June/July 2026

Bee Resilient: Garden for Nature

By Wayne Gura and Anne Djupedal Gura, co-chairs, FGCCT President’s Project

It’s a pleasure to report that since the last issue of CFNews, another three clubs have been awarded funding for their natives-based garden projects! Congratulations to the following clubs on their inspiring BEE RESILIENT projects: 

1. Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown, to create a pollinator-friendly garden at the entrance of the Senior Center within the Newtown Community Center. 
2.  Madison Garden Club, to re-plant a border with native plants in the fenced-in 50’x100’ educational garden maintained by the Club at Bauer Park.
3.  Brookfield Garden Club, to plant a west-facing, sunny, 25’-x-7’ native perennial garden alongside the building of the Brookfield Library.

BEE RESILIENT was the topic for April 24th’s Federation Friday on Zoom, which featured outstanding presentations by three of the 29 member clubs that so far have been awarded grants for their pollinator-friendly projects. Kudos to Pomperaug Valley Garden Club, Colchester Garden Club, and Shippan Point Garden Club for their vision, work, and excellent results on their garden projects that they completed last year!  

As summer approaches, there’s still time for a pollinator-friendly refresh-planting session in your natives-based garden. Trim back standing stalks to 8”-24” high to become habitat for this year’s new crop of stem-nesting bees – which, like the majority of our 4,000 U.S.-native bee species, are solitary, gentle and unlikely to sting, or stingless. Plant more of your same perennial species to help enlarge drifts, balance the design, fill in gaps in planting or in bloom time; and weed, water, mulch as needed. Then enjoy observing how the garden blooms throughout the growing season, offering a lovely resilient feast for our pollinators, our eyes, our spirits.

As always, for those of you who may be preparing to apply, please note…


• Once you apply online, you’ll get an email back within a day or so that we’ve gotten your application – either an automated one, or from either of us (Wayne or Anne.) If you don’t see it, check your spam folders.
• PLEASE include with your application a list of your selected plant species – note that we need to see the Latin binomial names (your supplier should be able to provide those names for you), together with their itemized cost estimate. Plant choice is key, we cannot proceed without it.
• The plant list should be comprised of no less than 70% locally/regionally-native species.
• Horticulturally-bred inter-species hybrids – which are typically designated with an “X” following the genus name in the Latin binomial – are by definition not considered to be native plants. 

And to ALL grant recipients past and future: once you’ve purchased and planted your plants, we’d love to see photos! Also, as stated in the grant proposal, please email a clearly legible copy of your expense receipts. No worries if your receipt and estimate don’t match. That’s why the estimate is just that: an estimate.  However, we do need to see those final numbers for our reporting requirements.  

We’re happy to report that there’s still money for more BEE RESILIENT projects to add beauty and resilience to more communities’ public landscapes.  We welcome your application for your club!

Sunday June 28, 2026 is your chance to visit any one or more of Connecticut’s sixteen Historic Sites and Gardens for FREE. Hours and activities vary by site. When you visit your first garden remember to ask about the Passport Program. A prize will be awarded upon the collection of three initials in your passport. There is bound to be a garden near you to start your adventure. Visit their website for more information about each.

Garden Sites

• Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden – North Bethlehem
• Butler-McCook House & Garden - Hartford
• Florence Griswold Museum – Old Lyme
• Glebe House Museum & The Gertrude Jekyll Garden - Woodbury
• Harkness Memorial State Park - Waterford
• Harriet Beecher Stowe Center - Farmington
• Hill-Stead Museum - Hartford
• Mark Twain House & Museum - Hartford
• Osborne Homestead Museum & Kellogg Environmental Center - Derby
• Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden - Suffield
• Promisek at Three Rivers Farm - Bridgewater
• Roseland Cottage – Woodstock
• Stanley-Whitman House - Farmington
• Thankul Arnold House - Haddam
• Webb Deane Stevens Museum - Wethersfield
• Weir Farm National Historical Park – Wilton

When you visit any one of the gardens, I would appreciate a picture or two to share in the next issue of CFNews!

Enjoy!

Karin Pyskaty 

Historic, Memorial, and Public Gardens, Chair

Karin.pyskaty@ctgardenclubs.org                                                 


Federation Fridays!

Hosted by FGCCT Board Members, these monthly 1.5 hr. Zoom Workshops provide a “Deep Dive” on important topics, such as: Membership, Club Finances, Fundraising, Events, Flower Shows, Awards, Social Media, Youth, and more.

The next Federation Friday will be

   “Parliamentary Procedure 101 ~ How It Works & Why It Matters”

Friday, June 19, at 10:00 am

This interactive session, moderated by FGCCT Parliamentarian, Jean Stetz-Puchalski (see below), serves as an introduction to Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure to help your Club meetings run more efficiently. Learn the basics of meeting structures, how to properly make a motion, and get practical tips on what to say when discussions get off track. There will also be time for your individual questions. 

Jean Stetz-Puchalski: Jean is managing principal at Individual Differences at Work, specializing in leadership coaching, behavioral assessment, and team and organizational development. She holds a master’s degree in industrial organizational (I-O) Psychology, the credentials of Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Her work often includes the integration of Roberts’ Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure as a support to strengthen team communication and collaboration. 

Mark your calendar now for the

2027 Connecticut Flower & Garden Show

February 18-21, 2027

Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford CT

"ART BLOOMS IN CONNECTICUT — Where Creativity, Nature and Artistry Flourish"

More details coming soon! Vonice Carr, 2027 CT Flower Show Chair.

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FGCCT Tours

Get on the Interest List!

Later in 2026! 

• December 2-4, 2026 – Boston Holiday Tour


Already thinking of 2027?

• April 30 – May 12, 2027 – Portugal
• May 11 – 21, 2027 – Chelsea Flower Show and the Cotswolds
• Summer 2027 – Scandinavia
• September 2 – 13, 2027 – Italy – the Piedmont and Lake Country
• November 2027 – Egypt and Jordan
• Rose Bowl for New Years


2028 Tours in Planning

• January – Thailand and Laos
• April – Tulip river cruise
• California National Parks including Yosemite
• South Africa
• And much more!
  

Let us know what you like — express your interest by emailing me!

— Kathy Lindroth, FGCCT Tours Coordinator 860.836.3407 or kathleen.lindroth@gmail.com

The Federated Garden Clubs of CT

hosted the 97^th Annual Meeting and Luncheon

The 97^th Annual Meeting and Luncheon of The Federated Garden Clubs of CT was held April 15, 2026, at AquaTurf Club in Plantsville on a beautiful spring day feeling more like summer. A huge crowd turned out from garden clubs all over the state to enjoy a lovely luncheon, shop at the wonderful vendors selling a variety of goods, and be entertained by Ace Berry, a dynamic speaker and unusually creative florist whose designs are large, using tropical greenery with bold-colored flowers and fruit. He created several large creations while talking about his background in the floral industry and answering questions from the audience. All of his creations were raffled off, along with the floral centerpieces at each table and raffle prizes from all the vendors who participated in the event.

The annual meeting was conducted by Nan Merolla, president of The Federated Garden Clubs of CT. A special thanks was given to Vonice Carr, who chaired this year’s CT Flower Show. Nan also mentioned that she was very pleased that many garden clubs throughout the state had applied for and received Bee Resilient grants. The program also highlighted various awards given out during 2025, as well as all the amazing activities put on by clubs throughout the state. 

Congratulations to all those who dedicate their time and effort to carrying out our mission.

—Linda Kaplan, Publicity Chair

Click here to register!

Help Gardeners Find You!!

The FIND A CLUB feature on the new National Garden Club website may not have your Club listed. So, when someone is interested in joining a garden club and inputs their hometown, the website might unfortunately indicate that there is no garden club in that town. 



Here’s what you need to do: Each Club must individually “Request to Add a Club” (through the app: https://gardenclub.org/node/add/club) to be listed – it’s a short form. It is not possible to send a master list of all the Connecticut Clubs. 

Clubs will be notified when they have been added to the National Garden Clubs map with their correct location and contact information. 

Yucca filamentosa is a plant that doesn’t look like it belongs in a Connecticut garden—too spikey, too dramatic, too Texas. I came to own one when I was asked to remove a large specimen from a client’s garden. Two rather muscled minions and I had to eventually use a pickaxe to get out the thick fibrous roots. Of course, some of that root came home with me and the rest is, well, history—and this story.   

Yucca filamentosa, commonly called Adam’s needle around here, Spanish bayonet down south, is native to sandy and open areas in the Southeastern U.S. but has extended its range quite happily into New England. It has accomplished this by being very adaptable, tolerating poor acid to alkaline soils, and being cold hardy down to Zone 4/5. The only thing it hates is heavy, waterlogged soil. It wants full sun but will tolerate part sun. Given what it wants, this puppy will live for decades. What more can you ask? 

Yucca filamentosa 
[Photo/R.Marsh]

'Color Guard'
[Photo/Walters Gardens Inc.]

'Bright Edge'

[Photo/Growing Wild Nursery]

For you flower folk, a 5-8’ tall flowering stalk rises from the center of each rosette in late spring-summer. It has multiple panicles of nodding, bell-shaped creamy white flowers. Yucca filamentosa typically flowers every year once mature, which can be 3 to 5 years after planting. My plants do not always flower which could be due to insufficient sunlight, overcrowding, or stress. When it has finished flowering, you can remove the spent flower stalks at the base. Or, you can let the seed head, which is quite attractive, stand for a bit.  

Yucca moths

[Photo/ M.J. Hatfield, BugGuide.net]

[Photos above: R. Marsh]

One thing I ask if you plant one: do give it some friends—small native grasses, low growing sedums, or flowering plants. I hate to see them all alone surrounded by stones or mulch. This ‘Color Guard’ is so charming softened by flowers. One of my yuccas hangs out on the corner of a stone wall with a ninebark, ferns, lily of the valley and other assorted characters. It is a worthy garden member, and in drought conditions, a downright star.


[Photo: Walters Gardens, Inc.]

No one likes the idea of rodents inside their home, but it is important to realize that these rodenticides (rat poisons) are doing more harm than good.

Rodenticides are killing the very creatures meant to control rodents. And they are putting our pets and children at risk.

Exclusion. Most critical is keeping rodents from getting inside your home. Seal holes where rodents might enter such as openings around pipes and cable wires. A mouse can squeeze into spaces the size of a dime so closing entry points is most important. Sealing small openings can be an easy fix but a carpenter may be needed for larger repairs. There are also sanitation and exclusion providers that will evaluate and seal openings where rodents can enter your home.

Sanitation is important. Clutter around house foundations and outbuildings is rodent heaven. Removing items such as lumber, tarps, old tires, etc. makes you yard less hospitable for rodents. Firewood should be kept away from the house. If you have bird feeders, bring the feeders in at night and clean up any seed litter. Only use rodent resistant dumpsters and trash receptacles and make sure they are securely closed, every time. Ground covers such as pachysandra, ivy, and vinca also harbor mice and should be trimmed away from buildings.

Make your yard unattractive to mice. The Japanese barberry-Lyme disease connection is well known. White-footed mice are highly susceptible to the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. They are the primary source of infection of black-legged ticks who, in turn, infect us with a bite. The barberry shrub provides safe shelter and moist conditions favorable to both mice and ticks. Managing barberry on your property can significantly reduce the abundance of mice and ticks and the risk of tick-related illness.

But what has this to do with mice inside our homes? Especially in the fall, white-footed mice are seeking shelter to escape freezing temperatures and to find food. Given the opportunity, they will nest in attics, basements, or crawl spaces. So, in addition to sealing openings and removing clutter, it makes sense to avoid planting barberry, a plant that mice favor.

Natural predators are key to rodent control. The use of rodenticides is counterproductive to controlling rodents. The poison kills the very animals that naturally regulate rodent populations. For example, A red tail hawk can eat 1,500 mice per year. Rodenticide poisons were never intended for preventative use where no proven infestation exists. And yet for many pest control companies, it is the first option they promote because plopping down a poison bait box(s) requires less effort and ensures a steady profit. In reality, killing rodents’ natural predators with poison results in rodent populations rebounding, ultimately increasing their numbers.

Before hiring a pest control company, find out if they employ an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. IPM is an environmentally sensitive, science-based approach to managing pests, including rodents, using a combination of biological, chemical, cultural, and physical tools to minimize risks to human health and the environment. Poisons should always be the last resort. A competent pest control company will first do an assessment to determine how mice are getting in and will seal openings to exclude them. Then mechanical controls such as snap-traps are used to eliminate unwelcomed guests that might still be inside.

On April 20, Newtown passed a Rodenticide Policy for Municipal Properties. The first town in the state! We hope more towns will join us in passing rodenticide policies for the sake of our birds of prey and other wildlife. It is totally doable. Just two of us on our conservation commission took our policy to our Board of Selectman, where it passed by unanimous vote. I encourage garden clubs to contact their conservation commissions, selectmen/mayors, and health departments about this serious issue. It is only by more towns taking action to pass policy, can we send a message to the state legislature that a meaningful and effective rodenticide bill needs to pass in the 2027 legislative session. For more information about how we got it done in Newtown, please contact me, hollyk325@yahoo.com.

FGCCT Affiliates Can Help you 'Bee Resilient'

Is your club working on a Bee Resilient project? Along with the excellent resources that are available on the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut website, several of our Affiliate organizations provide excellent information about native plants.

Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter has native Plant Resources and lists; they even have a guide to planting container gardens with natives! Connecticut College Arboretum also has a resource guide.

https://mountainlaurel.wildones.org

https://www.conncoll.edu/the-arboretum/ecological-landscaping/

The Bartlett Arboretum and the Connecticut Master Gardeners Association offer classes and gardens that are excellent models.

https://www.bartlettarboretum.org/events

https://ctmga.org

There is the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) and their annual symposium and Connecticut Horticultural Society featuring wonderful learning opportunities and field trips.

https://cipwg.uconn.edu

https://cthort.org

Visit our affiliates page. You will discover a wealth of resources and true community partners aligned with our President’s Project mission:

• Promote Sustainable Gardening in a Changing Environment
• Redesign Gardens for Resilience and Beauty
• Plant Natives, Remove Invasives, Rethink our Lawns, Conserve Water, and Avoid Pesticides
• Create Habitats for Insects, Birds and other Wildlife
• Encourage Community Collaboration and Education

May we all make this the summer to Bee Resilient!

Pomperaug Valley Garden Club Joins Town Shade Tree Committee and 250th Committee to renovate historic South/Soldiers Monument Green

In a collaborative effort led by the Pomperaug Valley Garden Club, the town's Shade Tree and Sidewalk Committee, and 250th Committee, assisted by town departments, Woodbury's historic South/Soldiers Monument Green on Route 6 underwent the first phase of a multi-phase renovation in April. Shrubs surrounding the stone monuments honoring veterans from the Civil War through the Vietnam War had grown so large over the years that they obscured the monuments from the street. The first step was to clear the site by removing the shrubs. Even the overgrown and ailing boxwoods at the base of the Civil War-era granite obelisk memorial were carefully removed. Next, a horseshoe-shaped bed was created to visually link the monuments. Low-growing, pollinator-friendly plants in reds, whites and blues were installed in this bed between the monuments; eventually a bench will provide a spot for quiet reflection. "This project is about caring for a place of honor. By restoring the Green we are ensuring that future generations can continue to reflect, learn, and gather in a space that properly honors those who served" said First Selectman Paul Zulpa.

At top left, the massively overgrown shrubs (hollies, boxwoods, etc.) were removed by Public Works crews, revealing the memorial stones and their plaques that had become virtually invisible from the street. Top right: garden club members and community volunteers work to plant the new beds with pollinator-friendly plants including lupine, penstemon (blue and red), baptisia, Lobelia cardinalis and native columbine. The bed is edged on the outside with blue Siberian iris and on the inner border, with white creeping mazus). Lower left: newly planted beds. Lower right: the memorial stones and plaques with the names of Woodbury residents who died in every war through the Vietnam War are now visible to all who pass the site. An additional memorial for the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars will be added in the near future. A subsequent phase of the project will include a bench and a wheelchair-accessible path.

Announcements

Another Risk to Manage -  Copyright Infringement!

Read this if you use clip art, pictures or drawings from the internet in your social media or club website postings!

A web search for an image of a garden or for pictures of garden equipment is likely to yield a list of websites with lots of images to choose from and easily copy to your social media page or website. Do you check to make sure that they’re really free and not subject to copyright? You should! There are law firms who now make a business of using automated searches of the web looking for copyrighted images where the user doesn’t have a license and then sending the organization who posted the picture a demand letter, asking for money and threatening legal action.

To avoid getting one of those letters, follow simple steps:


1. Use images and drawings you or a club member prepared from scratch, or pictures a club member took.
2. Read the fine print! Sometimes, the website says it grants a license to you, the user, if you provide attribution, perhaps a link to the website for the picture(s) you use. So, do that either on each page where there is an image, or in an acknowledgement page.

Here are some resources if you’d like to learn more; the second one, a law firm, is more technical:

https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-fairuse.html

https://allendyer.com/tips-for-avoiding-copyright-infringement/

John Davis, FGCCT Treasurer

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

FGCCT is on Facebook and Instagram and we love to post your news and photos! Please send upcoming events, club activities, civic projects, milestones, and hort tips. Include photos and a brief writeup of the news your club would like to share. The best format is text in an email with jpg photos attached. Take active photos showing members at work or showcasing beautiful gardens, flowers, and plants (please name the flower if it is a hort only photo). Let’s follow each other! Send submissions to social@ctgardenclubs.org

Deadline to submit articles/photos, ads and calendar events for the August / September 2026 issue of the CFNews is July 10, 2026.  Please submit to:

ARTICLES/PHOTOS

Martha Sherman

martha.sherman@ctgardenclubs.org

ADVERTISING

office@ctgardenclubs.org

CALENDAR

Club Event Submission Form

Creating a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Website Member Account

In order for garden club members to access information in the Members area of the National Garden Clubs website, they will now need to create an account. Below are the steps to follow.

1. Go to the Homepage of the NGC website at https://gardenclub.org/
2. Select “Member Login” in the site header.
3. Enter your information. Avoid choosing a username with spaces. Email address is recommended for username. Select “Create new account”.
4. You will receive a green highlighted message to check email at the address you entered to verify and complete your account.
5. Use the link provided in the confirmation email to create your password and save your changes.
6. Once you have selected “save”, click on the “Member Section” link in the main menu.

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Reminder: NGC's The National Gardener is ONLINE and free!

The official publication of the National Garden Clubs, The National Gardener, appears quarterly, and features articles of interest to environmentalists, gardeners, landscapers, floral designers, educators and photographers. Subscribe here.

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