CFN Masthead

Volume 76, Number 5  *    JUNE/JULY 2013  

In This Issue
President's Message
Create Backyard Habitats
Plant Native Trees
Love-ly Garden Award
Eye on Horticulture
Gardening Study School
Merritt Parkway Angels
Return of Silver Awards
Judges Update
Seeking Award Nominees
NER Symposium
Directory Updates
Tax Alert
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JULY 10  
is the deadline for the AUGUST 2013 issue.


 
Mt Laurel

Greetings!

As we ease into summer with our June/July issue, we are ready to support The Federation's new project: Bee Kind to Pollinators, Plant Native Trees, Create Backyard Habitats. Anne Harrigan and Kathrine Neville get us started.

As we prepare for our next exciting challenge, hosting the 2013 NER Meeting and Symposium, we can look back with pride at the success of our "Historic Landscapes" endeavor.

Click here for the Club Calendar.

Enjoy your gardens!


Sincerely,

Lynn Hyson, Editor
    
President's Message


Greetings Fellow Gardeners:  

        
Celebrate! National Garden Week is slated for June 2-8, 2013.  This is a time to celebrate all we do to beautify our communities and our home landscapes. It is also a time to assess what else we would like to do.  I hope all CT clubs are embracing our new state theme, "Bee Kind to Pollinators, Plant Natives, Create Backyard Habitats."  Through our two new contests we are encouraging the Planting of Native Trees and Creating Landscapes in which pollinators can thrive.  While we also encourage the planting of native shrubs, vines, perennials, etc., to provide a rich understory, for the contest itself, we are just counting trees.  Trees have a long lasting positive effect on the environment.             
  
 
 
  • The Connecticut Horticulture Society is offering a program on our theme, "The Buzz on Bees," Thursday, June 20 at 7:30pm at Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Dr., West Hartford.  Visit www.cthort.org or call 860-529-8713.
  • The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's Plant Science Day will be held at Lockwood Farm, Hamden, CT, on August 7, 2013.
  • Also, the study schools of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., are good places to learn about gardens, public and private. Our CT Federation just sponsored two superb schools, Landscape Design Study School and Flower Show School, chaired by Leslie Martino and Jessica Fischer.  
  • The next session of Gardening Study School is scheduled for September 24-26, 2013.  Environmental Studies School is planned for November 6-8, 2013.  Both schools will be held at the Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby.
  • Connecticut is hosting the New England Regional Meeting and Symposium at the stunning Water's Edge Resort in Westbrook, CT, October 14-17.  All garden club members are invited to attend. Brochures and registration forms are posted on our website, at www.ctgardenclubs.org.

 

As we celebrate Garden Week, let's celebrate the accomplishments of our own club members by nominating them for CT Awards.  Contact the website or CT Awards Chairman Janet Spaulding.  Tribute Award nominations in Civic Development, Conservation, Design, Garden Therapy, Horticulture, Landscape Design, Youth, and All-Around Excellence are due to 2nd VP Leslie Martino by August 15.  Because the New England Regional Meeting is in October, the Fall Awards Meeting has been rescheduled for November 20, 2013 at AquaTurf.

Happiest Gardening,

 

* Jacqueline Connell   

 

 

Photo by Inge Venus.   

 

OldLymead

CREATE BACKYARD HABITATS

When I was asked to write an article about backyard habitats for the Connecticut Federation NEWS, I was very excited because backyard habitats are a passion of mine.  

My garden has been an official Backyard Habitat since 2001.  This honor was bestowed upon me by the National Wildlife Federation when I successfully proved to them that my garden had the following:  food, shelter and water to sustain the wildlife. I have happily witnessed skunks and their babies, red foxes, deer, squirrels, birds, frogs and, I'm sure, a lot of night time creatures who I know visit, but I have never seen.

The following link to the National Wildlife Federation will give you lots of information about being certified:
www.nwf.org/how-to-help/garden-for-wildlife/create-a-habitat.aspx. In order to encourage us to create these habitats, there is a Create Backyard Habitats contest open to all club members.  Members can create new habitats or count previously certified ones if they are still maintained.  The three clubs (one small, one medium and one large) with the greatest number of certified backyards at the end of two years, will each win a native tree.  The three winning clubs will be announced at the FGCCT Annual Meeting on April 15, 2015.  There are no reports of evidence needed - just keep a record of the club members who have backyard habitats and submit the list to me by our Annual Meeting in 2015.

Even though it's fun to win a contest, I know you will all derive so much pleasure in creating these habitats.  In future
articles I will write about each component of the habitat at length. If you have any questions or some ideas of what you would like me to address, please let me know.

Here's to a wonderful future in your backyard.

* Anne Harrigan
jonannolly@aol.com

Campobelload

PLANT NATIVE TREES

I have heard from many members about the Native Tree contest, especially for some suggestions about possible trees and where they can be purchased or about identifying a tree they already have. For tree identification, our Connecticut Experiment Station in New Haven is an excellent source or the University of Connecticut, where Donna Ellis is always a great help. If you plan to purchase a native tree, try Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden. I have found the staff at their nursery knows their trees.

If you don't already have a few native trees, I have listed my favorite native trees. My second favorite is the Cercis Canadensis, or Redbud. My favorite is still the Franklinia, about which I wrote last month, and which blooms in late summer/early fall. The Cercis blooms in early spring, so you cover both ends of our growing season. The Redbud comes alive early in the spring with very dark pink buds held close to the slender branches. Slowly the buds open by May and the branches are covered in pink blossoms. An extra feature that adds to its beauty are the small yellow-green leaves at the tip of the branch. As it's a small, delicate tree; it easily fits in any garden. Summer shade is helpful since its native habitat is the edge of the woods.
 
I do suggest if you would like to learn more about trees, Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is a great reference.

Here are a few of my other
favorite trees:

1. Acer saccharam  or Sugar         Maple
2. Carya ovata or Shagbark           Hickory
3. Magnolia virginiana or                Sweet Bay Magnolia (This is a      must!)
4. Liriodendron tulipifera or             Tulip Tree

Cercis
Canadensis

Explore and plant natives. They are so important for our birds, bees and other creatures, and they grow very well and like our soil and weather.

Have Fun.

* Kathrine Neville


Perennial Planters Garden Club of Manchester, CT
invites you to attend our Twelfth Biennial
private garden tour featuring
8 unique gardens
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013
9:30 a.m.--3:30 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE
Advanced Tickets  $17.00, Day of Tour  $20.00
Send check before June 8th to
Perennial Planters Garden Club
134 Timrod Road
Manchester, CT 06040
For more information, please call
Sue at 860-646-2095 days or evenings.

 


LOVE-LY GARDEN AWARD


The deadline for sending an application for the Love-ly Garden Award is JUNE 15. The application and guidelines can be found on the FGCCT website under Awards. Before and after photos would be appreciated and can be sent electronically along with the application or both can be posted. Judging will take place in July. This is a great opportunity to show off your talents and your love of gardening. Remember, you can also nominate a fellow garden club member!

* Mary Sullivan, Chairman
Gardening Consultants Council

EYE ON HORTICULTURE: THE JUNE GARDEN

There's a lot to enjoy in the garden this month. Sometimes I am so focused on what I need to do I forget to just stop and drink it all in! And feel blessed by the blooms and balmy weather.

The scarcity of rain this spring was a reminder of how precious water is to the garden. If you have been watering your lawn, taper down and let your lawn dry out and go dormant over the summer. The rest of the garden continues to need one inch of water each week. Soaker hoses are preferable to overhead sprinklers, but if you do water via sprinklers you can use an empty tuna or cat food can to measure your inch of water.

If you fertilize your lawn, the first application of the year is around Memorial Day. Please don't use a high nitrogen fertilizer (the bag will be labeled with a high first number such as 27-10-10). Most of that nitrogen will end up in your ground water, then move out into Long Island Sound. Grass roots can absorb only so much nitrogen. Choose a balanced fertilizer such as a 5-5-5 or use manure or another organic product.

In spring poison ivy pops up everywhere. Here's a great tip from Janet Wolgast (Westport Garden Club):

"Cover your hand and forearm with two plastic bags. I use the plastic bags that cover the newspapers that are delivered to our home. They are long and narrow and work very well. Then pull out the poison ivy. Carefully pull the tops of the bags down over the poison ivy. Tie a knot in the bag and throw it in the trash."

hort613

You may be tempted to use Roundup for poison ivy and other nasty weeds. Using Roundup in spring is often a waste of money. In spring, plants are growing up and out. Fall is the best time to apply Roundup because it will move down into the roots.

Remember to fertilize your roses. Roses are heavy feeders and will benefit from one cup of a balanced fertilizer. One tablespoon of Epsom salts around the roots will promote basal shoots.

Your shrubs will tell you when to prune them. Plants that bloom on new wood can be cut back in early spring. Plants that bloom on last year's growth can be cut back after they bloom. If you have an overgrown shrub and are not sure when to prune it, prune it right after it blooms.

For those of us whose gardens were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, the New York Botanical Garden has published a list of hardy and salt-tolerant plants: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2013/03/tip-of-the-week/storm-clean-up-101-salt-tolerant-plants/

* Pamela Weil
Horticulture Chair







SAVE THE DATES

GARDENING STUDY SCHOOL, COURSE IV, is planned for
September 24-26, 2013.


 
MERRITT PARKWAY ANGELS

"Historic Landscapes" was our Connecticut Federation's 2011-13 State Project. For the past two years member garden clubs have contributed to "Tributes to Spring," a planting project for the 37-mile-long Merritt Parkway. The Federation's partnership with the Merritt Parkway Conservancy raised $10,000 in support of a national historic treasure and resulted in a successful state project. The final check was presented to Jill Smyth, Executive Director of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, at the Annual Meeting on April 17, 2013.

Begun in 1938 and completed in 1940, the Parkway was originally planted with thousands of mountain laurels and pink and white dogwoods with the financial help of Federated garden clubs in Fairfield County. The Parkway was described as the "most extensive roadside beautification program ever attempted in Connecticut." The contributions from so many of our garden clubs will help replace trees and shrubs lost to disease, pollution, invasive plants, and maintenance issues over the past 70 years.

Heartfelt thanks for the generosity of our clubs and the individuals who contributed to "Tributes to Spring."

Giving Tree Levels

Dogwood - $500
Greenfingers G.C.
Litchfield G.C.
Stamford G.C.

Shadblow- $400
Greens Farms G.C.

Mountain Laurel - $200
Branford G.C.
Green Bay Tree G.C.
Haddam G.C.
Ledyard G.C.
Long Hill G.C.
Lyme G.C.
New Britain G.C.
New Canaan G.C. ($250)
Olde Ripton G.C.

Azalea - $100
Cherry Brook G.C.
Country Gardeners of Glastonbury
Danbury G.C.
Durham G.C.
Fairfield G.C.
Guilford G.C.
Hubbard Heights G.C.
Milford G.C.
Morris Cove G.C.
Garden Club of Orange
Orchard Valley G.C.
Shippan Point G.C.
Southbury G.C.
Town and Country G.C.
Watertown G.C.

Other
Lyme G.C.
Riverside G.C.

Personal/Memorial Donations

Dee Mozzochi
Barbara Romblad
Deborah Ann Shaw
Mr. and Mrs. Levine
Marybeth Marz
Mr. and Mrs. Sawchuk
Mr. and Mrs. Gilloran
Y. Duhamel
S. Micahels
The Shuldman Family
Mr. and Mrs. Snyder
Eleanor Harple
Jane Edwards
Arlene Field
Terry Lubman
Jean Hampe
Greta Sutphen
Cathy Cole
Amalie Montstream

*Ronnie Schoelzel
President, 2011-13


 

donation
President Ronnie Schoelzel is shown presenting the $10,000 check to Jill Smyth, joined by State Projects Chair, Regina Neal, applauding

 

 

bridge 

Merwin's Bridge, one of the unique designs along the Merritt  Parkway.

  





***Return of Silver Awards***

If your Club has won any silver awards at the October 31st Awards Luncheon last year, please make sure you contact Inge Venus, at ihvplanet@cox.net  to arrange to have your silver award returned by August 1st.

JUDGES UPDATE     
Congratulations to Jacqueline Connell, who is now a Master Judge.
Additionally we welcome three new Student Judges.  As you make plans for your next Flower Show, please consider inviting them to judge.
 
Cindy Marien, 75 Peck Hill Rd., Woodbridge CT  06525 
      cstarmien@aol.com 
Cindy Pennell, 2011 Shippan Ave., Stamford CT 06902 
      cindypennell@sbcglobal.net 
Maryellen Unger, 82 Russell Rd., Bethany CT  06524 
      meunger@comcast.net 
 
Please make the above changes to your Judges Roster.

* Janet Ward 
Credentials Chair
 
SEEKING TRIBUTE AWARDS NOMINEES

Is there an outstanding member of your club who deserves special recognition?  Connecticut Tribute Awards may be awarded to FGCCT members who have made notable contributions in the following categories:

  • Civic Development
  • Conservation
  • Design
  • Garden Therapy
  • Horticulture
  • Landscape Design
  • Youth
  • All-around Excellence

Any member of a Federated Garden Club is eligible.  Recommendation letters should include the reason for the nomination and details of the nominee's activities. Awards will be presented to the recipients at the November 20 Awards Luncheon.  Deadline for submission is August 15, 2013.  Please submit all recommendations by email to Leslie Martino, Second Vice-President and Membership Chair or send to 70 Penny Lane, Woodbridge, CT 06525.
 
~
NER Symposium 2013
~
Join gardening and floral enthusiasts from New England and across the country at a jam-packed Symposium in beautiful shoreline Connecticut, October 15-17, 2013.  All garden club members are invited to participate in the Symposium at beautiful Water's Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook.   Click here for details and a registration form.  

Learn about the newest floral designs from around the world, as presented by Barbara May, award winning designer, and past NGC President,

1.    Go Green with Dorthy Yard as she showcases popular container ferns and needled evergreens - staples in New England.
2.    Find out how to tackle the pesky invasive plants from Donna Ellis, Connecticut's own leader in the battle to protect our native plants.
3. Our venue, Water's Edge Resort and Spa overlooks
        Long Island Sound.
4.    You can walk to the beach. Enjoy beautifully landscaped grounds.
5.    Enjoy easy access to two premium outlet malls, historic colonial towns, antique shops, garden centers and much more.
6.    Take a virtual tour at For more information, contact Trish Manfredi, or 860-657-8157 or 1044 Main Street, South Glastonbury, CT 06073

Thanks.

* Trish Manfredi
Symposium Chair
 
UPDATE:
Changes to the Directory of Garden Clubs since September 2012  
1/13 East Haddam Garden Club - new president - Bonnie Zwernemann, 322 Town St. P.O.Box 513 East Haddam, 06423 - (860) 873-9170 pastaz1@aol.com
 
1/13 New Hartford Garden Club - new president- Mary Lou Rayno, 540 Town Hill New Hartford, 06057 -  (860) 379-4612 mlrayno12@sbcglobal.net

2/13 Middletown Garden Club - new president - Kathie Green, 140 Cherry Hill Rd, Middlefield,06457 (860) 349-9521 kathiegreen@snet.net

2/13 Haddam Garden Club - new president - Diane Clowes, 373 Saybrook Rd, Higganum 06441 (860) 345-4570 - dianeclowes@sbcglobal.net

2/13  Bradley Point GC - new president - Anne Heffernan, 271 Kelsey Ave. West Haven, 06516 (203) 937-9025

3/19/2013 Arbor Garden Club - new president - Elinor D. Giovine, 6 Ninety Rod Rd., Clinton 06413 - (860) 669-9721 giovine@att.net

4/3/2013 New Canaan Garden Club - new president - Caroline Garrity, 4 Hampton Lane, New Canaan 06840 - (203) 966-1486 garrity5@optonline.net
 
 
* Barbara Romblad
FGCCT Secretary




CALENDAR GUIDELINES
  •  Space in the Calendar listings is reserved for FGCCT member clubs and affiliates only.
  •  Submit on the 10th of the month before the issue date.
  •  Include in this order: Date of event, club name, presenter's name, title of program, location, guest fee (if any), contact info (if any), and time of event.
  •  Please do not send press releases.
  •  Send to calendarcf@yahoo.com.



_________________________________________

 

URGENT WARNING

ALL FGCCT CLUBS MUST FILE WITH THE IRS!!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CLUB PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS

 

To maintain your garden club's Tax Exemption status, your club MUST file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) EVERY YEAR. You must file a form 990, 990-EZ, or 990N (the e-postcard).

 

Clubs that fail to file an annual 990-series return or notice, for three consecutive years, will AUTOMATICALLY lose their tax-exempt status.

 

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

or Go To

www.irs.gov, then click link for "Charities & Non-Profits."

_________________________________________ 

 

CFNews
 

JULY 10:

Deadline for AUGUST 2013 ISSUE 

 

Email Articles and Photos to    

                                 cfeditor@optonline.net

Email Advertising to

 

di@abshire.net

 

Email Calendar Items to

                                 calendarcf@yahoo.com 

                                     

FGCCT Web Site:

                                        www.ctgardenclubs.org

 


 

CT Federation NEWS

Published monthly except January/July

 

Direct Articles/Dates/Events to:   Lynn Hyson, Editor    

49 Seventy Acre Rd., Redding, CT  06896     203-431-0613

 

Direct Advertising Queries to: Diana Abshire, Advertising Manager

26 Diamond Hill Rd., Redding, CT  06896    203-938-1114

 

Direct Circulation Queries to:  OFFICE SECRETARY, FGCCT

P.O. Box 854, Branford, CT  06405     203-488-5528

  

 

Our Mission Statement 

To coordinate, stimulate and encourage higher standards in all aspects of Garden Club work

 

To protect and conserve our natural resources, preserve our heritage and promote civic beauty.   Federation logo

 

6,817 Members

 

146 Clubs

 

15 Affiliates 

Mt Laurel