Au·;Weoi C,T I Association Winter 2004 Volume 17, No

The ConnecticutL'I'he l Master Gardeners au·;weoI C,t I Association Winter 2004 Volume 17, No . 1

Prom tl,e President ...

Happy New Year! will agree this is probably the best rinonfo1· 2004 group of workshops, speakers, and I hope you all had the special events we have had in the The last year was certainly one of opportunity to spend history of the event. Our day will be many wonderful accomplishments . special moments and information- and fun-filled comple A sold-out symposium, scholarship · create new warm mented by our special keynote awards , outreach funding of projects hearted memories with your families speaker Susan Saint James, a book for Interns and Advanced MG's, and friends during the holidays. signing with Sue Munger, loads of support of UCON N's 25th MG Anni vendors, the silent auction, and an versary celebration, CMGA weekly The new year started off with an im annual garden hat parade. newspaper columns , and general mediate flurry of activity for CMGA. educational projects such as mini Last year the event sold out and we New Master Gardener classes began symposiums to the public surely ad had to turn our own Master Garden during the week of January 5th. dressed our mission statement. Board members stopped by to greet ers away. MG's were the first to re new interns at the Norwich, North ceive registration material the first of We hope to have the people and Haven, Vernon, Torrington Exten this year. Interns received their financial resources to expand our sions. forms last week. The event is now programs further for 2004. We have open to the general public . already provided eleven partial Mentors will be needed to support Have you registered? In order to scholarships for Interns enrolled in these large classes, so don't forget this year's program and have to give a call to your coordinator to avoid disappointment you will need to do so today ...if you need further awarded a $2,500 scholarship to a ask how you can support their effort. UCONN horticulture student. Shortly information please feel free to con Advanced Master Gardeners have a -- we will move significant funds to the tact this year's chair, Paul Grim mentoring requirement to retain their MG Program Office providing each AMG "active" status. meisen at (860) 677-8645 or by email at [email protected]. Coordinator with the opportunity to Board members and the Symposium request these dollars for outreach Committee are readying final details projects. Advanced MG's are enti for this year's Symposium entitled Best wishes until Spring ... tled to these funds as well as Interns. "Gardener's in Action". I think you 'Becky Our volunteers and partners give tirelessly of their time. Your yearly The Connecticut Master Gardeners Association membership fee, support of Sympo ' sium, and purchase of logo wear presen ts aliows us to accomplish the financial aspect of our goals. Thank you to all G~fd~-~ersin Action of you for your ongoing support. . M ·ff::,. ''~rfi· , .:; .< ·-:.-:~ ;.;."·~ ~; I111Jid<>llti1J iuue ... The El,e~enth~n,:i .ual Symposium ,...... , .... c.Af(J.1/2004 O/tiecfive11...... 'J 't Saturd~y{Ma,t~h ,w20, 2004 /Jook llemeWIJ ...... (i . - } Exten11ion o!Vell'll... . . •. . ...•. •...... 7 ,.;, . ..~ ~ . .,,,, '· "' ! Manchester Comm1]nity College l'JJf(;.tJ 2()04 Calemlar ...... J() .1,tem/Jership.F'or,n ...... JI Manchester ;J::on necticut :·····••···•·····•··-·····••·-···-•·•······•·•································ ; Tlte Laurel Ma.ster Gardener's at Work ... · is published a minimum of four times a , The three Master Gardeners of the Guilford Garden Club, year for the members of The Connecticut • Inc. were the Club's January featured speakers. Each · Master Gardeners Association. Please January the three join together as a team to demonstrate : send news, calendar items, articles and i photographs to the Editor, Becky Paul, at ; a specific skill and address questions from the audience ; the address below. Next deadline for the : in panel form. Below: Joan Bower demonstrates repotting i Membership Directory Issue: February 15. of a pot bound cactus; Helen Pignone shares her favorite tools; and, Becky Paul leads a discussion on cultivating dahlias. This is an excellent example of outreach ... 2003 C.MG.ll o.tficers

President: Becky Raiola-Paul 259 Saw MillRoad Guilford, CT 0643 (203) 458-8413 [email protected] Vice-President: Paul Grimmeisen 24 White Oak Road Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 677-8645 [email protected] Treasurer: Peter Lirot 39 Burr Hill Road Killingworth, CT 06419 (860) 663-1595 plirot@aol .com Secretary: Sandy Myhalik 89 Ely Road Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 677-0504 [email protected] Membership: John Neff 18 Knollwood Road Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 673-5018 [email protected] .fl Website to Explore Liaison: Cyndi Wyskiewicz Master Gardener Barbara Walker recently wrote to The 1-877-486-6271 Laurel with the following ... l'd like to suggest the BBC gar dening site:http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/. It's a treat! Cooperative Extension The mild English climate allows some gardening to con tinue nearly year-round, and the country is full of passion Coordinators ate gardeners. The site has so many cool links & features it's hard to know where to begin. The left column has Quizzes & Downloads which includes screen savers. Bethel: Sandi Wilson (203) 207-8440 There are of course lots of articles to read & great photos. Brooklyn: Kim Kelly (860) 776-9600 Haddam: John Castagna (860) 345-4511 ~,:,,,• ii,,,•%,,•,:,,,•ii,,, ••,.,• 'c-,• %,•,:,,, •.1 North Haven: Mira Schachne (203) 407-3161 Norwich: Melissa Smith (860) 887-1608 [4 Si{ent, soft aru£ sww ~] Torrington: Karen Anderson (860) 626-6240 [4 aesceru£s tfie snow... ~] Vernon: Mary Collins (860) 870-6934 [4 -Henry Wordsworth Longfellow ~] West Hartford: Katie Melvin (860) 570-901 O Home and Garden Center (877) 486-6271 ~,:,as4,t" 4,:'3 • ¢' •F •F •,:,as•,:,as •F d;IJ2 : c.?JfG.!l November Semi-.!lnnual Membership Meeting ... I B11Becky Paul

· Thank you to those who could join us for the Semi-Annual Membersh ip Meeting held at CAES. We , appreciate your confidence and interest in our efforts. Your input is invaluable in driving the direction ! of our organization.

At the meeting I presented a short review of 2003's accomplishments. These were published and enclosed in each member's membe rship renewal kit. I also developed and presented a list of 2004 objectives which prov ide the basis for CMGA's Operational Plan for the year. These are as follows .

Please contact a Board Member if you are interested in participa ting in any aspect of furthering our . development. We'd love to have you!

1 2004 Objectives

l Membership Level: Achieve/ increase membership to 2003 levels, encourage interns to participate .

Educational. University and Outreach

Continue to provide a CMGA-UCONN scho larsh ip (voted/agreed to increase funding to $2,500) Continue to provide CMGA MG Program scholarships (voted/agreed to 11 partial scholarships) Continue to provide Coordinator support (voted/agreed each extens ion to quality for $300) Continue to cons ider and award funds for MG and AMG projects throughout the State Continue to support the MG Program State Coordinator in her efforts to secure funding Continue to attend/support all MG classes , graduations and special events

Public Education

Market to the public and drive capacity participation at the 2004 Symposium Continue to encourage MG preparation of editorial material for publication in var ious media Contin ue to drive mini-symposiums at the Extensions (West Hartford and Vernon at a minimum) Drive an event at each Extension during the course of 2004 ••

' Association Support

Develop a written "business and operation plan" for the organization for 2004 (new) Adhere to a publication calendar and editorial schedule for The Laurel Publish the membership/intern directory in early Spring Continue Open Board Meetings (1st Tuesday each month at Elizabeth Park, 10:00) Continue to hold (2) Semi-Annual Membership Meetings each year Establish a Trip Chair and conduct at least 2 trips in 2004 (new) Establish a discount program for purchases (new) Establish a CMGA web site/page with appropr iate links (new) Cont inue to drive fund-raising efforts ; i.e., logo items , raffles, etc. to generate funds

New Areas of Activity

1- Establish cross functional relat ionships with comp limentary organizations ! - Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. Establish joint projects; i.e., Habitat for Humanity Headquarters building in New London Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. Plan Joint flower/horticulture show Discover potential with other organizatio ns; i.e., CAES, NOFA, Plant Societies, etc. ; 3 -

CMG.IL PROPOSED BUDGET POR2004

OPERATING INCOME ,

Dues - paid members (600) $10,200.00 Interest 300.00 Fund raising 1,500.00 Symposium 9,000.00

Total $21 ,000.00

OPERATING EXPENSES

Publications (Laurel,/va rious mailings) $13 ,500.00 Fundraising 2,000.00 Scholarship (UConn) 2,500.00 Scholarships for 2004 Interns 1,000.00 Symposium 4,000.00 Mini-symposiums 750.00 Bulletin boards for coordinators (4@ 300) 1,200.00 Supplies 200.00 Outreach projects (8-extension/$300) plus AMG project funding 3,000.00 Misc. (telephone, stamps, etc.) 750.00

Total $28,900.00

Prepared by Paul Grimmeisen January 2004

CMG.IL and FGCC The Connecticut Master Gardeners Association and the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecti cut, Inc. are developing plans to establish a partnering relationship in 2004. FGCC's president Meg Bremmer and CMGA president Becky Paul met during the Fall and defined two potentia l projects. The first iomative is the Habitat for Humanity '7eadquarters for the New London area. Pic tured at right, the lovely old building needs a little TLC in landscaping to complement its pe The second initiative will be a joint flower snow, riod-design. Working with members of the local expected to be held in the mid-August timeframe. garden club, CMGA members and interns will FGCC members will be asked to participate in have the opportunity to enjoy a very satisfying providing floral designs (and horticulture). CMGA beautification project. Funds are available from members'clnd interns will have an opportunity to both organizations. This effort would be perfect show off their horticulture. FGCC Judges Will for New London County (Norwich) interns and judge this Small Standard Flower Show and mentors in need of outreach hours. Please con awards/ribbons will be offered. We are hoping to tact Becky Paul/Melissa Smith if you are inter secure the CAES auditorium . Please contact ested as soon as possible. Becky if interested in work ing on the show. 4

------Keeping track qf all tl,,osejlowers plants. I cannot claim to have thought up this marvelous scheme all on my own . Nancy Du By AMG Hilary Forsyth Brule presented a most interesting lecture to Octob er 2003 Master Gardeners entitled "Planning a Perennial It has been a gorgeous Fall day. Clear blue skies Garden on Paper". She suggested keeping a presage colder weather, but today the sun is season of bloom chart as an invaluable aid to bright and the air is still warm . It is the sort of day garden design. that makes it a pleasure to get out into the garden with the clippers and cut back the perennials that The format is that you draw up a simple spread made such a show during the summer. sheet on paper (using pencil - no computers nec essary!) , onto which you fill in the names of your The surrounding trees are vibrant in the fire plants BS they come into flower , noting whefl they cracker colors of the season. Bursts of gold of finish flowering . the katsura and sassafras trees; flas hes of amber The list also gives a clear indication of periods and red of the maples and oaks; glowing copper when there may be a lack of color in the gardf:#1. of the beech; rich burgundy edged with gold of the dogwoods. The focus of the garden has now Perhaps May and June gave a tremendous showi ng, but the end of July into August was a shifted subtly upwards from the perennia ls to the tad boring. Researching suitable plants that will trees. provide some interest and color during late sum There is still some color in the perennial beds: mer would be a great winter project. chrysanthemums echo the gold, copper and bur gundy of the trees; and the puffs of a myriad tiny In reality, because my seaso n of bloom chart only deals in dates, it does not give me an indication blue wild aster flowers have a hint of the sky about them. Perennials and shrubs still provide of color in the garden at all. Nor does it tell me whether purple echinacea would look good next some good leaf color as well: platycodons and to blue platycodon (it doesn't - but at least I now clethra shine gold for a couple of days, and the know not to plant them close to each other be amson ia will continue that pale brightness for a cause they flower at the same time). The more little longer; sedum flowerheads pick up the deep detailed information as to flower color , plant form burgundy theme, while the oak-leaf hydrangea and height, and various other plant quirks and and the fotherg illa are wa iting in the wings, ready characteristics is better noted in a garden diary to be the stars of the Fall show . (perhaps next year!). How lucky I am to be surrounded by all this One can hardly make such a list without counting beauty! But how fleeting are the days of glory, the number of plants which have flowered over and how quickly the color s will fade and the leaves be swept away, exposing the bare bones the season. To my amazement, my total was over 150 different types of flowering plants. I of the garden. All season long , my garden has don't think I should be admitting to this: it speaks given me this gift of color and form, of light and of far too much time spent in the garden, an in life. I can talk about it, and write about it, take photographs of it, but somehow nothing conveys ability to turn away any plant, and an interest bor dering on obsession . It also means that my yard the beauty of the moment.. has become more England Cottage Garden than I have, however, found a way of preserving some New England landscaped . Ah well, you know of the memo ries of the garden over the year by what they say: perhaps you can be too rich, or keeping a record of the flowering times of my too thin, but you can never have too many plants!

Name of Plant Erica hlox subulata

==1 5 Winter .Reading other sources to answer. Two Book Reviews by Barbara Walker In spite of these exceptions, this book is very, very good. It builds confidence. It will inspire the Plan t Propagation A to Z by Geoff Bryant novice to start plants from seed , spore and cut (Auckland, Firefly Books, 2003), $35 U.S. is a ting, and will encourage those with some skill to tantalizing thing to read, particularly in winter. try more adventuresome methods. Recom Thumb through the 224 pages of this gorgeous mended. I book . The illustrat ions , both drawings and pho tos, are so wonderful and lucid you'd think that , if The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys (NY, you could buy only one book on propagation this Norton , 2001 ), is a slim , elegant novel set in war would be it. Well ... maybe . time England, a nation mobilized for defense. In London where the story opens , houses are trans Let's start with the good points, there are so formed to debris in seconds. "An accordion of 1 many. The author has over 25 years of experi staircase poking out of the top of the rubble ... A ence hybridizing and propagating plants. Bryant looking glass hanging crookedly on the lone re write S'Clearly and simply. By the end of three 1 maining wall." How do you find your way past the · paragraphs he has explained all the necessary gaping holes that yesterday were buildings when biology underlying the process the dynamics of you walk home in utter blackout darkness? cloning. There's even a glossary at the end, and an index by common plant name. Material on Everyone who could, did something for the war cold frames and greenhouses includes such use- effort. With farmers called into the army, women ' ful var iations as sun frames and shade houses. were urged to take their places in the newly or Procedures such as air layering, root cuttings , ganized Women's Land Army to grow food for the grafting -and budding are so cleady explained that nation and its soldiers. Most Land Girls were in the reader feels empowered to try them. fact city girls who'd never even owned wellies. For ready reference tbere are pages and pages Gwen Davis, a shy and awkward researcher in of tables: Table 2 is Germination Requirements London's Royal Horticultural Society, is unable to and includes temperature and preconditions. cope with the steady decimation of the city she That's just about everything you need to know to loves. Reluctantly, Gwen enlists in the Women 's start seeds successfu lly. Tab le 4, Propagation by Land Army. With her qualifications as a horticu l Cutfings, lists over 500 plants by-botanical name , turalist , she is sent out into the country and as with the optimal season, number of days and ap signed to lead a group of young women who will proximate strike rate, which means simply , how grow potatoes in the fields of an abandoned many samples take root. Here you will find the manor. A group of Canadian soldiers is billeted in best possible time of year to start cuUings and adjacent buildings. Predictably, the young people how many of your samples are likely to result in a develop a social life into which Gwen is drawn new plant. Want to start some ferns? Pages 56- and ultimately drawn out. Her private refuge from 58 make it sound easy. people and from her own mistakes is a hidden walled garden , a tangle of neglect , which con , So what complaint could anyone make against ceals a puzzling message in its theme. ' such a book? My beloved pink dogwood is in its final years. There is nothing exactly like it in the Helen Humphreys is a poet and concise writing is 1 plant catalogs , so I would dearly love to clone it. her forte. Emotions and events are laid before the Bryant says: " ... C. florida from cuttings or grafts. reader pure and distilled. No words are wasted; Consult more specialized information for precise such is the power of this writer. Though the novel ' details." But there is no bibliography so that is a is humorous at times the mood is as somber as dead end. the low angled light of the northern latitudes. In the title, The Lost Garden, Humphreys is making ' I also yearn for one of those deciduous native a consc ious reference to The Secret Garden by holly bushes , the kind that's just covered with Frances Hodgson Burnett. The theme of the gar blood-red berries right now; it's just the right size den as a healing place was ce ntral to both. for my small yard. Of llex , he writes: "Also, as hollies are often dioecious , it is not possible to A bibliography invites the reader to explore the i know the sex of the seedlings until they mature." references to roses , the poems quoted, and to This , too, raises lots of questions that I'd need learn more about the Women's Land Army . 6

------~-- - ·~------..bxle11sio11..Ne1vs . ..

CMGA assisted New London County in the opening of their newly refurbished facility by hosting a "Harvest Time Mini-Symposium " late fall. The ses sion was full of information with presentations by Dawn Pettingill on soils and Carol Williamson on put ting the garden to bed. Attendees were MG's, AMG's, and the general public. Shown below are (I tor) Melissa Smith, MG Coordinator for New London County, and Carol Williamson, AMG and member of the staff at UCONN's Home and Garden Center. Below is the p ew classroom (filled with attendees!) of the Extension during Carol's presentation.

What beauty sings, Sapphire jewels on wings.. . Neal Peckham hosted a bluebird house building workshop last Spring for New Haven County MG's. Participating were (I to r) Ellie Tessmer, Marylee Obert, Carol Grillo, Neil Peckham, Catherine Prishwalko and Mira Schachne. Marie Dube, and Marvin Carley are miss ing from photograph. Forty houses were built, twenty of which were installed on the rounds of Gaylord Rehabilitation Hospital. ' 1

New Haven MG's also did a great job this faff putting their Extension gardens to bed.

Lower Fairfield County Master Gardener Alumni Master Gardeners from Lower Fairfield County who Group members have been very busy. Continuing will be helping with Stamford's Bartlett Arboretum 's its monthly meetings, January's gathering netted an yearly spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 8. We'll update on several activities . Master Gardeners , have Master Gardener!fon the field answering ques Suzanne Amster, '02 and Chris Reid, '01, will be tions and offering advice, as wel l as promoting the pro making presentations at Stamfo rd's Bartlett Arbore- gram to the public. The sale includes quality plants . tum's Winterbloom. Suzanne will conduct a dried woodies. shrubs, and perennials. There will be display topiary workshop March 20, using materials gath gardens featuring ideas for shade, deer-resistance, ered from Bartlett's grounds. The next day, Chris ground cover, attracting birds, xeriscaping, window box , presents her talk on analyzing light in the garden. and containe r garde ning, and foliage gardens. Don't miss the fun and the buys! The group enthusiastically discussed an itinerary of monthly outings to area gardens and nurseries. Writer/Editor Needed to work on a weekly gardening . The first of these is planned to the Doris Duke column for New London's "The Day" newspaper. · Greenh ouses, on Feb. 8. Stay tuned for other ex CMGA has been preparing our column, "Garden Cor citing undertakings planned by the group, in keep ner" for each Friday's edition from early March through ing with its mission. That mission is: 1) To educate the end of October for many, many years. , the public about best gardening practices through • presentation s and teaching; 2) to join with like A lead person is needed to coordinate with the publica minded people in attending seminars and classes, tion's editor each week to submit articles either written so that we hone our knowledge to pass on to the by oneself or CMGA members. • public; 3) to ass ist the public in making horticu ltural decisions through good advice, such as services This effort has been supported over the last two years rendered in the plant clinic; 4) to heighten and in by Becky Paul. Master Gardener Robert McNeil held dulge our own sense of beauty and to learn from this position for numerous years prior to his passing. · others by touring gardens, arboreta. herbaria, etc., Please contact Becky (203) 458-8413 or by email and 5) to socialize with one another. at r.r.paul@att .net with your interest. 7

·-- .Nursery Trips Hill -Stead Schedules ✓ Submitted by Connie Schultz , MG Winter EvenbJ BONSAI GARDENS- VERNON, CT Joy Pachla, Communi cations Director for the The Feng Shui of Bonsai Gardening Indoors Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT, has During the cold bleak winter months when forwarded a listing of winter events for our you're stuck indoors and nothing is blooming members' enjoyment. outside ; when you're down to "winter intere st" Lecture: Women Take the Lead in plants like sticks and twigs and seed heads - Land scape Archit ecture it's a good time to turn your interests to garden ing indoors - like bonsa i. It's a good way to February 8, 2004. Talk 2 pm Lunch by reser bring nature indoors during the winter because vation 12:30 pm. Landscape historian Judith bonsai are dwarf trees that mimic the big trees B. Tankard will showcase the accomplish outside! I got my first bonsai years ago in San ments of pioneering women landscape de Diego at a local Bonsai club. I've been hooked signers of the early 1900s, remarkable for ever since! In all the intervening years and . both their artisti c vision and personal courage . many moves my bonsai have moved with me ' Tankard is the author of The Gardens of Ellen always enriching my environs with their calmi~g Biddle Shipman and the recipient of the Gar beauty and art - the feng shui of gardening in den Writers Association's Quill and Trowe l doors! So I was delighted when I discovered a Award. $10 for members and students, $15 new bonsai shop had opened in Vernon, CT . for non-members. Lunch with speaker and Victor Eng, Bonsai Master, owner and bonsa i preferred seating by reservation: $25 for mem doctor , opened his new facility this fall, moving bers, $30 for non-members. from New York to the quiet er pace of Connecti cut. The shop is located in a store front right off Lecture: Women Designing Public Spaces Highway 84 on Talcottv ille Rd. (across from March 14, 2004 . 12:30 pm lunch ; 2 pm lecture Gem Jewelry/CVS). Learn about the women of the late 19th and As a bonsai enthusiast I've often been frus early 20th century who designed landscapes trated at being able to find bonsa i supplies or for housing developments, parks , parkways appropriate (dwarf) plant material so I was and university campuses . Landscape histo thrilled to see that Mr. Eng carries a complete rian and scho lar Thaisa Way is the featured line of bonsai supplies - soil, pots, tools, and, of speaker. $10 for members and students, $15 course, lots of plants to experiment with! I got a for non-members. Lunch with speaker and satsuki azalea the first time when I was there ! preferred seating by reservation : $25 for mem and last time I got a shimpaku juniper. I'm ex bers , $30 for non-members . cited to see my collection start to expand again! He also has some exotics like cactus and Ve To register for either of these lectures please nus fly traps, beta fish, water bamboo , and or call Joy Pachla at 860.677.4787 ext 111 or chids. He carries both indoor and outdoor bon ; email [email protected]. sai. There are some plants that are easier for Hill-Stead Museum beginners to start with and Mr. Eng is very help 35 Mountain Road , Farmington , CT 06032 ful and also offers classes in pruning , potting, 860.677.4787 and wiring. So if you get the winter blues, think about doing some indoor gardening and getting your "feng shui" balanced with a visit to Mr. Eng at the Bonsa i ens in Vernon. Sg111posi11r11Sfll e! BONSAI GARDENS Be sure to check out the CMGA logo items for 151 Talcottvi lle Road, Vernon , CT sale at the Symposium. New for 2004 are Hours: Monday, Closed (hefty!) tote bags and (handy!) clipboards. T esday to Saturday 10:00 a.m . to 6:00 p. We will also have a "clearance sale" at the Thu rsday 9:00 to 9:00 p.m. symposiu m of various shirts, hats, mugs, tools , etc. Check it out for great bargains ! 8 CongrtdulnLions Class of2003! As "official" Certified Extension Master Gardeners you can now realize your full potential and take pride in sharing your new-found knowledge with others. Please remember to join CMGA and con tinue to participate in our variety of programs.

Maura Albert Patricia Dorion Mary Kundrath Lisa Roser Kimberly Alleman Marsha Dowling Mike Labickas Janis Sanner Judith Allik Nancy Dreyer Becky Laughlin Jodi Satter Veronica Anderson Nancy Eppley L. Lawson Robin Sevigney Paul Angelini Mariele Ewankow Richa rd Lorenc Penny Shea Sandra Aron Donna Fisher Kimberly Marrs Tina Shirshac Karen Askins David Flagge Roy Mathers Beverly Sidway George Asmus, Ill Nancy Flemming Kerry Mattie Martha Smart Betty Baker Robert Fletcher Linda McArthur Anita Solosky Ellen Barrett Moses Flores Lisa McCabe Chris Southam Elizabeth Beaudette Kathryn Floyd Patric ia McCracken Richard Sparling Lisanne Belgrade Beverly Floyd Susan McMinn Joan Stubenrauch Madeline Benyeda Lisa Frederick Linda Medura Gary Sylvester Kyle Blake Paul Galuska Alice Mellor Jason Terrance Pam Brundage Bart Gannon Louise Michard Danielle Thalheimer Nerita Bunch Carol Garber Don Milbier Richard Thomas Patricia Buza LeDona Geise Susan Millen Linda Thomas Kristen-Lin Care Stacy Gendrau Jim Morrison Lori Thompson Susan Chandler Abigail Gorton Matthew Moser Gay Thorn Janet Chappel Paul Gurda Debbie Mullikin Susie Thorness Louis Cher ichetti Bob Guzz io Maureen Murphy Teresa Tracy Jean Chico ine Sarah Heminway Jennifer Murray Renee Turley Maureen Cleaver Rosellen Hernandez Lois Nadel Patricia Tyszka Kelly Conetta Lorraine Hoagland Susanna Nielsen Nancy Urban Cindy Coville Julianne Hobbs Sue Nimerowski Misty Van Ryzin Joan Crimmins Carmen Holzman Diane Ostheimer Christina Van Scoy Debra Dalton Gloria Howell Robert Palmer Florence Var:eta Alfred Damm Stephanie Hutter Dom Palumbo Maria Villaran Christine Darnell Bailynn Hye Laura Pelco Elizabeth Vogt Denise Davis Vincent Ingala John Perch Gay Wagner Christine Decker Martha lngues Terry Pitt Stephanie Wargo Patricia DiLauria Karen James Alison Rabinko Deborah Weinberg Avril Dobousek Jerry Kalinsky Rosellen Riley Virginia Wilson Douglas Dole Rarmsay Klaft Judith Robinson Lori Winslow Edward Donofrio Kathleen Kracz kowsky Elizabet h Rose Jennifer Wood

.!Ind, the Class of2004 begins their journey ...

Mira Schacne spells out "the rules of the road " on the First class first day of class in North Haven. Bethel and North lecture was Haven's class in being held at ACES. on our most precious commodity of all: water quality. May/June Mini-symposiums 2004 Calendar Dates To Be Announced Connectic ut Master Gnrdcncrs Associat ion th 5 May 18 MG Diagnostic Session/ Norwich 1 T Tuesday of each month Melissa Smith 1-860- 885-2823 10 am Ope n Board Meetings 11 am Symposium Meetings June 16th MG Diagnostic Session!rorrington Knox House, Elizabeth Park, Hartford Lorna Delaney 1-860-626-6240

February 4th AMG Class: Feng Shui For the Garden June 19"' CMGA Semi Annual Meeting Location to be announced th February 7 CT Horticultural Society Symposium th Spring into the Garden July 8 UConn Plant Science Research Tour Registration info 1- 860-529-8713 Cyndi Wyskiew icz 1-860-486-6343 nd February 9th AMG Class: Woody Plant ID July 22 MG Diagnostic Session/ North Haven Mira Schachne 1-203-407-3167 February 16th AMG Class: Managing Land for Wildlife August th 13 MG Diagnostic Session/ Vernon th February 18 AMG Class: Early Care of Trees Mary Collins-1-860-870 -6934 February 26-29 23rd CT Flower and Garden Show Mid-August Joint CMGA-FGCC CT Expo Center Hartford , Flower and Horticulture Show CT Master Garde ner Booth needs vol Becky Paul, 203-458-84 13 unteers , Bobbie Orne-1-860-875-300 5 October 1st Final Diagnostic Session, Vernon th March 9 Garden Enthusiast Conference th Rome Ballroom , UConn Storrs Octobe r 5 Final Diagnostic Session, Norwich Leane Pundt 1-860-626-6240 or October 5-9 Nortfi East Regional Master Gardener ww.hort.uconn.edu/q arden/ Confere nce Baltimore, Maryland March 10th Perennia l Plant Conference www.mastergardener.umd.e du Rome Ballroom, UConn Storrs Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860-486-6343 www.hort.uconn.edu/ppc/ Octobe r 7th Final Diagnostic Session, North Haven

March 1ylh th AMG Class: Connect icut Deer October 13 Final Diagnost ic Session, Torrington th March 19 th Set up for Symposium October 24 MG Fall Festival, Auer Farm Bloomfield VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Cyndi Wysk iewicz 1-860-486-6343 Manchester Comm unity College November 13th CMGA Annual Meeting March 20\h CMGA Sympos ium Location 19 be announced Manchester Community College

March 30th AMG Class: Pruning of Fruit Trees Note: AMG Class Information and Registration Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860-486 -6343

~ February 21: "Shade Gardening Saturday" courses at Otlter Scl,eduled Events ... NYBG. 10-12 noon, 12:30-2:30, 2:45-4:45. wwwnybg.org . Submitted by Richard Schaffer, AMG or 718-817-8747.

January 26 thru February 22: Came llias in Bloom , daily February 27-28: Ecologica l Landscaping Assoc. 2004 10-4. Lyman Estate Greenhouse , Waltham , MA (78 1) 891- Winter Converence & Eco-Marketplace. Boxborough Holi 4882 X244. Free. day Inn, Boxborough , MA. Info 617-436-5838 or www.ela ecolandscapingassn .org. February 5-7: "Shaping the Future of the Green Industry". New England Grows. Hynes Conventio n Cente r, Boston, March 6-14: Philadelphia Flower Show at Pennsylvania MA. www.negrows.org . Convention Center, Philadelphia , PA. Pennsylvania Hort Society, Midge Ingersoll, 215-988-8800 . February 6: 'Today's Horticulture" at Longwood Gardens by the Professional Garde ner Alumn i Association of Long- March 13-21: Boston Flower Show at Bayside Exhibition wood Gardens. 610-388-1000, x507. Center, Boston, MA. www.masshort.org/showpage.

February 19-22: The Rhode Island Spring Flowe r & Gar March 13, 20 & 27: Orchid Classes at NYBG. 10-1p.m. den Show. Rhode Island Conventio n Center , Providence . related to orchid exhibition, February 27-March 28. 718- 401-421-7811 or www.flowersho w.com. 817-8747 or www.nybg.org 10 mm May/June Mini-symposiums 2004 Calendar Dates To Be Announced Connectic ut Master Gnrdcncrs Associat ion th 5 May 18 MG Diagnostic Session/ Norwich 1 T Tuesday of each month Melissa Smith 1-860- 885-2823 10 am Ope n Board Meetings 11 am Symposium Meetings June 16th MG Diagnostic Session!rorrington Knox House, Elizabeth Park, Hartford Lorna Delaney 1-860-626-6240

March 30th AMG Class: Pruning of Fruit Trees Note: AMG Class Information and Registration Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860-486 -6343

~ February 21: "Shade Gardening Saturday" courses at Otlter Scl,eduled Events ... NYBG. 10-12 noon, 12:30-2:30, 2:45-4:45. wwwnybg.org . Submitted by Richard Schaffer, AMG or 718-817-8747.

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11 Tlte First ClassMail Laurel U.S.Postage PAID PermitNo. 43 CMGA Guilford, CT06437 c/o John Neff 18 Knollwood Road Farmington, CT 06032

Marie Dube This is your last issue 455 Amity Road of The Laurel Woodbridge, CT 06525 if you have not renewed your CMGA membership for 2004. Membership form can be found inside

Here re, Here re!! CMGA'S "Gardeners in Action" Symposium is calling all creative gardeners into action for our 2nd Annual Garden Hat Parade and Contest. Remember 2003?? What fun we had!! Let's use those creat ive juices stored up this winter to design a special Garden Hat once again! "THE POWER OF GARDEN ING" is a great theme to use as your motivat ion . Susan Saint James will be here to discuss the fusion of plants and humans, creating dynam ic relationships between societies ...We will be her attentive audience, in full hat display! This year we would like to see more men in volved! How about those baseball caps or hard hats worn while trimming your trees? Thes e types of hats could be made to interpret our theme, too!

Awards will be presented! Come on! Join in the fun 2004!

,,... . •, TheConn~•:~:~ -, 'I'hae U'/Al9Dl Gardeners~ I ~ ! Association Early Spring 2004 Volume 17, No. 2

2004 CMG.II Qificers

Becky Raiola-Paul 259 Saw Mill Road Guilford, CT 0643 (203) 458-8413 [email protected] Vice-President: Paul Grimmeisen 24 White Oak Road Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 677-8645 [email protected] Peter Lirot 39 Burr Hill Road Killingworth, CT 06419 (860) 663-1595 plirot@ao l.com Sandy Myhalik 89 Ely Road Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 677-0504 [email protected] John Neff and Connie Schultz 18 Knollwood Road Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 673-5018 [email protected] · Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-877-486-6271 Cooperative Extension Coordinatm-s

Bethel: Sandi Wilson (203) 207-8440

Brooklyn: Kim Kelly (860) 776-9600

Haddam : John Castagna (860) 345-4511

North Haven: Mira Schachne (203) 407-3161

Norwich: Melissa Smith (860) 887- 1608

Torrington: Lorna Delaney (860) 626-6240

Vernon: Mary Collins (860) 870-6934

West Hartford: Katie Melvin (860) 570-9010

Home and Garden Center (877) 486-6271 The First-Class USPostage Laurel PAID Pemiit#43 CMGA Guilford, CT 06437 c/o John Neff 18 Knollwood Road Farmington, CT 06032

2004 Directory Enclosed Marie Dube 455 Amity Road Woodbridge, CT 06525

H ELP A CIDLD BLOSSOM! Join Connecticut Master Gardener Associa tion members for the 3nd Annual Prunathon & Spring Clean up I

'[i]' /,,Connecticut Children's Place

Saturday, April 17, 2003, 1:00-5:00 p.m. (Rain date Saturday, April 24th. Call 292-8333 for recorded info.) 36 Gardner Street, East Windsor ( corner of Gardner St. & Rt.140, 1-91 Exit 45) *Bring your gloves, rakes and pruning shears for an afternoon of sprucing up the grounds , flowerbeds and gardens. *Work alongside and help abused and neglected children between the ages of 10-18 learn about the wonders of gardening. *Help cultivate a summer landscape of beautiful flowers and colors that will make a difference in the lives of these children. *End the day by joining the children for supper! To sign up for the Prunathon or get more information, please call Master Gardener Laura Dillman at 860/668-4606 or email her at [email protected]. For more information about the Connecticut Children's Place, visit www.ctchildrensplace.org. Elizabeth Park Celebrates 100 Years of Roses By Barbara Duffy

If Charles and Elizabeth Pond rosarian with a vast knowledge of listed on their web- could see what wonderful use their roses. She is an American Rose Hartford estate has been put to, Society Consulting Rosarian and is they would be very proud. Eliza a sought after speaker at events all The annual Rose beth Park was opened in 1904 and over the US. The wonderful thing Weekend at Eliza was the first municipal garden in about Donna Fuss, is that she still beth Park will be the US. And what a treasure it is. likes to get her hands dirty, and particularly special They are celebrating their 100th her lectures and workshops are this year as they are anniversary, and have special loaded with practical know how. celebrating "100 events all year. The park is a won Years of Roses". It is derful example of how a commit Elizabeth Park is not ju st about scheduled when the ted group of city employees, com roses though. The 102-acre park rose garden is in full munity volunteers, and gardening has a spring bulb display of mag bloom and is a spec organizations can work together to nificent tulips, an annual garden, tacular display of color, make a first class park and educa Dahlia beds, a perennial garden, a fragrance and culture. This years th tional center available to the com rock garden, a picnic grove, a festival is scheduled for June 18 munity. pond, and extensive green through the 20th and includes po houses. The 100-year-old green etry readings, classical music, op The park was designed by the houses are used to grow an era, face painting, cakes on pa landscape design firm of Olmsted nuals from seed that are used rade, the Governors Foot Guard and Son, and the first garden in plantings all over Hartford. Band and of course, the roses. planted was a 100 bush rose gar __Mark it on your calendar - it is den. It's grown a bit and is now the The Friends of Elizabeth Park is a sure to be a rose extravaganza. home of 15,000 historic and con dedicated group of volunteers who temporary rose bushes as well as work in the gardens, raise funds Elizabeth Pali< many other plants and trees. The for the park, and sponsor tours Prospect and Asylum Avenue rose garden has been a favorite and workshops that are free and Hartford, CT 860 231 9443 location for Connecticut brides for open to the public March through http://www.eli zabethpark.org years. Elizabeth Park is one of November. The park has volunteer Friends of Elizabeth Park twenty-two All America test gar gardening "Super Saturday" ses 860 242 0017 dens, which evaluate new roses sions starting in May and ending in before they are released to the November. Garden tours and general public. At the heart of the workshops on roses and perennials INSIDE THIS ISSUE rose garden at Elizabeth Park is are scheduled regularly. Dates, Donna Fuss, a nationally known times, and driving directions are President's Message · · · · · · · · · .. 2 Butterfly ~ardening ········ ... · 3 Readers Corner .. •··· ...... 4 100 YEARS OF ROSES AMG Classes ...... 5 CELEBRATE ROSE WEEKEND AT ELIZABETH PARK Avoid Back Pain ...... ····•• .. ·· 5 2004 Symposium Report•· ···6 Friday June 18 to Sunday 20, 2004 Book Review · •· · · · · · · · · · •· · · · .. · · 8 Prospect and Asylum Avenue Web Garden .. •· .. •• .... •· •• ...... 9 Hartford, CT (860) 231-9443 Behind the CMGA Symposium • 10 http://www.elizabethpark.org Calendar·····•····· .... ·········· 11

.... CMGA Officers 2004 President's Message President Becky Raiola-Paul Congratulations to the Class of 259 Saw Mill Road 2004 Master Gardener Interns Guilford, CT 06437 for finishing their formal class (203) 458 -8413 [email protected] room hours and written test. They, and their mentors across Vice-President the State, are now in full swing Paul Grimmeisen with projects and office duty at 24 White Oak Road the Extensions. There's truth Farmington, CT 06032 to what some say in that now (860) 677 -8645 [email protected] the real learning begins!

Treasurer It's very important to remem Peter Lirot ber that the key mission of 39 Burr Hill Road CMGA is supporting the Master our organization's resources of Killingworth, CT 06419 Gardener Program's outreach close to 1,000 members! (860) 663 -1595 efforts. [email protected] There are loads of classes, get togethers and activities coming Secretary What project(s) have you de cided to work on this season? up over the next few months. Sandy Myhalik Check out the enclosed sched 89 Ely Road Please let us know so we can Farmington, CT 06032 assist you with additional ule, mark your calendar and (860) 677-0504 hands, education or funds. We join your Master Gardener [email protected] would also like to once again peers to celebrate our camara derie and wonderful accom Membership run a master outreach listing in each issue of The Laurel. So, plishments together during this Connie Schultz glorious time of the year. 25 Laurel Drive be sure to send a note to the Stafford Springs, CT 06076 editors with the name of your (860) 684 - 1561 project(s), location, contact Wishing you the best for plant connie@[email protected] person, and the contact's ing success Memorial Day weekend! Liaison phone/email. A very brief de scription of the effort can be Cyndi Wyskiewicz included as well. There are Warm regards, 1-877-486-6271 many folks out there interested Becky Cooperative Extension Coordinators in finding a working project to Bethel: Sandi Wilson (203) 207-8440 commit to - take advantage of Brooklyn: Kim Kelly (860) 776-9600 Haddam: John castagno (860) 345-4511 N. Haven: Mira Schachne (203) 407-3161 Norwich: Melissa Smith (860) 887-1608 CALLING ALL GARDEN WRITERS! Stamford: Reginacampfield (203) 329-3363 Tonington: Loma Delaney (860) 626-6240 Vernon: Mary Collins (860) 870-6934 The publicity committee of the Connecticut Master W. Hartford: Katie Melvin (860) 570-9010 Gardeners Association is looking for people to write a Horne and Garden Center: (877) 486-6271 weekly or monthly column for various local newspapers on The Laurel is published a minimum of timely gardening topics. We can organize a group of people four times a year for the members of The Connecticut Master Gardeners to share responsibilities or one can take on the whole Association. Please send news, calen project. This is a great opportunity to share your master dar items, articles and photographs to gardener knowledge with the public! the Editors, Hilary Forsyth at Cfil'.hbf(ci)op_!:online.net , or Barbara Duffy at Barbduff y2{a)aol.com , marking the Please contact Carol Quish at subject as "CMGA - The Laurel". Ouishfam(Cl)cox.net or weekdays at 1-877-486-6271. Deadlin e for July issue: June 30, 2004

------~ ------Butterfly Gardening: Stalking the Wild ... Aristolochia By Barbara Walker

As garden trends go, butter showy flower and monarchs fly gardens are hot, hot, hot. will breed on its foliage. So During the last decade gar we can please ourselves and deners noticed that some of the monarchs, but what can our cherished garden plants we plant to host the larvae of are visited by butterflies, other butterflies? making our gardens even more appealing. Now we are The spicebush swallowtail Dutchman's pipe or Calico consciously selecting garden butterfly, Papilio troilus, is flower. It resembles a freck plants based on their appeal mostly black and spectacu led purple meerschaum pipe. to butterflies - a new twist in larly beautiful. It lays eggs But here we have a problem: the botany of desire. on either the spice bush or A. elegans is toxic to pipe the sassafras tree. The spice vine swallowtail larvae. The A real butterfly garden has bush, Lindera benzoin, is a butterflies will lay eggs on it, to feed and shelter the lowly better choice for gardens. but it will poison the larvae. caterpillar as well as nourish Lindera is a shrub to 6'-10' It is the wild Aristolochia, A. the glamorous adult. Each high, that likes the moist soil durior, syn. A. macrophylla, species has a preferred host and semi-shade that drives that is preferred by the pipe plant, not all of which are gardeners nuts. It does tol vine butterfly. A. durior is attractive to people. Let's be erably well in dryer, sunny hardy in zones 3-8. Flowers honest here. Humans have to spots, too. Remember the are odd and not showy. Foli find the plants appealing as color, "Green Yellow" from age gives this plant its horti well, or the coveted space your box of 64 Crayolas? cultural appeal: it will cover will soon go to other orna That's about the co lor of Lin a trellis, tree or fence with mentals. Simply put, the dera's April flowers. Leaf and attractive, dark green, heart question is, would we want a twig release a pleasing spicy shaped leaves. Because it particular plant in the gar scent when bruised, hence likes part shade, it can add den, regardless of its con its common name. The foli texture and a vertical ele nection to a butterfly life cy age is pleasing in shape and ment to an otherwise chal cle? Take the milkweed for color all summer, but just lenging area. Toxicity of Aris example. wait till it turns blazing gold tolochias varies, so if this is in autumn. Its pretty red a concern, consult a Toxic Most gardeners know the fruits beckon hungry birds. Plant data base before plant connection between monarch (You need male and female ing. So for an attractive butterflies and mi lkweed. plants to produce the fruits, screen plant, Aristolochia is a Milkweed is a tall, ungainly which are borne only on fe durable choice. wild plant, not suited to gar male plants.) Lindera ben dens because it is aggressive zoin will earn its keep in the For more inf ormation on Lin and lacks showy flowers. But garden. dera benzoin and Aristolochia milkweed's well-behaved species, consult William cous in s, Asclepias tuberosa, The pipevine swallowtai l Cu lli na's excellent Native and A. incarnata, have be butterfly, Batt us ph ilenor, Trees, Shrubs and Vines, come garden favorites in re takes its common name from UConn hort. and other plant cent years. Butterf ly weed, its larval host plant, the databases, and the U.S.D.A. A. tuberosa, is orange in the pipevine plant, Aristolochia web site. A Google search on wild, and cultivars of red and species. This is an interesting plant name will yield ample yellow are offered by plant family of plants. The best information, including ven and seed vendors. Taller, known is A. elegans, or A. dors. elegant A. incarnata has a littoralis, commonly named READER'S CORNER Onward and Upward in the Garden by Katharine S. White A book review by Diana Ringelheim

Can a book of collected essays Some modern catalogues, with As critical and sharp-eyed as on gardening subjects from the full color photographs, stars White was, she was a gardener New Yorker magazine dated and stripes to announce spe we can sympathize with. Her March 1958 to March 1970 be cials, arrows and exclamations description of the sweet torture valuable to modern gardeners? to get your attention, have al of sitting in her living room Silly question. Although this most jazzed themselves into while a blizzard rages outside book does not discuss the most the unintelligible. One of my (in Maine) surrounded by salient topics of gardening to favorite seed catalogues, the blooming garden catalogues is day such as using native plants one associated with the nurs something we have all experi or organic methods, it will give ery (forget discretion: Park's enced. Her observations on the reader a perspective that [brother of Wayside]) is now the past year in her garden, stimulates independent marketing plants along with the successes and failures, are thought and judgment. It has the seeds. The graphics are so very chatty and personal and never been out of print and the plentiful that your eye cannot she expressed what we all feel latest re-issue was in April, rest for a moment. If you hap but are seldom able to put into 2002. pen to see a picture that at words. Even flower arranging tracts you, the search for the which is no longer a hot garden Katharine S. White was an edi text describing it is lengthy and topic (cut their heads off?!) is tor at the New Yorker and an frustrating, and at the end you discussed affectionately and avid gardener, who died before discover that you can only buy with contagious enthusiasm. the collection was published . . it as a plant (it's supposed to Garden history, design, and The book was edited by her be a seed catalogue!}. The even passing garden fashions husband, E. B. White who also discussion in this book of are treated with serious con wrote an introduction in the Park's Seed catalogue is that sideration and fascinating in form of a short biography. As much more heartbreaking be sight. a literary editor, Mrs. White cause of what has been lost to developed a unique point of marketing pizzazz. The cherries on top of all this view on garden catalogues, are the occasional illustrations treating them as works of lit Imagine reading catalogues which are reproductions from erature. She could spot hype, written by crusty, opinionated, garden catalogues, of course. marketing strategy, and phoni dedicated nursery professionals Many of them look like they ness instantly. It was her con who have no idea how to ca were made from etched plates, tention that the sincere and ress or dazzle the customer. a labor-intensive technique even quirky expressions of a These are the individuals that even the post office has plant enthusiast, describing the whose writings are described in abandoned, but one that gives offerings of his/her nursery will Onward and Upward in the a sense of detail and impor give the gardener a better un Garden . Some of the cata tance to the things illustrated, derstanding and appreciation logues are still being produced, even cabbages. This rich and of the subtle characteristics like White Flower Farm's, but luscious book is one that will that make a plant good for the without the same tone of voice never be obsolete because it garden. Ultimately, we can also (or graphics - in 1958 it only arouses your imagination and piece together the characteris had black and white drawings). provokes your opinions, which tics that make a good garden. Catharine S. White was a per are invaluable tools for sifting So much information can be son of strong, if not crusty, through the overload of today's acquired from well written opinions also, and it is an eye information age. catalogues that they become opener to read about the roots supplements to textbooks. Or of some of the catalogues that at least they used to. are in our mail boxes today. Advanced Master Gardener Classes June - September 2004 Deta ils at www.canr.uconn.edu/garden/

Date Time Subject Location June 5 9am- 12pm Introduction to Tree ID Storrs

June 5,12 9am- lpm Propagation and Culture of Wildflowers and Native Woodstock Wildflower Plants Nursery

June 9, 16 6pm-9pm Designing a Successful Perennial Garden West Hartford

June 14-18 10am- 4:30pm Introduction to Flower Painting West Hartford

June 15 6.30pm- 8: 30pm Nomenclature: How and Why Plants Get Their Names! West Hartford

June 23 6pm-9pm Basics of Landscape Design Norwich

July 17 10am- 12pm Plants Out of Place Storrs

July 21,28 6pm- 9pm Greenhouses 101 Vernon

August 4 lOam- lpm Butterflies, Dragonflies and Common Insects of CT Bethel

September9 9.30am- 12.30pm Hot Topics Bethel

September 11 lOam- lpm Pruning Deciduous and Evergreen Trees and Shrubs Haddam

September 18 10am- 12pm Winterizing your Vegetable Garden Tolland /

Avoid Back Pain from Spring Digging By Barbara Duffy

Most gardeners dive right are doing it in cor rectly, you sho vel into the eart h, into the will pay! Here are some tips then straighten both digging that will help you avoid back waist and knees before come pa in. lif ting the soil. spring, but before • Insert the shovel into the • Turn your entire body you g rab dirt so that the blade is befo re you dep osit the those straight up and down not earth, don't twist at shovels at an angle! the waist and toss the and head soil. for the • Keep your back straight, garden put your foot on the • Take frequent breaks. this upper edge of the shovel, Give your poor back a spring, and use your body break, it's been on the remember weight t o push the couch all winter! - there is shovel into the ground. a righ t way and a • Bend your waist and wrong way to shovel . If you kne es while pushing the

·- Reports From The 2004 Symposium

"Victory, Schoo l, Unified , ture, she is an resultant Prison, Commun ity, there are American classic. seedlings in many types of gardens", said Ms. St. James is the fog and mist keynote speaker, Susan St. mother of a blended houses. He James, as she began her talk family with "kids 31 detailed the on the Power of Gardening and to 13". She retains various proc- the Empowering of Gardening. a kid's enthusiasm esses in Lured into the Litchfield Garden for her gardening, volved in Club by her mother-in-law, her volunteer work propagating Susan soon felt the value of and her business plants from gardening and the strength of enterprise, Seedling cuttings, and continuity in the garden club. It and Pip, which sup we were seemed a natural step to enroll plies books and gifts amazed and in the Master Gardener pro for newborns. As a interest ed to gram. The competitive spirit keynote speaker Bill Allyn, Director of Residential hear about and energy that had made her she articulated, ex Services , CCARC with Susan St James, Symposium keynote Speaker the process a successful actress, she now emplified and rein of bench graft applied to getting a perfect forced the focus of the Master ing - until he explained that score on her quizzes and final Gardener Association: to use this process is so named sim exam. gardening skills in service to ply because the grafting is car the community . ried out at a bench! Already active with Connecticut - Barbara Walker Special Olympics, Susan com Dick 's talk was illustrated by bined both of her pursuits Richard Jaynes presented an slides of Kalmia cultivars, and when it came time to do a vol interesting and informative talk of other plant favorites such as unteer project. She is organiz on "Outstanding Woody Plants Clethra, Oxydendron, Hepta ing people she'd met in the and Their Propagation". Dick's codium and Stewartia. Dick Special Olympics program to first love in the plant world is was quick to give credit to his create a garden around a sen Kalmias, or mountain laurels, team at the nursery, and his ior housing facility. Th e garden the Connecticut State Flower. ·- gentle, unassuming manner is designed with beds that can He is an acknowledged expert made this a most enjoyable be reached from whee lchair on the propagation of these presentation, despite the high bound visitors and has a range plants, and has developed sev level science . of plants for scent and touch. eral new cultivars for the mar - Hilary Forsyth The garden became a meeting ket. place and focal point for the "This is my third Symposium", residents. Ms. St. James de Dick outlined the intricacies of said Susan Spang of Salem, scribed the plant Connecticut. Susan, a Master positive ef breeding: Gardener since 2000, enjoyed fect the gar from con the keynote address and the den had on trolled session on Grasses. "I will defi it s creators crosses to nitely use grasses in future as well as its tissue cul projects." As William Turull visitors. ture; from spoke Susan could visualize coaxing where and how grasses could With her slow be used. Spang's volunteer broad smile, germ inat project in Salem, CT, was the her ener ing seeds beaut ification of a trapezoidal getic, com into life, shaped piece of land against a petitive and to caring chain link fence near a ball generous na- John Neff and Cynd i Wyskiew/cz for the field. She is planning a butter-

A PUBLICATION OF THE CONNECTICUT MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION

------fly garden. and directed the teams to de paths with former classmates? sign a formal herb garden for a Listening to big-name speakers Donna Sebastian of Windsor, given setting. Donna's group present state of the art infor CT, sent in her registration the designed a formal garden for a mation or fresh ideas? Renew day after the announcement B&B. Donna felt apprehensive ing the excitement as a new arrived in the mail. "I got all at first, but liked this session gardening season begins? my first choice sessions", said best of all. "I couldn't wait for Strolling through the lanes of Donna, who attended Katie this symposium day and I can't vendors? Recapping session Melvin's workshop on "Formal wait till the symposium next content over lunch? Maybe it's Herb Gardening". She was sur year." being in the audience when Ed prised when Katie Melvin broke Marrotte is speaking. Really it's the class into groups of five, What's the best thing about all of the above in large doses. gave each group specifications Symposium Day? Is it crossing - Barbara Walker

Additional 2004 Master Gardener Interns Welcome to the following Master Gardener Interns taking the class at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in Stamford. And welcome to their class coordinator, Regina Campfield, who graduated as a Master Gardener in 2002. We hope that they and all the 2004 interns are finding the course a valuable and enjoyable experience.

First Name Last Name Address Town State Zip Mary Ellen Baker 121 Signal Hill Road Wilton CT 06897 Karel Banks 20 Baldwin Street West Haven CT 06516 Cheryl Carter 10 Alexandria Drive Stamford CT 06903 Linda Christians 11 Orchard Drive Wilton CT 06897 Linda Cummins 22 Baldwin Farms South Greenwich CT 06831 Laura DePreta 211 Gary Road Stamford CT 06903 Keith Erikson 67 Harbor View Ave Bridqeport CT 06605 Susan Frey 22 Woodledqe Rd Stamford CT 06903 Jean Gregory 14 Maher Ave. Greenwich CT 06830 Betty Johnson 41 Greenwich Hills Drive Stamford CT 06831 Perry Betteridge Johnston 27 Greenbrair Lane Greenwich CT 06831 Geraldine Klien Robbenhaar 159 Labbance Lane Fairfield CT 06824 Kathy Klinq 251 Palmer's Hill Road Old Greenwich CT 06870 Julie Kurose 164 Winfield Street Norwalk CT 06885 Betsy Malloy 71 Great Pasture Rd Redding CT 06896 Merry McDonnell 1670 Farmington Ave. Unionville CT 06085 Terry McDonouqh 39 Nutmeg Lane Stamford CT 06903 Tessa O'Reqan 7 Hunter Lane Ridqefield CT 06877 Wally Pugh 33 Hiqhfield Lane Darien CT 06820 Liz Rapp 54 Danbury Rd. #323 Ridgefield CT 06877 Emalou Rausen 176 Compo Road South Westport CT 06880 Jane Romano 300 Cotton Hill Road New Hartford CT 06507 Karen Royce 67 Harbor Drive Greenwich CT 06830 Joan Shaw 11 Lycett Court Norwalk CT 06850 Ji II Smyth 439 Pepper Ridge Road Stamford CT 06905 Susan Sweeney 44 Strawberry Hill Ave #SF Stamford CT 06902 Judith Weller 32 Edgewater Drive Old Greenwich CT 06870 Victoria Yolen 9 East Farm Lane Ridgefield CT 06877 BOOK REVIEW Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning: What, When, Where and How to Prune for a More Beautiful Garden. A book review by Chris Reid

From time to time in my life, I planting holes on completely den shrub standbys, what Julia have known non-cooks who level ground with no rocks, did for hard boiled eggs (and wanted to learn to cook. I re competing roots, or hard pan). many other things). member their puzzlement over And who exactly is growing some of the telegraphic, terse such shrubs? More to the Cass Turnbu/1's Guide To Prun- phrasing in the cookbooks they point, where is the illustration ing may be exactly the ticket, tried to use. Cut butter into of a shrub that's been sheared right this very minute. I flour? Dice vs. mince? Beat for years that I now am being joined Plant Amnesty last year till soft peaks form? Cook asked to rehabilitate? Finally, and have learned a great deal syrup to the soft ball stage? in the tell-all books with every from the pruning tips on the What were all those quick, shrub imaginable, directions website and the newsletter. snappy directions saying? are reduced to terse phrases When I read Cass's detailed like "prune lightly" or "remove description of pruning forsyth- Sometimes highly experienced suckers". Would somebody ias (available at their website), cooks like Julia Child come please tell me the difference I knew I had fotJficlava ua along and graciously describe between lightly and lightly? mentor. C asspreviousl 'y'at.t- in complete detail how to do Because "lightly" to a Vi bur- thored a book OJJ...home land- humble and seemingly obvious num or Japanese maple is not / "sc_ap~ eiu~ j; ation,..aow tasks like making hard boiled "lightly" to a forsythia, not that ( print. In February, Sasquatch eggs. In her book, The Way anyone would ever say to "-- B'C16'kscame out with her first To Cook, Child took the seem prune a forsythia lightly. And book in many years. Since the ingly elementary and made it removing suckers wholesale guide is published by a re- immediately possible for the without understanding that the gional press, I doubt Borders is novice to do it right by using shrub or tree may be trying to going to pick up on it, so I de- such a thorough explanation survive previous over pruning cided not to wait to see it that there could be no doubt in and may respond to sucker there. I was able to find quite anyone's mind exactly how to removal by making even more a _'(_licediscount on a copy go forth and boil eggs. Since suckers - well, that's not an through Amazon.com. reading this recipe, my hard insight to be found in many boiled eggs have improved tre books on pruning. Could we There are detailed descriptions mendously! use a Julia Child equivalent in on garden standbys like abelia, the pruning world, someone to boxwood, burning bush, ever- But how about pruning? Is make the basics so transparent gree n- a.te.a,,Auniper, spiraea, pruning terror an integral part that it's very hard to fail? ors nra,hy !i6ai.:i9ea,..kerria, of your spring? Is there a cotoneaster, cherry laurel ., li pruning terrorizer in your Enter Cass Turnbull, _~or~ ~ ~hodo~Viburnum, witch neighborhood? Where to ~er gardener and found~r lmzel, winter hazel, Cleg)atis,._ turn? of Plant Amnesty Wistecia _{_~.a, Eve!), and a few (http:/ /www.p1aotaa;westy.,,..Qr.g,l,_ cypical garden trees like dog It 's not that there is a shortage ~ Seattle-based nonp~oflt or- _ wood, Ja.panese_maQJ_es,mag of books on pruning. I own - ganization all about stoppJog _ nolia, dierry/crauapple/plums, my share of pruning books, the senseless toppjog of trees and .._weeping cherr~s. There each with its particular virtues, and reducing of shrubs -to are also sections on pruning yet I have to say that often, shear geometry. Cass is basics such as types of cuts, illustrations of the hypothetical blessed with both the ability to pruning techniques, dealing shrub don't look like any shrub prune and the ability to teach, with suckers and water I've ever seen. (Kind of like a rare combination. Cass has sprouts, how to recognize those illustrations of tree done for pruning the old gar- deadwood, timing, and some

-, notes on pruning tools. shrub, and spells out their vir make me laugh out loud on a tues. Reading her book is like regular basis. Cass relates For me, this book diminished being inside the shrub pruning . that her friend Tina calls reha pruning terror. Pruning terror Best of all, s!J..etells you what bilitating shorn shrubs resem is what happens once I have to do if you m'alte 'a rrns'take! I bling meatballs "ball busting", looked up the terse and tele must say, I lfke that part a lot. but quickly recovers her deco graphic - - and sometimes con She asks rhetorically, "What rum and points out that "in flicting -- pruning info on a hope is there for people who print we call this rehabilita shrub in three different books, have unwittingly exposed the tion." For a laugh and to save talked to a couple of people dead zone or for those whose yourself from crying every who have pruned it and now artistic porn-porn or K-Mart time you look at your mal must approach the shrub with bonsai didn't quite come out pruned shrubs, you might t ry pruners drawn. Decision time looking right?" And of course, this book. It is inexpensive is here. Of all the conflicting an explanation follows. enough that one can pick up a info, the admonishment to cut copy for the town parks main only when the moon is a wan Cass Turnbul/'s Guide to Prun tenance crew, the neighbors, ing crescent, the dark hints on ing is not a replacement for that relative with the buzz-cut watersprouts, flowering, tim my other guides -- rather, I forsythia, the law firm in New ing, and the possible entrance find that it helps what I've Haven with the rhododendron of borers, I am now at mo read in many of the terser cut into a cube ... hmm, the ment of truth: What am I go guides to fall into place and possibilities are endless! ing to cut? The terror is partly become more understandable. related to getting to know the shrub and how it will react to Apparently I am not the only WebGarden being cut in the way I cut it. one who likes this book. Sev By Barbara Duffy ,....___ _.__, Will it go willy - nilly with Me eral weeks ago, when I at dusa sprouts? Curl up and tended the Mad Gardeners' www .garden. org die? Grow up strong and symposium in Falls Village, a The National Gardening Asso healthy? The long dark tunnel friend I had not seen in ciation is a non-profit organi of pruning results lies straight months suddenly descended zation that focuses on helping ahead, and there I stand, upon me, a wreath of smiles, people become better garden pruners in hand. swooping me up into a big hug ers. Their website is definitely and an effusive "THANK YOU!" helpful and has some informa Who better to have at my side What could I possibly have tion broken down into regions. than Cass? I guess you could done to merit such enthusi There are sections on flowers, say she 's been around. She asm? I had almost forgotten vegetables, nutrition, trees, has been eyeball to eyeball that I had recommended Cass shrubs, landscaping, and with many suckers, and hung Turnbull's book to her. "I lawns. Some of the other out with the worst of the dead carry it with me everywhere, things included are: wood. She knows of what she and when we're pruning [she • Zone finder by Zip code speaks, having been pruning and her professional gardening • Fertilizer quantity calcula for probably 20 years or so, crew], I read it aloud to my tor and she is adept at describing crew!" And she confided, "You • Bug mug photo index for what to do, having been giving know, Cass is very, very bug ID Pest control library lectures and workshops for funny." Last I heard, she was (bugs, disease, and crit about as long - even having trying to convince the local ra ters) made a pruning video in Eng dio gardening show host to in • Gardening articles lish and Spanish. She reviews terview Cass! • Kids gardening (including the kinds of decisions the teacher materials) pruner will have to make, the It's true. In addition to being • Gardening news and tips kind of shrub characters the an ace pruner and 'teacher, she by region pruner will meet, and the re has sense of humor and isn't • Buyers guide and product sults of different pruning deci afraid to use it. I suspect that search sions. She elaborates on the Cass's book is the only pruning • How to projects proclivities of many a common book I will ever own that will • Events calendar by region BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CMGA SYMPOSIUM By John Neff

As soon as the 2004 CMGA Sym June, and we had our first inter very good marks. In fact, a posium ended, the work for the view in July. She, as most of our common comment was that they 2005 CMGA Symposium began . speakers are, was a delight to wished they could have been Already, the Symposium Com work with and made this task able to pick more classes. We mittee, with Ellen Morse and much easier . We are now in the were justly faulted for not de Paul Grimmeisen as co-chairs, process of going through all the scribing a couple of classes ade has met to discuss what went many, and exciting, suggestions quately such as the class on right with the 2004 Symposium for gardening authors we re ponds. Also, it was suggested and what went wrong, and what ceived in the evaluation sheets that we indicate which classes are we going to do in 2005. The at the symposium. Although, would be basically slide shows theme had been picked, one suggested author, Martha and which would be a workshop "Gardeners in Print" which Stewart, may be busy else without slides. We intend to means that the very first, and where. We will be making con add a class to each session next the most important beginning tacts next month. year to alleviate overcrowding task, has been completed. and, also, to make sure that only What went wrong? That's an those who are assigned to a par The next two decisions that must easy one. We received a lot of ticular class are in that class - no be made now are the location of legitimate complaints about the one should have to sit on the the next symposium and the crowded vendor space. It's not floor. choice of a keynote speaker. We so easy to fix . What we plan to are very limited in the choice of do is to increase the numbers of For a symposium of our size, and a symposium site. Last year vendors, negot iate with MCC to we will be even bigger next year, when we were not able to use use the upstairs hallway and we are probably unique in that MCC we visited at least 10 sites foyer in order to spread out the we do not use any professional in the state, mostly community vendors, and to include exhibits help. The committee meets colleges, without success. Our from the various garden clubs in once a month for a year, and requirements for a large audito Connecticut such as the Iris and much effort and many hours go rium, 5 large classrooms, vendor Dahlia societies which do not into the planning of the event. space, lunch privi leges, and ac require as much room . We are The goals are to have a quality cessibility are not easily met . restricted by MCC as to the use product, please as many garden Some do not allow vendors, of the main foyer but we hope to ers as possible, be educational, some require the use of their negotiate some additional space and generate enough income to cafeteria staff (always expen there as well. fund CMGA activities for the sive), some have union prob coming year. One person asked lems, some will not even guar Some thought the hat contest if our committee didn't plan very antee the use a year in advance, was too silly, others got a "kick" well since we had to turn so and so it goes. Cost is always a out of it. Well, all fun and no many away; we like to think that factor, every additional class play, etc., etc., but we will try to it was because we are doing room costs money . We have revamp the theme (flower ar something right. Comments again chosen MCC because it rangements from your winter ranged from a person who best meets our needs and they garden - favorite houseplant) stated that all the speakers were are very willing to work with us and maybe make it more ger poor, and she would be looking as they have done so in the mane to gardening and less in elsewhere next year, to another past. trusive on the classes. person who stated that this was her fourth year and she wouldn't Outstanding keynote speakers What went right? That 's an easy think of missing next year's sym must be contacted well in ad one too - the speakers. Almost posium. We will continue to try vance of a symposium. Last without exception, the keynote to improve our program for you year we contacted Susan Saint speaker and the classroom every year. James in April, she comm itted in speakers received excellent and

------· ------I Understanding Calendar of Events

Botanical Names June 1 CMGAOpen Board Meeting, 10am, Elizabeth Park By Barbara Duffy June 5 Litchfield MG mini-symposium, 9am - noon, Litchfield County Many gardeners are pros when it Cooperative Extension Center, Uconn Torrington Campus. Contact: 1- come s to remembering botanical 860-626-6240 name s, but if you are like me, you June 5 Herbfest at Topmost Herb Farm, 244 School Road, Coventry, CT. may need some help remembering Admission $5. Contact: 860-742-8239 or .?YWW.tcmmostl1erbfarm.com them. There are some key words commonly used in botanical names June 8 & 9 "The Great Plants/The Great Plantspeople - A Garden Party for Plant that tell you something about the Lovers" at White Flower Farm, Litchfield, CT. Horticulture magazine's plant. They tell you about th e plant's centennial celebration. Includes lectures, tours of White Flower Farm habit or flower color, and may help and private gardens, hot and picnic lunches, etc. Contact: 877-436- you remember the botanical name. 7764 / www.hortmag.com Here is a list of words that appear June 18-20 100 Years of Roses. Celebrate Rose Weekend at Elizabeth Park, frequently in botanical nam es, and Hartford. 860-242-0 017 / ~..Yl:[email protected];Jethpark.org their common definitions. June 20 New England Wild Flower Society guided botanical walk led by Albus - white botanist Ted Elliman, Bear Mountain, Salisbury, CT, 10am to 4pm. A Argenteus - silver 7-mile loop hike along the Appalachian and connecting trails. Bring Aureus - golden yellow lunch, water and sturdy footgear. Fee member $39, non member Caeru leus - blue $45. Contact: 1-508-877-7630, ext.3303 Luteus - yellow July 6 CMGA2005 Symposium Planning Committee Meeting, 10am, Pond Nanus - dwarf House, Elizabeth Park. Contact: Paul Grimmeisen 860 677 8645 Niger - black - --. Palustris - marshy July 11 CMGASummer Meeting, and tour of Prides Comer Farms, Lebanon, CT. 11am. Details to be advised. Contact: Cyndi Wyskiewicz1-860- Perennis - perennial Prostratus - trailing -- ...-486-6343 - -- Punctatus - spotted July 13 "Summer Care of Roses" workshop at Gazebo, Elizabeth Park, Purpureus - purple Hartford, Noon and 6.30 pm. 860-231-9443 / Reptans - creeping www.elizabethpark.org. Roseus - rosy July 15 Summer UCONNPlant Science Research Tour, Storrs. Details to be Ruber - red advised. Contact: Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860-486-6343 Sempervirens - evergreen Speciosus - showy August 3 CMGA 2005 Symposium Planning Committee Meeting, 10am, Pond Spinosus - spiny House, Elizabeth Park. Contact:- Paul Grimmeisen 860 677 8645 Stoloniferus - has stolons Plant Science Day at Lockwood Far~ Hamden, CT. Tel: 203 974- (__ Augu~~ Tomentosus - thick, short hairs ~500 or toll fr~e sta~w~de 877~8'F1-i237 Variegat us - variegated Viridis - green September 11 Clean up day - Auer Farm, Bloomfield, CT Contact: Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860-486-6343 September 21 Fall Mini Symposium, 9am, Elizabeth Park, Hartford Wanted: September 28 Workshop: "Closing your Perennial Garden", at the Perennial Garden, New and used garden ing books Elizabeth Park, noon. 860-231-9443 / www.elizabethpark.org to be donated fo r est ab lishmen t October 5 - 9 North East Regional Master Gardener Conference, Baltimore, Maryland of a library at Elizabeth Park. www.mastergardener.umd.edu. Contact: Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860- Contact Paul Gr immeisen, 860 - 486-6343 677-8645, [email protected]. October 5 CMGAOpen Board Meeting, 10 am, Elizabeth Park

Shoreline Soup Kitchens vegetable October 7 Invasive Plant Symposium: "The Silent Invaders - Identification and Management of Invasive Plants". CT Invasive Plant Working Group garden needs MG's. Situated be {CIPWG) @ UCONN,Storrs, CT: Contact [email protected] hind Grace Episcopal Church, Main St., Old Saybrook, th e garden October 24 Fall Festival MG Auer Farm, Bloomfield, CT supplies produce to the Soup Contact: Cyndi Wyskiewicz 1-860-486 -6343 Kitc hen s' grocery distribution sites. November 6 Workshop: "Winter Care of Roses" at Gazebo, Elizabeth Park, 10am. Work is Tuesday and Saturday 860-231-9443 / ~1.eliz!!...~thpark.org mornings. Email: cla udiavan November 13 CMGAAnnual Meeting. Location and program to be announced [email protected] or 860-388-1988 Tl,e l L aurei FirstClassMail U.S.Postage PAID CMGA PermitNo. 43 c/o John Neff Guilford,CT 064 37 18 Knollwood Road Farmington, CT 06032

Mari e Du be 455 Amity Road Woodbrid ge, CT 06525

Save the Date

A Spring Gardening Symposium CMGA Summer Meeting Fall Mini symposium Saturday, June 5, 2004, 9am-12pm Sunday, July 11, 2004 Saturday, September 21, 2004, 9am Presented by Litchfield County Master Prides Comer Farms Wholesale Nursery Elizabeth Park, Prospect & Asylum Aves Gardener Class 122 Waterman Rd, Lebanon, CT Near Hartford/West Hartford town line 800 437 5168 Bagels and coffee will be served "Mixed Borders" 11 am - Business Meeting Hands on talks by Donna Fuss and A lecture by Roxann Lovell, Master 12 pm - Lunch Bob Prill of Elizabeth Park. Gardener, Advanced Master Bring your own brown bag Gardening dass instructor drinks and dessert provided 1 pm -Tour of the nursery by Prides "Cooking with Herbs" Comer staff Presented by Chef Dreama Erosity Door prizes Spouses/signific.ant others welcome! Silent Auction

Litchfield County Cooperative Extension Center UCONN Tonington Campus Contact telephone 1-860 -626-6240 The The ; ·• Connecticut Master?:/' Gardener Association Laurel August, 2004 Volume 17, No. 4

When: Tuesday, September 21 51, breakfast starts at 8:15 AM, Seminars 9 AM to 12 PM. Where: Elizabeth Park, Pond House Restaurant, Prospect & Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT Tel: 860-231-9443 / www.el izabethpark.org Directions: Take Prospect Ave Exit off 184, head North on Prospect. Gardens are ¾ of a mi le on left . Fee: $25, includes continental breakfast Register with Paul Grimrneisen 860 - 677-8645, [email protected]. Registration is limited to 125 - reserve a seat now!

Don't miss the Hartford County tern. She uses sens ible pest con Sales in Manchester and a nurs Exten sion Center Mini Symposium! trol, fertilization and plenty of eryman for over 30 years . Now The all-star lineup of speakers in mulch. Her work of identifying all we'll see him wearing his other cludes Bob Prill, Donna Fuss and the roses in the garden is stil l un hat, as mem Bill Turull, some of the top names der way. ber of the Board of Di behind the splendor that is Eliza Creator of the dazzling annual beth Park. beds in Elizabeth Park is Bob Prill, rectors of Friends of Speaking on the care and culture who wil l speak on annuals. During Elizabeth of roses will be Donna Fuss, Ro winter's short gray days Bob pores Park. Six sarian at the park since 1987. over seed catalogs and times each Donna's Vie en Rose began with year Bill con drafts designs ch ildhood outings in Elizabeth ducts groups Park. After courtship strolls for the com Bill Turu/1 ing summer's around the through the park, Donna and new perennial beds focusing on what's annual beds. lywed husband Mike bought five in flower, observing the changes Under his rose bushes for their new home. throughout the growing season. care the Donna and Mike went from "doing -- Bill will speak on al l aspects of seeds are everything wrong" to winning blue growing perennials: divid ing, color started in ribbons on roses they grew. Donna combinations, shapes in the gar greenhouses and Mike organized the Connecti den, how and why a garden works, '------__J and raised till cut Rose Soc iety . diseases of perennials, and closing they are set out in beds through In the dark up the garden at season's end. out Hartford's parks, rotaries, .··, ,:: days of By Barbara Walker · · 1977, the planters and cemeteries. Bob's intensive forma l education in horti City of Hart culture at UConn's Ratcliffe School ford came was followed by forty years of pro close to bull- fessional landscape work. Bob is a . dozing Eliza member of the Dahlia Society and beth Park's the Connecticut Rose Society. His roses into great enth usiasm is sharing what obl ivion. President's Message 2 he knows about plants. His talk c______j When Donna will cover soil condit ions, diseases, Focus Group 3 became full watering, pruning, deadhead ing, time Rosar ian things really turned Tribute to Paul Brown 4 hybrids and cultivars, accent around. "There were no earth plants and border plants. CMGA History 4 worms in the soil!" Donna said. "The soil was dead." Tons of com Audiences enjoyed Bill Turull's Summer Meeting Report 5 post and manure lat er the roses engaging style at last spring's Extension Center News 6 are thriving in healthy soil watered Symposium and other events. We by an underground irrigation sys- know him as owner of Garden Calendar JI From the President is moving out of state and will be m issed by al l. Gardening season President 2004 is in full swing Another huge thank you goes out to Cathy Slavin. Cathy and I com Becky Raiola-Paul with loads of sunshine municated a few months ago 259 Saw Mill Road and adequate ra in. about her interest in generating a uilford, CT 06437 Our vegetable garden CMGA web site. The great news is 203-458-8413 is generat ing squash, that she launched the site ear ly in [email protected] and the tomatoes are on their way to swelling and ripen July and you can visit her effort at http://www.ctmga.org. Th is is a ice-President ing. Daylilies are beginning their monumental step for our organiza Paul Grimmeisen show, and Dahlias promise gor tion, having struggled with an 24 White Oak Road geous color as the season pro internet ident ity, using jump pages Farmington, CT 06032 gresses. The blackb erries are off other web sites over the last 60-677-8645 ready to ripen, while strawberries few years. Great job! paul24wor@aol .com have been tucked away in the freezer. Isn't this time of year There are loads of activ ities com reasurer fabulous? ing up for Master Garden ers so be Peter Lirot Our Master Gardener Interns are sure to check out the enclosed 9 Burr Hill Road also in full swing executing their calendar . We are planning a mini Kil lingworth, CT 06419 projects and adding up the re sympos ium, joining in activities at 60 -663-1595 quired off ice hours. We look for the research farm, and scheduling pl [email protected] ward to joining them in celebration more mini symposiums at the ex of the ir well earned certificates tension centers . Have you been ecretar this fall. We are so proud of you! participating in the Advanced Mas andy Myhalik ter Gardener classes? A big thank you goes out to Sylv ia 9 Ely Road Foster who has been very act ive Let us know what you have been Farmington, CT 06032 w ith CMGA over the last four up to! 60 -677-0504 years . She has served as board Hope to see you all soon ... [email protected] secretary and has act ive ly coordi Best Regards, nated and driven the speakers Becky function of our symposium. Sylv ia

onnie@[email protected]

Liaison Location yndi Wyskiewicz 77-486-6271 August 4 10am-lpm Butterfl ies, Dragonflies & Common Insects of CT Bethel perative Extension Center Sept. 9 9.30 - 12.30pm Hot Topics Bethel rdinators (by County): Fairfield : SandiW ilson 203 -207-8440 Sept. 11 lOam-lpm Pruning Deciduous and Fairfield Stamford : Regina campfield Evergreen Trees and 03-329-3363 Shrubs Haddam · Hartford: Katie Melvin 860 -570 -9010 Litchfield: Loma Delaney860-626 -6240 Sept . 18 10am-12pm Winterizing your Vegetable Middlesex: John castagno 860-345-4511 Garden Tolland New Haven: Mira Schachne203-407 -3161 New London:Melissa Smith 860 -887 -1608 olland: MaryCol lins 860-870 -6934 indham: Kim Kelly 860 -776-9600

Home and Garden Center: 877 -486 -6271

Connecticut Master Gardener Association Website http:/ /www.ctmga.org

"·"·. i 2•' r .w <· , ··-, Focus Group Initiates Increased Involvement by CMGA Members by Barbara Duffy

John Neff has brought to- to devote much time to gether a group of people who , CMGA, but through these are interested in generating groups could stay connected networking opportunities and to the organizat ion. Some of grass roots activities amongst the activit ies discussed in ad- CMGA members. There are dition to outreach were many CMGA members who speakers, day trips, plant are inactive, and the group swaps, and whatever the loca l was asked why and how groups fee l is of interest to CMGA can do a better job of their group. A follow up keeping Master Gardeners - meeting was held on the eve- nd involved in the organization. Left to right: Barbara Brenneman, Diane Ostheimer, ning of June 22 and some People who had indicated on Faith Heering, Arlene Dobson, Heather Atwater plans were presented for or- their CMGA membership ~------__J gan ization of the new loca l forms that they were interested Duffy, Sandy Myhal ik, Cindy Wy- groups. Six local groups have in getting involved in severa l ar- skiewicz, Paul Grimmeisen, and started to form and CMGA mem- eas, were invited to the focus Ellen Morse. bers are encouraged to partici - group. Attending the first meet- The group agreed that the estab - pate. If your particu lar town is ing on May 25 th 2004 were Tho - lishment of small, local CMGA not listed, you are stil l welcome mas Ainsworth, Heather Atwater, sub groups would establ ish more to join the group . If you are in- Barbara Brenneman, Arlene Dob - effective networking amongst terested in starting another local son, Faith Heering, Diane members, and would lead to de - group, please contact John Neff Otheimer, (Sheryl Rutledge was velopment of local outreach pro - at 860-673-5018 or jrneff@ unable to attend), as well as jects and educational activities. comcast .net . T he loca l areas rep- CMGA Board Members John Neff, Many members have such busy resented and the contacts are as Marie Dube, Peter Lirot, Barbara schedules, that they are unable follows :

Contact Person Local Area Contact Information Meriden, Wallingford, Cheshire, North [email protected] Arlene Dobson Haven 203 238 4891 [email protected] Diane Ostheimer Avon, Canton, and Collinsville 860 673 4102 heathsa [email protected] Heather Atwater Madison, Clinton, Guilford 203 421 8489 [email protected] Barbara Brenneman Simsbury, Granby 860 678 0626 Faith Heering Bristol, Plymouth, Terryville 860 583 3288 Carol Quish, Cyndi Wysk iewicz, cqu [email protected] Manchester Ellen Morse 860 649 0452 (Carol) Sheryl. [email protected] Sheryl Rutledge Cromwe ll, Middletown 860 635 9069

Northeast Regional Master Gardener Conference Baltimore, MD, October 5- 9, 2004 University of Rhode Island is arranging a motor coach to trave l from Rhode Island to Bal timore on October 4th, returning October 10th. If enough people from Connecticut want to join the coach, URI will be able to arrange a pick-up site along I95 . Contact Jackie Daw ley at _40~-884-8878 or [email protected] about bus transpor t ation only. Contact Cyndi Wy sk1ew1cz at 860-486-6343 about attend i ng the conference .

,,. . A Tribute to CMGA Third President Paul Brown, December 19, 1922 - March 29, 2004 by Larry Van Der Jagt, CMGA President, 1999/2000

It is with sadness that we have to of service, and used gardening as announc e the passing on March one of the channels to give back to 29, 2004 of Paul Brown, CMGA the community. He helped get the Presid ent 1991/92. Plainville Community Gardens started, and in keeping with his After retir ing from the military, desire to give back to the commu Paul Brown qualified as one of nity, he expected the participants UConn's certified Master Garden to donate part of their harvest to ers. He was ever enthusiastic the Food Pantry. about his gardening and always willing to share his knowledge with Paul possessed an extensive li the community as well as with new brary of gardening books, and students. readily shared his library with oth ers. He was also a key initiator in Paul spent many hours dedicated estab lishing a CMGA symposium. dent of the organizat ion, I oft en to mentoring new students in the He coordinated many act ivities met w ith Paul to discuss policy and West Hartford Extension Office. such as finding speakers and re organizationa l issues, and to famil He gave many lectures to the serving the Plainville Public School iarize myself with the past history community, as well as to Master for the first symposium. His goals of the organ izat ion. He was al Gardener students, on his favorite also included funding a scholarsh ip ways w ill ing to share his time and subjects: organic gardening and for UConn students know ledge with me. In Marie composting. Dube's words, "we will miss Paul's I first met Paul when he appeared generosity, booming vo ice and Carl Salsedo remembers Paul as before my Master Gardener class wide smile". one of the most giving people he in 1994 to encourage us to join knew. He was dedicated to a life the CMGA. When I became Presi-

The Laurel has since been advised that Paul Brown bequeathed his va luable library of garden books to the CMGA and the UConn Master Gardener program.

A Little History Lesson on CMGA 1978 First Connecticut Master Gardener class graduated. The classes were held in Wa llingford (New Haven County), Bethel (Fairfield County), and West Hartford (Hartford County) .. Some of the origina l attendees were Marie Dube, Dorothy Cheo, Roberta Levandowski, Shir ley Mitsko, Joan Lehn. 1987 The Connecticut Master Gardener Association was established. Forty five people attended the first CMGA meet ing which was held in the Haddam Extension Center office. Bob McNeil was elected the f irst CMGA President. 1987 The first CMGA newsletter was published with Jean Chasnow as the editor. 1987 The first Nat ional Master Gardener Conference was he ld in Washington DC with twenty Connect icut Master Gardeners in attendance. 1990 CMGA had 197 paid members and a checking/savings account balance of $1,225. 1993 The firs~ CMGA Symposium was held at the West Hartford campus of UConn. 2000 A formal program for Advanced Master Gardener certification begins. Informa l AMG programs began in the 80s. 2004 There are now over 731 paying members of CMGA and there are 220 Master Gardener interns. The Spring CMGA Sympos ium, which featured actress and Master Gardener Susan St. James as the keynote speaker, was a great success with 345 attending. Master Gardener interns are currently in training in nine Exten sion Centers .

Compiled by Barbara Duffy With thanks to Marie Dube - the unofficial CMGA Historian ;4 . CMGA News

Summer Meeting at Prides Corner By Barbara Duffy

The CMGA summer meeting was and many other books. He is also Christina Beebe, a MG Intern, held on July 11th 2004 at Prides the garden editor for House gave a short talk on the first Corner Farms in Lebanon, CT. Beautiful magazine . Oth er speak phase of the Heublein Tower Pro There was a record attendance of ers will include Pat Stone, author ject in Avon that she and other over 80 people and the event of th e delightful "Chicken Soup interns have been working on. for the Gardener's Soul" and was a big success. The day was Th e meeting was wrapped up "Weeder's Digest", and C.L. For sunny and warm, the company quickly as everyone was anxious outstanding, and the setting nari, the author of "The Cape to get out into the sun and enjoy Cod Gardener" and "Your Garden beautiful. the insp iring surroundings at Shouldn't Make You Crazy! ". A The Prides Corner staff headed Prides Corner. total of 14 gardening authors are up by Lenny Giddix, hosted the expected to speak at the sympo CMGA meeting under a tent right sium . CMGA will make some in the changes in how they utilize the middle of MCC facility, so that up to 400 their out people can attend. stand ing arbore CMGA is trying to improve com tum. munications with members, and CMGA part of that effort includes the members CMGA newsletter and the CMGA were able website. Hilary Forsyth and Bar to stroll bara Duffy were introduced as through the new co-editors of The Laurel; the arbo and th e new CMGA web sit e, cu r retum and ren t ly under development by go on van .....______, Cathy Slavins, was announced tours of the 240 acre wholesale (www.ctmqa.org). nursery. Paul Grimmeisen, CMGA Vice Master Gardeners Wanted President, officiated at the infor for Prides Corner Garden Stewardship Program ma I meeting. Peter Lirot, CMGA Prides Corner wholesale nursery in Colom bia, CT, is in need of experi Treasure r, gave a financial report enced gardeners to help with development and maintenance of their 4 on the 2004 Spring Symposium acre arboretum. Gardeners must be 18 or older, and willing to work at and announced that CMGA made least 10 hours. The Garden Stewardship program is avai lable through a profit of $8,616 at th is year's September 15th, and th e teams will be working Fridays and/or Saturdays. symposium. The efforts of the Prides staff will supervise and share their knowledge. In exchange for symposium committee (Debbye their efforts , MGs would be ab le to purchase plants fro m Prides at a rate Rosen, Marge Bingham, John determined by time invested. For each hour, MGs will be able to pur Neff, Billy Baxter, Sandy Myhalik, chase at wholesale pricing: four 1 gallon plants, or two 2 or 3 gallon and Ellen Morse) are greatly ap plants, or one 7, 10, 15 or 25 gallon plant. preciated. For more information , call Len Giddix at 860-642 -7535. Ellen Morse announced that the 2005 symposium is scheduled for Saturday, March 19 th 2005 at Manchester Community College with a theme of "Gardeners in Print". They have already lined NOLUNTEERS NEEDED! ,, WANTED! up cele brat ed gard en ing author Elitabeth Pa'rk is desperately fri New and used g~rdening books to Ken Druse as the keynote need of volunteers to help main- be donated for establishment of a speaker. He is the author of "Ken tain the gardens . Please call lib rary a! Elizabeth Park. Contact Druse: The Passion for Garden Friends of E,[izabeth P;9rk at ~§0- Paul Grir,nmeisen,,,860-677~8645, ing", "The Nat ural Garden Hab i 231-0443 if'you are able to help. [email protected] tat", "T he Collector's Garden",

------~- ~ ------MASTER GARDENERS REACH QUT, .,,, Extension c e nter News, out reach opportunitie s, and report-back on some of t he many outreach projects unde rway around the State

Foodsh ar e Gar den at t he 4H Place - A Place of Sanctuary for Center @ Auer Far m, Bloo m Incarcerated Women" a non fi el d, CT profit support group at York C.I. Needless to say, the re The Foo dshare Gar de n was sponse from the class was quite th planted Saturday May 15 , remarkable! 2004. Over 25 Master Garden Following Diane 's presentat ion, ers, Foodshare Vo lunt eers and we submitted a proposal outlin 4 - H Center staff helped with ing Master Gardener participa the planting, along with tion in the cemetery project. It Stephen Slipchinsky, Cyndi was exciting to receive a phone Wyskiewicz and seasoned Mas 10. We have certa in days t hat call stating our MG proposa l "IS ter Gardener Frank Stenta. The are needed in the garden. If ACCEPTED" by those responsi , garden site you are not able to meet the ble for the graves. We pro was fully scheduled date please find an posed to locate and clear planted. Also alternate and inform Alyssa of around all the grave markers, planted was your alternate . out line and edge the entire a section for area, plant appropriate ever an Advanced Thank you for your commit greens/perennials, mulch and Master Gar ment! final ly maintain this burial site. dener class It should be poi nted out that I--- F-ra_n_k_S-te-n-ta----1 that included Cyndi Wysk iewicz 860-486-6343 these small granite and con L------~ a number of cwy skiew @canr.cag .uco nn.edu crete markers may have ini specialty beds to show tech tials, the letter "X" or are com niques for season extension . pletely blank. As Master Gar deners, we look forward to of The Foodshare Garde n Project M iddlesex County fering volunteer hours as our is a full growing season com contribution to the memory of mitment and needs vo lunteers Angel Memorial the children buried at "Angel throughout the summe r. The Between 1919 and 1967 more Memoria l" in Union Cemetery. success of this garden will tha n 100 infa nt s & chi ldre n We would like to mention a few guarantee a bount iful harvest passed away at Niantic State important items regardi ng this that will help to feed the hun Prison (now known as Janet outreach project. Inmate Com gry from the greater Hartford York Correctional Insti t ution) . mun ity Out reach Work Details Community. If any Master gar The children are buried in a re have sp ent many hours clean dener is interested in helping mo te corner of Niantic's Union ing debris and locating or re out, our goa l is to have MG's Cemetery. The burial site has setting grave marke rs. Because work with and mento r the suff ered from years of neglect of their hard work and dedica Foodshare and 4H volunteers. and the forces of natu re. The tion, the grave count now Our role will be to help identify New London & Middlesex Coun stan ds at 127. Also, we as Mas insect and disease problems, ties 2004 Master Gardener ter Gardeners promise to pro the cu ltural conditions of the Class was prese nted w ith out ceed quiet ly and not seek pub vegetab les that are planted in reach opportunities to help re lic it y on our own beha lf. Any the gardens as well as some store and dignify t his precious and all pub lic announcement s maintenance. burial site . St. John's Episcopal wi ll be at the discre t ion of Janet Chu rch Deacon Rev'd . Diane you can help out at all, York Correctional Instit ution If Warley ma de a w onderf ul pres Please call Alyssa Phelan, the and/o r Connecticut Department entation to the class about the of Correctio n. Office Manager at th e 4 - H history and status of the chil Cent e r to schedule a time. Her dren's gra ves. Rev'd Warl ey is number is 860- 242-714 4 Ext. also involved with "Sacred John Castagno, 860 - 34 5-4511

6 IMASTER GARDENERS REACH OUT

to our Master Gardener Plant Lida Bilokur, Teresa Hessler, Tolland County Sale held at the Tolland Agri Sherry Kotowski, Kay McNabb, th Outreach opportunities cultural Center on June 5 • Judy Corbitt and Kay Varga ... We are thrilled to have our the sale wouldn't have been Get involved with the Ecologi third year be our most suc the success it was without each cal Landscape Network in one cessful sale yet! In addition to of you ... thank you. of the many proj ects envi the plants donated by Master Mary Collins sioned for the Tolland Agricul Gardeners, there were perenni 860-870-6934 tural Center, Vernon. Projects als donated by the Garden [email protected] already under way include a Barn of Vernon, as well as se rain garden and butterfly gar lections from Dr. Corbett from den, but many more opportuni the teaching nursery located at ties are avai lable, including the Research Farm in Storrs. New Haven County participation/ involvement There were also numerous gar with the nature trail or other den-related tag sale items, We've been busy continuing trial planting areas. Contact ranging from the practical to ou r MG Outreach with projects, Vivian Felton at 860- 738-4508 the whimsical. Free soil pH such as Gaylord Hospital in and she'd be happy to discuss testing was available, as well Wallingford, Creative Arts the options. It's close to home as the Master Gardener infor Workshop in New Haven, and and can be made to fit any mation booth . A definite con North Haven Middle School, one's schedule! ..------==- --, ve rsati on among others. All of these can piece of the Educational displays are always take on more MG help. sale was the wanted for use at various fairs offered door We have two new outreach and other events ... topics such prize of a de projects, and could use some as invasive plants, beneficial signer garden help on them. One project is pests, types of specific plants, Wli/liill<~-~ flamingo, the Connecticut Food Bank in etc., a re just a few of the pos compliments East Haven, which needs land si bi I ities. Funds are available 1 L...... __;:ic;;.ti;_~ -~--·""tz:-.=-__,of Lida Bilo- scape redesign help. That pro for materials costs, so you kur and Mansfield's Garden ject is underway. The other need only invest your time and Gate Club's popular Flamingo project, for which we do need creativity! Contact Mary Project - 2004! help, is the Ronald MacDonald Collins at the Tolland County House in New Haven. They are MG office at 860-870-6934. Remaining plants were made going to celebrate their 20 An available to Master Gardeners YWCA Camp AYA-PO is a day niversary next year and they involved with area outreach actually want to plan ahead. camp for children located in projects, and then were divided Their landscaping is traditional Somers, CT. They are seeking up between the Town of Man Mid 1950's and they need new assistance in planting a vege chester (in exchange for their table garden using corn, plants to give the place a feel generous donation of compost squash, etc. that would have ing of color and activity. While earlier in the spring), and also we have some MG Interns al been available to the Podunk the Windham County Master ready involved, we need help Indian tribe, to get children Gardeners, for their plant sale involved with history of the in all phases - and we can ac which was held the fo llowing land. Hours M-F 9:00-4:00, tually buy plants, shrubs, th th weekend. bulbs, etc - in moderation. June 28 through August 29 . Contact Dana Sears at 860- Special thanks go out to the If you want to get involved in a 561-6000. plant sale committee ... a dedi great project, please phone cated group of special people Mira Schachne. Plant Sale a Huge Success!! who worked hard on planning Mira Schachne, Thank you to everyone who and running the sale, many of 203-407- 3167 contributed their time, energy whom have been involved [email protected] and enthusiasm (and plants!) since our first sale in 2002 ... Cindy MacGranor, Kim Boulay, 7

------______....1..--- Fairfield County local garden talks, etc. If you The Sterli ng Memorial Schoo l pro have a specific gardening inter ject is close to comp letion . The The Fairfield County Master est or just like to teach and project is part of the pilot for the Gardeners are planning their public speak, we need you! new Youth Horticu ltura l Program, 2nd Annual Garden Fair at the "Yippee"; Youth in Project based Sandi Wilson Environmental Educat ion . The am Bethel Extension Grounds on 203-207 - 3261 Saturday August 14, 2004 from phitheater style garden features a performance area surrounded by 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Last SAVE THE DATE! "musical' gardens and bordered by year 's collaboration with the BETHEL EXTENSION CENTER a habitat garden. Grades K-4 had CMGA was extremely successful GARDEN FAIR 6 weeks of jun ior horticul t ural with over 100 people attending education during which time they FREE and open to Master and we hope to have an even helped in the concept and design Gardeners and the public bigger turn out this year. of the ir "outdoor classroom". Events being planned include a SATURDAY August 14th, 2004 1 :00 PM unt il 4:00 PM The Putnam Elms historical gar wide variety of speakers, dem dens are stil l growing thanks to onstrations, booths, walks, and Presenters: the efforts of Mart ie. She hired a other information for Master Joe Maisano, former UConn Ex docent from St ur bridge v illage Gardeners as well as the gen tension Horticulturist, wil l talk on which has really helped with the eral public. It will be free to the Plant Problems, a nd ho ld a short research and planning . diagnost ic clinic. public and free perennials will Carol Beerbaum will discuss Fall The Dempsey Center 's Kate Des be given to the first arrivals Gardening Tasks, with a tour of jardins, Day Kimball Hospital vol while supplies last. The fair the Extension Center's disp lay unteers and the Master Gard eners was a success last year due to gardens . are plann ing a memorial garden at all the Mast er Gardeners who Ingrid McCauley will speak on JD Cooper's restaurant in Putnam. participated. We need your Gardening Folk lore This August the annua l "S at 10" help again this year! If you Cindy Hunt-Stowell wil l lead a w ill be held to raise money for the would like to volunteer, please nature wa lk on the grounds . fami lies of cancer pat ients here in Windham County. It is a 5 mil e run contact Gillean Reinders at And morel!! at 10 in the morn ing, The rainbow 203- 792-4303 or email her at Free perennials to the f irst arr i shaped garden will be planted by reinders@sbcglobbal .net. vals, wh ile supplies last . Many purchasing annual plants that are Master Gardene r intern, Lisa educational booths and exhib its. being grown at the ARC green Pecunia is spearheading a fasci Refreshments served . house in Killing ly. Near the plant that you purchase will be a card in nating outreach project this If you would like to volunteer, contact Gillean Reinders at 203- memory of a cancer patient. We year. She is helping UConn's are still in need of volunteers for 792 -4303 or emai l at Donna Ellis rear Galerucella this one ! beetles. These beetles are a [email protected]. The sustainable demonstration biological control for purple gardens at the extension center loosestrife, Lythrum sa/icaria, a are almost done and they look non-native plant from Eurasia Windham County great! We w ill be planning work that is invading our waterways. shops and a re participating in th e The beetles are being reared on The Brook lyn Extension Center Quinebaug Wa lking Weekend loosestrife plants growing in Master Gardeners are in full sw ing again. We are also add ing a sus pots outside the Bethel Exten as summer begins. Our first an tainable turf grass demonstration sion Center building. Later, nual plant sa le was a great suc sit e. Jean Chicoine will be heading cess! Thanks to everyone who they will be released into a des up that effort for t he Brooklyn Ex helped in so many ways. It was ignated wetland spot for moni tension Center . great to see so many familiar toring and control . If you are faces, hope to see you al l more As we look forward to July we will near the Bethel office, swing by often. be planni ng for the fairs 1 If you and check out the outdoor dis are interested in getting involved The outreach projects are in full play and poster against the in Windham County please call the swing! The Windham Hospital pro building. Extension Center 776 -9600. ject is to install a heali ng garden Kim Kelly, 860 -77 6-9600 Master Gardener speakers are for both patie nts and families . Deb [email protected] sought for gardening programs, and her crew are hard at work. 8" ~ .. ;t IMASTER GARDENERS REACH 'oui

Plum and several Birch trees. Litchfield County The Symposium included 2 Spring Gardening scheduled speakers; "Mixed Symposium 2004 Borders" with Roxann Lovell By Lisa Durant e MG class of 2004 who made us laugh and offered There was excitement brewing some real down to earth good at the Cooperative Extension, information on build ing peren Torrington Branch of UConn all nial borders by not only looking Saturday morning into what at them from the front of your turned out to be a beautiful property, but from the v iew of the house. Lovell also ex afternoon. The Master Garden David Smith, fou nder of Whit e ers Association as well as the plained how textures of foliage Flower Farm Litchfield County Master Gar add interest ing effects to a deners sponsor ed the Garden garden walkway or path, and the guests at the sym posium, ing Symposium. The event was how using color can chang e the David Smith, founder of the free of charge and the 2nd in appearance of a walkway. well known White Flower Farm. as many years held at the Co "Cooking with Herbs" with Chef Smith brough t in seve ra l cut operative Extension Building Dreama Erosity added to the tings of Viburnum and Dog where classes are held for Mas excitement when one of her wood that were beautiful , es ter Gardeners. This yea r was a pans start ed to send out pecially the Viburnum 'Kerns very successful fundraising to flames, taking the symposium Pink' and talked a little about benefit the landscaping for the outdoors until the smoke himself. Our own Mast er Gar new Extension building. The cleared from the building. We dener class of 2004's Cathy 2004 Master Gardener class were very happy to see most of and Jack Donahue, president of organized th emse lves with the the guests come back in and the Connecticut Herb Society major design plan and will use Chef Erosity tr eated all to her gave us a small presentation the money to start the land pasta primavera made with all on growing and using herbs. scaping at the front of the homegrown herbs from the This husband and wife team building. garden . showed us that pinching back your beloved Basil will make it Walk into the Cooperative Ex a more attractive and sh rubby tension building and purple plant. covered tabl es were loaded with beautiful items that were The 2004 Garden Symposium donated by local business, per was a great success thanks to ennials and annua l hanging all the hard work of the Litch baskets and several gift certifi field Master Gardeners and the cates. Many of the Master Gar MG class of 2004, and gener dener students brought in ous donations from local busi healthy looking perennials from ness owners. Eighty peopl e their own gardens. Th e Litch signed the guest book at the field Master Gardeners set up a event as well as 15 vo lunte ers beautiful refreshment table for from the 2004 MG class and the guests. Balloons marked several from the Litchfield Mas the beautiful crafts donated by ter Gardeners. $2,148 was Chef Dreama Erosity with her favo rite local artists - pottery, iron gar kit che n appliance raised for the new land scaping den statuary, wreaths and project for the school's Coop even a large concrete birdbath In addition to the main speak erative Extension building . waited to go home with the ers, the silent auction and the Way to go! highest bidder. More of the Torrington Fire Department's items included in the silent visit, we were also treated to auction was an 8' tall Flowering ideas and advice from one of

- - ·-- -~ ------~- - - ~- - - - - Docent Program at the Bart Susie Thorness and Suzanna New Canaan Nature Center lett Arboretum & Nielson researched and ident ified Herb Garden Gardens, Stamford the trees as their outreach pro By Sue Kelley ject whi le interns in the MG class On Sunday afternoons in the The Herb Garden at the New Ca summer, visitors can spend an of 2003 . The ir work was exten naan Nature Center (NCNC) was hour exp loring the Bartlett Arbo sive and very complete. Not to let orig inally a comp lex of green retum, and viewing the collection such a resource sit idly on a houses and a potting shed deve l of Champion Trees, with a knowl shelf, Harvey and Lars worked to oped by Catharine Bliss as part edgeable Master Gardener docent bring the research to life. Thus of her estate which she started as their guide . The Arboretum is was born the Tour of Trees and in 1899 w ith the purchase of 10 home to a great variety of plants Gardens. and trees set in gardens, wood acres on Oenoke Ridge Road, New Canaan. lands and wetlands. The Docent Tour of Trees and Gardens leaves In the 1950's Cather ine 's niece the Visitors' Center at 1: 30 PM decided to give the property and is led by one of the volunteer away, with the responsibility of docents recruited by Harvey its care shared by the town and Caney (MG 2002) and Lars the NCNC. Of the four original Cherichetti, Director of Education greenhouses, only one remains. at the Bartlett. Each week a band In the late 1970's, the cost of of garden lovers follows along on heat ing the greenhouses became an information-packed stroll prohibitive. (costing some through the grounds. As they MG docents Harvey Caney and Barbara $10,000 annually). The green wander, the docent rega les the Leffler lead a tour at the Bartlett houses were dismantled and the group with ta les of history and Herb Garden was created. horticultura l facts. Who was Dr. The program maps out a path to Under the gu idance of the Direc Bartlett? Where did that fabulous fo llow, and des ignates the most tor of Horticu lture at NCNC, Gail stone bench come from? What is int eresting specimens as stopping Robinson, many vo lunteers lend a Champion Tree? points along the way. Each stop describes trees and nearby plant a hand to keep t he garden in Of course Champion trees are old shape. MG interns wo rk side by and very large. In some areas of ings; mix in a little history and a pinch of trivia to create an inter side with mentors and commu the USA, old trees date 150 to nity volunteers. This season the 300 years or more. During the est ing script; t hen lure a few Master Gardene rs and a spr in fc,tus has been on identif ication 1880's Connecticut land was of plants and the creation of an cleared of trees to provide farm kling of MG Interns to the pro j ect. Harvey and Lars presented Herb Garden brochure . (And lots land, building material and fi re of weeding!) wood, thus elim inating most of the package in a tra ining session the truly old trees. In this area a and prov ided the script and re The garden is divided into vari tree of 120 years is considered source materials. Each att endee ous categor ies : Cul inary, Bird, old. The definition of a Champion committed to escort a g roup of Bee and Butterf ly, Fragrance, Tree is set by the Amer ican For visitors one Sunday during the Weaver and Dyer, Silver and estry Association and is ex summer months . Presto! The Gray, Groun dcovers, Tisane, pressed as a formula: AFA Points Tour of Trees and Gardens pro Shady Corner and Medicinal. gram is born. = Circumference of the trunk at Next time you are in the area, 4.5 feet above the ground + Maste r Gardeners and In t erns are please stop by the Herb Garden Height of the tree in feet + ¼ of the backbone of the Docent force. and see for yourself this little the average branch spread in Each one of them committed to slice of paradise! feet. learn ing the material, study ing Harvey Caney is the mastermind the trees and guiding a to ur once If you are interested in taking the of th is new and interesting pro or twice in the summer. Docent s tou r or joining the docent team, ject. Harvey's fasc inatio n with the attend t he tours and training ses contact the Arbo retum for detai ls. Bartlett's col lect ion of Champion sions to reinfo rce thei r command Tel : 203-322 -6971 Trees mot ivated him to design of the informat ion and to sup port the program. Maste r Gardeners each other. New volu nteers are Regina Campfie ld welcome . Tel: 203-322-6971 X24 The Laurel CALENDAR Date Time Details July 11 to Sept. 19 Waterlilies & Lotus Exhibition @ New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. Infor mation, call 718 -81 7-8700, or visit www.nybg.org/edu/conted/. July 17 to October 17 David Rogers' Big Bugs Sculpture Exhibition @ Garden in the Woods, New Eng land Wildflower Society, Framingham, MA. 508-877-7630 or visit www.newfs.org/ big bugs. Augu st 3 6. 30PM Annual Garden Tour @ Elizabeth Park . Free. 860-231-9443 or www .elizabethpark.org. Augu st 4 10AM-4PM Plant Science Day at CT Agricultural Experiment Station , Lockwood Farm, Evergreen and Kenwood Avenues, Hamden, CT. Tel 203-974-8500 or toll free statewide 877 -855 - 2237, or www.caes.state .ct.us. Augu st 7 l0AM-lPM A Perennial Border for all Seasons. New York Botanical Garden class held at New Canaan Nature Center. Presenter: Sydney Eddison. $32 NCNC members, $35 non - members. To register: 1-800-322-6924 / www.newcanaarinature.org/ nybg August 8 10AM, Guided walks at The Garden Conservancy's Open Days @ Highstead 12&2PM Arboretum , 127 Lonetown Road, Redding, CT. Fee. 203 -935-8809. August 14 1PM-4PM 2nd Annual garden Fair at Bethel Extension Grounds . Free. Contact Gillean Reinders at 203 - 792-4303. August 19 6.30PM Perennial Garden Tour @ Elizabeth Park. Free . 860 -231 -9443 or www .elizabethpark.org. September 2 6.30PM Annual Garden Tour @ Elizabeth Park. Free. 860-231 -9443 / www .eli zabethp ar k.or g September 7 6PM Rose Garden Tour @ Elizabeth Park. Free.860-231 - 9443/ www.e lizabethpark.org September 11 Clean up day - Auer Farm , Bloomfield Contact:Cyndi Wyskiewicz 860-486 -6343 September 18 9AM-3PM Celebrating Agriculture @ Woodstock Fairgrounds, Route 169, Woodstock, CT. Community Outreach, the CT Agricultural Experiment Station. 203 -9 74-8447 or www.caes.state.ct.us/Communityoutreach. Sept ember 21 9AM Fall Mini Symposium, Elizabeth Park, Hartford. Continental Breakf ast@ 8.1 5am. Speakers: Bill Turull, Bob Prill, Donna Fuss. $25. Contact Paul Grimmeisen 860- 677-8645. September 25 9AM-12PM Lecture: Alternatives to Invasive Plants. New. Canaan Natu re Cente r, New Ca naan, CT. Presented by Chr is Mattrick, NEWFS's Senior Conservation Programs Manager. $30 NCNC members, $37 non-members. Register by September 20. Contact NCNC 203-966-9577 / www.newcanaannature.org. September 28 12PM Workshop: Closing your Perennial Garden @ Elizabeth Park. Free. 860 - 231- 9443 / www .elizabethpark .org October 2 10AM Tree Tour @ Elizabeth Park. Meet@ greenhouse parking lot. Free. 860 -231- 9443 or www.elizabethpark.org October 5 10AM CMGA Open Board Meeting , The Pond House, Elizabeth Park. October 5 - 9 North East Regional Master Gardener Conference, Baltimore, Maryland . www.mastergardener.umd.edu. Cont act : Cyndi Wyski ewicz 1-860-486-6343. October 7 9AM -4PM Invasive Plant Symposium: The Silent Invaders-Identification & Manage me nt of Invasive Plants ". CT Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWIG) @ UConn, Sto rrs, CT. Registration form & program posted at www.hort.uconn.edu/ cipwg. Registration & payment postmarked by August 31, 2004 & ma iled to Donna Ellis at UConn. No walk-in registrations will be allowed. Brochures: emai l [email protected] or 860 -4 86 - 6448. October 24 Fall Festival MG Auer Farm, Bloomfield, CT. Contact: Cyndi Wyskiewicz 860- 486 -6 343 November 6 10AM Workshop: Winter Care of Roses @ Elizabeth Park . Free. Meet @ gazebo. 860-231 -9443 / www.eli zabethpark.org November 13 CMGA Annual Meeting. Location and program to be announced

· 11

.,, . The .t PRSRT L aure.1 STD U.S Postage CMGA , PAID c/o John Neff Permit #42 18 Knollwood Road Guil ford, CT Farmington, CT 06032 ,+ "''

Marie Dube 455 Amity Road Woodbridge, CT 06525

Plant Science Fairfield County September Invasive Plant Day Extension Center Symposium·' Symposium

CT Agricultural · Garden Fair CT Invasive Plant Experiment Station Hartford C.OUnty ExtensionCenter Working Group Thursday, October 7, Wednesday, August 4, Saturdpy, Augu~t 14, , ffuesday, Septernber 21, 2004 2004 2004 2004, 9AM to 12PM 10AM - 4PM 1PM -4PM 4, Breakfast from 8.15AM . Donna Ellis at Lockwood Farm . Fairfield 5=ounW :· ElizabethPark, Prospect & [email protected] Evergreen and Extensl'on Office; · Be- Asylum Aves, Hartford Tel: 860-486-6448 Kenwood Avenues, .:..theJ "' . •; www.hort.uconn.edu/ · Hamden, CT Stonyhill Road (Rte 6), Hands on talks by Donna cipwg Tel: 203-974-8500 or Bethel, CT.,. Fuss,Bob Prill, Bill Turrull Tollfree 877-855-2237 of ElizabethPark. Tel: 203 -792-4303 . · Regtster: 860-677-8645 Regist~r by August 31, www .caes.state.ct.us - :-,. [email protected] 2004

______,______------V Llillrel

November, 2004 Volume 17, No. 5

CMGA SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING

The CMGA Sem i-Annual Meet for a term of one year, no officer ing will be held on Saturday, No to serve more than two consecu vember 6, 2004 from 9. 30AM - tive terms in the same office. 12PM in the Jones Auditorium at Becky Raiola-Paul has been the Connecticut Agricultural Ex president of the Association for the periment Station, Huntington past two years and was vice Street, New Haven, Connecticut. president for two years before The meeting is open to everyone, that. She now retires . Paul Grim although only CMGA members are meisen has been vice-president able to cast a vote. for the past two years and now The November Semi-Annual stands for election as president. Meeting of CMGA has two main Peter Lirot has been the treas Combining food and gardening, Louis items of business: to receive the urer for the past two years, and Lista will share his creative ideas on Treasurer's Report for the year, has been nominated as vice decorating the buffet tabl e and to elect new officers of the president. Billy Baxter has Association for the year commenc agreed to have his name put for ing January 1, 2005. ward as treasurer. Sandy Myhalik Coffee, The officers are elected by a was secretary for the past year But first . . . ballot of CMGA members present and has offered to continue as pastries, and time to meet and at the meeting. All positions are secretary for a further year. greet fellow CMGA members. Then sit back while Louis Lista of the Pond House Cafe at Elizabeth Park entertains us with ideas on using items from garden and kitchen to .d_ecoratea buffet table and create TIME TO RENEW! edible table centerp ieces for the CMGA memberships expire on December 31, 2004 holidays.

Renew your membership today to continue to receive these great benefit s: • Quarterly editions of The Laurel newsletter, with the latest CMGA and Extension Center news, upcoming classes, MG outreach pro jects and class reports • CMGA Membership Directory • Discount ed price on the CMGA Annual Symposium CMGA Business ...... 2 CMGA News ...... 3 Membership fees help support CMGA funding for: CMGA Reports ...... 5 • CMGA UCONN School of Agriculture scholarship awarded annually MG Outreach Reports ...... 7 to a deserving student AMG Fall/Winter Classes ...... 10 • Outreach projects that qua lify for funding assistance AMG Class Reports ...... 11 • MG Intern tuition grants for those students who qualify for financial aid MG Workshops ...... 12 • Outstanding speakers at CMGA meetings and events. News from the Garden ...... 13 Keep connected and support our valuable and important organization! The Laurel Calendar ...... 14 Your 2005 Membership renewal application is on page 15 Membership Renewal Form ..... 15 President The foliage has Becky Raiola-Paul CAES in New Haven. Officers will 259 Saw Mil l Road peaked and the first be voted on for the coming year. Guilford, CT 06437 hard frost hit us in I've acted as Vice President for 203-458-8413 Vermont on October two years and President for two r .r.pau [email protected] 5th. It won't be long years. As a result, there will be a now before our Con fresh new slate of nominations for Vice-President necticut gardens are hit as well. President, Vice President, and Paul Grimmeisen Are you prepared? Treasurer. Our Secretary will re 24 White Oak Road This certain ly has been a busy main. Please join us to vote in and Farmington, CT 06032 year for our 2004 Master Gardener welcome our new officers! 860 -677-8645 Interns - it seems like just yester It really has been a great pau124wor@ao l.com day we welcomed them as associ privil ege working with this organi ate members . Graduations are zation over the last four years. Treasurer coming up over the next few We've grown our membership tre Peter Lirot weeks - do try to attend, lend your 39 Burr Hill Road mendously, as well as our financial Killingworth, CT 06419 support and offer congratulations assets. New faces have come for 860 -663-1595 for a job well done! ward to serve on the Board of Di pl irot@ao l.com November is a very important rectors, edit The Laurel, and man month for CMGA for two reasons. age other aspects of our day to Secretary First, you are reminded to renew day efforts . Our relationship with Sandy Myhalik your membership for 2005. Our UCONN has become strong. We're 89 Ely Road membership year runs from Janu in a great place to continue our Farm in gton, CT 06032 ary through December. Complete dynamic growth into the next 860-677-0504 the enclosed form and return it year. [email protected] before the holidays begin to en Thank you for your ongoing sure you remain active. support! Membership The second important event is Becky Connie Schultz our Semi-Annual Meeting, to be 25 Laure l Drive held this year on November 6th at Stafford Springs, CT 06076 860-684-1561 connie@[email protected]

Cooperative Extension Center Membership dues Coordinators (by County): increase Fairfield: 5andi Wilson 203-207-8440 CMGA Annual Fairfield (Stamford): Regina campfield The CMGA Board has agreed a 203-329-3363 $3 increase in membersh ip UCONN Scholarship Hartford: Katie Melvin 860-570-9010 dues, to $20 per year. This wil l Litchfield: Loma Delaney 860-626-6240 cover r ising postal and printing Award Middlesex: John castagno 860-345 -4511 New Haven: Mira Schachne 203-407-3161 fees without reducing the level New London: Melissa Smith 860-887-1608 of donations and grants pro CMGA is pleased to announce Tolland: Mary Collins 860-870-6934 vided by CMGA. the recipient of the student Windham: Kim Kelly 860-776-9600 scholarship award for the Col lege of Agriculture and Natural Uconn Home & Garden Education Resources and Ratcliffe Hicks Center: 877-486-6271 School of Agriculture. lames Reviczky was recommended Liaison: Cyndi Wyskiewicz by the Department of Plant 877-486-6271 Science and has been selected [email protected] as the 2004-2005 recipient of The Laurel Editors: CMGA's $2,500 scholarship. Barbara Duffy James has an undergraduate Barbduffy2@aol .com education degree from UCONN Hilary Forsyth and will be majoring in land rayhbf@optonline .net scape architecture.

CHGA website: www.ctmga.org SAVE THE DATE! 2005 CMGA March Symposium Gardeners In Print Saturday, March 19, 2005, 9AM - 4 .30PM (Registration 8.30AM) Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT Fee: CMGA members $50 / non-members $60 Lunch is included in the fee

Announcing the CMGA Chicken Soup for the Gardener's browse your library or book store Soul, will close the symposium for the works of these authors. March Symposium with equal doses of humor and Then get ready to meet them in March 19, 2005 lore. Stone, editor of the book, person at the start of another gar By Barbara Walker Weeder's Digest, brightens any dening year. gathering. You thought the 2004 Sympo Also slated to speak are : Sal sium program was as good as it Gilberti, because herbs continue Garden and Plant gets . Wait till you see what's in to fascinate us; "Gardenlady" C.L. Photo Competition store on March 19, 2005 at Man Fornari, and Tom Christopher Save all the wonderful chester Commun ity College, when on the myth and reality of "low photographs you took in the CMGA presents Gardeners In maintenance" gardening, and the garden this year! Print. We'll get to listen to gar Robert Gillmore who believes in Your photo could win a deners whose additional talent is creating Beauty All Around You. prize at the 2005 March writing about our favorite obses Paula Panich will speak on writ sion. ing about plants and gardens, and Symposium Ken Druse will keynote the garden photographer Karen Bus day. Writer of about ten beautiful solini will preview her book on award -winning books, Ken's many silv er plants. titles include works on plant The program committee is still Full details of the Symposium and propagation, shade gardening, filling the last few slots in the pro registration forms will be mailed out in Januarr 2005, and will also be avail garden design and use of native gram. Meanwhile, as the garden plants. Pat Stone, contributor to able on the CMGA website, ing year slowly winds down, www .ctmga .org .

Introducing ... assist s with the MG classes in Hilary and Bar Earlier this year, Hilary Forsyth Stamford, and bara welcome and Barbara Duffy became the is a regular feedback from new co-editors of The Laurel. They men t or in the readers, and aim to make the news letter as Plant Clinic at suggest ions effective as possib le, providing the Bartlett. that will help to CMGA news and reports on events, Barbara Duffy make th e L.______, Barbara lives in .______J newsletter outreach projects and classes. Wallingford, and took the Master something that CMGA members Hilary was certified as a Master Gardener program in Haddam in can re ly on and enjoy reading. Gardener in 1999 out of the North 2001. She has completed the Ad Haven Extension Center. She at vanced Master Gardener require You can contact Hilary at tained her Advanced Master Gar ments, and will graduate with the rayhbf@optonline .net and Barbara dener certification in 2003. Hilary next class. Barbara fell in love with at [email protected]. has been a volunteer at the Bart gardening as a col lege student lett Arboretum in Stamford for when she worked transplanting in several years, where she takes greenhouses, and was excited to care of the perennial border . She finally have the time to pursue this hobby more se riously. v'

Congratulations newly certified Master Gardeners!

Litchfield and Hartford Counties Friday, October 29, 2004 : 6PM

Tolland and Windham Counties Friday, November 5, 2005 : 6PM

Fairfield County (Stamford) Sunday, November 7, 2004 : 2PM

Middle sex and New London Counties Tu esday, November 16, 2004 : 6PM

Fairfield and New Haven counties Friday, November 19, 2004 : (brunch)

Outreach Project manity house in Farmington, and Caterpillars on the Funding Assistance creation of a new garden at the Litchfield County Extension Office. Foliage of Conifers in Written requests for funding A limit ed number of outreach should include the following infer- the Northeastern projects are eligible for up to $300 mation: United States funding per pr oject through CMGA. • Project overview, location, and Master Gardeners and Master Gar- comm unity benefit. To obtain a free copy of the dener Interns should apply for • Extension Center Coordinator book, "Caterpillars on the Foli- funding through their Extension name (MGs and Interns only) age of conifers in the North- Center Coordinator who will for - and whether the project is ap- eastern United States ward the request to the CMGA proved. (publication FHTET-2004 - 1) or Board. Advanced Master Garden- • Project leader and contact in- a CD-ROM of it, contact: ers should apply in writing to the formation as well as other MGs Richard Reardon by phone, mail vice-president, Paul Grimmeisen and interns involved. or email: Richard Reardon (see page 2 of The Laurel for con- Start and completion dates . tact information). The CMGA Board • USDA Forest Service reviews requests monthly. Some • Other community organiza- ·- Forest Health Technology En- examples of projects that have tions involved and/or contrib- terprise Team been approved for funding recently uting. 180 Canfield Street are the projects at Gaylord Hospi- • Plans, site designs, plant ma - Morgantown, West Virginia tal in Wallingford, Heublein Tower terial selection. 26505 in Avon (see article on page 9), • Ongoing maintenance plan. Phone: 304-285-1566 landscaping at a Habitat For Hu- • Approximate costs. Email: [email protected]

In memory of Lori Lundeberg "Her Favorite Garden was of Family and Friends" Submitted by Mary Collins

A tragic ATV accident recently took the life of Lori Lundeberg of Ellington, a Master Gardener who was in the Vernon class of 2000. Lori had recently comp leted the Advanced Master Gardener program. She leaves a husband and three daughters Kailyn, Chelsea, and Madison. A fund has been established for the benefit of Lori's children, and those who would like to contribute can mail a check made out to the Lori Lundebe rg Children's Fund, PO Box 59, Ellington, CT 06029. Drawing by Diana Ringelheim

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Elizabeth Park Hosts Master Gardeners

Elizabeth Park. www .elizabethpark.org. Over 100 people attended the The day began with September 21 st seminar and t hey breakfast at The Pond were broken up into three groups House and a presen which rotated through outdoor tation of a donation lectures in the rose garden , the of $1,000 to the perennial garden and the annual Friends of Elizabeth garden. Donna Fuss, the Elizabeth Park represented by Park Rosarian, spoke on roses; Bill Sali Riege. She Turull, owner of Garden Sales thanked CMGA for Nursery in Manchester, spoke on Symposium part icipants in the formal annual garden with the dona- its backdrop of mature trees and shrubs tion of money and What could be more fun than over 100 gardening spending a beautiful fall day in books donated by indi outdoor classes at Elizabeth Park, vidual CMGA members wi t h three of the top gardeners in for their new library. New England? The September 21, She also told the group 2004 event was a mini symposium about the desperate held by the Hartford County Exten need for more volun sion Center. Kudos should go to teers at Elizabeth Park. the Co- chairmen Paul Grimmeisen Cutbacks in staff and and John Neff for organizing this the recent decline in Donna Fuss, Rosarian at Elizabeth Park, shares her thoroughly enjoyable morning at volunteers have made it extensive knowledge of roses one of Connecticut's treasures - very difficult to maintain these bea utifu I perennials; and Bob Prill, who gardens. Master manages the annual gardens and Gardeners are greenhouses for Elizabeth Park, particularly valu spoke on annuals. Each speaker able volunteers, generously shared their vast and anyone inter knowledge and lots of ga rden ing ested can call the Ups that they have discovered Friends of Eliza over the years. Participants were beth Park at 860 very enthusiastic about the ses 231 9443, or fill sions and were excited about try out the form on ing some of the new techniques their website and varieties they learned about. Bob Prill talks to the group about the design and care of the All in all - it was a great day! summer annual beds at Elizabeth Park

Federated Garden Clubs The program is open to the tion areas, graphics interpretation Landscape Design Study public. The four courses in the pro and guidelines for evaluating land Program gram may be taken in any order. scape design. Each course has a two day lecture Cost for Course III is $70.00. The Federated Garden Clubs of period taught by landscape archi A one day lecture may be attended Connecticut, Inc. will be offering tects and other professionals. The for $40.00. Pre-registration is re Course III of The Landscape De morning of the third day is set quired . sign Study Program on March 22 - aside for an optional exam. For more details please con 24, 2005 in Jones Auditorium at Among the topics covered in tact: Regina Neal, 67 Ledyard the Connecticut Agricu lture Experi Course III are: color, accessories Road, West Hartford, CT 06117. ment Station, 123 Huntington and maintenance in the landscape, Phone: 860-233-7200 . E-mail: Street, New Haven, CT 06504. introduction to urban design, [email protected]. parks, playgrounds and conserva- Northeast Regional J Bethel Extension storyboard of photos on the Scott Fanton Museum, where MGs have Master Gardener Center Garden Fair restored and care for the gardens. By Hilary Forsyth Conference - 2004 And, of course, Cyndi Wyskiewicz and Paul Grimmeisen were there, On August 14, 2004, the Be selling MG T-shirts, tote bags and thel Extension Cente r held their mugs and spr eading the word Second Annual Garden Fair. It about our Master Gardener course. was a tremendous success, with Cindy Hunt Stowell led a large over 100 vi sitors coming to the group of people on a Wildflower event. Identification Walk, and Carol A wide variety of programs Beerbaum gave a presentation were on offer. Indoors there were entitled "Fall is for Planting" and presentations on "Weeds as Indi provided a tour of the Extension cators" by Ingrid McCauley, and Center's Gardens. "Com mon Plant Problems and Gar Popular as these exhibits and den Pests" by Joe Maisano. Standing 1-r, Dermott Breen, Paul displays were, two tables proved Grimmeisen, Kim Kelly. Seating 1-r, Outside in an area adjacent to to be even more of a hit than all the park ing lot several tables were John Neff, Sue Breen, Carol Quish, the others. The lure of a free Cyndi Wyskiewicz) set up with displays and informa plant offered to ear ly arriva ls tion on gardening-related topics. Twelve Connecticut Master ('while stocks last') had people Gardeners attended the Regional lining up well before opening time; Conference held in Baltimore, and the table offering free refresh Maryland, October 5 to 9 along ments - home-made cook ies and with 475 other Master Garde ners bottled water - with enth usiastic from the Northeast. Highlights 'salesmanship' by Mike Smith and were speakers such as Rick Drake Eugene Rosen did a roaring trade. and Colston Burrell, and tours of The Master Gardeners men the Baltimore municipal park sys tio ned are only the ones I hap tem and the newly renovated har pened to talk to and whose names bor. I noted: there were many more This was the 6th inte r-national who added to the success of this or regional confe rence for Master event. This dedicated and enthusi Gardeners Sue and Dermot t Breen astic group made th e garden fair a of Southb ury who make it a part Jill Kotch and Betsy Greene give advice stellar occasion. of their vacation plans each year. on how to deal with invasive plants They are looking forward next year to the inter -na tional conference to When I visited, the invasives be held in Calgary, Canada with table was generat ing a lot of inter tou rs in the Candaian Rockies. est, with enormous samples of Two years from now the regional inva sive plants (why hav e one conference will be held in Newport, Rhode Island and the Connecticut Norway maple leaf, when you can have a 6-foot sapling!) and plenty Master Gard eners have been of good advice provided by Jill asked to help. The conference is a Kotch and Betsy Gree ne. At the great chan ce to meet other MG's Mast er Garden er Plant Clinic from nearby States and exchange booth, Sue Deilus was among the ideas. MGs discussing gardening prob Attending this year were: lems with the public. The table Steve Aitken, Sue and Dermott was piled high with reference Breen, Regina Campfield, Paul books, and extension coordinator Grimmeisen, Jean Gregory, Kim Sandi Wilson's favorite bugs were Kelly, John Neff, Carol Quish, on display. The Plant Clinic booth attracted many Melissa Smith , Teddi Therkil dsen , customers and raised plenty of Steve Aiken, Editor of Fine and Cyndi Wyskiewicz. questions Gardening Magazine, gave an ex cellent demonstration on Container Gardening. Lisa Pecunia and Nancy Gould provided information and a News from Camp ways will be added to enable Maria wages war on weeds in the Harkness 2004 wheelchair gardeners to partici spring and helps maintain the pate. The water garden will gain By Julia Griswold beds with the assistance of her a new pump and have part of its husband Dave. Bob Regan is our Our greenhouse program at fence repaired. The volunteers water garden guru and Brt:1€e• Camp Harkness in Waterford pro watched impatiently for the Reiber is the designer Gf 011r vides a wonderful activity in the many fall planted tulips. donated green house and, with help from fall and winter months for a by Master Gardener Ken GrahamL the local correctional facility, has group of residents from Cross to emerge in the new bed at the converted a large rocky area roads Place an assisted living fa front entrance. The overgrown originally chest high in sumac cility in Waterford CT. In Novem- hedge near the guardhouse was into a love ly rock garden. He also - ber, weplant bulbs in layers in brings beer for our summer the greenhouse and they provide picnics. a succession of spring color. To Albert Rombooi is always to mato seeds will also be planted 15edepencJecf"upon, chauffeur in November, and we hope the lia to and from the Cam tomatoes are ripe in April, to go and offering his endless ability with our crop of mesclun greens to fix almost anything. Albert and Chuck Weidig, Dave Maria, which the residents will plant in r. window boxes. Valentine's Day ,-Keo Grabam,_and Bob Regan,_ inspires a flower arranging ses bu i It the nho.use-und.er....tbe_ sion, and the group talented leadership of Bruce produces very attrac Reiber. Mary Smeraldi, our tive baskets using lo very generous donor ITTfunds cal evergreens, red Master Gardeners to build the greenhouse, is a and white carnations work with resi- constant supporter year round and baby's breath to dents from Cross- bringing humor and often a roads Place in th e batch of brownies for our sum- take back to Cross sunny greenhouse . . roads. at Camp Harkness mer picnics. As spring draws ,---tasf,out definitely not nearer (it is always least, is Charlie Tefft, summer in the green our compost king and house where bougain- teacher. Charlie, Judy villea, bananas, and cannas rub Bombaci and Liz Gard shoulders with geraniums and ner successfully run the impatiens), we (?Ian to seed program when Julia is many annuals- which will fill unavailable. boxes, baskets and beds in the This list of volunteers • camp and also provide material seems very long but we for the Friends of Harkness plant DESPERATELY need --sale 10 May.Th is season Charlie finally renew faces. 2004isthe Tefft will add a heated seed. moved last summer and was re first year that we have not wel starter which will greatly aid in placed by a new sustainable gar comed new students, so we are seedling germination. Master den with plants provided by The very hopeful that the class of Gardener Elisabeth Gardner Judges Farm in Old Lyme. 2005 will join us to do their keeps the plants under her wing, This is a very dedicated hours and/or those of you who popping in to the greenhouse on group of master gardeners who are looking for hours for your a regular basis between sessions. donate hours of volunteer time. advanced certificate . In April, we move outside as Madeline Benyeda is our photog Please call me at 860-535- the weather allows, to the acces rapher/ publicity person and Judy 3061 or email at juliagriswold@ sible gardens where there is Bombaci, in addition to her comcast.net. much to be done. Our four new weekly commitment to the pro raised beds near the greenhouse gram brings in truckloads of re.quire-a fence before planting mulch. Elisabeth Gardner makes ...£g_Oj)zjn ta ward off deer, and sure the plants in the greenhouse VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! irrigation and stone dust walk- get plenty of water, and Mary that is to farm in the city." SOIL AND THE CITY One teenager sums it all up Gardeners of the Future when she says, "We picked Learn as they Grow beans this morning. Picking By Merry McDonnell beans can be very stressful so we made it into a game. We "So you know that skirt that played Bean Basketball and they had in the mall that we shot the beans in to the bucket saw, well, I got it ... yeah, I and we filled it up faster. Today know my mom said it is TOO we also had our Farmers Market short but it is so cute ...here, and we are becoming very suc this squash goes in the com cessful with our market because post, but let's cut it up into lit our food is good and people tle pieces because it will com love that." post faster that way ...and those "Welcome to GrowHartford's tomatoes, you know they NEED Laurel Street Farmers Market some help from the com- Saturdays 9 - 12 July to October" post .... " For more information, contact Typical teenager conversation? Laura Brown at www.outreach@ Sure it is. Typical for the eight market at 75 Laurel Street on Sat hartfordfood .org Hartford teenagers who are part of urdays, offering various organically the urban agriculture education grown vegetables· from 9 AM to program GrowHartford. noon. Much of the produce comes from their partner, Holcomb Farm Community Supported Agriculture -- Ln Granby, in this first summer of "GrowHartford is a project of ~ - However, one teen the Hartford Food System, pro ager reports proudly as he mans moting a sustainable and equi the farmstand, "Those beets, we table food system in Hartford grew them right here! And next by cultivating youth leadership year when the soil is better, the and civic participation through tomatoes will do better too!" agriculture." - Grow Hartford Residents of a nearby elderly Project promotional pamphlet housing complex drop by to pur chase vegetables for the week, or \ stop to watch the teenagers weed ing, building raised beds for peren nial herbs, or learning in their out door classroom. Students keep "Students ... learn to run a business journals on their farming lessons, with checking account and deposits" and maintain an online blog web Laura Brown watches as two of the site: GrowHartford teenagers calculate www.growhartford.blogspot.co produce prices at the farmstand m . They also take trips to area In a converted half-acre lot un farms and agriculture programs, der an 1-84 overpass into Hartford, learn to run a business with check youth and staff created an organic ing account and deposits, weigh vegetable operation that · produce, and, of course, learn to "encourages active lifestyles and compost. fosters community action". The Several city programs take goal of this project, part of the youth out to the country to see ''Those beets, we grew them right Hacttocd food System, is "to even- where food is grown. However, here!" A tempting array of fresh t ually be an outdoor classroom tor GrowHartford brings the farm into vegetables is offered for sale more than one hundred young the city. Program director Laura people and families to learn about Brown explains, "We wanted to healthy food choices and how food connect the program to youth and is grown ." the neighborhoods where the kids GrowHartford runs a farmer's come from, and the only way to do Creative Collaboration at Pickin' Patch farm in Avon. The Heublein Tower Funding for the trees, By Christina Beebe shrubs and perennials was provided by generous do "Many hands make light work" nations from the Heublein is an old adage appropriate for this Tower, the Connecticut season's outreach project by five Master Gardener Associa of th e UCONN Master Gardener tion, Valley Community interns from Torrington . Under the Baptist Church, and sev auspices of the Friends of the eral private donors. Heublein Tow er and the State of Clearing out the conval Taking a break from their work in the Heublein Connecticut's DEP, we designed laria was our most odious Tower's shady Circle Garden are (L-R): Kathy and planted the Tower's Circle task, but the finished Rohrs , Diane Brescia, Kathryn King, Kathryn Garden, located in a lovely shady product is glorious! Betula Hoidge ( co-president of the Friends of the glade on the Tower's southern Heublein Tower), Pauline Musto , Christina nigra 'Little King' anchors Beebe the bed, while Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee', ! lex crenata We hope you will be among the 'Beehive' and Pieris japonica Dad and 100,000 visitors to the Tower this daughter, 'Valley Valentine' serve as distinc coming year! If you see MG In Paul and tive textures. The woodland moun terns Kathy Rohrs, Pauline Musto, Stephanie taintop is a perfect location for the Kathryn King, Diane Brescia or Zaloom from various native ferns, lamium, as Christina Beebe watering or weed Simsbury, tilbe and epimedium that thrive ing, please stop and say hello! make a here . great team We have been very fortunate to The Heublein Tower is located in have the enthusiastic support of Avon, Connecticut, overlooking the the Friends of the Tower, as well Farmington River Valley. The property side. Sev as season - long maintenance from is on The National Register of Historic enty "Dads and Daughters" volun the DEP. We are looking forward Places, and is utilized by thousands of teered from Valley Community to an ongoing partnership as we hikers and nature lovers annually. Vol Baptist Church for planting day on redesign the exposed western fac unteers are always needed! Contact June 12th 2004, and hundreds of ing slopes next season, hopefully Christina Beebe at 860-651-3122. annuals were donated by the while mentoring our incoming Master Gardeners!

A Facelift for an Old School Gardeners Sandy Myhalik, John move several plants. One month By Sandy Myhalik Neff, Paul Grimmeisen, Bob Slab later, we all assembled once more inski, Barbara Brennemen and to plant the new shrubs . It was a In the spring of this year, the Marge Bingham met with Lisa Troy very busy and exhausting day of Farmington Master Gardeners several times in the winter and work but the final results were were contacted by Lisa Troy, a early spring to discuss the ideas worth it. Now, we're looking for parent volunteer at Noah Wal lace and draw up plans for the new ward to next years Centennial School, to solicit their help in redo garden. Celebration in the beautiful new ing the landscaping at the 100 Lisa Troy was able to get many gardens at Noah Wallace School! year old school for its centennial donations from local garden stores celebration, and also to create a especially Lexington Gardens, who children's reading garden . Next generously donated all the front "I can not thank you enough for year Noah Wallace is planning to foundation plantings. Master Gar what you gave to our school. Our have a big centennial celebration, dener Sandy Myhalik drew the research of the last 100 years at and Lisa and the rest of the Parent plans for the new gardens, and in Noah Wallace School revealed that Teacher Organization wanted to April the Master Gardeners and the courtyard was at one time a make the school look as beautiful several parent volunteers led by parking lot. It sure has come a long as possible because it's tire oldest Lisa Troy, all got together to mark way!" - Kelly M. Lyman, Principal, Noah Wallace School. continuously operating elementary out the new gardens, turn over the school in Connecticut! So, Master soil, work in new compost, and Date and Time Location Topic

November 6, 2004 Haddam Garden Photography Saturday: 9AM - 1.30PM

--!:::ip November 13, 2004 ..., North Haven The Making of a Thrilling Small Rock Garden Saturday: 9.30AM - 12.30PM

November 13, 2004 Bethel Formal Herb Garden Design Saturday : 10AM - 1PM

January 8, 2005 Saturday : 10AM - 12PM Storrs Fun With A Dozen Roses Snowdate: January 15 Architects of the Land - What is Landscape Architec- January 11, 2005 Storrs Tuesday: 6PM - 7.30PM ture?

January 11, 2005 Haddam Houseplants and their Personalities Tuesday: 7PM - 9PM Non-Toxic Cleaning for the Home and A Natural Bath January 15, 2005 Storrs Saturday: 9AM - 12PM and Body Workshop

January 18, 2005 Bethel Orchids for Everyone Tuesday: 1PM - 3PM

January 31, 2005 Bethel All About Nematodes Monday: 1PM - 3PM

February 1, 2005 Haddam Basics of Landscape Design Wednesday: 6PM - 9PM Backyard Plant Invaders - Aggressive plants in your _---.. February 5, 2005 North Haven - / Saturday: 9.30AM - 11.30AM Yard

March 5, 2005 West Hartford So You Want to Start ' a Gardening Business? Saturday: 10AM - 1PM

March 12, 2005 West Hartford Ecological besign of Gardens and Borders Saturday: 10 - 12PM

March 12, 2005 West Hartford Ecological Maintenance of Perennial Gardens Saturday: 1PM - 3PM

Check the Home and Garden Center website www.canr .uconn.edu/garden/programs/amg for all detai ls on class t imes, locat ions, presenters, top ics, registration fees, regist rat ion dead lines, and regis t ration forms . Or Phone UConn Home and Garden Education Center at 877-486-6271

The UConn Home & Garden Educat ion Center Prog rams are open to everybody; Master Gardeners get a substant ial discount on class prices, but non-Master Gardeners are always welcome . Master Gardeners who wish to app ly for their Advanced Master Gardener certificat ion need to accru e at least 20 hours of class t ime over a 3-year period, and a further 5 hours of class time per year thereafter in order to maintain that status . Insect Surveillance: Butterflies, Dragon flies, and Common Insects of Connecticut with Bill Yule By Diana Ringelheim

Bill Yule led a class of Master Gardeners on a magical mystery tour through an ordinary vacant lot in Bethel on a sunny day in Au gust. Grasses, sedges, clovers, bird's foot trefoil, fleabane, spot ted knapweed, and goldenrod were just some of the plants in residence. They supported a dizzy ing and dazzling array of flying insects. Thanks to meticulous notes kept by Alice Smith, we know that The class didn't have to go far to find insects. In the perennial garden the class saw six kinds of dragon outside the classroom at the Bethel Extension Center, Bill Yule uses the flies, two kinds of damselflies handle of his butterfly net to point out a small butterfly. (despite the fact that very little standing water was close by), eleven kinds of butterflies, a Japa agastache, coneflower, ett) and routines or taking their lives. nese beetle, a leaf hopper, and a wait for the rainbow parade to praying mantis!* Many more in come to me . *Alice Smith's list of insects sects were probably missed be Dragonflies and damselflies sighted can be e-mailed or snail cause the class was only in the share some characteristics and mailed upon request: field for an hour and a half. diverge in other characteristics [email protected] or 203- Bill introduced us to an ingen such as position of wings and col 372-8498 . ious way of observing insects, up ors. Both begin life in water in close and personal. Instead of their larval stage, when they are trapping (and killing) the insect for referred to as naiads or nymphs. ~~ Bill Yule is a high school biology viewing with a hand lens or a mi Dragonflies can live for years as teacher, a freelance naturalist and croscope, Bill uses his birding bin larvae, going through eight to fif an ecotourism guide. Mr. Yule is oculars to zoom in on the little teen instars before emerging as on the board of directors for the creatures. Many modern binocu adults. They are voracious feeders, local Audubon Society and is in lars will focus on an object as close consuming mosquito larvae, fish volved with many environmental as five feet and this is powerful fry, and any other small bits of organizations in Guilford where he enough to give you an amazing animal matter in the water . In resides. The class was presented experience viewing these animals temperate zones, the adults only as an Advanced Master Gardener in action. My own binoculars will live for one to two months but class in July, 2004. focus on an object about ten feet they also feed heavily, often on away, and even this is close mosquitoes . None of the 400 - enough to be fascinating . At home 500 species found in the United after the class, I was much more States stings or is in any way aware of insect activity in my harmful to humans. backyard and used binoculars to Because the iridescent bril see the details. Tiger swallowtails, liance of dragonflies and damsel spicebush swallowtails, cabbage flies cannot be easily preserved, whites, sulphurs, and sk ippers are they are best appreciated alive. absolutely gorgeous when spied This is true of other insects that upon . After running around the inhabit our gardens, even the garden after the butterflies, I pests. Using binoculars allows you found it was easier to station my to glimpse the world the insects self near a nectar source (lantana, occupy without disrupting their J

template of our choice. When fin Hypertufa Workshop ished, a piece of precut clear con By Neal Peckham tact paper that matched the size of the mold was laid atop our mosi The Master Gardeners of New acs and stuck to the glass. Next Haven County held a workshop on the contact paper with its attached making hypertufa pots on July mosiac was laid into the mold and 17th at the New Haven County concrete was poured over it. After Extension office. The presenter a day of hardening the stone is was Christina Swanke, a local art <,r:;;i removed from the mold and al ist and gardener. lowed to cure until the master Hypertufa is a process of mix Marvin Carley instructs Mira Schachne, piece is complete. Terri Flynn and Gail Eisenhauer. ing cement, peat moss and perlite, Naturally, to create your own and molding it into pots and at home you have to buy cut glass troughs. The products can be em and break it up into small pieces bellished in many different ways, Stepping Stones and provide your own mold and thus allowing for one's own crea Workshop concrete. tivity. By Neal Peckham The activity was easy, enjoy Once molded, the pots need to able and very rewarding. harden slowly and cure for 3 On Saturday, August 14, 2004 The workshop was held in months. Then the pots are left out the Master Gardeners of New Ha North Haven and was attended by in the rain so the lime in the ce ven County sponsored a workshop Neal Peckham, Mira Schachne, ment can leach out and not affect on the creation of cut glass mosiac Marie Dube, Terri Flynn, Linda the pH of the plants. stepping stones. Marvin Carley, Bushey, Marylee Obert, Marlene, The workshop was attended by one of our own master gardeners Gail Eisenhauer and Teddi Ther Master Gardeners Marie Dube, and an award winning cut glass kildsen. Marylee Obert, Tekki Therkildsen, artisan, was the presenter. Arlene Steinlauf, Peggy Eatherton, The technique of creating a Vinny Ingala, Joan Lenart, Terri mosiac was explained, demon Flynn, Linda Fox and Neil strated, and examples were on Peckham. display. Marvin brought along nu merous containers of cut glass that he prepared ahead of time. He also provided written instruc tions and many templates that we used to create our own mosiacs. A beautiful butterfly stepping stone We chose our own colors and would enhance any pathway laid out the cut glass on top of the

Bittersweet Obelisk Workshop Mixing and molding the hypertufa Submitted by Mary material is a hands-on activity Collins

Creative energy bloomed at the Advanced Master Gardener Bittersweet Obe lisk workshop, held in Vernon this past May. Here Lisa Stoddard works on her personal one-of-a-kind creation Millipedes and Centipedes By Sandi Wilson

As fascinating as insects may be, there are other classes of ar t hropods that warrant the gar Common centipede dener's attention. Many serve im portant ecologica l functions in our homes and backyards and are de serving of some recognition. Two in piles of leaves, and even in meaning lip, and poda, meaning examples include millipedes and damp basements. It is in base foot. The meaning comes from the centipedes. These creatures are ments and other damp areas that fact that members of this class of not insects at all, but rather exam hundreds sometimes turn up, dur arthropods have legs that are ples of two diverse classes of ar ing late summer and fall; distress modified into jawlike appendages. thropods. ing homeowners ~ Drought exces Centipedes can be distinguished Millipedes are members of the sive rainfall, lack of food. and win from millipedes by the presence of class Diplopoda. The word Diplo ter hibernation are all tbeocies only one pair of legs on each seg poda derives from two Greek .u..sedto try to explain these com ment. One commonly seen type is words, diplo, meaning double, and r:non mass migrations. the house centipede. Their long poda, meaning foot. Because of Millipedes do not bite but pos legs and habit of scurrying about the way their bodies are fused, sess some interesting defense at a harried pace, sometimes millipedes appear to have two mechanisms. Some species coil up frightens homeowners who de in a "C" shape to avoid predators. scribe them as "large and hairy". Some species They are usually more active in have dischar the evening, providing a beneficial gable glands that house cleaning service by control emit toxic chemi ling other indoor pests including cals such as alka cockroaches. The outdoor species loids, phenols, are more elongate and have and even hydro - shorter legs . .Centipedes prefer pairs of legs per segment, hence gen cyanide . Polyxenus fascicula humid environments. Outdoor the class name Diplopoda. These tus is a species of millipede that is habitats include rotting wood, piles worm like creatures are generally covered in bristles instead of hav of leaves, and compost piles where brownish black in color and range ing a smooth body surface . In ad they feed on other organisms . from ½" to 1 ¼" long in our area. dition, it has tufts of barb-like bris Centipedes are yet another essen There is one spec ies from Africa tles that stick to insects and are tial member of the food web as that measures over 11 inches capable of tying them up and ren sisting gardeners in manufacturing long! dering them helpless. that all important compost often t!_illipedes are important recy- Unlike millipedes, centipedes called "black gold". clers in the environment. I hey are endowed with poison fangs _feed on decaying vegetative mat that they use to paralyze their ter and occasionally on dead ~ Some species can inflict a snails, earthworms and insects . On painful bite if handled, but in gen rare occasions they may damage eral they are considered harmless live plants by their feeding . Milli to humans and even quite benefi pedes are important inhabitants of cial. While millipedes t he compost pile. They strip the feed primarily on vege vegetative matter into smaller tation, centipedes eat pieces that create more surface . small creatures. They area for the microbes to break are important preda down. In addition their bodies and to.J:?of insects, spiders, excrement enrich the compost and slugs, and earthworms. • become food for other organisms Centipedes belong that also inhabit the compost pile. to the class of arthro Millipedes love humjdjty and pods known as Chilo seek moisture. As a result, they poda. The word derives from the Greek words kheilos, can usually be found under rocks, Photos by Hilary Forsyth Date and Time Event, Location, Contacts

November 6, 2004 CMGA Annual Meeting and Guest Speaker Louis Lista. Jones Auditorium, CT Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven CT. Contact: Paul Grimmeisen 860-677- Saturday, 8AM - 12PM 8645 or [email protected]

November 6, 2004 Free Workshop: Winter Care of Roses. Elizabeth Park, West Hartford - meet at Saturday, 10AM Gazebo. Contact: Friends of Elizabeth Park 860-231-9443 or www.elizabethpark.org

November 13, 2004 Annual SALT (Smaller American Lawns Today) Seminar: "Beauty in Biodi versity". Olin Science Center Auditorium, CT College Arboretum, New London CT. Saturday, 8.30AM-3.30PM Contact: 860 -439-5020 or www.conncoll.edu/ccrec/greennet/arbo. Transition in the Landscape by Rick Darke. Monthly meeting of CT Horticultural November 18, 2004 Society . Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, CT. Contact: 860-529-8713 or Thursday, 8PM www .cthort.org . November 15, 2004 Topiaries by Maureen Laning. NYBG Garden Class at New Canaan Nature Center. Monday, 10AM - 3 .30PM To register: www.newcanaannature.orginybg or call 800-322 -6924 December 4 & 5, 2004 Family Winter Festival at the Bartlett. Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, Stamford, Saturday & Sunday, 11AM CT. Contact: 203-322 - 6971 or www.bartlettarboretum.org - 4PM

January 20, 2005 Viburnums to Tempt Any Gardener by Tom Ward. Monthly meeting of CT Hort i cultural Society . Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, CT. Contact: 860-529-8713 or Thursday, 8PM www.cthort.org NOFA's 4th Annual Course in Organic Land Care @ CT Agricultural Experiment February 8 - 10, 15 & 16 Station, New Haven, CT. Contact: Bill Duesing, Program Coordinator, 203-888-5164 (5 days) or [email protected]. On -l ine registrat ion: www .organiclandcare.net. Fee. New Trees for the Northeast by Maynard. Monthly meeting of CT Horti February 17, 2005 Bcjan cult ural Society . Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, CT. Contact: 860-529-8713 or Thursday, 8PM www.cthort.org

February 17 - 20, 2005 The Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Is land * February 24-27, 2005 Thursday - Sunday The Connecticut Flower & Garden Show. Connecticut Expo Center, Hartford, CT

March 10 & 11, 2005 2005 Symposium: The Visitor Experience. Presented by Longwood Graduate Thursday & Friday Fellows. Hosted at Winterthur, Delaware . Contact: www.udel.edu/LongwoodGrad. So Many Lilacs, So Little Time by Jack Alexander. Monthly meeting of CT Horticul March 17, 2005 tural Society. Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, CT. Contact: 860-529-8713 or Thursday , 8PM www .cthort.org CMGA March Symposium : Gardeners In Print. Manchester Community College, 19 2005 March , Arts, Science & Technology Bui lding, Manchester, CT. Contact: Paul Grimme isen rd Satu ay 860-677-8645 or www [email protected] or ctmga.org t L------'------'

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! WANTED! Elizabeth Park is desperately in need of volunteers to help New and used gardening maintain t he gardens. If you books to be donated for are able to help, please call establishment of a library at Anne Stone at Friends of Eliza Elizabeth Park. Contact Paul beth Park at 860-231-443 or Grimme isen, 860-677-8645, email www.elizabethpark.org . pa [email protected]