December 2019 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear Members,
'Tis that very busy season of the year and NCBL is part of this holiday spirit. So please help us adorn our town by participating at our Annual Greens Workshop on Wednesday, December 4 at the Nature Center greenhouse. As always there will be treats and camaraderie galore. If you can't make the earlier hours there is still help needed in the afternoon at Town Hall for dressing up the Town Hall planters. Just show up, no reservations required. Ty Tan and Jill Ernst can answer any questions you may have about the event.
The Stuffing Party at Lapham Center was a huge success thanks to Amy Weber Reid and Patricia Spugani's organizing skills and the assistance of their committee, Eva Wingate and Dody Whitehurst. This is just the first part of our 2020 Annual Appeal with more to come.
Thank you to Robin Bates-Mason for her diligence and perseverance in getting the great press coverage of the Gold Star Walk at Mead Park. Faith Kerchoff mustered the troops and we had a good turnout for the event and viewing of the transformation, which is still a work in progress.
Our membership team, Sara Hunt, Rose Bauersfeld, Libby Butterworth, and Margit Mills, continue to attract new members. They have organized lunches after our monthly meetings with both new and long-time members. These lunches have been a great way to make all feel welcome. Join in when you can.
From both of us to each of you and yours, thanks for all your considerable ongoing efforts and do have a festive holiday season!
Barbara and Karen
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Wednesday
December 4, 2019
Nature Center Greenhouse
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
After making the wreaths, we'll be transforming planters at Town Hall and other town buildings.
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Come and join us on Wednesday, December 4, at 8:30 am - 1:00 pm at the New Canaan Nature Center Greenhouse
to make the wreaths that decorate many of our public buildings in town. We will be working in partnership with the Garden Club, an annual tradition and great opportunity to mingle with our friends in New Canaan's other garden group. No experience is necessary as we will show you what to do. It involves attaching fresh cut greenery to wooden frames with staples.
Bring hand pruners (if you have them), and gloves. There is no reason to call in advance. You can just show up!
After the workshop:
After the workshop, teams of NCBL volunteers will head out to the Town Hall, and other town buildings to work on filling planters with greens. If you can make this later activity, please join us!
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Are you pruning or trimming your evergreens this year? If so, bring your branches to the Nature Center to be used to create the wreaths that will decorate our town! Starting November 15 through the morning of December 4, they can be brought to the front of the Nature Center greenhouse behind the potting shed.
Please NO boxwood.
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January Program: The Art of Floral Design
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Wednesday
January 8, 2020
New Canaan Nature Center
coffee: 9:30 am
program: 10:00 am
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Come to our January program where Karen Legan, founder and owner of the innovative Wilton floral design firm, Lemon Dahlia, presents the world of floral design and how she creates her natural arrangements for everything from a simple wildflower bouquet to an outdoor bridal swing or floral wreath.
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Karen was trained at the prestigious Flower School New York and now works out of her own floral studio in Wilton. She cuts from her own gardens and buys from the best growers in the world to bring the beauty of nature to her clients.
To read more about Karen and her company, Lemon Dahlia, click on her company logo:
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Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who helped by donating an amazing assortment of goodies for the November screening of
Beatrix Farrand's American Landscapes. Judging from the large crowd in attendance, it was a huge success!
The Hospitality Committee will again be looking for volunteers to help provide refreshments for our January 8 meeting taking place at the Nature Center -
The Art of Floral Design. If you plan to attend and are interested in providing a sweet or savory food item, please contact
Anne Tropeano at
annietrop@yahoo.com
or 203-536-0349.
Thank you from the Hospitality Committee.
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Save the Date : Mid-Winter Tea & Luncheon : 2/5/2020
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Back by popular demand: The Heritage Table
(members' table settings and histories for viewing)
More information coming soon.
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Did you know NCBL now has an Instagram account? Follow us by clicking on the icon below or find us on Instagram by searching for our account @ncbeautificationleague.
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A Hanging Basket Ornament for Your Holidays
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NCBL is being celebrated this year as one of the NC Museum and Historical Society holiday ornaments. A hanging basket in an iconic setting with the Elm Street clock, lamp post, and American flag was hand painted by volunteers, many of whom are NCBL members.
You can reserve an ornament by calling the NC Museum and Historical Society or buying one at the Holiday Stroll, Newcomers House Tour, Lapham Center Craft Sale, or Walter Stewart's Market.
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Thank you to the following volunteers who have offered to make the Waveny Dining Room arrangements in December:
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December 2: (refresh) Liz Orteig
December 9: Jill Ernst and Diane Johnson
December 16: Jessica Havens and Betsy Sammarco
December 23: Eniko Szatai
December 30: Betsy Sammarco
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The next time NCBL will be arranging flowers for Waveny will be in June 2020! Look for our call for volunteers in the spring.
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Removed, Recycled, and Reused
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Efforts to recycle tulips from our Town Hall planters have proven successful in years past. This year, the stunning bi-colored tulips from the large Town Hall planters were removed and replanted at the train station in early November. Look for their appearance this coming spring!
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Kathy Lapolla, Yvonne Hunkeler, Rob Carpenter, and Faith Kerchoff replanted the Town Hall tulips at the train station.
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Thank you to everyone who helped to plant bulbs at the post office drop off and slope area, and train station in November. Descriptions of the bulbs added to the post office drop off and slope area, in order of bloom time include:
March:
Eranthis
/ winter aconite - yellow
March/April:
Chionodoxa
/ glory-of-the-snow - lavender with yellow eye
Late April:
Erythronium
/ large trout lily / Pagoda trout lily - yellow
May:
Leucojum aestivum
/ summer snowflake - white
May:
Allium aflatunense
/ 'Purple Sensation' allium - purple
Late May:
Iris cristada
/ dwarf crested iris - pale blue
June:
Allium moly
/ yellow garlic - yellow
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2500 daffodils planted at South Avenue / Farm Road corner
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Planting 2500 daffodil bulbs at the South Avenue / Farm Road corner were Rob Carpenter, Jill Ernst, Yvonne Hunkeler, Faith Kerchoff, and Kathy Lapolla. The bulbs are a Colorblends collection called 'Spring Loaded'; a mix of 15 proven varieties in a full spectrum of colors and bloom times. The planting team also mixed in
Narcissus poeticus var.
recurvus (pheasant's eye); a late blooming narcissus with white petals and a small yellow cup ringed in red.
We have so much to look forward to in spring!
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Rob Carpenter uses an auger to make holes for the narcissus bulbs at the South Avenue / Farm Road corner.
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Gold Star Walk Dedication
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On November 5, the Gold Star Walk at Mead Park was rededicated. Kevin Moynihan spoke at the event and thanked Jim Bach, the town DPW, and NCBL for the work done to revitalize the Gold Star Walk area. The thirty eight trees comprising the Gold Star Walk represent the 38 people who died in WWII from New Canaan.
NCBL funded the purchase of sixteen new trees to replace those that were in poor shape. The trees selected were mostly flowering trees, for a glorious show in the spring, and consist of magnolia, crabapple, dogwood, shadblow, and sugar maple.
Mose Saccary and his crew from DPW started the project by clearing the overgrown areas of the park. The research, drawings, and plant list were done by Keith Simpson and Associates.
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All those in the above photo played in Mead Park as children and were present at the rededication: (left to right) Faith, Kerchoff, Steve Benko, Mose Saccary, Jim Bach, and Jimmy Peck. Still playing at the park is Thayer Kerchoff in front.
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You can read more about the history of the Gold Star Walk and NCBL's contribution by clicking on the button:
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Trees Replaced on Main and Cherry Streets
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NCBL funded the replacement of trees along Morse Court. NCBL member and landscape architect Barbara Wilson, designed and planned the new plantings which include red maples, cherry, and scholar trees. Scholar trees produce clusters of creamy white flowers with a mild fragrance. You can read more about the scholar tree
HERE.
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The DPW crew got busy in November replanting the trees along Morse Court.
photo: Yvonne Hukeler
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The result is a beautiful new tree lined area that will leaf out and bloom this spring and summer.
photos: Peter Hanson
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Annual Appeal Stuffing Party Thank You!
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Thank You, NCBL Members
for a super successful Stuffing Party!
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Over 40 members came out on a bitter cold day to stuff 7,000 envelopes for our 2020 Annual Appeal that will be sent early next year! We finished in record time, and everyone enjoyed good food, warm conversation and fun door prizes. Many thanks to the new members for joining us in this important task, and many thanks to existing members for making them feel so welcome.
Congratulations to this year's door prize winners: Libby Butterworth, Georgene Frantz, Kirsten Gregorio, Robin Miner, Fanny Moran, Bianca Romano, Sandy Siegel, Nell Smith, and Eniko Szatai.
We look forward to having similar enthusiastic participation from all members when we address the envelopes in January. Please stay tuned for more information after the holidays.
Warm regards,
Patricia, Amy, Dody, and Eva
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November Program Report and Photos
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About 165 people (nearly a full house) attended the viewing of the documentary, "Beatrix Farrand's American Landscapes".
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The narrator of the film, Lynden Miller, told of Beatrix's long, exciting, and complicated life. As the first American female landscape architect, Beatrix was a pioneer, and needed to prove herself in the industry over and over again. Miller would also reflect back to her own career and make note of how Beatrix influenced her own life.
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Beatrix was an outspoken advocate for open space and was one of the first to extol the use of native plants.
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Did you miss our movie event? There is still a chance to see the documentary locally at the Bartlett Arboretum. They will be showing the movie on Thursday January 30. The viewing is free, but seats are limited and registration is necessary:
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Visit the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association website for more information and how to help preserve or volunteer at the garden:
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Hospitality table starts the morning off right!
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Many thanks to our hospitality crew shown above, Cindy Bamatter, Anne Tropeano, and Robin Miner, for organizing a wonderful selection of morning treats and coffee for everyone.
A big thank you to Jacqueline Harmody for once again supplying us with a gorgeous centerpiece for the table.
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You can see all our photos from the November program by clicking the button:
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New Canaan Note Cards for the Holidays
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Here's a great holiday gift idea for friends, hostesses, and families!
Give a gift with a local touch. There are two sets of note cards available: one is a set of scenic photos from New Canaan, and the other is a set of flowers photographed in New Canaan. The wonderful photos were taken by NCBL members that include Peter Hanson, Yvonne Hunkeler, Karen Mactas, Betsy Sammarco, and Carol Seldin.
Marked down from $12.50 to
only $10.00 per pack of 6 cards! (sale price good through 12/31/2019).
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Decorated Christmas Tree for Sale
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NCBL has a four foot, fully and beautifully decorated tree, with lights. The base is a planter/urn. All the trimmings are gold in color. Asking $75. Contact Faith Kerchoff at:
faithkerchoff@hotmail.com
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NCBL has a wreath for auction at the 'Deck the Walls!' sale at the Carriage Barn. The wreath is called
Into The Woods and was designed by Faith Kerchoff. The event kicks off with a reception on December 5, 6:30 - 8:30pm.
The show runs December 1-14.
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This month, we are providing links to the following essays by Joan:
We are building her collection each month, and you can access Joan's essays by clicking the following button:
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Carriage Barn's Annual Fundraiser
Thursday December 5, 2020
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Holiday Party, Shopping & Wreath Sale
December 1 - 14
Exhibit and Sale of Small Works and Bid & Buy One-Of-A-Kind Wreaths
Click icon for more information.
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The Connecticut Flower & Garden Show
Feb 20-23, 2020
CT Convention Center
Hartford, CT
click icon for more information
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Our NCBL Newsletter is used to distribute information regarding NCBL activities and announcements that pertain directly to our stated mission. The newsletter shall not be used for political issues, or for the promotion of merchandise or services unless such merchandise or services are part of a joint venture with NCBL.
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New Canaan Beautification League
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