March Meeting Speaker - Todd Gipstein

A Feast for The Eyes

Our March Meeting speaker is Todd Gipstein - renowned photographer and media specialist - "committed to continuing his long career of creating elegant, emotional shows that touch a responsive chord in viewers. In short, 'media with a message. "

You can see Todd's work and read more about him on his website www.Gipstein.com.

Quoting his history from his website:

A LITTLE HISTORY:

Todd Gipstein has been working as a photographer, writer, producer and lecturer for more than thirty years.

He studied writing and film at Harvard University, where he graduated with honors in 1974. After working for Time-Life Multi-Media in New York, he started Gipstein Multi-Media in Boston in 1975. There he created numerous multi-image shows for museums and corporate clients. His writing included scripts, magazine articles and columns. He also travelled extensively as a photographer.

In 1989, he moved to Washington, D.C. to work full-time as the Director of Multi-Image / Executive Producer for the National Geographic Society. His work for National Geographic included writing and producing shows about geography, history, nature, cultures, photography, environmental issues and the Geographic. His work provided him opportunities for travels around the world as a photographer and lecturer. He also worked with Vice-President Al Gore on media related to environmental issues.Though the topics of his documentaries have been extremely varied, Todd has tended to focus on projects dealing with history and culture. He has been very successful at bringing the past to life and making it relevant to contemporary audiences. 
Todd's photographic archives include approximately 250,000 images. His work is currently represented by the National Geographic Society, Getty Images, and by Corbis.

Todd has lectured across the United States and around the world on topics as diverse as Machu Picchu, the Panama Canal, Venice, photography, visual communication, geography and history.

Over the years, his productions have won more than 40 gold awards in media festivals. His work has also garnered a dozen grand-prizes in international competitions. He is a member of the Association for Multi-Media International's Producers' Hall of Fame, and he has also received several lifetime achievement awards.

In 2005, Gipstein Multi-Media moved to Groton, Connecticut. Todd continues to photograph on contract for National Geographic. He has his own production studio where, along with his wife Marcia, he creates compelling original media presentations in a variety of formats. Todd continues to lecture and teach. He is always looking for new challenges and forums to explore storytelling media. He is committed to continuing his long career of creating elegant, emotional shows that touch a responsive chord in viewers. In short, "media with a message."

February Meeting

Stony shared some great photos of the February Meeting.

Brussels in Bloom

Click on the images to enlarge

Craftsmen arrange the flowers by hand, directly onto the square's cobblestones, without any soil. Grass and tree bark are also used to provide color.




Story submitted by Jane Bogdan.

Rooms and Blooms: A Mystic House and Garden Tour

June 20, 2009 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Presented by the Mystic Garden Club and the Mystic River Historical Society

Two long-standing Mystic community organizations are joining forces to offer Rooms and Blooms: A Mystic House and Garden Tour for one day only, Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to view historic and unusual homes and gardens in Mystic.  As this is a walking tour, it gives participants a chance to soak up the unique flavor and wonderful river views that are just two of the reasons why so many sea captains, artists and early entrepreneurs chose to live in this magical area.

Tour Description

Houses and gardens featured on the tour are on Gravel Street (formerly known as Captain’s Row), Eldredge Street, Park Place, Pearl Street, Grove Street, Clift Street and Starr Street.  The area was originally granted to the Burrows family in 1654.  In the early 1800s, Amos Clift acquired much of the property and began developing it by laying out the streets and selling lots.  After he died in 1819, his wife Thankful and sons Amos and David continued to build many houses in the area, some of which are on the tour. Newer homes in the neighborhood will be featured as well.  Many of the older homes have undergone extensive renovation to their interiors and their gardens, and are an example of how we are making history even today.

As an added attraction, there will be a boutique featuring a small number of local garden suppliers, artisans and more.

Parking and Getting Around

Parking will be available at various nearby locations, and there will be several jitneys running throughout the day.  Mystic Community Bikes will make their free bicycles available (with a $10 refundable deposit for bike, lock and helmet).  Ticket holders may begin at any house or garden on the tour (each will have a special tour sign outside) and pick up their tour booklets at any location.

Lunch

Mystic has a number of excellent restaurants within walking distance of the houses on tour.  St. Mark’s Church on Pearl Street is offering a boxed lunch featuring your choice of a variety of sandwiches for $10.  Proceeds go to the St. Luc’s Church and School in Haiti.  All boxes must be ordered in advance by calling Cally Evers at 860-536-0126 before June 6.    

Tickets

Tickets are $22 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour.  Tickets may be purchased in person with cash or check at Bank Square Books, 53 West Main Street, Mystic and The Whaler’s Inn, 20 East Main Street, Mystic. 

To purchase on-line, click the Buy Now button [PayPal button].  

Or you may download an order form here  and mail it with your payment.

Pre-purchased ticket sales end June 19.  Any ticket purchased by mail received after June 5 will be held at our Ticket Tent on Gravel Street on the day of the tour.

For more information, email info@mystichistory.org or call (860) 271-3980.

February 24 Meeting Speaker

Cheryl Thevenet - "Japanese Ikebona"

Cheryl Thevenet has been a member of the Mystic Garden Club since 1996.  Cheryl has had a lifelong interest in flowers and gardening.  She  lived Marin and owned and operated a successful design Atelier in San Francisco.  She specialized in corporate events, producing gala gatherings for the likes of Fetzers Winery, Mumms Vineyards, Hewlett Packard Corporation, Visa Corporation, The French biscuit company “LU”, and “Art Bash for Hot Trash” a Santa Fe Event for commercial artists. 

Cheryl’s interest in Japanese floral design dates to 1982 when she began her first formal instruction in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in San Francisco.  Her course of studies was directed by Soho Sakai and continued for nearly a decade.  Following marriage and relocation to Tokyo, Japan, Cheryl pursued further studies at the world’s center for  Sogetsu Ikebana. Cheryl completed the requirement to obtain a teaching certificate during her residency in Hong Kong.  During her four years of residency in China, Cheryl exhibited at several international shows and collaborated in the floral design for the Italian Institute of Hong Kong’s Armani opening of Italian Fashion.  The display work involved the arrangement and presentation of 24,000 red roses.

Following her return to America, Cheryl next earned her certification as a Connecticut Master Gardener.  She has volunteered her skills to help further various community initiatives that have ranged from the Voluntown Peace Trust’s organic community garden, to habitat a garden at the Voluntown Elementary School, and teaching seed propagation to the conservation initiative, “Women in the Outdoors”.  Cheryl is presently enrolled in a course of studies with the National Garden Club’s Environmental Study School at Yale University.  Cheryl will be part of the first graduating class here in Connecticut.  She is married and lives with her husband and 2 teenaged boys, in Voluntown., Ct.

Upcoming Cape Cod Horticultural Conference

Cape Cod Horticultural Conference Sponsored by the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod.
Saturday April 4th 2009, from 8:30 AM to 4 PM
Held at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center, Barnstable High School, 744 Main Street, Hyannis, MA Cost $45.00 All paid registrations received before March 13th will include lunch. Walk-in registrations welcome on the day of the event, but these will not include lunch.
Speakers: Bill Cullina “What the Heck Will Grow Here?”
Native plants for difficult situations.
Mal Condon “Hydrangeas, Hydrangeas”All about hydrangeas including new & over-looked varieties.
Alan Armitage “Crazy Plants for Crazy People”Annuals and perennials to add pizzazz to your garden.
To receive registration materials call the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension 508-375-6690 during business hours.
Plant sale, door prizes and book signing by the speakers. For more information call: 508-375-6690 OR DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORMS AND MATERIALS AT WWW.CAPECODEXTENSION.ORG

The FRESH Report

The Mystic Garden Club supports local organizations and one of the things supported is FRESH.  You can learn more about FRESH on their website http://www.freshnewlondon.org/

or click here for their latest newsletter. 

You will read about the FRESH Youth Program, The FRESH Community Garden, The FRESH Educational Programs and the FRESH Mobile Market.

Coming in June

Rooms and Blooms
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A Mystic House and Garden Tour

A Gardener's Version of the Night Before Christmas

Submitted by Richard Jauron, Horticulture Department.
Adapted from TheGardener, November-December, 1983



'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the yard
the branches were bare and the ground frozen hard;
The roses were dormant and mulched all around
to protect them from damage if frost heaves the ground.
The perennials were nestled all snug in their beds
while visions of 5-10-5 danced in their heads.
The new-planted shrubs, had been soaked by the hose
to settle their roots for the long winter's doze;
And out on the lawn, the new fallen snow
protected the roots of the grasses below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a truck full of gifts of gardening gear.
Saint Nick was the driver - the jolly old elf
and he winked as he said, "I'm a gardener myself.
I've brought wilt-pruf, rootone, and gibberellin, too.
Please try them and see what they do.
To start new plants, a propagating kit.
Sparkling new shears, for the old apple tree.
To seed your new lawn, I've a patented sower;
in case it should grow, here's a new power mower.
For seed-planting days, I've a trowel and a dibble,
and a roll of wire mesh if the rabbits should nibble.
For the feminine gardener, some gadgets she loves;
plant stakes, a sprinkler, and waterproof gloves;
A chemical agent for the compost pit,
and for pH detecting, a soil testing kit.
With these colorful flagstones, lay a new garden path,
for the kids to enjoy, and bird feeder and bath.
And last but not least, some well-rotted manure.
A green Christmas year round, these gifts will ensure."
Then jolly Saint Nick, having emptied his load,
started his truck and took to the road.
And I heard him exclaim through the motor's loud hum
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a green thumb!"

The Greens Sale Opens Tomorrow

The ladies have been working diligently all fall with the whole club participating in the week long preparations leading up to the Greens Sale. This is the Mystic Garden Club's 36th Annual Greens Sale. The wreaths, centerpieces and boxwood trees have been multiplying every day. All of the presale orders have been delivered and the walls are filled with beautiful decorated wreaths. There are still plenty of plain wreaths and supplies for our designers to make a custom wreath. The slideshow is of some of the wreaths that have been created by our talented designers.
The Mystic Garden Club Greens Sale is Friday, Dec. 5, noon to 3 PM and Sat. Dec. 6 - 9 AM to 2 PM at the Mystic Arts Center.