February, 2021 Newsletter
Volunteers Making New Canaan Beautiful
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Dear New Canaan Beautification League Members and Friends,
Once again, we have exciting news to report about NCBL programs and projects!
This year’s Annual Appeal has a fresh new style and will be sent out at the end of February. Our new approach is innovative, fun and beautiful!! The dedicated committee devoted countless hours to create an engaging format and digitize the database. Our mailer will be sent to all New Canaan households, and a slightly different version will be directed to local business owners. Countless thanks from all of us to: Patricia Spugani, Amy Weber Reid, Dody Whitehurst, Evan Wingate, Richard Duffee, Faith Kerchoff and Lisa Ferrante!!!
Record-breaking attendance of 250 for our marvelous Chanticleer webinar (in addition to many views on our website) has generated keen interest in visiting that amazing garden. Nancy Malling did a splendid job of introducing, Bill Thomas, Chanticleer’s Executive Director, and fielding the many questions from the virtual audience. Copies of his captivating book are still available for purchase at Elm Street Books.
You can register now for fascinating upcoming programs to be led by member Ty Tan, a talented landscape designer in her own right. Join us for “The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden” by Roy Diblik on February 3rd and Lorraine Ballato’s “Foolproof Hydrangeas” on March 3rd.
The darling gnomes continue to bring delight, and now they truly have heart thanks to Faith Kerchoff’s creative handiwork (see photo following). Ever busy as a bee, Faith also made sure that the last of our daffodil bulbs were planted on a chilly, blustery day in January. Remind your spouses that Faith will present a special virtual program about Lee Garden to the Men’s Club on March 12th.
In the heart of town the showcase window at the Playhouse will soon be dressed with an eye-catching display of all things New Canaan Beautification League to launch our Annual Appeal. Be sure to check it out!!
Warmest wishes to all for continued health and an especially Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Warmly,
Carol & Karen
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Programs During the Pandemic
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Programs for 2020-2021 will be virtual via Zoom webinars.
The Zoom link will be sent by email 1-2 days prior to each event.
Zoom will work on your computer, iPad or any smartphone.
Each month, members, and if permitted, guests, will be asked to register for the Zoom program. (Not all programs will be open to the public - some will be for Members only.) A few days before each Zoom program, you will receive an email from NCBL with the invitation and Zoom registration link. Please register using your email, first and last name. You will then receive an email with your personal “one-click” link to use for the event. A reminder email with the same link will also be sent one hour before the program begins. Please do not share your link; it is unique to you. Note: You do not need to have a Zoom account to join NCBL events.
Also, there is no cost to participate in any Zoom event.
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Wednesday
February 3, 2021
9:30 a.m.
The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden
with Roy Diblik
Roy Diblik is a recognized perennial plant expert, grower, designer, speaker and author. Combining his 35 years of knowledge, growing traditional and Midwest native perennials, he specializes in highly aesthetic, sustainable plant communities for all seasons, while reducing maintenance through design. He believes that gardens should be thoughtful, ecologically directed, emotionally outreaching and yet very personal.
Mr. Diblik has an educational channel on YouTube, under "Roy Diblik." It's full of useful gardening and maintenance tips.
Please encourage any and all gardening enthusiasts to join us!
His book, The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden, will be available at Elm Street Books, 35 Elm St., New Canaan 203/966-4545
You can read more about Roy and his approach to gardening by clicking HERE.
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Registration is required, but you only need to register once.
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Once you have registered, an email will be sent to your inbox with the webinar link. You will also receive the webinar link in an email 1-2 days prior to the event.
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Greetings to all,
Through my friend Judy Schmitt, who belongs to our club along with Wellfleet Gardeners Club, I had the chance to register for the Chanticleer webinar. I enjoyed it so much, and then wondered if I could share it with Chatham Garden Club members. I was thrilled to get the okay, we shared the link, and received very positive feedback from members.
I want to thank New Canaan Beautification League and Welfleet Gardeners for help in getting permission. Please share my appreciation with these people, as best you can. Your outreach in sharing garden webinars and information is wonderful, particularly during the pandemic.
Sincere regards,
Liz Scheld,
Co-President,
Chatham, MA Garden Club
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Wednesday, March 3, 2021L
Successful Hydrangeas
With Lorraine Ballato
oLorraine Ballato is a professional horticulturist, Advanced Master Gardener, lecturer, garden writer and photographer. She is an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden, the UConn Master Gardener Program as well as for the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. On her website, lorraineballato.com, you will see that she has a love affair with hydrangeas--she calls them "the queen of American shrubs." She says, "From 18-inch, container-sized, reblooming beauties to 8-foot explosions of multicolored zing, there is a hydrangea for every garden." Of her talk she says, "Through slides and discussion, you'll learn all about hydrangeas, including the many recent introductions that have hit the market, their proper care, and the hardy cultivars that perform well despite over-enthusiastic pruning and finicky weather. You'll leave this talk never again having to ask the question, 'Why doesn't my hydrangea bloom?' "
For more information visit her website: Lorraineballato.com
Please encourage any and all gardening enthusiasts to register!
PPP
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Ms. Ballato's book will be available through Elm Street Books,
35 Elm St., New Canaan
203/966-4545
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Click on the buttons below to view our past webinar programs! You can also find these links on our website.
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The Christmas gnomes have a lot of heart - so much so that they are sporting Valentines Day decorations!
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Please welcome our newest members:
Christina Fagerstal
Jennifer Bergen
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Invite your friends to join us! We love having new members.
To download the membership form, click HERE.
NCBL Membership, PO Box 1244, New Canaan, CT 06840.
Please write 'FOR MEMBERSHIP' on checks.
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Nursery & White Oak Shade
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Saxe, South Ave./Farm Rd. Corner Planting
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On Friday, January 22, a sunny day promising temps near 40, Faith planted bulbs by Saxe Middle School at the corner of South Avenue & Farm Road. They were the last daffodils - about 250-300 - of the season to be planted and it was probably the last possible day to get bulbs in the ground. Frank and Fred from the town came with shovels and a pick ax, and they dug while Faith placed and covered the bunches of bulbs.
The ground was pretty workable. The bulbs were planted closer to Farm Road in front of the bench. In all about 20 holes were dug with 12-15 bulbs planted in each. The bulbs, 'Ice Follies', are from Colorblends.
Thanks to Frank and Fred from the Town Crew!
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Tip: When planning a new planting, try outlining your plan with flour.
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'Ice Follies' naturalized in a lawn. Photo from Colorblends.com
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Pandemic or not, winter is a great time to curl up with a good book. NCBL has many gardening and nature related titles for members to borrow.
Take a look at these four books, for example:
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The Garden in Winter: Have you been looking at your garden this winter and wondering how to give it a lift? Get inspired with various plants, hardscapes, and natural crafting with this book by Suzy Bales.
The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hellebores by Rice and Strangman: We've already seen Hellobores blooming on one of our triangles in December. Read about this popular genus of winter and spring blooming perennials.
Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast by Carol Gracie: Carol was our program speaker in February 2019. Her book gives an intimate look at our native spring wildflowers, which we can look forward to seeing soon.
Butterfly Gardening by Jane Hurwitz: Jane was our Autumn Luncheon speaker in October 2019. Get inspired and make plans for creating a garden butterflies and other pollinators will love this spring.
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Want to see our full title list? Click the button below. The books are stored at the Lee Garden barn. Call or email Faith Kerchoff or Betsy Sammarco, who will get the book(s) to you.
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Have you taken a winter walk through Lee Garden? Even in winter, you'll find surprises at every turn.
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Dried flower heads are particularly beautiful and provide a memory of blooms gone by.
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With the foliage gone, bird nests are easier to spot, like this one in a Weigela bush.
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Remnants of a squirrel's dinner is found in this birdhouse.
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Have you ever wondered what happens to bugs over the cold winter months? How do they survive? Is the leaf cover enough? Do they burrow deep into the ground? For answers, click the button below.
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Final Note.....
SUPER BOWL BREAD DIP
Ingredients:
1 - 9” round crusty bread
1 – 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 - 16 ounce package of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 ounces of sour cream
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ cup of finely chopped green onions
1 cup cooked bacon or ham – chopped
1 small can green chilies or jalapenos – finely chopped and drained
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop out round bread and reserve the top crust and insides. Mix all of the ingredients together with a hand mixer on low and pour dip into the scooped out bread. Place the top crust on top of bread covering the dip mixture. Place bread on a rimmed cookie sheet and bake for 50 minutes. Remove top crust and bake an additional 10 minutes. Serve on a platter with veggies, tortilla chips and the reserved bread chunks. (You will want to eat the bread bowl too!!)
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We are growing! New members are joining with enthusiasm and new ideas and we need your help in welcoming them into our group. We are looking for volunteers to make a friendly phone call and perhaps take a stroll through Lee Garden or the Gold Star Walk in Mead Park to familiarize our new members with some of our projects. Accompanying the new member to weed or plant with Traveling Trowels would also be helpful.
If you would like to be a Bloom for a new Bud, contact Jill Ernst at [email protected] or 203-972-0320.
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If you have changed any of your contact information (home address, email address, or phone number), please let membership know.
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Please tell us if you know of any NCBL member who is ill or has lost a loved one.
Membership (usually Libby) will send a card to the person from the NCBL.
Libby Butterworth (203-801-0862)
([email protected])
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Unsure about that plant that looks so good in the catalogue? Want to know the inside scoop? The Missouri Botanical Garden's Plant Finder is a reliable website.
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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.
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visit our website:
New Canaan Beautification League
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