1 [ T simsbury Club y p Quarterly Newsletter e a JUNE 2015 q u Note from the presidents o t Another fun-filled garden club year is drawing to a close. What a spectacular job our members have done educating e themselves through our programs, horticultural trips, newsletters, website, and arrangers' meetings. We have improved our fr community by maintaining the historical and circle , making wreaths and library arrangements; we have promoted o our love of dirt by hosting our annual sale and donating the profits to our scholarship program! m While we have been very successful at these activities, what is truly noteworthy is our propensity to nurture each other in much the same way we nurture our gardens. Every meeting has been filled with chatter as we share concerns over caring t for aging parents, delights of adorable grandchildren, or the name of a great handyman. We have sent cards or given hugs h to those of us who have had a difficult year. More than any other organization we belong to, we have seen Garden Club members really support each other, which has translated into adding ten new members to the club this year! So, ladies, e thank you for a fun-filled year and we look forward to even more supportive chatter next year. --Charmaine and Carol d o Note from the newsletter crew c u Our last issue....it’s been fun! Please welcome new member Ellie Benson as the next newsletter Publisher. Look for her first m issue in September. --Barb and Lea Anne e n t Calendar of Upcoming Events o r (See your yearbook and watch for e-blasts for more detailed information and locations) t Tues., June 9th Hort trip: Springwood, Bellefield Estate, Vanderbilt NPS, Hyde Park, NY h e th Mon., June 15 General meeting, End of year picnic, Hill-Stead Sunken Garden, Farmington, CT s Wed. to Fri., July 8—10 Hort trip: Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, Penn.) and Chanticleer (Wayne, Penn.) u m And don’t forget to check out our NEW website for lots of great information: m a www.simsburygardenclub.org r y o out in the Garden—seasonal tips and information f a An Easy, Safe Weed Killer: Combine 1 gal of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups Epsom salts, and ¼ cup of dawn n dishwashing liquid. Spray on dry weeds. Jane Coburn says it works. Thanks Jane! i Pull Poison Ivy Without Getting It: Use a plastic bag from the newspaper as a sleeve. Put your hand inside the n bag, pull the vine, and turn the bag over (inside out). The vine stays inside and no part of it touches your arm. Thanks again t to Jane Coburn (but she says it’s originally from Jan Manchester). e r e s ti 2 [ T Check this out…..Of the Library y Coastal maine botanical gardens p e by William Cullina, Dorothy Freeman, and Barbara Freeman (2012) a q This book was donated to the Simsbury Library in memory of Martha Mitterling in April 2015. u We have a dream…..for a book written by the current Executive Director and two o “world-class” botanical members of the Board of Directors. t garden along the coast of The first chapter chronicles the history of the garden— e Maine. That’s what a small group of friends how it came to be what it is today. Subsequent chapters frthought one afternoon in 1991. Now, 20-plus years later, describe the different parts of the garden: The Visitors o the garden is a reality—The Coastal Maine Botanical Center and Entry Walk; the Alfond Children’s Garden; the Gardens in Boothbay, Maine. The creators of the garden m Rose and Perennial Garden; the Lerner Garden of the felt strongly that the garden should reflect the character of Five Senses; Slater Forest Pond; the Burpee Kitchen Maine, and the result is a garden that speaks to Maine by Garden; the Shoreland Trail, the Giles Rhododendron t virtue of the design, hardscape, and . h Garden, and several others. The text is accompanied by Traditionally, botanical gardens are started in one of three numerous photographs of the gardens, along with full- e ways: (1) part of a civic association (i.e. The Chicago page close-ups of some of the more unusual flowers. d Botanic Garden, owned by the Forest Preserve District of o Bill Cullina, Executive Director and lead author of this Cook County); (2) part of a university program (i.e. Arnold book, says, “What makes this place so special is that in c , bequested to ); or (3) essence it is a group reverie—bits and pieces of people’s u through a wealthy philanthropist (i.e. Longwood Gardens, dreams and hopes, and visions of splendor poured out mestate of industrialist Pierre S. du Pont). This garden onto the canvas of this exquisite little piece of rock and e started with nothing but an idea and an enthusiastic and spruce perched on the edge of the continent.” n dedicated group of volunteers. They systematically formulated a design plan, raised enough money to buy Yes, dreams can come true. t 128 acres near Boothbay, and got to work. The result is o Ed. note: By p. 2, I was already thinking—OMG, when the enchanting garden, lovingly described in this new can I visit this place? See p. 3 for more info on this r garden and other places to visit in Maine. t h What’s COOking?...fruit pizza e Take advantage of summer’s bounty and try this easy and beautiful dessert s u Sugar Cookie Crust: m1 cup butter m1 cup confectioner’s sugar Filling: Divide dough in half. With lightly floured a 1/3 cup sugar 16 oz cream cheese, softened hands, pat dough onto two lightly r 1 egg 1 cup confectioner’s sugar greased pizza-type pans. Bake for 12-15 y 2 ½ cups flour 1 tsp vanilla extract minutes or until cooked through. Cool. 2 ½ tsp baking soda Fresh fruit of choice: peaches, o 2 ½ tsp cream of tartar strawberries, kiwi, grapes, apples, To prepare filling, whip cream cheese, f ½ tsp vanilla extract mandarin oranges, or any berry. confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla. Spread a ¼ tsp almond extract over cooled crust. Decorate with sliced n Preheat oven to 325. To prepare crust, fruit, completely covering the crust. i cream butter and sugars until light and n fluffy. Add egg, and extracts—beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add to the t creamed mixture, blending thoroughly. e r e s Garden club news 3 [ A reminder-- from our Hospitality Chairs Lynn and Valentine: If you have not signed up yet for your Hospitality T commitment for the upcoming 2015-16 Garden Club year, please do so at the next General meeting (the Annual Picnic) or y contact Lynn Bruno (658-4840) or Valentine Shaw (651-1544) as soon as possible. This information needs to go into the p Yearbook very soon. You will be assigned to a Co-Chair or Committee position if they don’t get your preferred request. e Don’t forget—serving on Hospitality is a membership requirement and your cooperation is sincerely appreciated. a q More exciting trips-- from our Chair Marlene. Some likely destinations and a “sneak peek” include private u garden and arboretum tours in CT, a tour and workshop hosted by UCONN staff, a return to Mohonk House and o Berkshire Botanic Garden, and a trip to the Brine Garden, by GardenLarge landscape designer, Duncan Brine. Also, t because of the interest in our upcoming 3-day trip this July to Longwood Gardens, another opportunity for a club sleepover e is in the works! Keep tuned and share your ideas! fr News about our Friends-- from Friends Chair Jane. As of June 1st, we have 7 Friends. Five of them are past presidents, o all well and happy in other states (Dinah Caldwell, Jane Hiss, Barbara Howard, Betty Smuts, and Isabel Whiting). Barbara m Howard (and husband Bob) recently moved from Cape Cod to a retirement community in Charlton, Mass. Bev Baird is in Granby, and Bernice Martin is at McLean, looking forward to her 110th birthday in the fall. t h th Passings-- One of our Friends, Lois Comstock (photo at right), died at McLean on May 13 . She e was 96 years old and active till the end. When Jane and Janet stopped by to deliver a special May d Day basket to Lois earlier in the month, she was out performing her duties as “McLean’s Mail Lady.” o We’re glad she had our basket to enjoy for her last few days. c Another former Club member, Marilyn Yates, also died this spring. Marilyn had been an Active u Member for 47 years before moving to Kennebunk, Maine and was especially noted for her creative m floral designs and arrangements. e n t o Visiting maine r t The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens opened in June 2007 and have since become one of Maine’s most popular h attractions. The gardens are open daily 9 to 5 from mid-April to end of October. The entrance is on Barters Island Road in e Boothbay, about 10 miles from Route 1 in mid-coast Maine. Under normal traffic conditions, it’s just over an hour’s drive s northeast of Portland. Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Island (and ) is about 3 hours to the northeast. u m Also consider a visit to the Garden, a private garden in Seal Harbor, Maine that was built by Abby m Aldrich Rockefeller and her husband, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in the 1920’s. The garden was designed by Beatrix Farrand a and blends Eastern and Western landscape traditions in a summer season display. The garden is generally open one or two r days a week in late July, August, and early September to allow garden enthusiasts a chance to enjoy its beauty. The y number of visitors on open garden days is limited to protect the quality of each visitor’s experience and the well-being of the o garden. Each open garden day includes two, 2-hour visiting sessions from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT THE GARDEN. For more information and reservations, see this f website: https://rockgardenmaine.wordpress.com/ or phone 207-276-3330 (open for calls only Tuesday and Wednesday a afternoons, from noon to 3:00 pm). n While in Maine, check out these other attractions: Acadia National Park, Kennebunkport, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, i Old Fort Western Museum on the Kennebec, Boothbay Harbor, Monhegan Island, Victoria Mansion (Portland), Garland n t Farm (Beatrix Farrand’s last home and garden in Bar Harbor), and my personal favorite, LLBean in Freeport (open 24 hours e a day!), where they have lots of gear suitable for gardening and other outdoor adventures. r e s 4 [ Historical society gardens T y The Simsbury Historical Society’s Phelps Homestead contains three gardens planted p and maintained by Simsbury Garden club members. The gardens serve as a lasting e educational and historic contribution to our Town. All active members (if able) are a expected to help maintain these gardens. The three gardens are: q **The Herb Garden (pictured at left), created in 1966 in front of the Hendrick Cottage, u **The Doorway Garden, planted in 1994 on the north side of the Phelps House (the large o yellow house) to commemorate the club’s 60th anniversary. The garden contains various t ferns, hostas, lily of the valley and astilbes, and e **The Betty Fisher Garden, planted in 1998 on the west side of the Phelps House facing fr Hopmeadow Street. The garden contains lilacs, two boxwoods and beds of vinca with o spring and fall bulbs. m Current Historical Gardens Chair Judy Larkin shared this information with us: t For those who are new to our club and those who have not been to the Historical Gardens in quite some time, I took h photographs of the gardens on May 29th. Ten members have worked hard this spring raking, weeding, planting, e d and mulching to get the gardens in shape for the growing season. o Check out the photos of all the gardens, and look who is helping Judy prune the rhododendrons by the front door of the c Phelps House! Don Morrison, Carol Bingham’s father, is a past-president of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, and past- u President of the Gardeners of Cleveland. He shared his expertise with us and at 90 years young, is still going strong. m Thanks Carol, for sharing him with us! e n t o r t h e s u m m a r y o f a Top row: Doorway Gardens (Judy Larkin pictured with Don Morrison— n Carol Bingham’s dad); Bottom right: Betty Fisher Gardens i n t e r e s ti 5 Wow—That Was Fun!

PLANT SALE!!!!

Another successful plant sale. Top right: Robin Schofield and Becky Krezcko; Above left (ladies in pink): Caryl Muller, Cheryl Umscheid-Banister, Jane Hannah; Above: Barbara Zakarian, Becky Krezcko, Jane Hannah, Esther Nelson.

At left: New Member Tea following the May Board meeting: (Back row) Maria Holloway, Charmaine Glew, Melissa Urda, Mary Glassman, Ellie Benson, Joanie McKeever, Dianne Meade, Carol Bingham. (Front row) Suzy Murphy, Sarah Hsieh. 6

Hort trips!

Above left and right: Nicki Cox, Marlene Snecinski, and Bonnie Lombardi enjoying the daffodils at Laurel Ridge. Left: Garden Club members admiring the spring bulbs at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.