|
February, 2024 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
| |
|
Dear Members and Friends,
February is hard for gardeners in Connecticut. It's cold - so, so cold and it seems like spring is anything but right around the corner. However, there are little things we can do to warm our gardener's heart this time of year. Forsythia, serviceberry, cherry and quince, often found in one's landscape, are some of the easiest branches to force indoors and help spring come a little faster - at least inside our homes. If there is no snow, now is a great time to check on perennial root balls to make sure they have not raised up due to frost heaves. If they have, push them down and add some mulch. Of course, during this time of year, is there anything more romantic than curling up in front of a fire with your valentine and reading the latest seed and perennial catalogs?
Though February can be tough for us gardeners, our fantastic Programs committee continues to warm our hearts with another amazing program - New Perennials: A Love Story, a personal introduction to design principles of the New Perennial Movement on February 7th on Zoom. Grab your laptop, maybe a loved one and enjoy another wonderful program and start dreaming about plans for your garden this spring.
Sincerely,
Robin Bates-Mason & Jill Ernst
co-Presidents
"And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us, new, untouched, full of things that have never been." --Rainer Maria Rilke
| |
|
February 7, 2024
9:30 - 11:00 am
via Zoom
Coming Next Week! Register now if you haven't already!
| |
Deborah Chud is a retired Massachusetts physician turned garden-maker, consultant and educator. Her 6 years of research on New Perennial gardens, including New York’s High Line, Chicago’s Lurie Garden, the Oudolf Meadow at the Delaware Botanic Gardens, and Oudolf Garden Detroit, generated the most comprehensive existing database of New Perennial plant combinations and led to the creation of her own highly unusual New Perennial garden. She will be speaking to us about her research at our February program. | |
|
Texas Tree Lady
with Janette Monear, President and CEO of Texas Tree Foundation
March 6, 2024
9:30 - 11:00 am
via Zoom
| |
Janette Monear CEO and Executive Director of the Texas Trees Foundation | |
|
In March, we will be traveling from the gardens in Massachusetts to Dallas, where the East Texas Piney Woods meet the beginning of the Great Plains - not a natural environment for an “urban forest.” However, in 1982, the city of Dallas and many community leaders became concerned about the “creeping concrete” and wanted to find new ways to create a greener environment.
In the beginning, the group was focused on the Dallas Park System, but it soon became apparent that attention was needed in all parts of the city: public spaces and buildings, boulevards and roads as well as educational facilities. Two tree farms were established to provide thousands of trees, and educational initiatives were developed to build and preserve the young “urban forest.”
| |
|
In 2007, Janette Monear was hired to lead the agency which had been renamed the Texas Trees Foundation. Although the Foundation is committed to continuing the practice of planting thousands of trees each year, it is equally focused on developing projects that will improve the quality of urban life in Dallas. In her presentation, Ms. Monear will highlight several of these projects, including work with Southwest Medical School to develop a two-mile urban streetscape and park. She is passionate about the work of the foundation and, of course, her love of trees.
“He who plants a tree plants a hope” Lucy Larcom
Register for this webinar at this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3DVK05g2T2OQzTkhXNKVSw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
| |
Save The Date: Flower Arranging Workshop | | |
|
|
Flower Arranging Workshop
with Ty Tan
Evening Event
March 27
New Canaan Nature Center
Ty Tan will hold an evening flower arranging workshop on March 27. This will be a great opportunity to get together with members and arrange flowers for Easter and spring celebrations!
More information to come!
| |
Save the Date: Victorian Tea | |
|
More information coming soon.
Hats encouraged!
| |
Save the Date: Joint Program in April with NCGC | |
|
Growing Beautiful Food
with Matthew Benson
Wednesday
April 10, 2024
9:30 - 11:30
More information coming soon.
| |
February 1: Toward a More Walkable New Canaan | |
Register NOW! Program will take place Thursday, February 1 | |
|
National urban planning expert Jeff Speck has spent his career studying what makes cities thrive and has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. From economists, epidemiologists, and environmentalists to preservationists, planners, and parents, all agree that walkable communities are better communities in just about every way. Speck explains why walking is useful, particularly regarding land-use, zoning, transit, and parking, and then focuses on how, by sharing examples of places where walking is safe, comfortable, and interesting.
Jeff Speck is an award-winning planner who co-authored Suburban Nation (The Wall Street Journal calls it "the urbanist's bible”), and wrote Walkable City, the best-selling city-planning title of the past decade, translated into eight languages. His TED talks and YouTube videos have been viewed six million+ times. Speck has been named a fellow of both the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Congress for New Urbanism. In a recent Planetizen poll, he was voted one of the ten “most influential urbanists of all time.” Mr. Speck was the 2022 recipient of the Seaside Prize, whose former awardees include Jane Jacobs and Christopher Alexander.
Mr. Speck's books will be for sale at the event.
| |
The new sidewalk fence and terrace are complete and look great.. | |  |
The stairs from the new terrace are finished and the railing, being installed by a different contractor than the one who did the sidewalk fence, will be installed soon. | | |
More plants will be added to areas which were purposefully left alone until the construction was complete. Four benches have been ordered, two of which will be dedicated to Wally Meyer. NCBL signs will be added to either end of the new garden so people will know who is responsible for this project. | |
|
The triangle at the intersection of Country Club and Rte. 123 needs a caregiver or two. If interested, please be in touch with Claude Colabella: nccolabella@hotmail.com
Thank you!
| |
|
Lois Himes recently donated 2 epimedium prints to Lee Garden to be hung in the barn. They were given to her by Harold Epstein, who was an inveterate collector of that genus. Harold loved to travel to Japan and he realized that many Japanese natives would happily grow in the same conditions as his garden in Larchmont, NY. Over the years many of them interbred, seeded and produced new now-named varieties. (Darrell Probst, another epimedium enthusiast was responsible for the naming of the new seedlings found in Harold’s garden.) We now have a nice collection of these on “Epimedium Hill” on the way to the Secret Garden at Lee.
The genus is very unfussy as to where it grows even delighting in the challenge of surface tree roots and heavy shade. Make sure to check them out come spring. They are labeled.
Thank you for your kind donation, Lois!
| Epimedium planted at the base of the big oak at Lee Garden. | |
|
Why do we 'leaf swat' at Lee Garden?
The photo at right is an excellent example. Leaves cluster on a branch, then snow piles up on the leaves making a heavy weight for the azalea to hold.
Even in your own yards, it's good to 'leaf swat' and if there's heavy wet snow, take a rake handle, broom or any stick, and tap the branches, shaking loose the snow. Your shrubs will thank you.
| |
|
|
Our extensive book collection is available for all to enjoy.
Email Faithkerchoff@hotmail.com to set up a time to peruse the collection.
| |
|
Do you love the genus Galanthus, more commonly known as the snowdrop genus? These have already been popping up at Lee Garden this winter (see above).
Margaret Roach recently interviewed David Culp, a snowdrop enthusiast. Listen to the informative podcast, or read the transcript at the link below:
| |
|
Last year's member garden visits were tremendously popular and they will continue again this spring and summer with the following dates:
May 9
June 13
July 10
August 7
If you would like to volunteer to have your garden on the tour, please contact Nancy Malling. Otherwise, stay tuned for more information.
| |
Visiting CTs Historic Gardens | |
|
We were so fortunate to have Laurie Masciandaro speak to us about Connecticut's sixteen historic gardens. Are you ready to plan your road trips? Laurie provided us with this year's "passport brochure" in digital form and hard copies will be available at our Victorian Tea in April.
Click the image below to download a digital copy:
| |
|
Our hospitality team arranged to have coffee and donuts delivered to our friends at DPW who are so helpful to us. Thank you, DPW! - Hospitality
Thank you Paul Bamatter for making the delivery!
| |
DPW gives a thumbs up for our morning donation. | |
|
The Nominating Committee will soon begin the process of recruiting volunteers for the 2024-5 Board of Directors. Our outreach efforts began in mid-January, and our goal is to have a final slate in place by early March.
We are looking for people to fill leadership positions in a variety of areas, including computer skills, membership, photography, beautification, programming, fundraising, and more. If you would like to share your talents in this way, reach out to the Nominating Committee to discuss your thoughts about a possible commitment. You can contact any of our Nominating Committee members below:
Barb Achenbaum, Cindy Bamatter, Janet Fonss, Karen Hanson,
Faith Kerchoff, Fanny Moran, and Pam Yee.
| |
|
NCBL Vests
We are taking orders for our nifty green fleece vest with an embroidered
NCBL Logo.
Sizes available: XS-S-M-L-XL- 3X-4X (the sizes run a bit large).
They are men’s sizes and are being made by 84 Sports in New Canaan.
Send or drop off money ($48) to Faith Kerchoff.
| |
|
NCBL Long Sleeve
If Triangle/Traveling Trowels volunteers would like long-sleeve, bright green T-shirts, let Faith know. They are free for our volunteers.
| |
|
Jumpsuits
There are still five jumpsuits available for anyone who would like one.
Contact Jill Ernst if you think this would make your volunteer work easier!
| |
A Message From The Pollinator Pathway | | |
|
Please take action TODAY to PROTECT PEOPLE, POLLINATORS AND OTHER WILDLIFE in Connecticut | |
|
Neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) and neonic-coated agricultural seeds, are toxic pesticides being called the new DDT, causing massive declines of birds and bees, inflicting devastating damage to ecosystems, and harming human health.
Please take a moment to call or email your legislator today. And ask them to support a bill that will ban neonics and neonic-coated seeds.
Our legislators need to hear from us today. The pesticide industry, which is opposed to banning neonics, is influential in Hartford - your voice matters. And this is our year! Our neighbors in New York just passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act banning the use of neonics on lawns, gardens, and most seed coatings.
It’s time for Connecticut to do the same. Please call or email your State Representative and State Senator TODAY!
For more information and a sample script, click HERE.
If you call or email your representatives, please send us an email at info@pollinator-pathway.org to let us know.
Thank You!
| |
|
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Kathy Mitchell
Kristen Mitrakis
| |
...and welcome home Jane Campbell! | |
If you have changed any of your contact information (home address, email address, or phone number), please let membership know. | | |
|
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
| |
|
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 Sara Hunt:
skhminky@gmail.com.
We want to be sure everyone feels welcome.
| |
|
From the Delaware Dept of Agriculture:
Now is the time to be proactive against spotted lantern fly. Scraping and destroying egg masses this winter will help decrease the number of spotted lantern fly that hatch next spring. Spotted lantern fly lay egg masses on trees and other smooth surfaces outside, including campers, grills, boats, and sheds. An egg mass will be tan or brown and have the consistency of mud. If you find an egg mass, scrape it off with a credit card, place it in a Ziploc bag, and add rubbing alcohol to the bag to destroy the eggs. Each egg mass can contain up to 60 eggs, so egg mass scraping can effectively manage spotted lantern fly on your property.
| |
Robin Bates-Mason, who has been working as the part-time Manager of Events at Staying Put for 2 years, is now full-time Manager of Events and Volunteers. Congratulations to you, Robin! | |
Other Program Opportunities | |
Above: a scene from one of the exhibitors at last year's show. | |
|
CT Flower Show
February 22 - 25
Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Blvd
Hartford, CT 06103
Exhibits and lectures from local businesses and experts!
| | |
|
|
Microgreen Workshop
with Corinne Hansch from Lovin' Mama Farm, Amsterdam, NY
February 28
5:30 - 8:30 pm
Pound Ridge Library
Materials fee: $25.00
| | |
|
Neonics: The New DDT — An Educational and Planning Conference to Reduce the use of Pesticides in Connecticut
March 11, 2024
noon to 5 pm
McCook Auditorium
Trinity College, Hartford
Virtual and In-person conference
| | |
|
|
Spring Lecture Luncheon
The Botanical Legacy of Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon
Sir Peter Crane, President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation will give a lecture on Bunny Mellon's Virginia garden and her extensive library.
March 20, 2024
12:00 - 3:00 pm
Wave Hill House
| |
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. | |
visit our website:
New Canaan Beautification League
| | | | |
