CT Federation NEWS - CORRECTED MARCH ISSUE

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MARCH 10

is the deadline for the APRIL 2013 issue.

Greetings!

CORRECTED MARCH ISSUE

We are sending you a corrected version of the March issue of

CFNews after discovering that the link to the form for the NGC President's Project did not work. Now if you click on that link, you will go directly to an interactive form that you can fill out online. Thank you for your patience.

As spring approaches, the pace picks up at The Federation, with news on many fronts. Our Annual Meeting is right around the corner in April; read below for details and a link to the registration form. If you missed the CT Flower Show, we have wonderful photos here. Looking for a gratifying way to get involved? The NGC President's Project and Garden Therapy are opportunities to do some good while having fun.

We are pleased to note that more of you are reading the CFNews. In case you're new to our digital publication, be aware that everything in brick-colored print is a direct link to an article, a web page or an email address. Feel free to click directly on the items that interest you.

Sincerely,

Lynn Hyson, Editor

President's Message President Ronnie Schoelzel

Greetings Gardeners,

"Sometime after mid-March, one or more of the following significant events occur; Canada geese fly over, headed north; cold frames are left open all night; a snowdrop bayonet drops its head and opens; redwings, cowbirds, robins, starlings, grackles arrive; grosbeaks, juncos, red squirrels leave; a warm rain thaws the ground; the first windless 70o day since fall arrives; turkeys scratch the parking lot looking for leftover sunflower seed; raccoons quarrel after dark; chipmunks scrabble in the leaves looking for maple seed; hawks circle high overhead looking for food; the first seedlings sprout; the grass greens."
Geoffrey B. Charlesworth, A Gardener Obsessed, 1994.

The first day of spring occurs on March 20. The season of rebirth everyone has waited for during this long, snowy winter! Not only do robins arrive and juncos leave, but it's time to plant tomato, pepper, and other seeds you've ordered from tantalizing catalogs. Daylight Saving Time begins March 10. Daylight hours lengthen, and plants indoors and outdoors begin to respond to the longer days and warming temperatures. It's also time to increase watering and begin fertilizing houseplants again.

It is time again for clubs to plan their civic projects and flower shows. Club presidents were contacted by email in January about yearly report forms on the FGCCT website. The deadline for these reports is April 1, 2013. You can access the website on www.ctgardenclubs.org and then go to the Club Login section. The state Awards Committee determines awards in various categories from these reports, so if you have not electronically or snail-mailed them, please do so now!

Shirley Nicolai, NGC President, has promoted several projects during her 2011-13 term. If you think your club qualifies for any of the following projects--Plantings for Public and Special Places--check out the NGC website, www.gardenclub.org. You can find an application online - deadline April 1. (See related article below.)

The annual state flower show, "Love in Bloom," was a lovely visual tribute to spring weddings, capturing all the facets of bridal planning from ceremony to honeymoon. HUGE thanks go to all the designers, exhibitors, and workers for making the show a wonderful success. Everyone can take a deep breath before plans begin on the 2014 show!

Looking forward.....the Annual Meeting will be held April 17 at the Aqua Turf Club. (Click here for the registration form.) This is an installation year when Jacqueline Connell will take up the gavel, Jane Waugh will move up to First Vice President, and Leslie Martino will be installed as Second Vice President. The CT Federation will be in the competent hands of these ladies while I retire to Advisory position on the Board of Directors.... Julie Lapham from Southborough, MA, will be the design speaker at the meeting. A gifted arranger, Julie's creative designs are featured in The Fine Art of Flower Arranging, a Garden Club of America book (2002) as well as in Flower Arranging, The American Way, a WAFA (World Association of Flower Arranging) book, 2011.... Jill Smyth, Executive Director of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, will be our special guest at the meeting. The Federation has partnered with the MPC for the past two years on their project, "Tributes to Spring" and my President's Project, "Historic Landscapes." Clubs have donated over $7000 to this worthy project.

Upcoming Calendar Dates

March 26 - 28, 2013 - Landscape Design Study School,
Course III - Kellogg Environmental Center,
Derby, CT
April 3-5 - Flower Show School, Course IV, Derby, CT
April 17 - Annual Meeting, Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, CT

I look forward to seeing you at Landscape Design Study School, Flower Show School, or the Annual Meeting.

Garden on!

FGCCT 2013 Annual Meeting

We are excited to have award-winning floral designer,

Julie Lapham,

as our guest speaker at the

84th Annual Meeting.

Julie is a member of the Southborough Gardeners and the Worcester Garden Club of Massachusetts. She is an NGC Accredited Master Judge and GCA Approved Judge for Floral Design. Julie has exhibited throughout New England and beyond including several international shows. She was chosen to be one of the six American designers to demonstrate at the 2011 WAFA USA in Boston. She also has exhibited at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts "Art in Bloom" and is now serving at the museum as a Senior Associate.

You won't want to miss Julie's design program titled "Swing into Spring"! (Click here to access the registration form.)

* Maria Capella
Program Chair

LOVE IN BLOOM
The 2013 CT Flower Show

Above, the ribbon cutting with North East Expos Director Kristie Gonsalves; Golden Wedding Anniversary Couple Duane and Alice Luster; FGCCT President Ronnie Schoelzel; and CT Flower Show Chairman Becky Paul.

Justice of the Peace Bob DiBella officiating at the ceremony of Duane and Alice Luster renewing their vows after 50 years.

Photos by Inge Venus. For viewing the photo collages prepared by Website Chair Inge Venus of the Design and Horticulture exhibits at the show, click here.

Flower Show School

Flower Show School Course IV is being offered April 3-5, 2013, at the Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby. Julia Clevett is our design instructor. She is a wonderful, nationally known instructor. Johnna-Claire Metz, NGC Master Flower Show Judge, will instruct Horticulture classes.

The Flower Show School committee wants to help you finish the Flower Show School sequence. Since this year it is Course IV, we are offering two scholarships to students who have successfully completed two ( 2) FSS courses. The scholarship winners will be chosen from a random drawing.

The FSS brochure is now posted on our website at www.ctgardenclubs.org . Click on Education Programs. Please take a few minutes to review the course description.

* Jessica Fischer,

Flower Show School Chair

EYE ON HORTICULTURE: THE MARCH GARDEN

I thought I would start my article with a few things I keep in mind when gardening: this little saying was written by Celia Thaxter, a poet and gardener in the mid 1800's.

"He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally considered a fortunate person, but his good fortune is small compared to that of the happy mortal who enters this world with a passion for flowers in his soul."

This is a month of change and weather that can go from 50 degrees to below zero--with high winds of course, as icing on the cake. There is very little to do outside, but make sure our birds have water and if possible an area of fine soil where they can clean their feathers.

We do have some wonderful small bulbs like the crocus, or snowbells. When things begin to wake up, I begin carefully walking on my garden paths, every day. Remember, do not walk on the soil until it is fully defrosted and workable.

You might want to try (in the spring) planting Hamamelis virginiana, our native Witch Hazel, which is still harvested in the CT woodland for Witch Hazel which is sold over the counter. I have a burgundy one which has been blooming off and on since December. What a pleasure and great spicy scent!

Another winter bloomer is the Hellebore, which is not native, but blooms in my garden from January to March. With Hellebores, it's essential to cut off the dead leaves. By the way, they are deer proof as their leaves are poisonous.

With the amount of strong winds, be aware of broken branches. Prune the branches; do not leave them torn. If you need work on the trees and bushes, this is a great time to do it. It is also less stressful for the plant.

House plants are one of my favorite winter sports. I bring Geraniums from my summer planters and start new ones from the clippings--I now have flowering Thyme as well as the clean Aronia in the house. Paper White Narcissi--this wonderful bulb is happy in water to bloom. It just takes 21 days to open once it's placed in a container (or a glass) with a few stones on the bottom to set the bulb roots. Get creative; add colorful glass or small stones from the beach. The Paper Whites do not have the strong odor. It's been bred out of the forcing variety.

This is a good time to carefully walk the garden and cut back any dead foliage to help prevent mold and mildew. Prune the Buddleia, and the Lavender, which should be pruned to 12 inches.

This is a wonderful month to plan the spring and summer garden--all those wonderful catalogs with great pictures give me the incentive to try new varieties.

Keep in mind to "plant natives." Why? They like our soil, our weather, and our birds like them. Try a low-bush blueberry bush or two and you will see a party when the berries are ripe. I basically grow for the birds as I don't want to net the bushes or bring in a falcon to guard them. Last summer I had a selfish Mocking bird who guarded his blueberries and did not share and wouldn't listen to me when I would remind him of his manners.

Remember these concepts when gardening: Sanitation; Meditation; Change; Mulch; Relax; and Read.

ENJOY.

* Kathrine Neville

Horticulture Chair

Landscape Design Study School

It's registration time! We will be offering Course III, Series 9, on March 26-28, 2013 at the Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby. Remember, you don't have to take the four courses in order. So, enhance your knowledge of landscape design and join us for our discussions of the following topics:

Color in the Landscape:

Landscape Design for Maintenance;

Development of Landscape Architecture

from 1840-1940;

Parks, Playgrounds, and Conservation Areas;

Landscape Design Accessories;

Design on the Land;

Introduction to Urban Design;

Graphics Interpretation; and

Guidelines for Evaluating Landscape Design.

Students are urged to take the optional exam offered on the morning of the third day to get the most value from this study. Examination questions are primarily based on the required reading. Garden club members obtain a Landscape Design Consultant Certificate by attendance at all four courses and scoring grades of 70 or better on the examinations. The four courses must be completed in not less than two years and not more than seven years. Garden Club members are invited to join the Landscape Design Council as an Associate Member, upon successful completion of two courses. The Council is a group that meets regularly for additional programs related to the field of landscape design and to visit and evaluate public and private gardens.

More detailed information is available www.ctgardenclubs.org and on the registration form. Any questions, email Leslie Martino or phone (203)389-4434.

* Leslie Martino

Landscape Design Study School Chair

Garden Therapy Program Brings Joy and Satisfaction
to Participating Garden Club Members

I am so pleased to announce that my own garden club has begun a garden therapy program in 2012. In truth I personally didn't know much about this until I became The Federated Garden Clubs' chairman for this particular program. It has given our participating club members, myself included, such a sense of joy and satisfaction. The goal of garden therapy is to improve the physical and mental health of individuals. I think that applies not only to the clients that we visit but to ourselves as well.

Sandra Sears, NER Garden Therapy Chairman, has listed the dynamics of volunteering:

   l. At the heart of nearly every successful garden therapy program is a strong core of capable volunteers.
   2. Time and resources are critical in helping to build effective programs having limited budgets.
   3. Motivation encourages people to participate.
   4. Love provides the glue that brings people together to provide good programs.
   5. Energy comes from helping other people: It helps the volunteers as much as the people they are helping.

To begin our program, the Kensington Garden Club contacted a local convalescent hospital to see if we could establish a monthly meeting for approximately one hour to focus on birds, flowers and other living plants. The convalescent home determined the physical and mental limitations of the clients who were going to participate, and the club designed a program that would be suited to each individual's needs. We try to make projects that allow the participants to do most of the work, and we are there to assist as needed, offer praise, foster pride and satisfaction.

In truth, it's more difficult than it sounds. We want to interject our own likes/dislikes and turn every project into a phenomenal creation. But the patients have a different viewpoint--they have their own preferences about flowers, containers or the decorative additions signifying our theme for the month. Sometimes, it truly helps to sit on our own hands! However, the smiles, interactive conversation and companionship help to ease our own anxiety and urge us to return the following month.

If you are thinking of starting a garden therapy program in your club and would like some assistance, I would be glad to help you get started. I can speak to the entire club membership or a select committee that you have already established. Please do not hesitate to contact me either by my email or my cell phone (#203-592-9980). I would be honored to be included in establishing another chapter of our garden therapy.

* Dottie Fox
Garden Therapy/World Gardening Chairman

Civic Development

Dear members,

I'd like to introduce myself as the new Civic Development Chairman. Normally my term would begin with the new president's term, but the former chairman, Jane Edwards, moved out of state at the end of 2012. We wish Jane well in her new home.

Jane left me very organized to determine the many Civic Development Awards available to our clubs and members. Now all I need is YOU to turn in a three-page Award application on that wonderful project you or your club planned and executed between June 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013. Yes, there is still time to do a project this spring!

The deadline for entries is June 15, 2013, but don't delay. March is the perfect time to work on an Award application before more pressing garden tasks take your time in the spring. My contact information is: Maureen Carson, 1335 Shippan Ave., Stamford, CT 06902, phone 203-324-2224/fax 203-324-2229, or email me. I hope to hear from you soon!

* Maureen Carson
Civic Development Chairman

NGC President's Project

A REMINDER
Please encourage all garden clubs to participate in the 2012-2013 NGC's President's Project:

Plantings for Public and Special Places
Monetary Awards will be presented to winners.

This project aligns with many of our current garden club projects: Garden Edibles; Trees and Shrubs; and Container Gardens. All relate to many community activities, and the participating garden clubs will be recognized with a certificate of appreciation. For the winners, monetary awards will be presented.

   $300 for First Place,
   $150 for Second Place,
   and $100 for Third Place...
   in ALL three categories of interest!

Clubs are encouraged to send their applications directly to the NGC Chairman for each category shown below.No need to wait until the April 1 deadline. Apply directly to the specific chairmen online.

Container Gardens

Chairman: Susan Robinson

Gardens with Edibles

Chairman: Patricia Rupiper

Trees and Shrubs

Chairman: Lissa Williamson

All information and the application may be found on the NGC website, www.gardenclub.org. For specific information regarding the three categories, click on

http://www.gardenclub.org/media/3037/Plantintprojectoverview.pdf

Don't wait until April 1!

* Ronnie Schoelzel
President

In Memoriam

Marica Dance,

a former Federation Board member from 2003-2009

and President of the Southbury Garden Club

from 1991 to 2001,

passed away in Florida in early February.

Memorial services were held on February 19th

in Norwalk.

We extend our condolences to the family.

* Ronnie Schoelzel,
President

Update: World Gardening

Margaret Pulito, President of the West Hartford Garden Club, notified us that their club had made a direct donation to the world gardening program at the National Garden Clubs, Inc., last year. This was such a wonderful surprise for which the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., is very grateful. The West Hartford Garden Club will certainly be added to our list of generous donors for 2012.

* Dottie Fox

World Gardening Chairman

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

MARCH 10:

Deadline for APRIL 2013 ISSUE

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cfeditor@optonline.net

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