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September, 2023 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear Members and Friends,
Welcome back to another year of NCBL! We have a great calendar of events which you can see below so please get your calendars ready. We are hitting the ground running.
On Wednesday, September 13th we will kick off our 2023/23 year at Mead Park with our annual 'Welcome Back Coffee'. Amy Reid and Amy Sorenson are in need of volunteers to make flower arrangements at Waveny Care Center on Mondays during the months of September, October and December. Enterprising members, Nancy Malling and Camilla Austin are spearheading a new event: A fall plant swap. Planet New Canaan will hold their annual fund raiser on Thursday September 14th at the Carriage Barn. The fall NCBL table at the Farmers' Market - to help spread the word about what we do for New Canaan - will be on September 23rd. Registration is now open for our Fall Luncheon. Come gather with friends, have lunch, and hear a great presentation. All the information is below, and thanks to our new website, you can register online!
We look forward to seeing all of you for coffee at Mead Park on the 13th!
Sincerely,
Robin Bates-Mason & Jill Ernst
co-Presidents
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September Welcome Back Coffee | |
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Wednesday
September 13
10:00 am
Mead Park Colonnade
(rain date is the Thursday, September 14)
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Join us as we begin another year together.
We'll have coffee and treats with our town partners including the DPW which do so much to make our efforts successful, along with representatives from Town Hall and the Chamber of Commerce.
Members are welcome to bring guests.
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Refreshments Needed
Volunteers are needed to help with refreshments for our upcoming Welcome Back Coffee at 10:00 am on September 13, 2023 at the Mead Park colonnade. If you would be willing to provide a baked good or finger food please contact Anne Tropeano at annietrop@yahoo.com. Thank you.
The Hospitality Committee
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Wednesday
October 4, 2023
11:15 - 2:00 pm
The Country Club of New Canaan
95 Country Club Road
New Canaan, CT
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Therapeutic Horticulture:
Growing Relationships through People-Plant Connections
with
Anne Meore LMSW, HTR
Designer/Instructor
Bon Secours Charity Health System
Anne M. Meore, Licensed social worker, registered Horticultural Therapist and NYBG faculty member, shares the foundational pillars of the people-plant relationship that connect us not only to the natural world, but also to each other. Skills will be explored which are instrumental in therapeutic horticulture applications for a wide variety of service communities.
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The Program includes a hands-on activity that will be done before lunch is served. Please arrive promptly by 11:15 if you'd like to participate. Each attendee will make two herbal tea bags with materials provided by our speaker. | |
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Cost: $35.00 per person
RSVP by Monday, September 25
Register for the luncheon by clicking the button below:
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For those unable to sign up online, you may send your registration fee to Peggy Dannemann. Checks must be received by 9/25/23.
Peggy Dannemann
71 Brushy Ridge Road
New Canaan, CT 06840
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Menu:
Main Course:
- Bed of Harvest Salad (field greens, dried cranberries, candied pecans and crumbled goat cheese with Champagne vinaigrette dressing (nuts and dressing served on the side)
- Choice of protein: broiled salmon, chicken, or cauliflower steak (vegetarian option)
- Basket of assorted breads on the table with butter and spreads
Dessert:
Tiramisu cup with chocolate-dipped lady finger
Beverages:
Iced tea, lemonade and water with meal; coffee and tea with dessert
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Flower Arranging Help Needed
Volunteers are needed to make floral arrangements for the October Luncheon, please contact Lauren McCusker to help.
Lauren McCusker (lamcc@optonline.net, 203-554-8243)
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Ms Meore's work at the New York Botanical Garden includes serving as the Horticultural Therapy Program Coordinator for THRIVE (Therapeutic Horticulture and Rehabilitative Intervention for Veteran Engagement) and partnering with the Bronx VA’s Resilience & Wellness Center, the first-ever therapeutic horticulture program offered at NYBG. She is a faculty member of the TH Certificate Program at NYBG. She is the proud recipient of the AHTA’s 2022 Charles Lewis Excellence in Research Award, and the John Walker Community Service Award for her Horticultural Therapy work with a wide spectrum of vulnerable populations.
In addition to her work at NYBG, she is the owner of Planthropy LLC, providing therapeutic garden consultation, horticulture therapy programming, and lectures on the importance of the “people-plant” relationship. Planthropy’s latest work was the 2022 design and installation of the G.R.O.W. Garden (Gardening for Resilience & Optimal Wellness), the first therapeutic garden on the J.J. Peters VAMC campus, in which she provides therapeutic horticulture, garden education, and staff support programming.
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Volunteers Needed to Make Flower Arrangements
Waveny Care Center
Mondays in September, October, & December
Flower arrangements are an integral part of making Waveny the attractive home it is for its residents.
This commitment is about 1-1/2 hour and you are welcome to work with a partner.
Detailed instructions will be sent by Amy S. and Amy R. with regard to sourcing flowers.
You can sign up by clicking this button below:
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2023- 2024 Program and Special Events
Mark your calendars so you don't miss a thing!
(More information regarding our programs will come.)
September 13: Welcome Back Coffee
Mead Park Colonnade
(rain date is the 14th)
10:00 a.m.
October 4th: Annual Luncheon
Country Club of New Canaan
11:30 -2:30
November 1: Evening Program
November 29: Wreaths and Greens Workshop
January 3: Program on Zoom
February 7: Program on Zoom***
Deborah Chud speaks on "New Perennial Gardens"
March 6: Program on Zoom
April 3, 2024: Victorian Tea
Waveny House,
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
April 10, 2024: Joint program with NC Garden Club
Location and time to be announced
May 1: Program at Nature Center
June 5: Program at Nature Center
*** Dr. Chud has invited NCBL members to visit her gardens. See below for more details.
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🎄MARK YOUR CALENDARS🎄
(even though it's only September!)
November 28 & 29
Each year, the New Canaan Garden Club and NCBL partner to make wreaths and gnomes for public buidings and spaces in New Canaan. The greens are supplied by the town through tree trimming and delivered to the Nature Center where volunteers staple or tie them onto forms. Finished products are delivered and placed or hung by the DPW. This is a fun day and an excellent way to support the town at the holiday season. NO ARTISTIC TALENT REQUIRED.
WORKSHOP DATE: Wednesday, November 29 9am - 2pm at New Canaan Nature Center.
SET UP DATE: Tuesday morning, November 28 at the New Canaan Nature Center
It's a wonderful way to start the season and enjoy the friendship of our members. Talent is not a requirement, only energy and interest. The commitment can be the morning or just a few hours so please consider saving the date now. The sign up link will be in a future newsletter.
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The below article was also submitted to and printed in the NewCanaanite this week. | |
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New Canaan Train Station: Then and Now
In 2000, the New Canaan Beautification League undertook a large renovation of the hill at the train station under the guidance of then-president Penny Mardoian and civic chairs Judy Jennings and Carol Diforio. The steps and the plaza area with benches were put in and plantings added.
Twenty years later, NCBL started a project to rejuvenate the area but covid delayed the project start until recently.
Current presidents Jill Ernst and Robin Bates-Mason, along with civic chair Faith Kerchoff have been working to get this underway. The New Canaan Beautification League is funding the plants for this renovation in our commitment to ‘Keep New Canaan Beautiful’.
This project is a cooperative effort with the town. We are grateful to the Selectmen and to Tiger Mann, director of Public Works, and the DPW for their help in getting this project started. The town has begun the renovation by replacing the sidewalks with brick to match the downtown look, and removing the wooden fence. A new black iron fence will be erected soon.. New light standards will also be added in the train station.
The hillside was full of invasive plants which were removed. The soil will be replaced with New Canaan’s own rich compost and regraded, a new irrigation system will be added, and some boulders for support as well.
The plaza where the Sept 11 flagpole was installed in 2002 will be regraded, made a little larger and barrier-free. A bluestone patio and new benches will be added. We have been mindful of retaining several wonderful plantings: a Stewartia tree, 3 or 4 star Magnolias, a yellow Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’, and a weeping Mulberry tree.
Two NCBL members, Barbara Wilson, Landscape Architect, and Ty Tan, Landscape Designer, have helped with the redesign. Ms.Wilson has done the hardscaping plans and Ms. Tan the plant design. Many native plants will be added which were not a focus 23 years ago. The goal is to have a natural look with lower maintenance that will provide four season interest. This will include shrubs like Cotinus, Deutzia, Hydrangea, Ilex, Juniper, Spirea and plants like Euphorbia, Amsonia, Sesleria, Alliums, Achillea, Heliopsis, Asters, Anemone, Spurge and Penstemon.
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After grading had been completed, 2000 | |
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Getting ready for re-planting, 2023 | |
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Dig and Divide
September 2023
an idea from
Camilla Austin & Nancy Malling
Do you have excess plants? Are you dividing favorites or voracious growers? Have you had too much success growing from seed or taking cuttings or have you been re-arranging your gardens? Or, do you have a hole that needs filling? This is your opportunity to find new homes for your plants and to benefit from donations.
We will run the plant swap for two weeks from Friday 15 September to Friday 29 September 2023. All plants should be collected within this timeframe.
No plants should be offered from properties that have identified or suspected Asian Jumping Worms.
To offer your plants:
Members wishing to offer plants should e-mail information to Camilla Austin by Monday 11th September 2023 at: Camillaaustin127@gmail.com
Please copy and paste the following into your email and fill in all information. Head the email 'Dig and Divide':
Member's Name:
Address:
Contact number:
Plant Name:
Number of plants available:
Growing condition: (sun, partial sun, shade etc)
Flower month and color:
We will email a list of plants available on Thursday 14 September to all New Canaan Beautification League members and will update this list weekly during the event.
The plant swap will run for two weeks from Friday 15 September to Friday 29 September 2023. All plants should be collected within this timeframe.
To claim plants offered:
· Make contact with the member offering plants – phone call or text
· Arrange a date and time to collect the plants
· Check if the plants are in pots or need to be dug out
· Take any tools/pots to transport the plants
· Be ready to replant and water your new plants
· Email Camilla who can mark the plant as taken on the offerings sheet
General Guidelines/Spirit
· Dig and Divide is for New Canaan Beautification League members only
· Make direct contact with the member who has a plant you would like to take
· Plants must be collected by Friday 29 September 2023
· Plants offered should be pest free and healthy. Plants taken and given at members' discretion
· Members should be home when plants are taken, (no sending of landscapers). This ensures the correct plants are taken and no damage is done to the members gardens
· There will be no monetary payments for plants given or taken
This is a trial and we are open to suggestions to improve the process.
We hope this can become an annual event.
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February Speaker - Special Invitation to Members | |
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Deborah Chud is a retired Massachusetts physician turned garden-maker, consultant and educator. Her 6 years of research on New Perennial gardens, including NY’s High Line, Chicago’s Lurie Garden, the Oudolf Meadow at 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 in February and we will publish more information about her presentation closer to that date.
Dr. Chud has generously invited any NCBL member to tour her gardens before the end of October. If you're going to be in Boston and have an hour or so, please feel free to get in touch with her:
112 Waban Hill Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
dfchud@gmail.com
617.964.2563
Text messages only may be sent to 617.308.4585
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Help Needed at Farmers Market
September 23
NCBL will be at the Farmers Market on September 23 and Ginny needs 4 people to help spread the word about what we do by handing out fliers and answering any questions. There are two shifts: 9:30-11:30 and 11:30 - 1:30. Kindly be in touch with her if you would like to help: ginnyadobbs@gmail.com
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Can you spot the toad, perfectly camouflaged among the rocks at Lee Garden? Connecticut is home to two species of toads: the American toad (Bufo americanus) which is most likely the one pictured here at Lee Garden, and Fowler's toad (Bufo fowleri). The two species are often confused and can hybridize. | |
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We are looking for volunteers to work in the garden for
an hour or two per week.
It is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors this fall.
Lee Garden has a lot to teach us:
Want to learn more about azaleas and rhodies, ground covers, shade plants,
pruning and more? You will at Lee.
In November we'll be planting bulbs.
Our extensive book collection is open for all to enjoy.
We are there Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30-1pm or you can email Faithkerchoff@hotmail.com to set up a different time to meet.
Members of the Bartlett Master Gardener program have been volunteering at the garden this year.
| A Few Plants You'll Find at Lee Garden this Fall | |
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a North American native perennial that can grow up to 5 feet. It typically occurs in wet soils in low woods, thickets, stream banks, meadows and prairies. Flat-topped clusters (compound corymbs) of small, fluffy, white flowers appear above the foliage in late summer to fall. Butterfles love to visit this plant. ** | |  |
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White baneberry (Actaea pachypoda), also known as doll's
eyes, is of striking visual interest. In addition to its clusters of tiny white flowers, the plant produces white berries with deep purple "pupils" in late summer to fall, that give them the appearance of a doll's eyes.**
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Goldenrod (Solidago sp) is a native North American perennial wildflower. There are many species of this genus and you'll find a few at Lee Garden. Once regarded as an invasive weed, Goldenrod is increasingly valued by gardeners thanks to cultivars that offer better performance and more attractive flowers. Bees and butterflies love this genus for its pollen. Goldenrod adds a pretty fall glow to the garden and is a member of the Aster family. | | |
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), is also known as orange jewelweed, common jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, or touch-me-not. It's an annual belonging to the family Balsaminaceae which is native to North America. It is a pollinator plant and hummingbirds love it. A prolific self-seeder, touching the seed pods sends seeds exploding out into the air. We have it at Lee Garden and try to keep it to one area. | | |
** note: plant berries and seeds can be poisonous. | |
The Hanging Baskets Committee has received multiple letters of appreciation and admiration from both residents and out-of-towners for the gorgeous baskets hung this year. Thank you chairs, Jessica Havens and Pam Yee, for your coordination. The baskets did not grow out exactly as the chairs anticipated, with one plant and color dominating over the other, but isn't this the way nature grows? So much of gardening is setting the seed and then having the results of our work dictated by things out of our control. Unlike our town neighbors, the flowers we order for our 200+ baskets are different every year, adding another element of surprise to our yearly display. | |
Beautiful purples and yellows at the mailbox drop-off area on Pine Street. | | |
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The town is adding new “Welcome to New Canaan" signs and creating corresponding traffic triangles/gardens for them. We are looking for volunteers to help maintain and possibly water these new projects located at:
Rt 124 & NY line
Rt. 123 & NY line.
Jessica Havens needs someone to help her with the triangle at Rt. 123 and Rt. 106. Please contact her if you can help: jessicahavens@gmail.com.
Teams of volunteers are welcome to adopt these new garden spaces.
Caring for the triangles takes about an hour - or less - per month, depending on the size of the garden.
Please contact Claude Colabella if you can help: nccolabella@hotmail.com.
And THANK YOU!
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Ready to hit the dirt in style!
Be the first on your triangle to sport this protective jumpsuit as you promote NCBL . Contact Jill Ernst (jrvernst@gmail.com) to get yours while the small supply lasts. A mere $10 gets you one and the use of the stencil and spray paint.
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Summer blooms at Mead Park Plaza. | |
Looking colorful and cheery | |
Garden Conservancy Open Garden in New Canaan | |
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Garden Conservancy Open Days
Saturday, September 9, 2023
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Our very own member, Sarina Vetterli, will be on the Garden Conservancy's Open Days, Saturday September 9. A nominal fee to view the garden will be charged and supports the mission of The Garden Conservancy to educate and preserve public gardens.
You must register to visit gardens on Open Days. To register for Sarina's garden, click on the link below. You will find other gardens to visit on this day also.
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A year or two ago, Nancy Malling began orchestrating informal garden tours to members' gardens. It has turned out to be immensely popular. This summer, NCBL members were invited to visit 17 gardens and an average of 34 members per visit day, did just that.
Thank you to Nancy & her team of Lois Himes, Peter Hanson and Pam Yee for all of their efforts. And many thanks to all the gardener owners and to the greeters, many of whom greeted on more than one occasion.
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Dahlia 'Alain Mimoun' from Kathy Kwiatkowski's garden. | |
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For over 5 years, Planet New Canaan, the brainchild of our very own Robin Bates-Mason, has been working to educate our town citizens about the merits of recycling. And over that short time span has brought to the town:
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Annual Five Mile River clean-up with Surfrider Foundation
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Establishment of the New Canaan Pollinator Pathway; PNC was one of the founding members, June 2019
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Annual native plant fundraiser with Copia Home and Garden, starting in Spring 2019
- Seasonal pumpkin and Christmas Tree recycling, starting in 2020
- Food Scraps Recycling program at the New Canaan Transfer Station, starting November 2020
- Established as a tax-exempt non-profit 501(C)(3), January 2021
- Native tree funding campaign for Waveny Park, April 2021
- Swap Shop founded November, 2023
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Ongoing educational programs with the New Canaan Library
The annual fundraiser is Thursday, September 14th at the Carriage Barn in Waveny Park. Please buy your tickets below.
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A frequenter of the swap shop recently brought in these flowers as a 'thank you'. | |
New Canaan Rotary Lobster Bake | |
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Rotary Club Lobsterfest
Sept 29 & 30 at the Town Pool
Support the Rotary club by joining in their annual fundraiser. Funds raised go to the community - and you have the opportunity to send a lobster dinner to first responders. Lobsters may be eaten on site or packed up to take home.
Last lobstahs of the season...
NCBL supplies the mum plants and centerpieces which are then planted in various civic areas around town.
Thanks to members Jill Ernst, Stephanie Hutter and Mary Ann Henry.
For more information and to buy tickets, see below.
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The Pollinator Pathway fundraising effort for the Cam Hutchins Memorial Pollinator Garden at the Bristow Park and Bird Sanctuary was exceeded!
Thank you to all who donated.
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Thank you for being a member! If you have not done so already, please pay your annual dues promptly.
Anyone who joined after December 31, 2022 does not have to pay dues for the coming year, 2023 – 2024.
PLEASE RENEW ONLINE through our website by clicking the button below:
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...or send in your membership form with your check for dues to: NCBL Membership, PO Box 1244, New Canaan, CT 06840. To download the annual membership form, click the button below. | |
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Welcome to our newest member!
Sarah Hering
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Sadly, we have learned that Teddy Berg died August 14th after a long battle with kidney failure. Her obituary is below. | |
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 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@optonline.net.
We want to be sure everyone feels welcome.
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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. | |
visit our website:
New Canaan Beautification League
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