October, 2020 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear New Canaan Beautification League Members and Friends,
September 23, 2020 was a very special day for New Canaan Beautification League! We Zoomed forward with our first virtual webinar, Faith Kerchoff's marvelously informative presentation about our organization's impressive history and many projects. Later, many gathered at Mead Park for the dedication of a new bench honoring Faith's many contributions to our town. That was followed by a leisurely stroll along the Gold Star Walk and Rob Carpenter distributed the attractive new triange signs designed by Faith.
Special thanks to Patricia Spugani, our savvy technical expert, for making sure our programs run smoothly. Next up on Wednesday, October 7th: Earth Garden owner, Nancy Gorkin, will cover all we need to know about indoor plants and overwintering terrace plants. Register today with the newsletter link and you will be in the loop for this program.
Additional ongoing activities in this newsletter: Native Plant sale at Copia; Waveny Care Center outdoor floral decorations: Hanging Baskets are still going strong; Traveling Trowels dates for weeding and planting bulbs; and a tempting recipe for pumpkin bars from our Hospitality Committee.
We want your photographs for the newsletter. Please contribute your pictures of favorite plants and autumn beauty for publication in the November newsletter. They can be sent to Fanny Moran: fannymo@optonline.net.
Now is the time to appreciate the cooler temperatures and witness the brilliant transformation of leaf color that is distinctly New England.
"Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly.
They take their time and wander in this, their only chance to soar.'
Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing
Warmly,
Karen Hanson & Carol Seldin, Co-Presidents
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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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October 7th program:
"There's No Place Like Home for Your Plants - Especially in Winter!"
Nancy Kline Gorkin, owner of Earth Garden will give us information on how to keep house plants healthy and happy over the winter. She will describe how to create a favorable environment for indoor plants to thrive and will also address the needs of over-wintering plants indoors. Everything from watering, feeding, pest management and best types of plants and locations for indoor living will be included.
Zoom Webinar 9:30-11:30 a.m.
This program is open to the public, so please invite friends!
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Once you have registered, an email will be sent to your inbox. |
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Friends of Bristow Park Pollinator Pathway Planting |
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Friends of Bristow Park, Connecticut's second oldest bird sanctuary, are raising money to restore native pollinator plants to nourish bees, butterflies and songbirds in Bristow. You can help with your contribution by clicking on the link below. Each dollar will be matched by Sustainable CT so your contribution goes twice as far! Thank you! |
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Copia Garden Sale - Extended |
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NATIVE PLANT SALE EXTENDED
Planet New Canaan is teaming up with Copia Home and Garden for a native plant sale to benefit New Canaan Beautification League
from August 1st until October 15th. For every $75 worth of native plants purchased, $10 worth of native plants will be donated to NCBL. Customers may also give a native plant to NCBL for $15. The sale applies to native perennials, shrubs and trees. New Canaan residents who would like to purchase native plants but are not comfortable visiting Copia during Covid can have their purchase of perennials and shrubs delivered to their homes by Planet New Canaan, as long as they meet the $75 in native plants minimum. Orders to Copia can be placed over the phone and Planet New Canaan will update weekly a list of available plants on their Facebook Page and Website. Unfortunately the NCBL 10% off discount will not be valid for this sale. Please mention Planet New Canaan when making your purchase to ensure credit.
A WISH LIST OF PLANTS FOR LEE GARDEN
Bur Oak Tree - Quercus macrocarpa
American Sweet Gum Tree - Liquidambar styraciflua
Oak Regal Prince - Quercus x warei 'Long'
American Chestnut - Castanea dentata
American Holly 'Mary Holman' - Ilex opaca
Magnolia Virginiana 'Green Shadow' Magnolia - 'Sweetbay'
Frothergilla x intermediate 'Mt. Airy'
Clethra 'Ruby Spice Summersweet'
Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis
American black elderberry, Sambucus canadensis
Azalea x 'Lemon Drop'
Cardinal flower - Lobelia cardinalis
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'
Sweetfern, Comptonia peregrina
Copia
475 Smith Ridge Rd.
S. Salem, NY
914/533-7242
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Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower) at our Lee Garden bridge. |
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Pumpkin Bars with Yellow Cake Mix
1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs, divided
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 can (29 oz) pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease (I use Pam) and flour 13X9 inch baking pan.
Remove 1 cup cake mix and reserve.
In a small bowl lightly beat 1 egg. In a large bowl stir together remaining cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter and beaten egg. Press into pan. This is a little tricky as it is sticky and doesn’t smooth out right away. Just stay with it - it eventually works!!
In a large bowl lightly beat remaining 3 eggs. Stir in pumpkin, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk and cinnamon. Pour over cake mixture.
To the remaining 1 cup of cake mix add 1/2 cup sugar, walnuts and 1/4 cup melted butter. Mix until crumbly and sprinkle over pumpkin mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees 50 to 60 minutes.
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Current circumstances have caused us to make changes to our Waveny Care Center flower arranging program. Many of us enjoyed gathering flowers, arranging them with a friend and proudly walking the flower cart to the dining room. However, NCBL volunteers are never deterred - we just come up with a creative solution.
Thanks to Sara, Libby and other NCBL members for providing annual planters on two occasions which were placed outside on residents' patios and in the courtyard. In the next few days the planters will be replaced with seasonal planters. Eniko gathered plants, pumpkins and whimsical items to decorate the front entrance.
“Thank you so much! The staff commented on how beautiful the entrance looks! Many thanks to you and all our NCBL friends! We are grateful!”, said Waveny volunteer coordinator, Stella Clarke.
Our next opportunity to decorate Waveny Care will be in December. Although it is early, we are already planning to put our efforts into making the holidays special for the residents as well as all the heroes who work there! More to come.
Thank you!
Eniko and Kathy
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There is always a lot going on at Lee and fall is no exception. This year, Faith, Kathy, Yvonne and company cleared out a boggy section. It was a huge job and will enable the winter berry to grow more freely. Stop by for a feast for the eyes! Clockwise from upper left: Doll's Eyes, Actea; a birdhouse; 2 wooly caterpillars seem to be predicting a mild winter; Golden Rod, Solidago; Turtle Head, 'Hot Lips'; winterberry |
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Traffic Triangle outside the Thrift Shop. |
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We have new signs designed by Faith and put together by Rob, for each triangle.
Thank you, both!
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Rob Carpenter holds one of our new triangle signs. |
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Herb Garden at the New Canaan Nature Center |
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Gardeners Sandy Siegel, Kathy Lapolla and Stephanie Hutter meet Tuesday mornings to care for this gem of a garden. Fall is just as pretty as spring and summer were! Some highlights of the season are shown below. |
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Castor Bean Plant & Tri-color sage |
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Amaranth, aka Love Lies Bleeding |
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Our hanging baskets were put to the test this year, with the extreme heat, drought, and storms. Despite that, they looked great with help from Walt Jaykus, our town DPW, and our Hanging Basket chair, Bianca Romano. Bianca trimmed the baskets that needed it and made sure our shade and sun baskets were hanging where they should be. Although our town center struggled this year, it looked joyful!
You can see a gallery of our baskets from previous years by going to our website or clicking the button and scrolling down the webpage.
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Civic Beautification Projects |
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The following dates we'll be doing work with the SLOBS in town. Members are welcome to join in!
Sat. Oct. 10 9-12
Wood chips at Mead Park
Sun. Oct 18 10-12
Ivy clearing at Train Station
Sat. Nov. 7 9-11
Move grasses at Mead Plaza
Sat. Nov. 14 9-11
Bulb planting at Gold Star Bridge and Plaza
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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.
The directory has been sent. Please let Sara Hunt know if you have not received it by month's end.
THANK YOU SARA HUNT FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER!
NCBL now has over 170 members.
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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 them a card from the NCBL.
Libby Butterworth
(203-801-0862)
(eabutter@gmail.com)
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Please welcome our newest members
Kathleen Murphy
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Faith Kerchoff, was recognized for her labors on behalf of the League and therefore the town, with a bench on Mead Park Plaza. She gave a wonderful webinar highlighting all the special places NCBL cares for. Carol supplied the dahlias from her garden. |
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Dazzling Dahlia Delights: |
I love dahlias and have been growing them for years. Just when other flowers are giving out, dahlias put on their best show. Flowers vary in color, size and type and are easy to grow. They do best staked, in full sun & like fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. (Stake them when planting the tubers.) Dahlias are wonderful as cut flowers - put freshly cut stems in hot water to start and they will last longer.
Carol
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New Canaan Beautification League will have a table at the New Canaan Farmers' Market on Saturday, Oct. 10th from 10:00 a.m. to 2pm. NCBL members will be available for gardening tips and have information about upcoming programs and events. Please stop by and say hello. |
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Peggy Dannemann recently helped a friend pull together flowers for her daughter's wedding. Peggy asked several NCBL members if she might forage in their gardens to make the arrangements. They were stunning! |
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Traveling Trowel Fridays: Mead Park |
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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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New Canaan Beautification League
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