The current month’s Newsletter is first distributed only to members. It will be archived here at the end of the month.
September 2021: The history of Ruth Bancroft’s amazing garden, and how her legacy continues today. What are your garden follies? Our President Cheryl Marino chronicles her many crazy and hilarious stories about her adventures in the thick of the blooms. We welcome David McCarthy, our new Director of Marketing & Community Relations. Read and write–a review! We still have books that need reviewing for our Winter Marketplace edition of the newsletter. Don’t forget to sign up for the Kaminski Garden Tour on September 25.
Summer 2021: TJust in time for our country’s birthday celebration, read how plants were used to create dyes for our iconic flags. Author and garden preservationist Bill Noble kicks off our speaker season in September to discuss New England Gardens. We want YOU…to be a book reviewer! Find out how to volunteer to help us pull our annual book review together. Look inside for details. Peaches take center stage in our monthly listings of Hort Happenings. Get yours now! The Kaminskis are generously opening their gardens again this year.Â
June 2021: In time for the country’s birthday celebration, read how plants were used to create dyes for our iconic flags. Author and garden preservationist Bill Noble kicks off our speaker season in September to discuss New England Gardens. We want YOU…to be a book reviewer! Find out how to volunteer to help us pull our annual book review together. Look inside for details. Peaches take center stage in our monthly listings of Hort Happenings. The Kaminskis are generously opening up their gardens again this year.
May 2021: Member and writer Tom Christopher describes Abra Lee’s successful search to uncover the historical stories of African-American gardeners. Member and community volunteer Marilynn Palmer explains how the collaborative efforts of several local organizations enhance Hop Brook Landing park in Simsbury. Send in pictures of your Garden Room. Tom Christopher is this month’s speaker and he’ll discuss the gardens of Wave Hill. Nancy DuBrule Clemente will offer a virtual workshop entitled ‘The Weed Wars’ on June 24 at 7 pm. A few seats left for the Philadelphia Flower Show. Member anniversaries recognized.
April 2021: Elizabeth Park Rosarian Peter Winne suggests which roses to buy for your Connecticut garden. Guest speaker Leslie Duthie will talk about her love of ferns in her upcoming presentation – Fronds with Benefits! Gordon Hayward is seeking photos of members’ garden rooms to use in his October talk. Sign up for the trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show. Mehlquist Award nominations requested.
March 2021: 2018 Mehlquist Award recipient Robert Herman suggests perennials for your dry, shade garden. March speaker Karen Perkins will discuss Epimediums: Jewels of the Shade at the March 18 virtual Speaker Meeting. Last call for Service Award nominees. Also accepting nominations for the Mehlquist Award. Help wanted: Director of Communications.
February 2021: Writer and member Jody Morgan provides the history of Sub-Edge Farm. Farm steward Rodger Phillips will discuss working the land at Sub-Edge with his family for the past seven years at the Feb. 18 virtual Speaker Meeting. June trip planned to the Philadelphia Flower Show. Cape Cod holiday trip for 2020 rescheduled for the 2021 holidays. Meet the latest additions to two of our board members families.
January 2021: Garden Media Group’s 2021 Garden Trends Report is summarized. See what’s trending! President Cheryl Marino welcomes the new year. Joseph Tychonievich will take us through his presentation, Confessions of a Plant Nerd at our January meeting. Ballek’s Garden Center reaches out to children with an activity called Gardens of Hope and Gratitude. Philly Flower Show will be outdoors in June this year
Winter 2020: Ten of this year’s gardening books are reviewed by members. President Cheryl Marino shares her end-of-year message. Ellen Ecker Ogden returns on Nov. 12 to give a preview of her upcoming book, The New Heirloom Garden. Welcome new members. When holiday shopping remember our business supporters and nurseries that offer a 10% discount to members. Gardener’s Marketplace will open mid-November to generate funds for scholarships.
October 2020: Learn about the rise and fall in the popularity of daffodils from writer and member Jody Morgan. President Cheryl Marino encourages us to focus on the days ahead. October speaker, Karen Bussolini shows us how to Jazz Up the Garden. Congratulations to Mehlquist Award winner Sarah Bailey and Service Award winner Heidi Wheeler Isaacson. Fall Bulb Sale must go on!
September 2020: Audubon Connecticut lists the Must-Visit Birding Locations in our state. CT Hort office is closing. Joann Vieira is our September guest and will show us how to choose plants for the benefit of local birds. Communications Director Barb Skomorowski is looking for readers to review this year’s gardening books for the Winter issue of our Newsletter. The Auction Committee will try an online auction to generate dollars for college scholarships. Christmas Weekend at Cape Cod is still a go! Visit Sue and Dick Kaminski’s joyful Train Garden for a tour on September 12.