The Simsbury Garden Club was recently recognized with five prestigious awards for Civic Development at the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s annual Awards luncheon at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. The awards were presented to the club for creating a Pollinator Garden at the Gifts of Love Farm, a local community farm that […]
Tom Christopher’s Radio Show moves to WESU-FM
Tom Christopher is hosting a new radio program on WESU-FM at 88.1. It is called “Growing Greener” and airs live every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Tom’s emphasis on environmentally-informed gardening will include conversations with some of the leading voices from the field. Tom will also be interviewing some of the CT Hort speakers that […]
‘Natural’ Pesticide Issues
Reprinted with permission from Sarah Bailey, State Coordinator, UConn Extension Master Gardener Program and CT Hort member As the gardening season gets underway, lots of homemade weed-killer “recipes” are cropping up on social media, usually containing some combination of vinegar, Epsom salts, and Dawn dishwashing soap. These are often accompanied by a comment such as […]
Restoring the Little Things That Run the World
Editor’s note: This is the handout that Dr. Tallamy asked we distribute at his presentation of the same name on June 20. Here it is for those unable to attend. In 1987, E.O. Wilson challenged conventional wisdom by claiming that insects were the little things that ran the world. If insects were to disappear, he […]
Tree Diplomacy
On August 19, 1776, two months after being commissioned Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington sent instructions to his Mount Vernon estate manager Lund Washington to install two groves of flowering trees and shrubs utilizing only species indigenous to North America. Once relieved of the burden of leading the troops, Washington remained […]
Colchester Garden Club and Colchester Land Trust Partner to Create Townwide Community Wildlife Habitat
The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Community Wildlife Habitat® program partners with cities, towns, counties, neighborhoods and communities of all kinds to become healthier, greener and more wildlife-friendly. Through this program communities can enhance and restore islands and corridors of wildlife habitat in urban and suburban areas nationwide, while at the same time connecting to existing […]
New England Wild Flower Society Changes Name; Receives Esteemed Certification
Native Plant Trust, formerly known as New England Wild Flower Society, is one of the first twelve organizations in the world awarded Advanced Conservation Practitioner Accreditation by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). This accreditation recognizes botanic institutions with significant conservation impact and with work that supports local, national or global conservation goals. Native Plant Trust […]