|
Holiday Bows
Workshop
November 6, 2017
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Waveny House Dining Room
|
|
Holiday
Greens
Workshop
November 29, 2017
8:30 am - noon
NC Nature Center
|
|
January Program
Our Amazing Stone Walls: What They are and Where They are Going with Sylvia Reiss
January 10, 2018
9:30 - 11:30 am
NC Nature Center
|
|
Victorian Tea
February 7, 2018
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Waveny House
|
|
|
A Letter From Our Presidents
Even though the temperatures have been saying "summer", the calendar tells us it really is autumn and time to prepare for winter. Liz Orteig and her Traveling Trowels are still busy transplanting and tidying up, Eileen Boehme and Ann Brookshire have chosen the flowers for the hanging baskets for next spring, and Kathy, Faith, Yvonne, and their volunteers continue their work in Lee Garden. Our members are still busy.
This month, Ty Tan and Liz Mallozzi will conduct a bow-making workshop on November 6 in preparation for the Holiday Greens Workshop on November 29. (The information for these events can be found in this newsletter.)
Thanks to the Program Committee for another interesting speaker on November 1. Between the deer and drought we are all more aware of the necessity to be mindful of the environment and how we can become eco-friendly. Karen Bussolini's talk on the first addressed these issues well.
After Peggy Dannemann's many, many hours of work, progress is being made on the Lee House project. Hopefully we will have this new work space completed by next summer, and our Lee Garden volunteers will have much nicer working conditions.
As we approach the upcoming holiday season, we hope that you will be able to enjoy time with family and friends. Let's all count our blessings as we celebrate Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Barbara and Karen
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome New Member!
Kit Devereaux
|
HOLIDAY BOWS WORKSHOP
Monday, November 6, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Waveny House Dining Room
Come help us make bows for the wreaths that will decorate our town for the holidays!
Holiday Greens Chairs
|
HOLIDAY GREENS WORKSHOP
Wednesday, November 29
New Canaan Nature Center 8:30 am
Come and join us on Wednesday, November 29, at 8:30 am at the New Canaan Nature Center to make the wreaths that decorate many of our public buildings in town. We will be working in partnership with the Garden Club, an annual tradition and great opportunity to mingle with our friends in New Canaan's other garden group. No experience is necessary as we will show you what to do. It involves attaching fresh cut greenery to wooden frames with staples. Bring hand pruners, if you have them and gloves. There is no reason to call in advance. You can just show up!
When finished with the wreaths, and weather permitting, we will be then going to the Town Hall to add evergreens to the large rounds planters by the new entrance and rectangular planters by the old front door. Dress for the weather if you can help us with this part of the holiday decorating.
Holiday Greens Chairs
|
GOT GREENS?
Are you pruning your evergreens this year? If so, bring your branches to the Holiday Greens Workshop. They will be used to create the wreaths that will decorate our town!
|
Waveny Care Center Arranging:
The following is our upcoming flower arranging schedule for December:
- December 4: Judy Gilroy
- December 11: Faith Kerchoff
- December 26: help needed
Thank you to all who have volunteered for this worthwhile cause!
Download the Waveny Care Flower Arranging instructions
HERE.
Arrangements by Bianca Romano.
|
Flower Arrangements Wanted for
Program Dates!
We are looking for volunteers to make arrangements for our refreshment table for our program meetings this year. Contact
Bianca Romano if interested. You will be able to use budgeted money for this activity.
Future Program Dates arrangements are needed:
- January 10, 2018 : Joan Hayenga
- March 7, 2018 : arrangement needed
- April 4, 2018 : arrangement needed
- May 2, 2018 : arrangement needed
- June 6, 2018 : arrangement needed
Help make our program meetings beautiful and fun, as our arrangements are raffled off in our "Members' Raffle" following each program.
|
Meet our Presidents!
We welcome our Co-Presidents, Barbara Beall and Karen Sneirson as the leaders of our Board of Directors this year. We asked both of them some questions, to get to know them better.
Here are the answers from Barbara Beall:
1.
Where are you from and where have you lived? I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and lived there until 1977 when my husband Jim and I moved with our two young sons to Paris for 3 years. We then moved to New Canaan and have lived here for 38 years.
2.
Tell us a little about your family. Our son, Kit, lives in Boulder with his wife and 3 daughters. Our younger son, Jeff, lives in San Francisco. We would love to have them closer, but at least they live in fun places to visit.
3.
How long have you been a member of the Beautification League? I have been a member of the Beautification League since the early 1990's. I would have joined sooner, but thought that my garden would have to meet strict standards. After being assured that this was not a requirement, I was delighted to become a member. I really enjoy being a part of an organization whose members are dedicated to making New Canaan such a wonderful place to live. I am constantly impressed with the time and energy our members put into our mission.
4.
What is your favorite time of year in New Canaan? Coming from a climate where the change of seasons is not as dramatic, I love spring, summer and fall here. Winter would be ok if the snow didn't fall on streets and sidewalks. I still love living in New England after all these years!
5.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I am always torn between visiting favorite places and discovering new ones. Visiting Morocco is on my wish list, and we never pass up an opportunity to spend time in France.
|
|
Addition to Our NCBL Library!
Our NCBL library was gifted a new book by member Susan Bergen.
"POLLINATORS of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants" is written and photographed by Heather Holm.
Susan finds this to be her go to book in working with native landscapes and gardens. To borrow this book, contact
Faith Kerchoff.
Did you know that changes in flower color help redirect pollinators to other flowers that are still offering a reward and require pollination?
|
|
|
Reminder! Storm Drains lead to our ponds and rivers!
This is just a reminder that the storm drains on the streets outside your property empty into our local ponds and rivers. Help keep our waterways clean by keeping your storm drain clean from leaves and debris, and never dump trash or toxic chemicals in them.
To read more about what our storm drains mean to our personal and environmental health, click our New Canaan government page HERE.
|
|
Autumn Luncheon
A wonderful time was had by all at our Autumn Luncheon. We had a record number of attendees!
Our speaker, Sara Cedar Miller is quite an expert on Central Park.
Just a few of the many interesting facts we heard from Sara include:
- Central Park is 100% man-made.
- The design of Central Park was a result of a worldwide competition and won by designers Olmsted and Vaux.
- It was a grass roots push spearheaded by Betsy Rogers in 1980 to restore Central Park to its original vision and design.
- The largest standing group of American Elms in the world exists in Central Park.
- There are 280 species of birds, many of them migratory, to be found in Central Park.
- A secret cave exists in Central Park.
- The Central Park Conservancy leads tours of the park.
|
|
|
Carol Seldin, Karen Sneirson, Sara Cedar Miller, Keith Simpson, Gerda Smith, Jolley Frank
|
|
|
|
photos by Michele Sloan - thank you Michele!
|
To see more photos from the luncheon, click
HERE.
To see Sara's books, click
HERE.
To see Sara's website, click
HERE.
|
Woodland Magic at Lee Memorial Garden
Much has been done at our Chichester Road woodland garden this October. The area near the street has been cleaned and weeded.
Lee Garden fans have cleared the lovely boulders from ivy and new azaleas and rhodendron have been planted. Four
Helleborus 'Pink Frost' were planted in the front garden by the new birdbath.
|
|
|
Helleborus 'Pink Frost' will be a stunning early bloomer and has been planted in the perfect spot, next to the front garden birdbath.
photo: WhiteFlowerFarm.com
|
|
|
|
New azaleas planted at Lee Garden this fall.
|
Lee Memorial Garden is beautiful in the fall. You can see nature spreading its seeds before going to sleep for the winter.
These unique seed pods can be found hanging from the branches of the many Carolina silverbell trees in Lee Memorial Garden.
photo taken @ Lee Memorial Garden 10-17-17
With the leaves falling from the trees, we are left with wonderful views.
Come take a walk at Lee Memorial Garden and see for yourself!
|
"Mums" the Word
Have you spotted the mums from the Lobsterfest that we have transplanted around town?
|
|
| These mums can be found at the old entrance to the Town Hall. |
|
Dedication of the Silvermine-Fowler Preserve
The dedication of the Silvermine-Fowler preserve Saturday, Oct. 21, was a perfect warm fall day. Close to a hundred people came to celebrate and hear Jim Fowler regale the audience with stories and pleas to save nature for future generations. His family around him, added more thank yous and observations of growing up in the days of "Wild Kingdom".
All agreed that this preserve would not be possible without the efforts and negotiating talents of Chris Schipper and the New Canaan Land Trust, the New Canaan Community Foundation, the Trust for Public Land, and the Town of New Canaan.
Seeing so many young people, scouts, and high schoolers, helped reinforce the fact that land stewardship needs to be taught to the next generation.
A special plea was sent out separately to our League, but in case you missed it, there is a way that we can help the New Canaan Land Trust win $10,000!
The video linked below, created by NCHS alum Connor deMayo, features footage from the NC Land Trust's Silvermine-Fowler Preserve, and is narrated by Jim Fowler (of Wild Kingdom fame). This video has been selected as a finalist in a contest held by a conservation organization - and the video that gets the most votes before November 17 will win the contest. If the film wins, Connor will be awarded $2,000 and the New Canaan Land Trust will be awarded $10,000!
It is super easy to vote - just click 'vote for this video' at this link:
|
|
PHOTOS & STORIES FROM OUR MEMBERS' GARDENS
|
This month, we heard from Faith Kerchoff who is showing off one of her autumn blooming plants. Her 'Sheffield' daisy was obtained as divisions from another member's plant. Faith must have planted it in just the right spot as it has already spread in her own garden.
Its pale pink flowers greet visitors to the front door and cars to the garage.
Chrysanthemum koreanum 'Sheffield' is a tough plant, tolerating drought, blooming through freezes, and spreading easily by both roots and by spreading seeds. Seedlings may produce flowers that have a different appearance, particularly in their color.
Pollinators love this plant, and Faith has had recent visits from bees and monarchs this fall.
A hardy and prolific perennial, this plant is easily shared among friends! Thank you Faith for letting us see this wonderful plant in your garden.
|
|
EVENTS OF INTEREST AROUND TOWN
|
WAVENY: NOW AND THEN
THROUGH DECEMBER 22
The New Canaan Historical Society presents an art show and sale celebrating the 50th anniversary of the town's purchase of the Lapham Lloyd estate.
Click
HERE for more information.
|
DID YOU KNOW THE NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER
SERVES AS A SATELLITE SITE FOR
THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDENS?
Take NYBG classes right here in the comfort of your home town!
Click HERE and visit often to find NYBG classes offered at the New Canaan Nature Center.
|
Eat, Drink & Learn Series
Wise Trees
A lecture & book signing with
Diane Cook and Len Jenshel
Sunday, December 3, 2017
4:00pm
New Canaan Nature Center
144 Oenoke Ridge
New Canaan, CT
$20 Per Person
RSVP by November 30 / Wine and Hors d'Oeuvres will be served.
Sorry, no children at this event.
|
"We appreciate the wonderful job all of you do to make New Canaan so beautiful. I don't think enough people say it, but I always do!"
(from Betty, a New Canaan Beautification League fan)
|
|
|
|
Our NCBL Newsletter is used to distribute information regarding NCBL activities and announcements that pertain directly to our stated mission. The newsletter shall not be used for political issues, or for the promotion of merchandise or services unless such merchandise or services
are part of a joint venture with NCBL.
FOR AN ABBREVIATED, PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER
NEW CANAAN BEAUTIFICATION LEAGUE
|
|
|
|
