October 2024

NEWSLETTER


Tewksbury

Garden Club

Tewksbury, MA, USA


tewksburygardenclub.com


tewksburygardenclub@gmail.com

Happy 55th Year! And we keep growing!!

Coming soon!

Please get your ticket sale money to Tammy by November 4th. Remember to get baskets to the venue between 3-5pm. If you need help getting your basket to the Holiday Inn, call Tammy, Christine or Susan and we will arrange for your basket to be picked up and delivered. Sign Up Genius link No need to bring treats this year, they are being provided by the Holiday Inn.

Holiday Fundraiser

The Decorated Wreath and Boxwood Tree Fundraiser will take place on Sat. Nov. 30th and Sun. Dec. 1st from 10-2pm at the GROW Greenhouses. Due to delays in pricing from Wilson Farms, there are no final prices yet available. Orders will be online or on site.

October Meeting Highlights

With the guidance and support of Marie and Cathy, we created a beautiful autumnal

floral arrangement using the eco-friendly stabilization device – chicken wire! Chicken

wire can be used again and again and molded differently if your next container is

another shape. Marie and Cathy provided us with information on other methods of stem

stabilization that can be used many times including frogs and criss-crossed tape.

Highlights from Committee Reports

ACE Committee


The ACE containers were refreshed at all spots at the Town Hall, Annex and Library. ACE has started maintaining the 2 planters at the Senior Center front doors.

Sunshine Committee

On behalf of our Garden Club, the Sunshine Team made a singing telegram visit to Joan Harmon to wish her a Happy 90th Birthday. It included a special flower delivery. Happy Birthday, Joan!

Garden Therapy

At the Octoberfest held at Blair House, Lisa and Marie led a team of club members as they assisted residents as they created a seasonal arrangement.

Bayberry residents created a Fall arrangement with the help of Judy and team.

at Blair House

at Bayberry

Happy Travelers

A group of Happy Travelers visited the Johnny Appleseed Visitor’s Area to learn a bit about the person who was instrumental in bringing apples across the United States. They enjoyed a fresh apple and apple cider donuts and brought home bags of fresh picked apples.

Literary Blooms Arrangements at the Tewksbury Public Library Connie Monaco created a beautiful October arrangement.

Club Members in the News

Congratulations to Rita for the distinction of having a center named in her honor – the Rita O'Brien-Dee Center for Behavioral Health and Development at Community Teamwork. The Rita O’Brien-Dee Center for Behavioral Health and Development provides children and families at Community Teamwork with developmental and behavioral health services that nurture healthy social-emotional and educational development.

Horticulture Article

Your Blooming Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)

Caring for a cactus that blooms during one of the Fall, Winter or Spring holidays is easy. Use cactus soil or any soil that is well drained. The pot should have drainage holes as well. Give your cactus water about every 2 weeks when the soil is dry about 1-2 inches down. Be sure to water your cactus while it’s in flower to prevent the blooms from dropping.

An east-facing window is best as it will provide bright, indirect light. A regular houseplant plant food given every 2 weeks during the spring and summer can help keep your plant healthy. Decrease the fertilizer to once a month during the fall and winter.

So how do you get your cactus to bloom? It’s easy to get those lovely succulents with pink or red (or sometimes white or yellow) delicate trumpet-shaped flowers ready to bloom in time for the winter holidays. For the 2 other varieties of this cactus that bloom for Thanksgiving and Easter, follow the same instructions.

Your cactus will need long hours (about 14) of cool temperatures and dark for about 6 weeks in order to set buds. This is easier to accomplish in the Fall for plants that will bloom in November or December. If you have a Spring blooming cactus, you might need to cover your plant to decrease the nighttime light.

To get even more blooms, cut the branches by a few segments. New branched leaves will grow from the cut areas. You can root the cut segments to grow new cacti.

Fun Fact: Although called a cactus, this plant grows in tropical rain forests.

Read More

Book / Podcast Recommendations

One of the most significant nature writers of our times has written a book about the most important native tree in New England and in nearly all of the US – the oak. In The Nature of Oaks, Douglas Tallamy introduces us to the wonders of this tree that supports over 2300 native species of birds, mammals. insects, and fungi. Tallamy brings you along on a month-by-month journey of oak trees in our world.

Educational Programs


Tewksbury Public Library Zoom Programs ... Sign Up on the TPL site or use this link

Goodbye Lawn: Sustainable Landscaping Alternatives

Tuesday, November 12th, 7pm


If you cannot attend live, please note all of the virtual programs will be recorded, so feel free to register. All registrants will generally receive the recordings within 24-48 hours.

Tewksbury Community Pantry Donations

Thank you for everyone's food pantry donations at this month's meeting! We collected 17 pounds of food donations for the Community Pantry this month.

Dine Out Nights

We hope that you’re hungry!!

Did you have a chance to enjoy Wicked Cheesy at our recent Dine Out on October 28th, 29th and 30th? Always mention the Garden Club to be sure we are credited with participating.


We have a Kyoto Dine IN on November 6th. Yes, Dine In only. Be sure to mention the Garden Club.

Upcoming Meetings

CHANGE: The Board meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Thursday November 7th at Marie Luciano’s house so that everyone can get a nice meal at Kyoto for our Dine In night. Please let Marie know if you’ll be attending.


The December meeting will be here before you know it.

The meeting will be held at 3 Amigos, located at 1777 Main Street in Tewksbury

  • Let Tammy know if you are attending so she can order the correct amount of
  • appetizers
  • Bring a new wrapped Yankee Swap gift valued about $20.00 if you want to participate
  • Wear an ugly, funny or weird holiday sweater. There might even be prizes!

The whole club is sending hugs to Roberta! We hope to see you soon!

Publications

The Mayflower is the quarterly publication of the Garden Club Federation of

Massachusetts. www.gcfm.org/mayflower



Northern Exposure is a quarterly publication of the New England Garden Clubs

Newsletter Submissions



Post committee updates on our Facebook member's page so we can pull content from there and images are easy to grab.


Submit all info/pictures for inclusion in future newsletters to tewksburygardenclub@gmail.com by the 27th each month.


Thanks for all you do, and for contributing to this publication!