"Why did you join the NCBL?"    I asked people and this is what they said:

"My friend made me/encouraged me."
"I like gardens, plants, and flowers."
"I care about keeping New Canaan looking good."
"It's a great way to meet people - really great people."
"I wanted to learn more about plants in my yard."
"It seems like a group with a good mission."
"I like knowing all the things they have done and do in town."

Whatever your individual reason .... this is a living breathing entity!  It needs to grow to live, with new and current members contributing their particular talents.   We all have special strengths and if we do one thing well, or learn one new thing, then we make this a better organization.  The wheels have been turning for NCBL for 78 years - since 1939!  Look at the names of our past presidents in our green book, and think of all the board members that have participated before us.   When you look around New Canaan, it is difficult to imagine it without the special Beautification touches.   Nominating season will soon be upon us to fill positions for next year.   Let members of the nominating committee know of your interest.  When they start ringing you, be prepared to say yes!

The wonderful Victorian Tea will be held on February 1.  This is our thank you to ourselves for all the work we do.  It will be purely social - a chance for members to catch up with each other and meet new members and guests.   It is being organized by Gloria Simon with members bringing the food, so it will definitely be the best lunch in town.   There will be beautiful flower arrangements made by our talented members to delight us.   You can wear flowers and hats to make it even more festive.   Count on seeing Liz Orteig in another beautiful chapeau!

Many members have been busy addressing our Annual Appeal letters for our March 1 town mailing.  Believe it or not we are still receiving checks from the 2016 Appeal!   We are extremely grateful to receive this support for what we do.

As you know we have been facing a drought, and in November Aquarion asked customers to reduce their water consumption by 20 percent.  Start thinking of solutions to deal with the water shortage. The Chairmen of Hanging Baskets are considering adding hydro crystals to the baskets to deal with the water shortage. In the meantime, pray for rain, enjoy some gardening books and catalogues, and look forward to our March speaker, Doug Tallamy. He is speaking on March 8 at the New Canaan Library in our joint program with the Garden Club of New Canaan.

 

Bleeding hearts at Lee Garden in May.