2 feet. It turns out my 'VooDoo Lillies" were really Typhonium venosum a.k.a. Sauromatum venosum. Natives of Asia they belong to the Family: Araceae. Thus making them a distant relative of our native Jack!

I must admit the following year they did not flower although they did produce leaves but that was the last I saw (or smelled) of them. My recommendation is this... if your expectations aren't too high but you're still willing to give the

extraordinary a try (or you just have a morbid curiosty) you may want to add

Typhonium venosum to your Araceae family tree.

Liz Rinaldi, 

Horticulture Chair

Have you created a garden you love and enjoy? If so, I invite you to apply for the "Love-ly Garden Award." We are interested in a garden that expresses a love of gardening. We'd like to know the "story" of the garden and the gardener. Our overall impression is important and we will consider design, flow, distinction and creativity within the garden space. Landscape challenges and changes to enhance the property will also be considered, so tell us the dirt! We do not expect a specimen garden with perfect plantings, but rather a welcoming environment created to be enjoyed.

Please consider entering the contest for the "Love-ly Garden Award." The Award is open only to Garden Club members! It was created in honor of Penny Jarvis, a lady who created gardens with love. Garden visits will be scheduled during the summer. The judges are members of the Gardening Consultants Council.

The deadline for applying is June 15. Go to our FGCCT website at www.ctgardenclubs.org  and in the marquee click on the application form. The award is presented in October at the Awards Luncheon.

Rodney Hayes, 

Love-ly Garden Awards Chair

The Beyond Beginning workshops this fall will include information and Design Types from the new Handbook.

The Fall Series is intended for designers who are comfortable with Creative Designs and the Principles and Elements of Design. Whatever your skill level, we  welcome you to enroll as an observer at no charge. 

Where: CAES (Jones Auditorium), 123 Huntington St, New Haven

When: Sept 8 (Low profile), Oct 6 (Cascade), Dec 1 (Grouped Mass) 

Time: 10-12:30pm

Sessions will be taught by accredited NGC judges. Included in each 2.5 hour session is a lecture, followed by a hands-on workshop, and critique. Critiques are done in small groups by the instructor and other accredited judges to aid participants in improving their design skills. The cost per session of $30 covers all materials.

Cathy Ritch, 

Beyond Beginning Workshop Chair

We have funds available and are seeking clubs who wish to start a new garden therapy program, or want to enhance their present efforts. Your club may need start up funds or some additional funds that have not been worked into your club's budget. The Federation does not want you to put a garden therapy program or project "on hold" for this reason. Please send in requests for funding to our new Garden Therapy/ World Gardening Chair: Peggy Lajoie C/O The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. P.O. Box 854 Branford, CT 06405-0854

Please include a description of your garden therapy goal, where it will be done, approximately how many people you are trying to work with and how many members of your club will be involved. Include the length of time that it will take to get this program started and give the name of your club's chair, address and contact numbers. Don't forget to include the amount that you are requesting! The Federation Board will be meeting again in July, so please try to get your application to Peggy ASAP. 

Dottie Fox,

Former Garden Therapy Chair 

Club Donations received since our May issue:

WORLD GARDENING: Cheshire, Glastonbury, Haddam,  Wallingford SCHOLARSHIP: Branford, Green Fingers, Greenwich Woman's Club Gardeners, Guilford, Hortulus, Thames River, Town & Country Gardeners of Newtown, West Hartford

Your donation is very much appreciated. 

Peggy Lajoie   World Gardening Chair [email protected]

Margareta Kotch   Scholarship Chair [email protected]