March, 2024 Newsletter

Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful

Dear Members and Friends,

As New Canaan Beautification League gears up for the Annual Appeal, we can be proud as an organization that members of our community are willing to donate to support our work. Our efforts would not be possible without these contributions and we are indeed grateful for the support. Of course, our work would not be possible without our volunteers who put in countless hours weeding, pruning, planting, designing, planning programs and so much more. It goes without saying that all of our volunteers are amazing but sometimes, there are those who have truly gone above and beyond what would ever be expected of anyone and who have contributed years of service to NCBL. It is in these cases, that NCBL bestows our highest accolade to these members - Lifetime Honorary Membership. We are pleased to announce that two such members have been bestowed this honor - Shirley Stancik and Carol Seldin.

Carol joined NCBL in 1996 and Shirley in 2000 and both ladies were driving forces in inspiring NCBL to have fabulous fundraisers - from the Festival of Trees, to Kentucky Derby parties, to Tablescapes at Waveny. As Faith Kerchoff, NCBL Historian said recently, 'They are extremely talented at display. Legendary. Sheep on the front lawn one year at Tablescapes to giant red snails on the lawn another year. They enticed decorators to do fabulous table settings with opulent flower arrangements."

Their service to NCBL included positions on the board. Shirley was Vice President 2008-9 and again 2013-14. Carol was President 2012-15 and co-president 2020-22. Carol was also on the Programs Committee from 2009-12, Fundraising Committee in 2013 and Finance Committee. Both Shirley and Carol shared their gardens with NCBL members on numerous occasions including a 'tulipmania' walk and new members' walks.

It is with the utmost gratitude that honorary membership has been bestowed on both.

Sincerely,

Robin Bates-Mason & Jill Ernst

co-Presidents

Did you know we have a Facebook group just for our NCBL members? Join the group to share all things plants, and ask questions! Click the image left, and click on "join". See you there!

New Perennials: A Love Story

with Deborah Chud

Deborah Chud gave an incredibly informative talk in February stressing the importance of structural continuum in the garden. You can watch a replay of her lecture with the button below. Please note that the replay will only be available through April 30. Deborah provided a handout to go along with her presentation and that can be downloaded by clicking the button below.

Texas Tree Lady

with Janette Monear, President and CEO of Texas Tree Foundation

March 6, 2024

9:30 - 11:00 am

via Zoom

In March, we will be traveling from the gardens in Massachusetts to Dallas, where the East Texas Piney Woods meet the beginning of the Great Plains - not a natural environment for an “urban forest.” However, in 1982, the city of Dallas and many community leaders became concerned about the “creeping concrete” and wanted to find new ways to create a greener environment.

In the beginning, the group was focused on the Dallas Park System, but it soon became apparent that attention was needed in all parts of the city: public spaces and buildings, boulevards and roads as well as educational facilities. Two tree farms were established to provide thousands of trees, and educational initiatives were developed to build and preserve the young “urban forest.”

In 2007, Janette Monear was hired to lead the agency which had been renamed the Texas Trees Foundation. Although the Foundation is committed to continuing the practice of planting thousands of trees each year, it is equally focused on developing projects that will improve the quality of urban life in Dallas. In her presentation, Ms. Monear will highlight several of these projects, including work with Southwest Medical School to develop a two-mile urban streetscape and park. She is passionate about the work of the foundation and, of course, her love of trees.

“He who plants a tree plants a hope”  Lucy Larcom

Register for this webinar at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3DVK05g2T2OQzTkhXNKVSw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Growing Beautiful Food

with Matthew Benson

Wednesday

April 10, 2024

9:30 social

10:00 - 11:30 presentation

Waveny House

Members only

No Registration Required

Books will be for sale at the event.

The New Canaan Garden Club has organized a wonderful joint program for April that promises to inspire us with gorgeous pictures of Stonegate Farm and new ideas for our own summer gardens. Matthew Benson, author, photographer, organic farmer and member of The Garden Club of America, will share his experiences and successes transforming Stonegate Farm into a sustainable and nourishing farm that is as beautiful as it is functional.

Located in the Hudson Valley, Stonegate Farm has served to exemplify Matthew’s methods of beautiful farming, inspiring gardeners of all levels and demonstrating farming as an art form. The farm and its events connect the aesthetics of horticulture with the purpose of farming. His book “Growing Beautiful Food” will be available for purchase at the lecture and to visitors to Stonegate Farm. All are welcome to make the trip for tours and numerous workshops including organic growing techniques, micro farming, floriculture, herbalism and raising chickens.

You can find more about Stonegate Farm and Matthew at the links below:

stonegatefarmNY.org

Matthewbenson.com

CALLING ALL COOKS & BAKERS!

The hospitality committee is looking for volunteers to prepare food/baked goods for our upcoming program “Growing Beautiful Food” on April 10th from 9:30-11:30 at Waveny. 

This is a program we do in conjunction with the NC Garden Club, so there should be a large audience in attendance. 

If you can help, please contact Anne Tropeano at annietrop@yahoo.com or text her at 203-536-0349 to let her know what you would like to contribute. Items should be dropped off at Waveny by 9:15 the morning of the event. Thank you!

The Hospitality Committee

Flower Arranging Workshop

with Ty Tan

Evening Event

March 27 6 pm

New Canaan Nature Center

Ty Tan will hold an evening flower arranging workshop at the New Canaan Nature Center on March 27 at 6 p.m. This will be a great opportunity to get together with members and arrange flowers for Easter and spring celebrations!

Participants should bring their own vases, flowers and clippers.

Space is limited. Members only.

Email to register: ty@tytandesigns.com

Members & their guest are invited to the NCBL ...

Note: due to space, members are limited to two guests.

Guest names are submitted with your RSVP.

With your RSVP, let us know if you'll be bringing:

2 dozen finger sandwiches

deviled eggs

a green salad

a fruit salad

or 2 dozen sweets.

Please bring food on a decorative plate or bowl.

Hats are encouraged!

RSVP by March 27

by clicking the button below:

Anne Tropeano and I are creating floral arrangements for the upcoming Victorian Tea and we’d like to borrow a few teapots to use as vases. As a thank you, we will return your teapot full of spring flowers.

Please email me if you’d like to loan your teapot. Teapots can be left on my front porch at 210 Indian Waters Drive any time before March 23. Make sure to tape your name to the bottom.

Many thanks,

Susan Bergen

fab16snb@gmail.com

203 940 0070

Note that we have added a Garden Visit date in April!

Last year's Member Garden Visits were tremendously popular and they will continue again this spring and summer on the following dates:

April 18

May 9

June 13

July 10

August 7

Registration is now open for the April and May garden visit dates. Click on the green button below to register:

The gardens will be open from 9:30 am to noon for 35 registered NCBL members.

If the dates are full, contact Lois Himes to be added to the waitlist:

203 451 2355 or loisbhimes@gmail.com

Directions to the gardens will be sent to the registrants the day before the event. The Garden Visits will be held rain or shine!

Greeters Needed!

A GREAT WAY TO MEET FELLOW MEMBERS AND TO SEE GARDENS IS TO VOLUNTEER TO BE A GREETER!

Use the blue button below to sign up as a greeter for April or May. Please contact Pam Yee if you have any questions: pamyee6@gmail.com

How to Speak to your Landscaper

Wednesday, May 1

an evening event: 6:30 - 8:30 pm

with our very own Robin Bates-Mason & Ty Tan

along with Martin Skrulenas, Landscape Architect.

Sunday, May 19

1:00 - 4:00

Olive and George Lee Memorial Garden

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see the breathtaking display of azaleas and rhododendrons at their peak spring bloom. Our garden volunteers will be available for questions.

Please take a few moments to listen to the lecture by Jeff Speck, City Planner, who had some inexpensive & innovative ideas for making New Canaan a safer town for pedestrians. NCBL helped to sponsor Mr. Speck's visit.

Below are excerpts from a note from Leo Karl.

"THANK YOU to everyone involved with bringing Jeff Speck to town. Thanks to each of the organizations that contributed toward the cost. I found it to be one of the most stimulating and thought provoking local talks I can remember. ...we generated a great crowd at the library which seemed to include a broad cross-section of residents and interested parties. Hopefully each of them will continue to think about what they heard and join in for future discussions, ideas, and implementation."

Four benches have been placed on the plaza at the train station. Tiger Mann reports that the parking lot will be repaved this year, completing the project.

Traveling Trowels were at the mail drop garden on Pine Street cleaning up the area and getting it ready for spring. Many thanks to Kathy Lapolla, Pam Yee, Stephanie Hutter, Eniko Szatai, Ty Tan, Cindy Bamatter, and Lois Himes for showing up! An hour after this crew finished, the DPW had picked up the pile of clippings for discard. Look for an email as cleaning up this area will continue this Friday, weather permitting. To get on the Traveling Trowels email list, contact Faith Kerchoff.

Remember: Many hands make light work!

The Carolina hemlock is native to cliffs and ridges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to northeast Tennessee. Unfortunately, it now has an imperiled and vulnerable status in its native range. We have found two Carolina hemlock trees in Lee Garden. What would have inspired George Lee to plant this species on his property? Perhaps it speaks to an inquisitive spirit; or a challenge among plant-loving friends; or perhaps an experiment to see how this species would fare in our rocky CT soil. Whatever the reason, we do know that Lee Garden and George's legacy continues to surprise and delight us.

To see the Carolina hemlocks yourself, enter the garden and walk towards the left hand side of the property. You'll see hemlocks growing on the hill below the barn. Looking towards the barn, the hemlock on the right is the Eastern and the one on the left is the Carolina. You can also see a Carolina hemlock from the barn patio where you can nearly touch its branches. From afar, it is difficult to distinguish the two species from each other. If you'd like to see how to tell these species apart, strictly in botanical terms, click the button below:

Lee Garden wishes to thank the following businesses for their help at the garden:           

Modern Plumbing, Steve and Danielle Pickering, 4 Cross St

Piro Paving, Frank Piro

Summer Rain Irrigation, Jim Loughgrin

Vinny's Custom Metal Fabricators, Vinny Ambroso, Norwalk

Hutchinson Tree Care, Rob and son Robbie Huchinson

We were so fortunate to have Laurie Masciandaro speak to us about Connecticut's sixteen historic gardens. Are you ready to plan your road trips? Laurie provided us with this year's "passport brochure" in digital form and hard copies will be available at our Victorian Tea in April.

Click the image below to download a digital copy:

SIPS AND SLIPS

Get involved on your own time!

Are you looking for a way to help the Beautification League but limited by a busy work schedule or kids at home? We’re expanding our communications team! Our Web, Newsletter, and Marketing crew is a friendly gang, and we’d love help from people with specific skill sets. If you have, or if you know a fellow member who has any of the following aces up their sleeve, let us know:

- Familiarity with CRM software 

- Data entry & database management

- Graphic design (Canva & Photoshop)

- Social media community management

- Exceptional computer skills and a can-do attitude

We do what it takes to get it done, often in our slippers with a glass of wine. But we’d love your help.



Please reach out to Barb Achenbaum to learn more.

Winter Seed Sowing Workshop

Join the Pollinator Pathway at 

COPIA HOME & GARDEN

475 Smith Ridge Rd South

Salem, NY 10590

on

Saturday March 16, 2024

from 10 - 12

for a Winter Seed Sowing Workshop

​

eco59 Native Plant seeds and soil will be provided

Bring your own container or purchase a locally

made "Seed Starting Kit" 

​

$20 suggested donation to the Pollinator Pathway

Please register by Wednesday March 13, 2024

Click button below for info and to register:

Carol Seldin writes:

Cancer is no picnic or walk in woods,

But support from NCBL dear friends means so much to me and family. Bouquets of love and thanks to all!!!!! ❤️🥰🙏💕

Our co-President, Jill Ernst has been elected to the board of GetAbout. Congratulations to her!



Neonics: The New DDT — An Educational and Planning Conference to Reduce the use of Pesticides in Connecticut

March 11, 2024

noon to 5 pm

McCook Auditorium

Trinity College, Hartford

Virtual and In-person conference

Spring Lecture Luncheon

The Botanical Legacy of Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon

Sir Peter Crane, President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation will give a lecture on Bunny Mellon's Virginia garden and her extensive library.

March 20, 2024

12:00 - 3:00 pm

Wave Hill House