March, 2022 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear New Canaan Beautification League Members and Friends,
It’s been a long winter, but SPRING is nearly here! Think back on fickle February’s vast fluctuations in weather conditions: snow, ice and snow, snow squall, freezing rain, gusting winds, freezing temperatures, rain, some sun (as a welcome change from persistently gray skies), and above average temperatures - as high as mid-sixties. So… what are the implications of this meteorological rollercoaster with respect to our gardens? Snowdrops and Winter Aconites look sweet and tender, but they are incredibly resilient early bloomers. Witch hazel also appears to be blooming ahead of schedule. Hellebores are budding up which means time to prune away dead and unattractive foliage. Watch your step out there, because some daffodils and tulips are already starting to poke through the ground.
Our Programs Committee has planned several informative and engaging speakers for us starting with the March webinar “The Best View of Our World is Through a Garden”. Linda Larson will provide an exciting program focusing on the stories gardens tell. In April, Kirk Brown will personify Frederick Law Olmstead in our joint, in-person meeting, with New Canaan Garden Club at St. Mark’s Morrill Hall. Our ever-popular Victorian Tea returns in May! Our newsletter is full of specific information on all upcoming events.
Have you checked out our Annual Appeal display in the Playhouse window? Thank you to Robin Bates-Mason and the many volunteers who worked on the installation! Several locals stopped to admire the window, as well as the impressive gymnastic moves of Claude Colabella, Karen Hanson, Faith Kerchoff and Robin as they maneuvered the props and pictures into place. (Not easy in that narrow space, that’s for sure!) The 2022-23 Annual Appeal letter will be sent to New Canaan households this month. Special thanks to Laura Ault and Patricia Spugani for creating our distinctive mailer, including the detachable bookmark.
Let’s all look forward to March 20th, the official start of SPRING!
Warmly,
Carol & Karen
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The Best View of Our World is Through a Garden
Wednesday
March 2, 2022
9:30 - 11:30 am
Zoom Webinar
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Linda Larson is a lifelong lover of flowers, a Master Gardener, and has a garden in Mesa, AZ where she has lived for over 30 years. Ms. Larson taught public public speaking at Mesa College until her retirement when she became a Master Gardner. She writes a monthly "Traveling Gardener" column.
Her presentation, entitled "The Best View of Our World is Through a Garden",
is based on personal travel to over 900 gardens in 35 countries, all 50 United States and combines travel adventure with nature's beauty.
Gardens, large and small, provide travel destinations all over the globe. For every garden, those who planted the seeds and arranged the ground have stories to tell:
- Tales of the homes they built
- The social structure of the day
- The power and struggle required to make a garden
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The webinar which is open to non-members, will be recorded and posted on NCBL’s YouTube channel for 7 days for those that registered for the event. |
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Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Flower Arranging Workshop
Join NCBL members Jacqueline Harmody and Ty Tan
for a hands-on workshop teaching members to create their own flower arrangements.
Learn the basics of floral design. Get tips on where to buy flowers and floral supplies, and how to precondition your blossoms.
Please bring your own clippers and the flowers you wish to use.
Glass vases (measuring approximately 4”x 4”x 4”) will be provided
or you may bring your own.
or call Gloria Simon, 203-972-8069
Waveny House, 10:00 - 11:30 AM
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The New Canaan Beautification League
and
The Garden Club of New Canaan
Present
Frederick Law Olmsted: 200 Years of Growing America
with Kirk Brown
April 27
9 - 11 a.m.
Morrill Hall
St. Mark's Church
111 Oenoke Ridge
New Canaan
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Our annual joint meeting with the Garden Club of New Canaan will feature Kirk Brown speaking to us as Frederick Law Olmsted himself on this his 200th birthday. He will bring the father of landscape architecture to life, relating how agriculture became urban culture, what our national parks return to us, "We the People", why cemeteries commemorate more than famous people, what happens when public gardens disappear, and who gardens best. We will join the man whose 5500 community park systems and epochal designs share, with unblinking honesty, the importance of sowing, growing and owning green in our lives.
Frederick Law Olmsted was born in Hartford, CT on April 26 1822. Our program will take place 200 years and one day after his birth!
*Please note earlier start time*
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There are many events across the country celebrating Frederick Law Olmstead's birthday. Find them and more information about this influential man by clicking the button below: |
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Please note our Spring Buffet Luncheon/Victorian Tea has been moved to a new date:
Wednesday, May 4th
11:30 - 2:00
Waveny House
We’re excited to announce that after a 2-year hiatus we are bringing back our much-loved Buffet Luncheon/Victorian Tea on Wednesday, May 4th at Waveny House.
The event is free, but we ask you to bring either a salad, tea sandwiches, deviled eggs or dessert. In early April we’ll send out a flyer with information on how to register.
You may invite guests, but all attendees must be fully vaccinated (just to keep us all safe)!
Also, if you’d like to help set up or clean up that day, please contact Gloria Simon, (203) 972-8069 or thesimons4949@gmail.com
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If you have a tea pot you could loan to us for the event, please contact Jacqueline Harmody at jharmody@yahoo.com.
Thank you!
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Join us at the Mather Homestead to hear about Stephen Mather, Conservationist and the first Director of the National Park Service.
Save the date. More information to come.
June 1
9:30-11:30
Mather Homestead
19 Stephen Mather Rd.
Darien
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In anticipation of our annual appeal, a group of NCBL volunteers decorated the Play House window to raise awareness of what NCBL does to beautify New Canaan. Thanks to Robin Bates-Mason and all those who helped out. |
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Window Dressers: Amy Reid, Kathy Lapolla, Faith Kerchoff, Lois Himes, Karen Hanson, Carol Seldin, Peggy Danneman, and Claude Colabella |
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NCBL's Traveling Trowels care for:
The Gold Star walk and terrace 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
Traveling Trowels, lead by Faith Kerchoff and Rob Carpenter, takes on the task and has a lot of fun in the process!
We need members who are willing to pitch in 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, the history of the town and laugh while you're doing it, please email Faith at
faithkerchoff@hotmail.com
We hope you'll block out these specific dates to help us with spring clean-up:
Mailboxes -- Mar 18, 9:30 - 11:30
Mead Park -- Mar 25, 9:30 - 11:30
Train Station -- Mar 31, 9:30 - 11:30
All dates are weather permitting.
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Join Us
Visit to Lee Garden
on Chichester Road
March 21
11:00 - 1:00 pm
weather permitting
rain date: Thursday, March 24
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Everyone is invited to Lee Garden's terrace for a social celebration!
We will serve refreshments and talk about the garden.
Learn what we do, explore the garden and take advantage of a chance to meet fellow volunteers.
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New York Style Crumb Cake |
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2 TBSP canola oil
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 TSP baking powder
1/2 TSP salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
2 TSP pure vanilla extract
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 TSP cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
confectioner’s sugar
- Preheat oven to 325 (300 if using convection oven).
- Melt and cool butter.
- Lightly brush a 9 X 9 baking pan with canola oil; dust with flour; tap to remove excess flour.
- In a large bowl sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 1/2 TSP baking powder and 1/2 TSP salt.
- In another large bowl whisk together the egg, 1/2 cup milk, 2 TBSP canola oil and 2 TSP vanilla extract.
- Using a rubber spatula fold dry ingredients into the egg mixture.
- Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- In another large bowl combine 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup light brown sugar and 1 1/2 TSP cinnamon.
- Pour melted butter over the flour mixture and toss with spatula until large crumbs form.
- Top batter in pan with the crumb mixture.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes on center rack or until cake tests done (32-34 if using convection oven).
- When done cool on wire rack.
- Dust with confectioner’s sugar when cool.
Submitted by Robin Miner
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PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!
Katherine Humphreys
Triangles, Traveling Trowels, Lee Garden, Flower Arranging
Susan Foxworth
Baking, Finance
Paula Bruno
Traveling Trowels, Triangles
Lindsay Bassett
Traveling Trowels, Triangles, Lee Garden, Flower Arranging, Programs, and Photography
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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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Looking for 'Blooms'
We want to be sure everyone feels welcome.
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 Jill Ernst.
203-972-0320.
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What's all the buzz about native plants anyway? Why does planting native plants matter?
Here's one very important reason: the very basics of our ecosystem involves the relationship between insects and native plants. Without insects, the critters that depend on them would starve. All critters further on in the food web would then be adversely affected.
It all starts with native plants and insects. Our insects have evolved to survive with, and eat, our native plants. They simply cannot survive on plants from Europe, Asia, Africa, etc. You may see butterflies visiting your Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) for nectar, but did you know your Butterfly Bush does not support the larvae of a single native caterpillar species? The only reason you have monarchs on your Butterfly Bush is because their eggs were laid on their native host plant (Asclepsias spp). With destruction of habitats and the planting of non-native species, it is getting harder for critters to find these all important native plants.
The importance of native plants in our ecosystem and the urgency to replenish our native plants has been made widely known by entomologist Doug Tallamy. We were fortunate to have Dr. Tallamy speak live in New Canaan in March of 2020, right before the pandemic shut down. You can still view his presentation at the New Canaan Land Trust website by clicking this button below.
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Home Grown National Park is a "grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks" - and we can all contribute to the effort. This website features the work and writing of Doug Tallamy and many excellent references. Check out their website below
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Learn about Local Pollinators!
presented by Susan Bergen
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Join this Zoom presentation Co-Sponsored by the New Canaan Land Trust and the New Canaan Pollinator Pathway Partnership. Not only is Susan Bergen a lifelong nature lover and gardener with tons of knowledge to share, she is also an NCBL member! |
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Getting Started in the Garden
Monday, March 7
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Zoom Workshop
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Lay the groundwork for successin your garden by joining our Pollinator Pathway talk on March 7. Find out how to approach essential first steps – whether you want a bonanza of produce or bloom. We’ll cover soil testing & prep, sun/shade conditions, assessing plantings, planning crops and prioritizing your garden tasks, with plenty of time for Q&A.
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The workshop is taught by UConn advanced master gardener Alice Ely and UConn master gardener, and WTF’s own veggie whisperer, Farmer Ryan Brunelle.
This pollinator series talk is sponsored by WTF and Westport’s Pollinator Pathway.
Sign up at wakemantownfarm.org by clicking the button below:
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Get the Dirt on Invasive Worms
Monday,March 14
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Zoom Presentation
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If you always thought earthworms were beneficial in your garden, you may be surprised to learn that many are not! There are several Asian worm species invading North America which are currently wreaking havoc in our northeastern forests and gardens. |
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Zoom in to hear Dr. Gale E. Ridge, Associate Scientist at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, to learn how to identify these earthworms and what measures you need to take to protect your gardens and native habitats. Dr. Ridge will share the most recent research about the impact these worms are having in our woods and yards, and possible methods to contain or control them.
Following Dr. Ridge’s presentation, you will have the opportunity to ask questions.
This Pollinator Series talk is brought to you by Wakeman Town Farm and Westport’s Pollinator Pathway. To register, click the button below:
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Garden Conservancy Virtual Programs
The Garden Conservancy has several virtual programs coming up which might just get us over the winter hump.
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Learn about Native Gardening
Westchester Community College (30 minutes from NC) is offering some really great native gardening classes. Check out their website below.
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Those who contemplate the beauy of the earth find reserves
of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature,
the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.
Rachel Carson
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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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