2019 Review of Gardening Books
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Volume 62, Number 3 Serving Horticulturists Since 1887 Winter 2019 2019 Review of Gardening Books by Karla Dalley, CT Hort member and blogger & Barbara Skomorowski, Communications Director Welcome to CT Hort’s annual selection of the best books from 2019 for reading and gifting. As always, we try to make selections that reflect different types of gardening (and gardeners). Undoubtedly, we have missed one or two but perhaps there wasn’t a book about it this year. You will notice houseplant books showing up this year. This may be a lasting trend—there were several good houseplant books out this year alone. You may also notice a couple of revised editions from garden stalwarts like Michael Dirr and Margaret Roach. These are always worth reading. And finally, there are the books of winter: design books and an essay book. Without this sort of gardening book, some winters are far too long! Enjoy and happy holidays. The author leads the reader through Do you know Helesia carolina a logical progression of topics in her ‘UConn Wedding Bells’, Clethra alnifolia chapters that include how to define and ‘Crystalina’, or Chelone oblique ‘Tiny recognize compact plants, where to find Tortuga?’ If sowing seeds is the plan and how to select them, and how to plant for small space vegetable and herb and maintain them. A thought-provoking gardening this year, try some ‘Little Gem’ chapter is devoted to landscape design, Lettuce, ‘Little Finger’ in which Jessica presents ten small space Carrots, or ‘Fairy plans, submitted by ten different landscape Tale’ Eggplant. Don’t designers from different regions in the forget the herbs, like USA. Another especially good chapter is ‘Spicy Globe’ Basil Gardener’s Guide to Compact Plants devoted to incorporating compact plants and ‘Elfin’ Thyme. By Jessica Walliser as problem solvers in the landscape, for Once again, Jessica Walliser, award Paperback, 200 pgs example to extend the growing season, winning radio co-host and author, delivers Publisher: Cool Springs Press; June 2019 attract more pollinators, or provide more an information-packed guide for either Reviewer: Karen Tolan winter interest. novice or experienced gardeners. Small Especially developed for the time conscious Almost half of the pages in the book space gardening is coming alive in the gardener with a desire for a beautiful are devoted to specific plant profiles that landscape of America, in raised beds, patio garden and less maintenance, Gardener’s include perennials, trees, shrubs, fruits, containers, petite yards, and community Guide to Compact Plants; Edibles and and an especially good section on compact plots. Gardener’s Guide to Compact Ornamentals for Small Space Gardening, varieties of vegetables. Plant profiles are Plants; Edibles and Ornamentals for introduces the reader to more than 150 full of specific details, including pictures, Small Space Gardening is a great place edible and ornamental plants that are typical plant details, and particularly good to start or fine tune your plant selections smaller and more compact than those you information on planting, care and pruning for many seasons to come! may be familiar with. or harvesting for success. continued on page 4 Enjoy the IN THIS ISSUE: Horticultural Happenings 2 Holiday Season– Speaker Meeting 3 see you in 2020! Trips with CT Hort 7 Page 2 Winter 2019 CT Hort Newsletter Horticultural Happenings & Announcements Note: Happenings are listed on a space-available basis. To submit an event, send details to [email protected]. Please format the announcement to resemble the entries below. Deadline for January issue is December 13. Connecticut Tues. Nov. 5, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Join history, evolution and contemporary use of Horticultural Society the Garden Club of Hartford for an update all the that makes up a home garden-from 2433 Main Street, Suite 1 on The State of Our Oceans. Longtime borders, compost bins, decks to pergolas, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 conservation advocate Leslie Lee, who has roof gardens statues and troughs. Location: (860) 529-8713 worked extensively to clean up Long Island Avon Free Public Library in Avon. For more Sound and its coastal habitats, will speak on info visit www.avonctlibrary.info. email: [email protected] the environmental challenges facing our seas. Mon. Nov. 18, 10:00 a.m. – Simsbury website: www.cthort.org Business meeting at noon, then program. Garden Club will hold a Holiday Wreath Location: Farmington Public Library, 6 Making and Chowder Luncheon. Assemble Phone Hours Monteith Drive, Farmington. Please RSVP a wreath that will be placed on a town Tuesday & Thursday to [email protected] or 860-604-7622. building and enjoy a bowl of corn chowder 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thurs. Nov. 7, noon – West Hartford Garden for lunch. Location: The Apple Barn, Club welcomes Haley Billip, owner of Eddy 60 Old Farms Rd, West Simsbury. Fee: $10 Barbara Skomorowski Farm in Newington. Haley presents “Eddy for guests. CT Hort Director of Communications Farm and the Local Flower Movement.” [email protected] Tues. Nov. 19, 7-8:30 p.m. – The Gardeners Haley will discuss a modern history of Eddy of Simsbury will host About the McLean Farm, the last remaining farm in Newington, All announcements, advertising news Game Refuge with Connor Hogan. and her commitment to sustainable growing The public is welcome to this free event. and articles for publication should be practices to produce beautiful cut flowers. sent to: [email protected]. Location: Simsbury Public Library, Large Brief business meeting at 12:30 pm followed Meeting Room, Simsbury. by speaker. Location: Saint John’s Episcopal Send Membership Information Church, West Hartford. Park on So. Sat. Mar 21, 2020, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – & Direct General Questions To: Highland St. and in any of the church parking 27th Annual Connecticut Master Gardener Mary Anna Martell lots. Meeting room entrance is at the RAMP Association (CMGA) Symposium. Guest Office Administrator door in the rear of the church. Fee: $10 guest speakers include: Margaret Roach, Dan 2433 Main Street, Suite 1 donation includes a light buffet lunch at Benarcik, Tovah Martin, Lorraine Ballato, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Irene Brady Barber, Gregory Bugbee and noon. Reservations preferred – contact Susan at 860-305-6370 or reserve online at www. Nancy DuBrule-Clemente. Registration Membership Dues: WestHartfordGardenClub.org. starts January 2020. Admission: $65 Individual ..............................................$55 for CMGA members and guests; $95 for Family ....................................................$75 Tues. Nov. 12, 2:00 p.m. – Avon Library, non-members and walk-ins. Location: Senior Individual (65+).....................$50 Avon Garden Club and West Avon Garden Connecticut College, New London, Conn. Senior Family (65+) ...........................$70 Club co-sponsor an author talk and book For more information, go to https://ctmga. $30 under 30 years ..............................$30 signing with Suzanne Staubach. In her book, org/2020-symposium-information. “A Garden Miscellany” Suzanne shares the Student (full time with valid ID) ............................................FREE Visit cthort.org for the MOST CURRENT listings and links. Business ............................... $100 or $250 Garden Club ........................................$80 Thank you to our generous business members and contributors! Contributions are tax-exempt to the extent permitted under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Reproduction of the CTHort Newsletter in whole or part without prior permission is prohibited. © Copyright 2019 Bartlett Arboretum The Garden Barn Nursery Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery Trout Lily Farm MH Landscape Design Wild Rose Landscape Design Page 3 Winter 2019 CT Hort Newsletter Saving the Bees: The Sweet Life of a Beekeeping Entrepreneur with C. Marina Marchese, Red Bee Honey Thursday, November 21, 2019 C. Marina Marchese C. Marina Marchese is changing the way people taste and think of products of the beehive and their about honey. This designer turned beekeeper is the visionary applications to health and healing. behind the iconic brand Red Bee Honey. During her former Passionate about nature and career as an international designer, Marina unexpectedly visited environmental issues around a neighbor’s apiary where her first taste of fresh honey from the food, Marina’s best-selling beehive would change the course of her life. She quit her job, book Honeybee Lessons from built a beehive and acquired some Italian honeybees to become an Accidental Beekeeper, a beekeeper. published in 2009, chronicles Compelled by the philosophy of terroir, Marina studied her entrepreneurial journey wine tasting in order to transfer those skills to honey tasting into beekeeping and how Red Bee became a nationally which lead her to curate a collection of single-origin honeys recognized brand. Marina coined the term ‘Honey Sommelier’ launching the Red Bee Brand. She returned to Italy to continue in her first book. Her second book The Honey Connoisseuris her formal education becoming the first US citizen to be accepted the definitive guide to US honey. as a member of the Italian National Register of Experts in the A fervent and dynamic, sought-after speaker, Marina shares Sensory Analysis of Honey. In 2011, Marina established the her knowledge in her animated and inspiring presentation and American Honey Tasting Society as the leading resource for will leave you with a fascinating view of the importance of honey honey sensory education in the United States. An accomplished bees to our food chain and the gastronomic delight of varietal apiculturist, Marina has also successfully completed the Charles honeys. Marina will have her books and some of her Red Bee Mraz Apitherapy Course twice, achieving a deep understanding products on hand for sale at the meeting. CT Hort Program Meeting Meetings are open to everyone with a drop-in fee of $10 collected at the IMPORTANT door from non-members. For more information, visit www.cthort.org. REMINDER: Speaker Feedback Date: Thursday, November 21, 2019 Emanuel Synagogue requires Time: Program starts at 7:30 p.m.