December, 2022 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear Members and Friends,
The New Canaan Garden Club and NCBL joined forces once again to make wreaths and gnomes to decorate our town. Many thanks to the Murphys and the O'Sheas for their organization; the Nature Center for the use of the green house on a damp day; the town for delivering greens, putting up the wreaths and delivering the gnomes; the hospitality committee for the delicious coffee and donuts and the many members of both groups for their time and talent.
Doug Tallamy is the January (on Zoom) speaker and will address the countless benefits of oak trees. The program is open to members and non-members alike and the link to register is below.
May you all enjoy the holidays in good health and cheer!
Warmly,
Robin Bates-Mason & Jill Ernst
co-Presidents
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Register for our January Program |
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The Nature of Oaks
with Doug Tallamy
January 4, 2023
9:30- 11:00 am on Zoom
This program will be a Zoom webinar. To register for the webinar, click the button below:
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After registering, you will receive an email with instructions on how to attend the webinar. Reminder emails will also be sent. |
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This event is open to all. Invite friends by directing them to the registration on our NCBL website homepage.
Books available at Elm Street Books
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Oak trees support more species of animals, sequester more carbon, protect our watersheds, and nourish soil communities better than any other plant genus in North America. Scary headlines about the decline of the natural world that serves as our life support have spurred homeowners across the country to take action by planting natives that will help reverse this trend. No plant will achieve this faster than one of our 91 species of oaks.
Dr. Tallamy will discuss these roles by following the many fascinating things that are happening on the oaks in his yard each month of the year. His hope is to supply knowledge about oaks that will generate interest in them, and, with any luck, compassion for these magnificent trees.
Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 106 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014; Nature's Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, was released in February 2020, and his latest book The Nature of Oaks was released by Timber press in March 2021. In 2021 he cofounded Homegrown National Park (see button below) with Michelle Alfandari. His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, The Garden Club of America and The American Horticultural Association.
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February Program: Save the Date |
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Gardens For All
with Irene Barber
Wednesday
February 1, 2023
9:30 - 11:00 am on Zoom
Details for registration will found in the January newsletter.
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Irene Barber, Adult Education & Horticultural Therapy Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay will present a visual explanation of what “Gardens for All” means through the lens of working at the universally accessible Lerner Garden of the Five Senses within CMBG.
Garden professionals around the world have been breaking down physical barriers and expanding the opportunities to create adaptive, ergonomic and therapeutic garden features, tools and design to make gardening available to everyone, no matter their ability, financial status or cultural background.
Pursuing her passion for connecting people to plants, Irene Barber completed degrees in human behavior and then plant and soil sciences, She began designing landscapes professionally in 2007, and continues to consult and design for clients through her business, Greenscapes Design LLC. A lifetime student, Irene appreciates learning every day from people, nature and the new discoveries social and environmental studies unveil.
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There are a few corrections to our directory Officers & Directors pages. Click on the button below to download these corrections that can be printed and replaced into your directory. |
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A good crowd turned out for donuts, coffee and fun as the NC Garden Club and NCBL members continued the tradition of creating wreaths for town buildings, and gnomes for Waveny Care, the Nature Center, the EMS building, the NC I nn and Town Hall. It was, once again, a Hallmark movie come to life! Many thanks to co-chairs Kathleen and Peter Murphy, and Barbara O'Shea and Bob Strong for making this happy event happen!
left: Anne Tropeano and Robin Miner hold up a large wreath that will adorn the Police Station.
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Laura Ault, Lisa Ferrante, and Faith Kerchoff introduce New Canaan's latest citizen. |
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Susan Bergen puts the staple gun to work. |
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Cindy Bamatter, Yvonne Hunkeler, Faith Kerchoff, and Eniko Szatai start on a gnome. |
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Peter and Kathleen Murphy |
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Co-chairs Kathleen Murphy and Barbara O'Shea |
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We have a lot of photos from this wonderful event and you can view them all by clicking this button: |
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A bit of holiday wreath history: |
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New Canaan Advertiser, 1985 |
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In our well attended November program, Terrance Rhodes demonstrated how to make seasonal arrangements. His techniques were simple and easily followed by the attendees. Thank you Terrance, NCBL Hospitality, NCBL Program Chair Janet Fonss, the Hunts and everyone who helped to make this such a nice evening! |
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A Thanksgiving arrangement for the front door |
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A Christmas feast for the eyes |
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More than 80 people enjoyed our evening program. |
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We are looking for someone who would like to head up a committee (or act solo) and put together day trips for NCBL members to public or private (but not member) gardens. The volunteer would need to identify gardens to visit, coordinate with said gardens, organize transportation (probably carpools) and put out an email to interested NCBL members about the opportunities.
If this is of interest to you, please contact Fanny Moran.
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Elizabeth Park, West Hartford |
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Claude's triangle (left) at West and Oenoke is all tucked in for the winter. Is yours?
The town will not pick up leaves placed on the roadside after November 27. If you clean up your triangle following that date, please take the debris with you - or if there are woods nearby, put the debris into the woods.
Also, with the exception of NCBL, signs of any kind are not permitted in triangles. Feel free to remove them from the triangle you care for.
Thank you.
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NCBL's Traveling Trowels care for:
The Gold Star Walk and Plaza at Mead Park on Richmond Hill Road
The mail box drop-off at the corner of Pine and Park Streets
Town Hall's pots and the garden running atop the wall along the driveway
The railroad station
Members pitch in for an hour or so when garden help is needed.
If you'd like to be part of the group, meet more members and learn a lot about the plants we grow and the history of the town while you're doing it, please email Faith at:
faithkerchoff@hotmail.com
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Thanks to this group for planting bulbs! Bright red tulips, blue grape hyacinths and white Leucojum were added to the Gold Star bridge area while at the plaza we added assorted tulips and Tete-a-tete daffodils. It was a gorgeous day!
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Claire Perkins, Lois Himes, Stephanie Hutter |
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Fatih Kerchoff, Madalene Laudani,
Angie Materna, Eniko Szatai, Pam Yee
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The talented crew of Kathy Kwiatkowski, Yvonne Hunkeler, Kathy Lapolla, and Faith Kerchoff planted the Town Hall planters. This year, the planters are adorned with a bird house and birds! |
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It is now LEAF-SWATTING season at Lee Garden. |
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What is leaf-swatting and why do we do it?
As falling leaves, and clusters of leaves, fall onto the azaleas & rhodedendron,
they get stuck in the "Y's" of the branches, and other leaves build up on them.
Heavy snow will build up on these leaf platforms, breaking the branches and snapping off next year's buds.
All you need to do is put on gloves, remove leaves from the branch intersections, and if you can't reach one, use a stick.
The garden will thank you - as will we!
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The New Canaan Library has Tree Identity Kits to borrow. Inside each kit is the Peterson Eastern Trees field guide, a tangent gauge, measuring tape, clip board and notes on the New Canaan Champion Tree Project - to record the size of of our trees.
If you or a family member are a budding tree lover, this could be a good project!
We would love to have our trees at Lee Garden measured and documented!.
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Just in time for the holidays!
A package of 6 note cards printed from
paintings of Lee Garden.
This stationary set makes a perfect hostess or bridge gift, and stocking stuffer.
3 of each style with envelopes.
$12 payable to NCBL and sent to Faith Kerchoff
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Debbie Gagliardi painted the picture on the left. Her mother, Ann Gillerlain, was in charge of the garden for many years and helped transition it from George Lee's property to NCBL's in 1978.
The picture on the right is by local artist Susan Groo who gave her painting to NCBL. It hangs in the barn at Lee Garden.
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Congratulations Betsy & Kathy!
We celebrated two new Master Gardeners with a pot luck lunch at Lee Garden.
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l - r: Stephanie Hutter, Lois Himes, Eniko Szatzi, Yvonne Hunkeler, Kathy Lapolla, Faith Kerchoff, Stephanie Pineo, Betsy Sammarco & Kathy Kwiatkowski.
Photo by Pam Yee
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A stunning centerpiece created by Stephanie and Kathy L, made with a fallen branch and autumn flowers and leaves. |
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To volunteer at Lee Garden, contact Faith Kerchoff. We can always use more people! |
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The Little Free Library is in hibernation until next spring. |
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Welcome to our newest NCBL members:
Camilla Austin (Neil)
Linda and Charles Aysseh
Susan and Chris Holland
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Debbie Raymond presents Jane Campbell with a certificate of Honorary Membership in thanks for her years of service to NCBL. We wish Jane well in her move to Charleston. THANK YOU, Jane! |
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If you have changed any of your contact information (home address, email address, or phone number), please let membership know. |
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Please let me know if a member of our NCBL family needs some cheering up in the form of a card, or perhaps, some flowers.
to provide me with the appropriate information.
Many thanks for your thoughtfulness!
Libby
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Making your own wreaths or garland this year? There are leftover evergreen branches at the Nature Center (near the greenhouse), free for the taking.
Head on over! You'll find northern white cedar (left), white pine, Ilex sp., and much more!
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Landmark Ornaments for Sale |
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There are five NEW ornaments for 2022. To view the ornaments and download an order form click the button below: |
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Looking for 'Blooms'
We have new members joining us each month and we need volunteers to be 'blooms' to help us welcome our 'buds'. Just share your enthusiasm and alert them to upcoming events.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact membership.
We want to be sure everyone feels welcome.
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Leslie Duthie from the Ecological Landscape Alliance recently posted an article in the ELA November newsletter giving tips & tricks on what to do with your fallen leaves that will help your yard and environment. Click the button below and scroll down to the Tips & Tricks section: |
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"Gateway to Spring"
41st CT FLOWER SHOW
Feb 23-26. Thur-Sun.
The Connecticut Convention Center
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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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visit our website:
New Canaan Beautification League
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