NAUSET GARDEN CLUB’SSpring 2012, VOL XXVII, No. 3, Issue 124Bev Singleton, Editor

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Mary Ellen Sussman

Last year at this time, I began my President's Message by saying, "Wow, it's cold outside!"  This year, thankfully, it's not so bad.  Tomorrow, in fact, the temperature's supposed to hit 55 degrees.  And it's still January!  My witch hazel bush has bloomed already.  What's next---forsythia in February?

There is so much going on in the club, I hardly know where to begin.  The college scholarship applications are coming in already, and we've received a nice response from local teachers for our new science mini-grant program.  Mary Finan, Elaine Downs, Fran McClennan, Carol Newsome, and Irene Mitchell have been spending a lot of time on the Standard Flower Show, June 13 and 14.  As you would expect, they have things well in

hand.  But we need YOU to sign up for one of the design classes!  If you've never done it before, you'll have lots of help because there are consultants for every one of the design classes, and you'll see how much fun it is.  And what's the worst you can do?  An honorable mention?  You get points for trying!

With all of the events we've got underway, including the Flower Show, Christmas at Crosby Mansion, and the Plant Sale, there will be no shortage of bonding opportunities outside our regular meetings.  Notwithstanding all that, we deserve to give ourselves time to enjoy one another's company and just have fun.  That's why I think the trips we've planned to the Boston Flower and Garden Show in March and the Garden in the Woods in May are nice opportunities for the club.   Take a day off from your usual routine, relax on the bus with friends and enjoy the beautiful surroundings when we arrive.  

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to watching developments at the school gardens we've aided at the Orleans Elementary School and Nauset Regional High School.  And soon it will be time to plant some early lettuce and peas in the garden.  Happy Spring!

STANDARD FLOWER SHOW – Mary Finan/Elaine DownsThe “Spring Inspirations” Flower Show schedule is progressing. We have made some changes in design and horticulture to enable our show to qualify for top awards. In “Table Designs” Class 3, we have added a “Tray Design” to compete for the “Table Artistry Award”, a top award.  The “Tray Design,” is: A functional tray-no larger than 21”x15”, setting for one, “Private Moment”, staged on large table using only fresh plant materials, with component. We need four entries for this new category, and we need 13 more entries overall in the Design Division 1, so please sign up with Carol Newsome or Irene Mitchell, as soon as possible. 

We will be setting up the staging on Tuesday, June 12 from 12:00PM to 4:00PM.  Exhibitors can bring in design and horticulture Tuesday afternoon, or at 7:00AM on Wednesday, June 13.  All Designs and Horticulture must be ready by 9:00AM Wednesday. Judges will arrive by 9:30AM to go over details with committee.  All members must be out of the building by 10:00AM.  Only the general chairman, judges chairman, design chairman, horticulture chairman, and clerks may be present during judging.  Judges have lunch from 12:30PM to 1:30PM, and make their final assessment of the show at 2:00PM.  The show will be open to the public on Wednesday from 1:00PM to 5:00PM and on Thursday from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.  All exhibits mst be removed after 4:00PM on Thursday.

CALENDARMARCH

7 BOARD MEETING: 9:30 AM* – Hostess: Carolyn Dowd*Refreshments at 9:00 AM

All Board meetings will be at Cape Cod Five (CCF), 20 West Road, Orleans

14 REGULAR MEETING: 11:45 AM – Church of the Holy Spirit (CHS), Orleans (Horticulture and Design entries due at 11:30 AM)

Program: “Irises in the Garden” by Linda Corapi, Gardens Galore.

Design: “St. Paddy’s Day - Wearing the Green” – a monochromatic, all green, design. Some dyed plant material may be used. (Handbook page 200, sec. 1, 2, 3-8)

Horticulture: “Elegant Orchids” – a blooming container-grown orchid that you have grown for at least 90 days. (Handbook pages 142-243)

Member’s Choice Exhibit: “Something Special to Show or Tell” – not to be judged; describe on a 3x5 card with your name on the front.

15 FIELD TRIP Boston Flower Show; bus leaves from Staples parking lot at 8:00AM sharp, returning at 5:00 PM; cost $45; contact Nancy Clough to register.

APRIL 4 BOARD MEETING: 9:30 AM* –at Cape Cod Five, Hostess: Jan Roberts

* Refreshments at 9:00 AM

6 WORKSHOP: 9:00 AM - CCMNH“Cape Cod Arrangement” – an arrangement that will excite your creativity.Presented by Marilyn Ayer, Past President, 2004-2006.Please bring your workshop toolbox. Materials will be provided; fee $15.

11 REGULAR MEETING: 11:45 AM – CHS, Orleans (Horticulture and Design entries due at 11:30) Program: “Standard Flower Show Know How: Entering Award Winning Specimens” by Hila Lyman, State Flower Judge, GFMA

Design: “Imagine a Sunset at Skaket Beach” – an imposed class, using materials provided by the committee, staged within 18” x 18” area. Class limited to 18 entries. Entries will be judged by all members.

Horticulture: “Spring Awakening” – a flowering arboreal branch, not to exceed 30” from tip to cut end. May be displayed in a container, or not. (Handbook pages 106-107)

Member’s Choice Exhibit: “Something Special to Show or Tell” – not to be judged; describe on a 3x5 card with your name on the front.

MAY 2 BOARD MEETING: 9:30 AM* –at Cape Cod Five, Hostess: Carol Newsome

*Refreshments at 9:00 AM 6 WORKSHOP 9:00 AM at CCMNH

“Sun Shade” - an artistic craft; presented by Irene Mitchell. Please bring your workshop toolbox. All other materials will be provided. Class limited to 18. Fee $15.

9 REGULAR MEETING: 11:45 AM - CHS (Horticulture and design entries due at 11:30)

Program: “Great Container Gardens” by Betty Sanders, Master Gardener, Medfield

Design: “Sun Shade” an artistic craft. Hat will be provided. Hat must be completely covered. Only live plant material may be used. Acessories permitted. Limited to 18. (Handbook pages 231-232, sec. 1-4)

Horticulture: “Big and Beautiful” – one rhododendron blossom of any size or color, resting on a rosette of leaves and displayed in an appropriate container. (Handbook pages 146-147)

Member’s Choice Exhibit: “Something Special to Show or Tell” – not to be judged; describe on a 3x5 card with your name on the front. 9 GRAPEVINE DEADLINE

16 FIELD TRIP Garden in the Woods; bus from Staples parking lot at 8:00 AM sharp, returning at 5:00 PM; cost $36; contact Nancy Clough for reservations.

26 ANNUAL PLANT SALE – Orleans Farmers’ Market, Old Colony Way Deliver plants by 7:30 AM; sale starts at 8:00 AM

OTHER DATES OF INTEREST

MARCH 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29: The Dennis Memorial Library's Speaker Series will focus on the Flowering Plants of Cape Cod on five Thursdays in March.  On March 1, Jeanie Gillis will give a talk on Hydrangeas.  On March 8, Bill Cannon will talk about Holly; on March 15, the subject will be Hostas with Mario Abate; Rhododendrons and Azaleas will be the topic on March 22 and the series will end with Day Lilies on March 29 with Dan Pessoni.  The entire series is only $15, or $5 per lecture.  All lectures are at 2:00PM in the Lyceum Room.  To reserve a seat, call the library at 508-385-2255; give NGC member Melinda Conrad-Cooke a call if you have questions.

APRIL 14: The Orleans Pond Coalition will hold a day-long event about the use of fertilizer on Saturday, April 14th.  There will be demonstrations, lectures and other programs all around the Pleasant Bay area on the topic. Jan Roberts, Fran McClennen and other members of the club will have further information.

MAY 22: The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts’ Ruth A Wallack Fund presents “Nature Takes Over: Creations are Collaborations with Nature” featuring Bill Harper, AIFD & AAF, International Floral Artist, Lecturer, and Educator. The program starts at 10:00AM at the Regis College Fine Arts Center in Weston, MA. Tickets are $20. For more information, call Helga Frazzette, 508-255-6664 or Diane Bullock, 207-361-1818.

RECEPTION FLOWERS for CCMNH – Debby Saliba

Each week one of our members supplies a plant or flower arrangement to be displayed on the reception desk of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. Assignments are made alphabetically.  The arrangements are to be delivered on Thursday in a disposable container, if possible.  If the container is not disposable put your name on the bottom and the member delivering flowers the following week can pick it up and return it to you at the next meeting.  A card with the names of the plants should be tucked under the container. No artificial plant material may be used. A quarterly schedule of museum flower assignments is published in the Grapevine and on the web site. If you are unable to fulfill your assignment, please find someone to replace you and notify the chairman, Debby Saliba, at 508-255-8652.

MARCH 1 – Phyllis Mead APRIL 5 – Paula Moran MAY 3 – Gretel Norgeot 8 – Sherry Metz 12 – Stacey Morgano 10 – Carolyn Otis

15 – Nancy Miller 19 – Kay Nagle 17 – Diane Pavelchak 22 – Irene Mitchell 26 – Carol Newsome 24 – Nancy

Phelps 29 – Judy Mitchell 31 – Heidi

Quill

HOSPITALITY – Carolyn Dowd

Hospitality assignments are being made alphabetically, so that everyone participates in making sandwiches, cookies, a fruit platter, or a centerpiece. Members will be called in advance of the meeting as a reminder of your upcoming assignment. Please list the ingredients on a 3x5 card and bring your contribution on a serving plate to the hospitality area by 11:30 AM. Members bringing sandwiches are expected to set up the luncheon table and serve beverages. Those bringing cookies are responsible for cleanup. If you are unable to fulfill your assignment, it is your responsibility to find a substitute. In that case, please call the chairman, Carolyn Dowd at 508-240-0071 with the name of the person who will be taking your place

SANDWICHES (4 dozen) DESSERTS (2 dozen)

MARCHDebby Saliba Stephanie GrayJudy Saulnier Diane SmithIrene Mitchell Anne StawiarskiJanie Wilson Elizabeth SuraciHelene Simon Mary Ellen SussmanAnn Sinclair Sally Taylor

APRILDinny Goodwin Ellen BernsteinCarolyn Otis Carolyn DranginisTina Williamson Karen HalliwellPeggy Sheehan Deborah KimballJoyce Wood Ella LeavittKay Nagle Martine AdmundsonCarol Newsome Janet Brink

MAYAbby Summersgill Virginia BarkerHolly Trevisan Marcia BechtoldMarilyn Bornemeier Wendy BellevanceSally Dewing Connie BenderMary Ellen Bower Jeanne BerdikBeth Bradanini Janet ChappelEunice Burley Susan Christie

“HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS,” CELEBRATE THE SEASONS AT CROSBY MANSION – Heidi Quill

Hearty thanks to all of you who have signed up to decorate rooms.   All of the rooms are filled now and great majority of you have committed your time and talent to Crosby in November.   Now that we're in to 2012 be sure to mark Nov. 8 -11 on your calendar because you are going to have plenty to do that weekend!  If you haven't signed on to a committee or room or both, please see me and we'll find a spot for you.  Tickets and flyers are being printed and publicity has already begun on town websites, thanks to Mary Ellen Bower.  A birdhouse, a garden bench and a dollhouse are in the works for raffles, and a wonderful string trio from the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Preview Party.

TEACHER MINI-GRANTS “GO GREEN” – Mary Ellen Bower/Debby Saliba/Bev Singleton

The Nauset Garden Club initiated a “GO GREEN” Teacher Mini-Grant Program in January and funded six teachers on February 1st. The goal of the program was to connect classroom learning with environmental Issues. K-12 Teachers on the Lower Cape. (Orleans, Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro) were eligible for grants. The applications that were funded reflected activities that were academically challenging for grade level, made successful transitions through informed choices about our environment, and promoted active citizenship, leadership, and character building.

We congratulate the following teachers for their award winning proposals.

1. “What does Green Mean?” - Caroline Bellarosa, Emily Degnan, and Jane Palazzlo , Stony Brook School, Brewster

2. “The Garden at Nauset Regional High School” - Betsey Lebow, Kathleen Tringale, and Dave Potts3. “Eco-Couture” - Jane McGown, Nauset Regional High School4. “Got Worms?” - Bob Delvecchio, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School5. “How does Your Garden Grow?” - Daniella Garran, Josh Stewart, and Brian Bates, Cape Cod

Lighthouse Charter School6. “Green Science on the Go!”- JoAnn Borsari, and Lorraine Johnson, Eddy School, Brewster

MEMBERSHIP – Sue McFarlane/Jan Crabtree

Please make the following change to the Membership Roster in your yearbook. Finan, Mary: Email address is mrfinan1@capecod.net . Please note that Mary’s name is all lower case, and it is a number “1” and not a lower case letter “l” before the @ sign.

Wood, Joyce: A new email address for Joyce is wood25@comcast.net.

”I heard it through the Grapevine…” Editor’s Note: As time and space permit, we will include items of personal interest in this column. If you have a special gardening story, recipe, poem, photograph, helpful hint, or special event in your life that you would like to share with our members, please mail it to me at 6 Viking Road, Orleans, MA 02653-4624, or email it to seafarms@gmail.com.

From the Perpetual Almanac for Gardeners – submitted by Jan Roberts“Do we not always feel welcome when, on entering a room, we find a display of flowers on the table? Where there are flowers about, does not the hostess appear glad, the children pleased, the very parrot garrulous at our

arrival; the whole scene and all the personages more hearty, homely, and beautiful, because of those bewitching roses…” Shirley Hibbard, 1856

And, Jan writes: An English garden writer, Shirley Hibbard is quoted more than once in my perpetual almanac for gardeners, kept open year round. I use her New Year’s greeting from time to time, written around the border of our Christmas letter. She has a special light, amusing touch, ringing true each time: “May your flowers flourish, your bees prosper, your birds love you, and your pet fishes live forever…” etc. See what I mean?

WILDFLOWER GARDEN – Susan Christie/Jeanne Burdik

The Nauset Garden Club, whose members have worked to develop the Wildflower Garden at the Brewster Natural History Museum over the past twenty years, have produced a Guide to the Lyn Peabody WildflowerGarden.  This book will make visits to the Garden more meaningful and educational and will be available for purchase in the museum's gift shop. This fully illustrated booklet features a map of the garden, prepared by club member Sharon Davis, with keys to the flowers that can be found in each section of the garden. Individual illustrations of each plant variety, drawn by club member Devon Foley, and botanical descriptions, written by club member Judy Bliss, make this booklet an extremely useful guide and resource for the casual visitor to the garden as well as to the more avid student of horticulture. The books will be available to members of the Nauset Garden Club at each monthly meeting for the discounted price of $8.00, or you can call Sue Christie at 508-255-0712 to reserve one of the

books.

Spring

NAUSET GARDEN CLUBP.O. Box 103South Orleans, MA 02662