Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful

MARCH 2018 NEWSLETTER
UPCOMING EVENTS
March Program
All the Presidents' Gardens with Marta McDowell
Wednesday 
March 7, 2018
9:30 - 11:30 am
NC Nature Center
April Program
Charlotte Moss
Wednesday 
April 4, 2018
9:00 am - 11:30 am
NC Public Library
Adrian Lamb Room
May Program
What Do I Do Now? Revitalizing a Mature Landscape with Nancy King
Wednesday 
May 2, 2018
9:30 am - 11:30 am
NC Nature Center
Victorian Tea
rescheduled
Wednesday 
May 16, 2018
11:30 am - 2:00
Waveny House
Azalea Festival
Sunday 
May 20, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Lee Memorial Garden
89 Chichester Road
Hanging Baskets
May date to be determined
PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Dear Members,

Busy, busy -- that's all of us! 

Our recent snowflakes and raindrops are hopefully raising the level of the reservoirs.  When you drive on upper Ponus Ridge or North Wilton Road you will see the levels are still low.  Yet the waterfall at Jelliff Mill is now flowing and a delight to see and hear.
 
NCBL's  Annual Appeal letter is in the works.  Each and every one of us has contributed and deserves huge kudos.  If you have any questions please contact Rose Bauersfeld or any member of her team.  They have a great role model; last year's appeal headed by Peggy Jay and Judy Johnson reaped a wonderful $55,000, which is funding our many projects.  This is an opportunity to tell friends and neighbors about all the projects we do in town and let them know that they are NOT paid for with their tax dollars.  Thank you to everyone involved!  You should each be proud.

Our next very exciting and special program is set for March 7th.  See details in this newsletter below.

And we have "T" time on the horizon: Traveling Trowels and Triangles efforts are about to take off. And our marvelous Victorian Tea for members and guests (which was thwarted by bad weather) has been rescheduled for May 16. Put it on your calendars now.  Gloria Simon will be sending more information about the Tea in April.

Stay tuned for a Lee Garden update featuring the plaque dedicated to Ann Gillerlain which will adorn her dedicated bridge.  Kudos to Faith Kerchoff for getting this done in memory of Ann.
 
Spring is around the corner.  Have you noticed? There are sprouts of green popping up.  We've even overheard a few conversations that have included the "bulb" word.  Folks are mentioning those green sprouts they are seeing and the snowdrops are smiling at us.  Our daytimes are already lengthening and Daylight Saving Time arrives on March 11th!  Force some forsythia now (I already have done that and it's cheerfully  blooming in the house)! 

And remember that your ideas, thoughts, and suggestions are always welcome.  Don't hesitate to contact any member of the board with your input.  Sara Hunt of membership is following up on a recent suggestion.  Stay tuned!

Here Comes Spring!
Barbara and Karen

CURRENT NEWS
PresidentsGardens
Our March Program:

All the Presidents' Gardens header
Marta McDowell
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
9:30 am coffee
10:00 am program
New Canaan Nature Center

From the most momentous events in our nation's history to our fleeting cultural obsessions, the White House grounds have been a mirror of America.

All The Presidents' Gardens tells the untold history of the White House grounds.  With wit and insight, garden historian Marta McDowell traces the fascinating story of how our presidents and their families have left their imprint upon the eighteen acres surrounding the executive mansion. 

Marta McDowell lives, gardens, and writes in Chatham, New Jersey. She writes and lectures on gardening topics and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, where she studied landscape design. She also consults for public gardens and private clients. Some of the books she's authored include  Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life, The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Emily Dickinson's Gardens, and All the Presidents' Gardens.

Books by Marta McDowell will be available for purchase after the program.

To learn more about Marta McDowell see her website HERE.

Download a flier for this program HERE.
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Won't you join us?
   Fork and spoon
Some of us will be going to lunch after the program,
All the  Presidents' Gardens, on Wednesday, March 7.  Want to join us?  We all enjoy talking to each other during the half hour before the program; now we can extend the social hour to lunch.  It is a great way for us to get to know one another better.  We will announce the time and place at the program.

Please let us know if you can attend so that we can tell the restaurant how many people to expect.  Sara Hunt (skhminky@optonline.net)

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Join us in welcoming our new member!

Gabrielle (Gaby) Winter

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If you know an NCBL member who is sick or is going through a difficult time and needs some words of cheer, please share it with us.  
Libby Butterworth 203-801-0862 or  eabutter@gmail.com .

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CharlotteMoss
A Very Special April Program ...

Making Every Day an Occasion
with Charlotte Moss

We are excited to announce that decorator and designer, Charlotte Moss, will be our speaker for our April Program, sponsored in partnership with the NC Garden Club. 

-  Attendance is limited -
Because of the space constraints at the library, attendance will be limited to NCBL members (and NCGC members) only.  Attendance for NCBL will be limited to the first 100 members who RSVP.

Please RSVP by emailing us at our address:


Please indicate "Charlotte Moss" in your subject line.

We will also have a sign up sheet at our March program.

Important note: In order to accommodate other activities happening at the library, this program will start earlier than usual.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018
9:00 am coffee / 9:30 am program
New Canaan Public Library

Charlotte Moss program header

You can read more about Charlotte Moss  HERE.

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Victoriandate
          We are rescheduling ...
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SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
CELEBRATE SPRING!

More info coming in April

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Announcing the "Yellow Bag Arrangement Challenge"!

Join the Yellow Bag Challenge.  Those who want to participate will be given a yellow gift bag to be filled with flowers, plants, or whatever your creativity desires.  The bags will be displayed as centerpieces on the tables for our Tea.  To sign up, give Bianca Romano an email or phone call!  

Yellow Bag Challenge


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The Song of the Snowdrop Fairy

Deep sleeps the Winter,
Cold, wet, and grey;
Surely all the world is dead;
Spring is far away.
Wait! the world shall waken;
It is not dead, for lo,
The Fair Maids of February
Stand in the snow!

Cicely Mary Barker, 
The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies, 1923
 
(This poem was put into our newsletter in 2006 by Joan Sargent, past Lee Garden chair).

Snow Drops Lee
Snowdrops braving the early March storm at Lee Memorial Garden.

COME TO LEE MEMORIAL GARDEN!  

As spring teases us with the weather, we will be in the garden on good days to start  our spring activities.  Come see the season reveal itself day by day!  We will be there to show and guide and teach about the various plants on Mondays and Fridays.  Mostly in the mid day -- around 11am - 2pm.  It's best to send us an email, and we'll add you to our email updates list of what we are doing and when.  Learn about early season bulbs, deer resistant ones, ground covers, what will grow in the shade, and see a dozen varieties of ferns, and more.

Lee Memorial Garden is located at 89 Chichester Road.  Look for a fence and gate to our parking lot.  The fence is to keep the deer out.

Email Kathy, Yvonne, or Faith. We are in the green membership book. 

Faith has updated a video of Lee Garden complete with dates and names of the plants you can expect to see there.  See this informative video on our YouTube channel HERE.

FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS
Many of our members attended the CT Flower & Garden Show in Hartford at the end of February.  Following, are a few photos our members took at the show:

Flower show butterfly display
Butterfly Display

Flower show old car display
Unique Landscape Design.

Flower show chain saw sculpture
Chainsaw sculpture.
EVENTS OF INTEREST AROUND TOWN
DID YOU KNOW THE NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER
SERVES AS A SATELLITE SITE FOR
THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDENS?
NYBG NCNC 
Take NYBG classes right here in the comfort of your home town!

Upcoming Classes:

Pruning: How, When, and Where: 3/3/2018
Intro to Landscape Design: 3/8, 3/15/, 3/22/2018
Weekend Garden Design Workshop: 3/17, 3/24/2018

Read more and register HERE.

CLOSING PHOTO
Easter is Coming Soon!

Easter Bunny entrance urn
Easter display at the entrance of member Carol Seldin's house. 
(photo from a previous year)