November, 2020 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear New Canaan Beautification League Members and Friends,
Daffodils, hyacinth, allium, tulips, snowdrops, fritillaria - Fall is the time for planting bulbs that emerge six months from now as marvelous Springtime magic! We are excited that the Colorblends shipment has arrived! Right now, Kathy Lapolla has 4,300 bulbs in her garage, and we need your help to plant these beauties at several Beautification League sites. See newsletter for planting schedule.
How do you like Zoom programs? While we certainly miss group meetings, there are some undeniable advantages to this techie format, don’t you think? Everyone gets the best seat in the house with unobstructed view, appropriate volume and opportunity to ask questions. Even if you are wearing your fluffy bunny slippers – who will know?
Next up on Wednesday, November 4, Jennifer Cipriano of Copia Home & Garden presents “Creating Decorative Winter Porch Pots.” Register today through newsletter and tell your friends - near and far - they can tune in too by registering through our website: newcanaanbeautifiction.org Our goal is to continue expanding our educational outreach and the size of our program audience.
Buds and Blooms is a new initiative headed by our Vice-President Jill Ernst. This is a personal way to welcome new members and share information about Beautification League history and projects. Find out how you can become involved.
Hope you will continue to find ways to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities as weather permits. Natural surroundings can promote health and relieve stress. May you appreciate the seasonal changes in wildlife activity and the ever-changing landscape.
Be safe, healthy and happy! And look forward to the joyful Spring bloom of bulbs we are planting this Fall.
Warmly,
Carol & Karen
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Programs During the Pandemic |
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Programs for 2020-2021 will be virtual via Zoom webinars.
The Zoom link will be sent by email 1-2 days prior to each event.
Zoom will work on your computer, iPad or any smartphone.
Each month, members, and if permitted, guests, will be asked to register for the Zoom program. (Not all programs will be open to the public - some will be for Members only.) A few days before each Zoom program, you will receive an email from NCBL with the invitation and Zoom registration link. Please register using your email, first and last name. You will then receive an email with your personal “one-click” link to use for the event. A reminder email with the same link will also be sent one hour before the program begins. Please do not share your link; it is unique to you. Note: You do not need to have a Zoom account to join NCBL events. Also, there is no cost to participate in any Zoom event.
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November 4th program:
'Creating Decorative Winter
Porch Pots'
Jennifer Cipriano of Copia Home and Garden in South Salem, NY will give us ideas for creating beautiful outside planters that will take us through Thanksgiving, Christmas and beyond. She will use evergreen plants that can be replanted in our gardens in the spring as well as decorative holiday materials that can be changed out as we move through the holidays and then into winter.
please invite friends!
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Once you have registered, an email will be sent to your inbox. |
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The Native Plant sale raised $600. Copia is giving the plants to NCBL at wholesale, so the money goes even further. Faith was able to buy lots of plants for Lee Garden including:
Buttonbush - Cepahalanthus occidentalis
Viburnum prageense - broadleaf evergreen
Ilex verticillata 'Magical showtime'
Anemone Honorine Jorbert
Actaea 'Chocoholic' black snake root
PJM Elite Rhododendron
Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers'
A HUGE thank you to all of you
and to our friends at
Copia Home and Garden, South Salem, NY
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John from Copia & Faith load up a truck of plants paid for with the funds raised through the Native Plant sale.
Stop by Lee Garden to see the new additions.
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Introducing Buds and Blooms |
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We are growing! New members are joining with enthusiasm and new ideas and we need your help in welcoming them into our group. We are looking for volunteers to make a friendly phone call and perhaps take a stroll through Lee Garden or the Gold Star Walk in Mead Park to familiarize our new members with some of our projects. Accompanying the new member to weed or plant with Traveling Trowels would also be helpful.
If you would like to be a Bloom for a new Bud, contact Jill Ernst at [email protected] or 203-972-0320.
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Apple Bread
Makes 2 loaves
3 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups chopped, pared, cored apples (3-4 apples)
1 cup chopped pecans
Topping:
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two loaf pans.
Stir together eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until well mixed.
Combine flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Stir into liquid ingredients until evenly mixed. Stir in apples and pecans. Divide between 2 prepared loaf pans.
Prepare topping by combining sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over tops of loaves.
Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool breads in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pans. Remove breads from the pans to wire rack to cool.
The breads are even better the second day. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store at room temperature.
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Carol's 'Old Family' Piccalilli Relish
Wondering what to do with those end-of-season green tomatoes? My dad used to make piccalilli relish from them. I continue the tradition.
6 lbs. green tomatoes, any variety will do
3 lbs. onions
1/2 c (scant) salt
1 bunch leeks, white and light green parts only
2 hot pepers
2 red, 2 green, 2 yellow peppers
1 bunch celery
1 sm. container (.9 oz.) mustard seed
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
4 c sugar (last time I used 2 c sugar and 2 c Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener which has zero calories)
1 qt. white vinegar
Rough chop tomatoes and onions; add salt and let stand in cooking pot overnight or up to 24 hours. (I put it out by the back door and give it a stir when I pass by.) Drain well in the morning. Remove seeds and cut up peppers, leeks and celery. Add to pot along with all other ingredients. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 1-2 hours, stirring often. Put in sterilized jars while still hot and and seal with sterilized lids.
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To Rake or Not to Rake.... |
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Fine Gardening has a good article on the benefits of NOT raking or blowing leaves from the lawn. See below: |
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The spotted lantern fly is headed this way. To identify this invasive pest and to learn more about preventive measures, please see below. |
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Saturday, October 10th, a crew of NCBL members welcomed visitors to the Farmers' Market and handed out flyers to raise awareness of the NCBL. |
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Yellows of the Bottlebrush Buckeyes-- Escalus parvifolia. |
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Cyclamens are native to the Mediterranean region from southern France to Turkey including many islands. This particular cultivar is also described as being ‘naturalized’ in Northern Europe as well as the Pacific Northwest. So not native, but well adapted to live here, and a delight in a woodland garden. |
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November is bulb planting month for us.
Won't you help us plant some bulbs?
Planting schedule
Mon., Tues. and Thurs. Nov 2, 3 & 5. (10-3pm)
email Faith for confirmation of times
fWe will plant Sun Disc & Tete-a-Tete daffodils, Charm Offensive Daffodil blend
and a Grape Hyacinth Blend
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It is now LEAF-SWATTING SEASON at Lee Garden!
What is Leaf Swatting and why do we do it?
As leaves and clusters of leaves fall and land
on the azaleas and rhododendron, they get stuck
in the Y's of the branches
and then more leaves pile on top of that.
If snow lands on those leaves it can get heavy
and the weight will break the branches and flower buds.
You can wear any kind of glove and swat the leaves to the ground.
Even gently using a stick can help where it is out of your reach.
We thank you and the plants thank you!
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As you know, our Triangle Co-Chair team is led by Barbara Wilson along with Claude Colabella and Greg Brown. We are eager to help the volunteers as needed to keep the Triangles looking good. Barbara will be the contact person if you have any problems or questions so please email [email protected] going forward.
- After first hard frost, cut back perennials to almost ground level
- Leave ornamental grasses for winter
- Rake or blow leave to appropriate place. Some triangles will have leaves blown and/or picked up by landscaper or town.
- Leaf pick up date(s) TBD (to be determined -probably November)
- Replace any plants that are needed
- Prune trees or shrubs as needed
- Plant bulbs if appropriate (let us know if you need bulbs)
Thank you for all your hard work and continuing to make New Canaan beautiful.
Daffodil plantings for Laurel Rd. will include Ice Follies, Leucojum Snowflake, Grape Hyacinth blend and Tete-a-Tete daffodils.
Daffodil plantings for Rosebrook triangle will have Ice Follies, Grape Hyacinth blend and Tete-a-Tete daffs.
For more information on the daffodils, go to:
Clockwise from top left: God's Acre; Todd Bruno replaced a dogwood at Buttery & Carter; Viburnum pragnese replaced a Kousa Dogwood damaged at 123 & 106; Carol Seldin's triangle at Ponus & Cascade; 123 & 106 triangle preparation
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Civic Beautification Projects |
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The following dates we'll be working with the SLOBs (Service League of Boys). Members are welcome to join in!
Sat. Nov. 7
Move grasses at Mead Plaza
9-11
Sat. Nov. 14
Bulb planting (1000!) at Gold Star Bridge and Plaza
9-12
Bulbs planted in the Gold Star Walk's bridge area include Vital Signs, red & white mix and a Grape Hyacinth Blend.
Mead Park will have lots of Ice Follies Daffodils! Ice Follies is described as "One of the strongest-growing daffodils ever and great for naturalizing."
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If you have not already done so, please pay your membership dues (due June 30).
Anyone who has joined since January 2020
does not have to pay dues for the coming year, 2020 – 2021.
Please write 'FOR MEMBERSHIP' on checks.
Please send in your membership form with your check for dues to NCBL Membership, PO Box 1244, New Canaan, CT 06840.
To download the membership form, click HERE.
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Please tell us if you know of any NCBL member who is ill or has lost a loved one.
Membership (usually Libby) will send a card to the person from the NCBL.
Libby Butterworth (203-801-0862)
([email protected])
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Please welcome our newest member
Debbie Simpson
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Special thanks to the generosity of Chris Schipper and Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs Co., who donated the bulbs for our large Town Hall planters.
Buried in this planter at Town Hall are a mix of red and white tulips surrounded by blue grape hyacinths.
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With thanks to Karen Sneirson...... |
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Hooker's Lips
(Psychotria Elata)
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Happy Alien
(Calceolaria Uniflora)
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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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