Chelsea Gardens Foundation presents Paul Tukey

The Chelsea Gardens Foundation is proud to present a speaking program featuring Mr. Paul Tukey on October 28, at 7 pm on the campus of Norwich free Academy.

Cartoons & Cocktails

The Mystic & Noank Library is presenting
Bob Englehart
Editorial Cartoonist for the Hartford Courant
on Friday, October 24 at 6:30 PM
Call for reservations - 572-8191

October Meeting Presentation - Kymrie A. Zaslow

Our upcoming October Meeting Presentation is "A Seasonal Tapestry" by Kymrie A. Zaslow.

Award winning designer Kymrie Zaslow began her floral design career in 1991 having designed and worked in shops in Ohio and Connecticut. Her experience covers retail flower shops, mass market floral management, design education, and the handling of both fresh and permanent florals.
In 1996, Kymrie was inspired to open a unique warehouse showroom, The Floral Gallery, Inc. She serviced her client’s needs in the areas of custom home floral décor, party planning, bridal design, and decorative painting. In the spring of 2006 she closed her retail showroom and directed her talents toward freelance designing, lecturing and education.
Kymrie’s extensive industry experience, as well as her membership in The Federated Garden Clubs of CT and West Hartford Garden Club, has given her the opportunity to share her knowledge and passion as an educator, lecturer, and guest designer. In April 2005 she became a National Garden Club Accredited Judge. She is also a member of Creative Arrangers of CT and Creative Floral Arrangers of the Americas. She has designed live on WVIT Channel 30 and had her designs and ideas published in CT Bride, Hartford, and Living in West Hartford magazines.
Intrigued by a broad spectrum of creative challenges, Kymrie has recently put her talents to work on designing landscapes and theatrical costumes. Over the years she has also graciously lent her time and talent to the Wadsworth Athenaeum, New Britain Museum of American Art, CT Children’s Medical Center, Mark Twain House, Noah Webster House, Wethersfield Historical Society, Hartford Public Library, Premier Dance Theater Company, and many other charitable and community organizations.
Kymrie resides in West Hartford with her husband Robert and two young children, Sophia and David.

Save Your Seeds

One of the new items we are creating in the Greens Sale workshops is a decorative packet of seeds which can be hung on your tree as a decoration with artwork created by Jane Bogdan. Members are asked to collect seeds from their garden to place in these packets. Please identify the seeds.

The following seed collection instructions are from the website Flower Garden News

Click here for a printable version of these instructions.

SAVING YOUR OWN SEEDS
If you'd like to collect seeds from your flower gardens here is a basic method I use to save my seeds.
Step 1 Getting started:
Throughout the growing season I allow flowers to go to seed; producing seed heads or seed pods. Than I let the seed heads dry out as much as possible while still on the plant. Weather permitting of course.
Step 2 Collecting seeds:
Before the pods break open, are eaten by birds, or risk of frost and winter weather starts I will collect the dried seed pods from the plants on a dry sunny day. I carefully cut or break off the seed heads from the plants with a container in the other hand to catch any seeds or seed pods that may fall.
If collecting seeds from many different plants at once; it is a good idea to collect them in separate envelopes or containers with a quick label for each to remind yourself what seed is from what plant!
Step 3 Drying seeds:
After collecting the seeds I usually place them in a ventilated box or container to dry out completely. I keep the box outside in a warm and dry spot. So if drying outside try to keep them protected from wind, wet weather, and rodents.Some seeds will dry out faster than others. I always make sure that any seeds that I'm
ready to store are completely dry. This prevents rotting and minimizes the possibility of mold.
Step 4 Preparing seeds for storage:
When seeds are good and dry I shake the seeds and pods through a mini screen, or sieve. I give them a gentle "crush" onto the screen and gently shake this over a white piece of paper. The screen usually holds most of the seed pods, and chaffs allowing the seed to fall through onto the paper.
Step 5 Storing seeds:
I simply use paper envelopes to store my seeds. Labeling is important. Label envelopes with the date and year collected as well as the name of the plant. It is a good idea to store envelopes in a cool dry area. I store my seed collection in the laundry room. I also store some seeds outside in the garden shed over winter. If storing seeds outside remember to place envelopes in a rodent proof container such as a metal can with lid. An old washed out paint can with lid works great.
The seed's success depends on how old it is, and it's storing conditions. That is not to say that my seeds have not been stored for more than one year. I have done so. I do try to plant seeds I have collected right from the previous year for best results in the garden. Although, I have had successful plantings with older seeds. If I become overloaded with seeds, I just give them away to friends.

Printable Instructions

Donna Fuss Memorial

I regret to announce that Donna Fuss passed away on Tuesday night at Hartford Hospital after a protracted illness. Donna was a founding member, and a Past President, of the Connecticut Rose Society, key to all things roses at Elizabeth Park and all-around wonderful person. She will be greatly missed by all of CRS, and by rose enthusiasts in CT and nationally.
Donna did a wonderful presentation "Easy Care Roses" to our membership last May, 2008. She shared many slides of her beautiful roses and a lot of her knowledge.
A memorial service will be held Saturday morning, October 4, 2008 at 11 am at the Bloomfield Congregational Church in Bloomfield, CT.
Directions to the church at found at this link: http://www.fccbloomfield.org/index_files/Page1459.htm
You can read her obituary in the Hartford Courant Obituaries.

Photos from the Tundra

Fran Oat has shared photos of flowers on the trundra on her trip to Siberia and the Bering Sea.

Moss Workshop at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

Moss Workshop
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic, CT
Saturday, September 27 10 am – Noon
Members $15/ Non-members $20

Learn how to differentiate and identify these fascinating little plants with Jessica Budke, a University of Connecticut PhD candidate concentrating on mosses. We’ll learn how to separate mosses from different types of plants, see how they live together in groups, study how they got their names and discover many different uses for mosses. After a brief indoor introduction we will head outside to discover the diversity of mosses around the Nature Center. Hand lenses and keys will be provided. To register, please call (860) 536-1216.

Mark Your Calendar

Gardening Education

September 22 – 24, 2008 Environmental Studies School “The Living Earth” Course 1 is presented by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut
123 Huntington St. New Haven, CT. The course is $80.00.
To register contact Anne Harringan, Registrar, 17 Richter Dr., Danbury, CT 06811
203-744-2057
jonannolly@aol.com

October 7 – 9 Gardening Study Course III, Series V, 123 Huntington St. New Haven presented by The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut.
See your green sheet for more information or contact
Janet M. Jackson, 40 Riverside Drive, Branford, CT 06405

October 16, 2008 The Garden Education Center of Greenwich Festive Tables 2008 presents Haunting Elegance. For more information call 203-869-9242

Awards Luncheon Meeting

October 22, 2008 – Connecticut Garden Club Awards Luncheon Meeting will be held at the Aqua TURF Club. In addition to the presentation of awards the Judges’ Council Flower Show will be a treat. The show is titled “The Devil Made Me Do It”. All members welcome. $30 per person. Contact Betsy or Ceil if you would like to join them.
Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Flower Show
February 19 - 22, 2009 at the Connecticut Convention Center.
Click to see the brochure.

National Garden Club Website & Blog

The National Garden Clubs, Inc. has added a blog to their website. You can get there through their website. www.gardenclub.org or you can go directly to their blog at http://www.gardenclub.org/news/GardenClubBlog.aspx

Tropicals in New England

This year I particularly enjoyed a couple tropical plants that I added to my patio. I purchased an Inca Sun Brugmansia from Logees and planted it in a large pot on my patio. I was rewarded with the most spectacular trumpet shaped blossoms.
On the other side of the patio, I put a trellis and added a lovely pink mandevilla. It is unbelieveable the number of flowers and growth that this plant has. I couldn't dream of a more lovely plant. The wavy pink flowers are prolific and so vibrant. These vines will grow 7 to 10 feet per season.


Pink Mandevilla



I am hoping to winter over these tropicals. There are two suggested techniques for wintering these fragile plants. First they must be brought inside before the temperatures drops below 60 degrees. It was recommended that you hose them down thoroughly to remove any pests before bringing them in the house. One can try to keep them active all winter with regularly watering and sunlight. They are likely to be somewhat sad house plants. Alternately you can cut them back by 2/3 and let them go dormant. Put them in a cool dark place and water them about once a month to keep them from drying out completely. In early spring the plant will begin to come back to life. Begin watering, repot and put outside in May or June after all danger of frost.

So this year I will bring these beauties inside and hope to have even more wonderful tropical blossoms to enjoy next summer.