From President Brett Isaacson and Vice President Cheryl Marino
In the last few weeks you have heard and maybe even thought, “We are living thru unprecedented times.” It certainly feels that way. We need not look any further than our own beloved Society and its storied history to know that we have been thru times like these before. As an organization founded in 1887 CT Hort has been thru a lot – the Depression, financial ups and downs, social changes and so much more. The thing that has sustained the organization and the community we love is all of us! Our society was established as a means for estate gardeners, florists and gardening enthusiasts to socialize, share their common interests and learn from each other.
So far this year our organization completed and enjoyed two important gardening events. We want to thank Nancy DuBrule-Clemente’s team who planned and volunteered at our successful 10th Symposium “Creating a Beautiful and Healthy Oasis.” Our presence at the Flower Show – thanks to Nancy Brennick and Keri Milne and everyone who introduced speakers – gives our interesting CT Hort organization a face to gardeners who may not know us. As always we are grateful to Cheryl Whalen of White Flower Farm who supplies us with the forced bulbs resulting in the stunning Flower Show display. All of these volunteers are what make CT Hort a sustainable entity, without them we would not exist. We ask each of you to consider filling a position in our organization.
We miss seeing you all and being together. During this time of social distancing, the need to connect is more important than ever. Many of our members have been contacting each other via phone, video chat (who knew we would discover a new meaning for ZOOM) Facebook, Instagram and so many others. Though we have had to cancel our upcoming April speaker meeting and learning event in accordance with the guidelines set by the CDC, CT Hort will strive to be creative with ways to stay connected. Look for future correspondence on this and other events. We are first and foremost a community and we will get thru these hard times as we always have.
Currently we need a chair and members to fill the Membership Committee. Our wonderful Garden Market/Raffle that Ginny Mills has done a stellar job of organizing and facilitating each Speaker Meeting is in need of a person or two to step in so Ginny can step away. Plus the Education / Workshop Committee is looking for a Chair as Diane Erling plans to step down. We are also in search of a Treasurer. You may think you’re not qualified to tackle one of these roles but with the helping hands of our membership, you soon would become proficient.
As we yearn to be together and put this virus behind we remember what joy that we are able have in our gardens reconnecting with our plants as they start to unfold into this spring season. We look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Spring is eternal – The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.
– Alfred Austin
Yours in friendship –
Brett Isaacson, President
Cheryl Marino, Vice President