FOLLOW-UP:

Presidents' Day

President's Day was jam-packed with information for club presidents.  With all the presentations, we didn't have time for questions, so attendees were invited to submit them in writing on cards provided. I thought that all of you might have the same, or similar questions, so am providing both the questions and answers for you to peruse by category.                                                       Jane Waugh, President

QUESTIONS

  PROGRAM BOOKLET:

Q. Can program/speaker reviews be submitted online and viewed by members?

A. Not currently.  But there is a task force working on updating The Federation's website and this good idea will be considered for implementation.

Q. Can reviews be sent in for speakers not listed in the booklet?
A. Yes, please do. Speakers with good reviews may be added in the next printing, or online if we begin to keep updates that way.

AWARDS:
Q. Why don't we at FGCCT coordinate our awards schedule with the NER so it's easier to submit in the proper year?
A. The New England Region (NER) awards and Connecticut awards are on the same schedule - June to May - because awards are presented in the fall.  National Garden Clubs (NGC) is on a different schedule (January to December) because these awards are given out at the annual convention in May. That said, I know understanding the various deadlines for awards and contests can be confusing. We are trying our best to clarify them for you. But rather than being uncertain, when you undertake a project, feel free to contact a Federation Board member who can advise you of the deadline and method to submit your documentation. The best resources are the Awards Chair, Janet Spaulding, and awards experts Inge Venus and Helen Pritchard.

Q. Can more than one club member win a Tribute Award during a single club year?
A. Yes, absolutely, and it has happened in the past. So submit all your good candidates.

SCHOOLS:
Q. Why were three study schools scheduled within a three-week space? Could they be spread out over the course of the year in the future...2 in spring, 2 in fall?
A. We do try to spread them out, but this fall was particularly difficult to schedule with our first Idea Exchange Symposium, Presidents' Day, NER Symposium, NGC Board Meeting, and various national and religious holidays. Other factors in setting the schedule are the availability of instructors, field trip seasonality and curriculum requirements.

FLOWER SHOWS:
Q. Are Flower Shows mandatory for clubs in The Federation?
A. They are not.  However, they are an excellent way to promote horticulture and design in your club and your community - to both educate the public and to show off your good work!

Q. How do we get started with a Flower Show?
A. Judges Council Members and Flower Show School Chairs frequently include very specific helpful suggestions about Flower Show "How to's" in the CFNews.  You can look at back issues online starting with April, 2013, for articles nearly every month. Our Judges will assist, especially if you don't have one in your club. Remember, Flower Show School is a great way to learn the details even if your goal is not to become a judge.  And you may also contact Barbara Bosco at [email protected] to learn about "Flower Show in a Box" published by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. to get a head start.

FGCCT BOARD:
Q. How many members?
A. The Board is generally comprised of about 40 members depending on special positions appointed by the president.  

Q. When do they meet?  
A. The Federation Board meets on a Wednesday in alternate months beginning in March, at 10 o'clock, that is, five times per year.

Q. What is the process to be appointed to The Federation Board?
A. The most important thing is that we have to know you are interested. And then we'd like to know in what area you would like to contribute. Most positions are elected at the Annual Meeting in April and about 10 other positions are appointed by the President. There are several ways for you to suggest potential board members to us. In the President's Annual Report, there is a question asking for nominees and a form to submit more detail. You may nominate yourself or others in your club with their knowledge. That is once a year, but you may contact the Nominating Chairman, Ronnie Schoelzel, at any time with your suggestions.  We have a couple of positions opening up now, so we'd like to hear from you.

FINANCES:
Q. Can a "Cheer Fund" come out of the treasury?
A. According to the accountant used by The Federation, it can be included in the club's treasury so long as it is an insignificant amount relative to the overall funds of the club. It is even better if the funds are received as a donation or collection specifically for this purpose and so identified on the books.

OTHER:
Q. When is the Lockwood Farm open house?
A. Each year on a Wednesday (usually the first one) in August, the farm is opened for the annual open house, Plant Science Day.  Check http://www.ct.gov/caes/site/default.asp  for details in 2016.

Q. Can The Federation have this kind of outreach meeting more than once every two years?
A. We'll consider it, but our Idea Exchange Symposiums may be the better way for outreach in between years

COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

Need help with insurance:
Although we've tried, neither The CT Federation nor NGC has come up with any universal way to help obtain insurance for clubs at a very low premium. It seems that a local insurance broker is usually the best bet. We are going to try to prepare some guideline about types of coverage for a future issue of the CFNews, so look for that at a later date.

Ask town clubs to send out their events to The Federation office to be emailed out to all members in state to participate if they wish. Master calendar also would be invaluable to help get new ideas.
There is a calendar in each CFNews and on our website with activities submitted by all our clubs. To include your event, email Ellie Tessmer, the Calendar Manager at [email protected]. Having the calendar online allows all members to look up events at any time, rather than constantly flooding members with emails.  With the eventual installation of a new website, the calendar will become even more useful.

Comments on the meeting ranged from raves, with suggestions to do it more often, to comments about some speakers talking too long.  
We're pleased that nearly everyone found the meeting useful and informative. It's difficult to convey so much information in such a limited time and we try to be as efficient as possible. We  especially wanted to introduce you to the full board, all of whom can be of assistance to your clubs. Thank you for the comment, "Presidents' Day is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to lead our clubs better."

Then we have met our objective!

*Jane Waugh
President

Youth Activities  

Many of you have asked how to go about starting a youth program. It's actually very simple.  Start with a small committee, perhaps three members; it helps if someone has had some experience working with groups of children.  You may already have an idea for a program; if not, here are the steps to follow.  

*    Decide what you want your focus to be:  gardening, flower arranging, nature classes, tree planting, scout badge work, the restoration of a space or a combination of all these things.  

*    Decide where you want to hold your program:  school setting (what grade level), community club, town library, scout  troop or as part of community-wide event.  
*    Decide what you want the timing of your program to be:  once a year, seasonally, monthly or weekly. After you have made these decisions,   you can start to explore ideas for a program and come up with a plan.  You may want to add a few more people to your team to help brainstorm.
Your first step is to present your idea for a program to the head of the organization; either with a cover letter outlining your idea or with a request for a meeting.  At this time, you do not need to have a totally organized plan, but only a general idea of the timing and the scope of your program.  Once you have approval of your program, you will need to develop an outline with specific steps and goals.  You may need to meet with the leaders of your program  group to finalize plans. Present your program to your club, ask for needed volunteers and you are ready to start.
       
There is another option.  You can choose   an organization for your programs  and  then approach them to ask if they need help with a project or if they have a project in mind that they want to start.  You would then work with the organization to develop the scope, goals and timing of the program.

Each month, I will try to feature a different type of youth program that is being done by one of the garden clubs in our Federation.  This month the focus is on a once- a- year program that is easily run by only two members, has a big impact in the community and reaches a very large number of children.

* Ann Germano
Youth Chair

*****

     

EYE ON HORTICULTURE: The November Garden

With winter fast approaching and hopefully the garden clean-up complete, November is a good time to assess the "bones" of your garden. What exactly are the bones of your garden, you ask? This analogy may help. Think of the garden as a human being, strip away the skin and tissues, which represent the flowers and foliage and you're left with the "bones," otherwise known as the structural elements of the garden. Although items such as statues and benches can be used as structural elements, trees and shrubs strategically placed can be used as well, resulting in visual interest come winter, eliminating boring, empty, flat, brown beds of earth.

Two plants that provide added interest in my garden are Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' and Morus alba 'Chaparral.' I chose these plants in particular not only because they provide winter interest, but because they have similar growing requirements. Although their growing zones differ slightly, both do well for me here in Litchfield County. They like full sun to part shade, prefer slightly moist, well-drained soil, tolerate a wide range of soil types,are relatively pest free and, most importantly, are drought tolerant once established. Both showed no sign of stress in the hot, rainless summer just past.  

Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil,' also known as Japanese Holly,  is a narrow columnar evergreen hardy in zones 5-9. It has small spineless, glossy green leaves with insignificant white flowers that ripen to tiny black berries. Typically, a 4'-6' tall specimen will only be 12"' wide. It looks great used as a hedge, foundation planting, as a sentry on either side of an entryway, or nicely tucked into any small space. It adds vertical interest and a bit of formality. However, mine did suffer some leaf desiccation from the extremely cold winter of 2014-2015 as did many of the evergreens. I cut them back by a third and they recovered nicely.

 

Morus alba 'Chaparral' is a deciduous, fruitless variety of weeping mulberry. Hardy in zones 4-8, this cultivar is grafted onto a standard mulberry tree growing to a height of 8' with a spread of 12'-15'. The large leaves are glossy green and lobed and turn yellow in the fall. This is a male cultivar, eliminating the edible but messy fruits of the female trees.

 

I love weeping trees and this is one of my favorites.The lush green foliage on the weeping branches creates a nice focal point and works just as nicely with finer textured evergreens in a mixed border,   but, the real beauty of this tree is when it sheds its leaves.  The older weeping branches harden and the new growth remains supple. It resembles a frozen cascading waterfall, adding a graceful serenity to the winter landscape. Not widely used (I don't understand why), I know of only two mature specimens that I must steal a peek at when I'm in their vicinity.

Why not just plant a weeping cherry tree--you can readily find them most anywhere? They are beautiful weeping deciduous trees that flower, but I've lost three of them in the time I've had my weeping mulberry. My sturdy little mulberry stood tall when that October snow storm a few years back amputated all the branches off the last of my weeping cherries. The mulberry is worth the search.

Be it a deciduous or an evergreen, these are just two of the many trees and shrubs that could help provide the bones for  your garden. I hope that as you ponder your garden structure, you might find a place for one of them.  

*Liz Rinaldi
Horticulture Chair
   

The Quintessential Wildlife Tree

As Doug Tallamy points out in his "must-read" book, Bringing Nature Home, the white oak tree supports more wildlife than any other tree.

I was so excited to Chair the Federation State project, "Growing Together," because I had a vision of getting white oak trees planted all over the state.  What an opportunity to beautify public areas and support wildlife at the same time.

Then came the big disappointment. I could not find a nursery that sold white oaks.  I learned that, because of their long tap roots, they are difficult to transplant.  They are also slow growing, so planting a tiny oak tree in a public space would have neither visual impact nor much chance of survival.  The white oaks that we see in fields and woodlands most likely grew spontaneously from acorns buried by squirrels or carried along by other wildlife.

The good news is that you, too, can plant a white oak by following the directions set forth by squirrels.  NOW is the time of year to plant a white oak. Unlike the red oak acorns, white oak acorns are ready to plant immediately. You will notice some of them already sprouting as they hit the ground.

Here are some easy steps:

1. Fill some large, deep flower pots with plain potting soil (I used 12-14 inch pots with at least the same depth).

2. Lay acorns horizontally on the soil near the top of the pot.  Cover with several inches of soil.
3. Cover pots with some form of netting and anchor with a stone.  The biggest threat to your planting project is tampering by squirrels or mice. After all, this is why white oaks are so valuable to wildlife.  If acorns were not so delicious and nutritious to critters, there would be white oaks growing everywhere.

You can also try planting acorns directly into the ground, but be sure to cover with netting.  I used a wire poultry netting which has a very tight weave, purchased in the garden department of Home Depot.
In Spring, when seedlings start to develop, transplant them to individual pots or directly into the ground. These plants will be very desirable to deer and other animals, so you must protect them with some sort of cylindrical sleeve.  This will allow sunlight and rain to reach the tree but protect the top from being munched off.

This little white oak will not look like much for a very long time.  Think of it as a gift to posterity and to all of the insects that support our bird population and for all the turkeys, deer, squirrels, mice, black bear and raccoons who will enthusiastically dine on its future acorns.

* Barbara Deysson
State Project Chair

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A Standard Flower Show

CT Convention Center

February 18-21, 2016

Only three months to go until "In The Spotlight" opens in Hartford.  As we move through this year's schedule (available on our website www.ctgardenclubs.org)  we find ourselves at Section C "Popular Music."  This is the section of small designs that are always the favorite of so many - both designers and the public as well.

Our first class in this section is "Jazz It Up."  This class is open to all designers, EXCEPT judges.  This can be any design type, but must be no larger than 8" in any direction.

The second class is titled "Rock & Roll." This is a Multi-Rhythmic Design, again not to exceed 8" in all directions.  

The final class in this section is "A Little Bit Country & Western" and is to be a small stretch design.  Sounds like a lot of fun!

I only have two more months to write articles to get you excited about this year's flower show.  So let me finish this by saying that we need volunteers for some of our committees to make this show a success.

Hostesses are needed for the days the show is open to the public.  You'll receive free entry to the show if you volunteer.  Please contact Cheryl Damiani at [email protected] or 203-870-6442 for more information.

We will also need help painting our staging properties on Saturday,
February 13, 2016, in Hartford.  If
you'd like to help out, please contact Karin Pyskaty at   [email protected] or 203-265-1898.

I can't wait to meet everyone in February.

*Barbara Bruce
2016 Flower Show Chair


Please sign on as staff for the FGCCT 2016 Flower Show, IN THE SPOTLIGHT!  We are looking for hostesses and hosts to help guide our visitors through this year's  exciting interpretation of the performing arts.    Not only is this a way to do your part to make this show a success, but you receive a FREE ticket to the show!  Call a few friends and sign up for a two-hour shift.  

For details, contact Cheryl Damiani, Host/Hostess Chair, [email protected] or 203-870-6442 (landline), 630-835-6630 (iPhone). Thank you.

*Cheryl Damiani
Host/Hostess Chair


Photographers --- set your sights on entering the Photography Division of the Federation's State Flower Show, "In the Spotlight," February 18-21, 2016, at the CT Convention Center.  Flower Show Chair, Barbara Bruce, has written a spectacular schedule for the show and photographers will find fascinating classes around the show theme featuring landscapes, gardens, plants, pollinators, even a movie locale.           
The Flower Show Schedule where you can check out the various classes and Photography Rules is posted in the marquee of our FGCCT website at www.ctgardenclubs.org.  Advanced registration to Photography Chair Leslie Martino at  [email protected]  is required by February 5, 2016.  Photography is open to all members of The Federated Garden Clubs of CT, Inc.   

* Jacqueline Connell
Photography Judges Chair

HUDSON VALLEY TOUR

I'd like to thank the fantastic group of ladies who joined us on the Sept 9-11 Hudson Valley tour. We had a wonderful time and I would like to give you a brief synopsis of our trip.

We began our tour in Pawling, NY, to the private Brine Garden, where we walked the six-acre botanical garden with the owner and his wife. Many of the indigenous shrubs, trees and perennials were observed on our private tour.

Following a yummy lunch in a local restaurant, we ventured on to Stonecrop Garden. This absolutely stunning garden was created by Francis Cabot and his wife Anne. I was motivated to discover more about his life. I learned he founded the Garden Conservancy in 1989, was Chairman of the NY Botanical Garden  in the Bronx as well as being named an honorary Member of the Order of Canada. The private home on the property was designed in the French country style, and if I didn't know I was in NY, I might have believed I was touring a garden in glorious France.  The website stonecrop.org will inform the reader of current blooms and much more. We were stunned with the beauty of this garden, and charmed by the docents who took us through it.

We returned to our hotel, freshened up a bit and went to dinner at a very nice local restaurant.

Our visit to FDR's National Shrine the next day was fantastic. After seeing it for the first time, I must say I was inspired to watch again the Ken Burns series on the Roosevelts. I was particularly moved by the humble gravesite of Eleanor and Franklin.

We walked through the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield, which was beautifully created in 1912 by Ms. Farrand. We had time to visit the Vanderbilt Rose Garden and see how the other half lived in the gilded age. We walked for many hours that day and so felt our meal at the Culinary Institute would have been easily earned.

We went to Poughkeepsie and had the chance to stroll on the "Walkway over the Hudson." (One of our group actually made it across and back in a very short time!) The view was breathtaking and it seemed to be quite a popular spot for walking, sightseeing and events such as races on foot.

* Kathy Kobishyn
FGCCT Tours Coordinator
http://www.ctgardenclubs.org
26 Pond Street
Milford Ct 06460
203-876-9376
203-915-6017

Space is now filling up, so don't delay in sending in your registration!
What a wonderful way to put you in the mood for the upcoming Holidays!!
 
ON DAY 1 the FGCCT Yuletide Tour will transport you in comfort to Winterthur and Longwood Gardens.  A catered boxed lunch is included.

Winterthur is the premier museum of American decorative arts. Yuletide has been a tradition there for over 25 years. Holiday trees, greenery and flowers will delight you. Check www.winterthur.org for the slideshow.

After an early dinner, we will be going to nearby Longwood Gardens to see the holiday wonderland. Imagine over 400,000 lights, flowers and Christmas trees filling the Conservatory's Crystal palace!

At the end of the day we will spend the night at the nearby Hilton Garden Inn at Kennett Square.

ON DAY 2   The docents at the Barnes Exhibit will guide you on a private tour of the stunning collection of Post Impressionist, early Modern and African Art said to be worth 25 to 30 billion dollars. Please check www.barnesfoundation.org

Next we are off to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the special exhibit  "Audubon to Warhol: The Art of American Still Life." You are free to explore the museum and have lunch on your own. Check www.philamuseum.org.

Finally, our journey will transport us to a traditional German Christmas Market.  You will be delighted by the variety of small stalls and the charming gifts within. Prepare to have a good time here!

The comfortable trip home will allow you time to rest and review the wonderful moments we will have spent together on our FGCCT Yuletide Tour. Click here for the registration form.

* Kathy Kobyshin
FGCCT Tours Coordinator

National Garden Clubs Awards Applications Due

If any club currently has a project whose completion date went beyond the FGCCT deadline of May 31, 2015, but will be completed by November of this year, they may complete the NGC Awards Application and submit it directly to Awards Chair, Janet Spaulding, before the December 15th deadline.

For an application form, go to our website at www.ctgardenclubs.org/forms.html. 

* Janet Spaulding

Awards Chair

Judges Update

PUBLICATION AWARDS DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 15th

The deadline for submitting your club's publications for consideration of an award is rapidly approaching.   You will need to submit the following by the December 15th deadline:

1. Three different issues of your newsletter, either as hard copy or electronically.  Winning ones go to National Garden Clubs (NGC) by January 15th.   Awards Year is January 1st to December 31st.
 

2. One original copy of the following:  Blogs; calendar; club history; cookbook; educational pamphlets; Facebook page; manuals; newspaper columns; power point presentations; scrapbook of special events; videos; websites.

Your submissions will be judged and may be forwarded to the New England Region (NER) for consideration for one of their awards.  Please submit any of the before-mentioned publication items your club has developed during the year.

The only exception to the December 15th deadline are the Publicity Press books covering your club's publicity from January 1st to December 31st. These are not due until January 25th  in order to be submitted to NER for their February deadline.

We are hereby directing our Clubs to the AWARDS MANUAL posted at www.ctgardenclubs.org/awards.html This manual provides deadlines as well as the Scales of Points to judge items.

* Barbara Bosco
Public Relations Chair
24 Old Still Road, Woodbridge 06525
[email protected]

Meet Terry Lubman

Our Finance Officer, Terry Lubman, earned her MBA in Finance and worked for years at New York City financial institutions and brokerage firms including Lehman Brothers and Manufacturers Hanover. When her husband's job moved to Connecticut, Terry joined him with their 2-year-old son in moving to the Riverside area of Greenwich.

Lubman became involved in the Riverside Garden Club, serving as Civic Chair and eventually becoming President of the club from 1999-2001. She is also the Treasurer of the Greenwich Daffodil Society and contributes to their show yearly. In addition to floral designs, they display cut daffodils. "I like it," says Terry, "because they're not all yellow!---And they don't get eaten by deer."

"I guess word gets around," she says modestly, because Inge Venus called Terry to join the Federation, initially as our Civic Chair. She held that post for 6 years and two years after that took on the job of Finance Officer. In this role, she chairs the Finance Committee, which approves large capital expenditures, advises on investments and handles insurance policies. The Federation carries General Liability and Directors and Officers insurance in addition to Workers Compensation for our one employee, Barbara Romblad. Terry enjoys the Federation, saying, "I think we do good work and we have wonderful people."

Her garden is on a hill with a water view. She says that the slope and rocks and shade trees make it a difficult site, "but I do my best." She has also planted the flat area by the road "to beautify it for passersby." Her other passion is playing duplicate bridge and she tries to attend the three national tournaments each year.

These days, her son is 32 and lives nearby with a 4-year-old son and a daughter on the way. Though Terry's husband spends the winters in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, she comes and goes because she doesn't like to be away from her grandson too long.

* Lynn Hyson
News Editor

Establishment of Bethany
Organic Community Garden

The garden will eventually consist of 49 4'x 8'x1' raised beds, with 19 already available and used this year.  A water system, storage shed and deer fencing are also on the property located on Pole Hill Road.  Mobility impaired residents are welcomed and accommodated.

There are beds dedicated to grow food for a soup kitchen and local families in need, who have been sharing in the harvest. The Bethany Garden Club provides support with several Master Gardeners who are available to provide education/assistance.

The community responded enthusiastically and all beds available were used. There is a waiting list for the next phase. 

Congratulations to all our members who worked so hard to provide an organic, handicap-accessible place for Bethany residents to garden!

* Maureen Baldino
Bethany Garden Club President

*Maureen Baldino
Bethany Garden Club President

Landscape Design Study School

Save the dates:  March 22-24, 2016

Location:  CAES, New Haven, CT

*    Course includes 2 days of speakers March 22-23, and an optional exam on March 24.

*    Course fee is $120 (includes lunch for both days).

*    This course is for the everyday gardener and for those who wish to provide input to projects in their community.  Courses may be taken in any order, March is Course II of IV.  Taking two course exams results in 'Provisional Member in Landscape Design Council' and four exams obtains 'Certification in Landscape Design.'

*    Registration forms will be available in November.

* Susan Laurson
Landscape Design Study School Chair