Welcome to Spring! April 2015

We have all survived a long and cold winter and now is the time to go outside and greet our fellow survivors, the snowdrops, the crocus, the daffodils and the hellebores. Each year, at this time, I promise myself to plant more spring bulbs to create a greater celebration of spring in my garden. How about you? We have two important topics to discuss today – programs and budgets for 2015-2016. Let’s start with programs; 5 of our 9 requested meeting dates (first Thursday of the month) had to be changed due to scheduling conflicts at the Westminster Church. The church is also planning some construction over the next year and at this time, we have no dates for that. The changes to the meeting dates required recontacting our speakers to see if they could come on another day. This is not the first time we have had to reschedule speakers due to conflicts at the church. Most of our rescheduled meetings will be on the second Thursday of the month. Please mark your calendars carefully so you don’t miss any meetings. Susan and I have asked Margaret Pulito to form a strategic planning committee to look into our options concerning meetings dates and places. This effort will begin this summer. Our second important topic is the proposed budget for 2015-2016. We largely used the same expenditures as this year except where we had a request to increase the budget for a defined reason. For example, we increased the budget for rent since the proposed program for June 2016 is to meet for a club wide Tablescape Program at Westminster Church in place of a luncheon in another location. We will have a catered lunch at the church. I will remind you that we have two budgets – one for our general operations (unrestricted) and one for civic projects (restricted). Our general operations budget is financed largely by our dues while our civic projects budget is financed by our garden tours and plant sales. I want to focus on our operating budget. Our projected operating income is down, mainly because we are taking in less money from membership dues than in the past. Our projected deficit is higher because our operating costs continue to increase. We're spending more money every year, but are taking in less income. Our projected deficit for next year is significant (over $3400) but a high projected deficit seems to be consistent with our budgets in the past. Even though the deficit prediction is high, committees often spend less money than allotted, so our actual deficits are typically lower. That being said, there continues to be a deficit every year, and every year, the deficit increases. Ladies and Gentlemen, we appear to be spending well above our income! We do have a surplus in our operating budget of $18,600 due to the foresight and planning of Linda Berry et al when the club last raised our dues to $60 several years ago. All this said, we are going through our surplus. Just two budget items currently use up all of our dues – rent and programs together cost $6,000 per year. At some point, we will have to do one or more things:

• Increase our membership • Decrease our expenditures • Raise our dues.

Susan and I have asked Strategic Planning to look at our options over the next year and make some recommendations for your consideration. Please contact me if you have any questions, comments and suggestions. ~Joan Martin

WEST HARTFORD GARDEN CLUB

Proposed Budget for 2015-2016 Balance on Hand Money Market Account 21,111.80 Checking Account 15,541.53 Total Assets 36,653.33 2014-2015 2014-2015 2015-2016 Operating Budget Spending through 3/30/15 Budget Proposed Budget Income Dues 6,125.00 6,700.00 6,100.00 Guest Donations 160.00 250.00 200.00 Federated Garden Clubs of CT 125.00 0.00 0.00 Hort. Auction, Raffles, Awards, etc. 279.00 100.00 200.00 Interest from Money Market & CDs 12.26 30.00 30.00 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 50.00 0.00 50.00 Refund from University of Hartford Annual Meeting 150.00 200.00 0.00 Geo Bin Sales 0.00 900.00 0.00 Pond House Luncheon 0.00 200.00 200.00 Tool Rental 0.00 20.00 0.00 Total Income 6,901.26 8,400.00 6,780.00 Expenses Awards 0.00 100.00 0.00 Celebrate West Hartford 226.00 500.00 250.00 Communications/Mailing Labels 0.00 75.00 30.00 Conservation 0.00 625.00 50.00 Corresponding Secretary (cheer & mem. book.) 321.70 300.00 150.00 Fed. Garden Clubs of CT (dues) 445.00 500.00 500.00 Flower Arrangements (including Dec. & June) 348.29 600.00 350.00 Flower Arranging Study Group 74.00 400.00 300.00 Hort. Study Group 110.92 300.00 200.00 Hospitality (8 luncheons - not Dec. & June) 70.59 300.00 200.00 Insurance (liability) 500.00 530.00 500.00 Life Memberships 0.00 0.00 100.00 Membership (including welcome plants) 100.36 150.00 150.00 Newsletters 53.71 80.00 80.00 Photography 0.00 30.00 30.00 President's Fund 15.92 50.00 50.00 Programs 1,301.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 Holiday Luncheon 81.06 0.00 0.00 June Luncheon 250.00 0.00 0.00 Publicity 0.00 10.00 10.00 Recording Secretary 0.00 35.00 35.00 Rent (monthly meeting room) 3,000.00 3,000.00 3,375.00 Treasurer 0.00 40.00 40.00 Vice President/By-Laws/Nominating 0.00 25.00 25.00 Website 0.00 200.00 400.00 Yearbooks 383.12 395.00 400.00 Misc./Contingency 5.00 200.00 200.00 Total Operating Expenses 7,286.67 11,445.00 10,425.00 The 2015-16 budget assumes a deficit in the operating budget of $3,645. Expenses from Restricted Funds Civic Projects 2,206.30 1,000.00 0.00 Garden Tour Seed Money 231.00 0.00 1,000.00 Plant Sale 0.00 0.00 200.00 Festival of Trees 89.90 175.00 235.00 Fine Arts & Flowers 0.00 175.00 175.00 Butler McCook House 0.00 300.00 350.00 Garden Therapy 161.15 600.00 600.00 Jr. Gardeners 164.09 350.00 300.00 Elizabeth Park 0.00 75.00 75.00 Noah Webster Maintenance 74.70 300.00 250.00 Various annual donations 0.00 400.00 400.00 Total Restricted $2,927.14 $3,375.00 $3,585.00 Total Expenses $10,213.81 $14,245.00 $14,010.00 Balance on hand - Mar 30, 2015 $33,340.78 **Funds for Restricted expenses come from Garden Tour Proceeds. Checking Account $12,216.72 Money Market Account $21,124.06 Total Assets $33,340.78 Total Unrestricted $18,601.92 Total Restricted $14,738.86 Total Assets $33,340.78

Flower Arranging Study Group

Learn the proper techniques for designing verticle and horizontal flower arrangements. Our dynamic duo, Marge Johnson and Francie Bergquist, cheerfully share their expertise in fun filled and rewarding classes.

Sign up with Marge Johnson or Francie Bergquist whether you need to fill the club requirement or simply want to take a refresher class. They are a great team. It’s rewarding and most of all its’s fun.

4-30 Thursday 2:00 p.m. @ Noah Webster House

5-21 Thursday 2:00 p.m. @ Noah Webster House

Check the club calendar for further details.

2015

Speakers

September 10

Kerry Ann Mendez - “Right Size Your Garden”, her new book (Open Meeting)

October 8

Todd Hansen – Bonsai (Open Meeting)

October 29

Michael Derouin - Floral Designer (Open Meeting)

December 3

Holiday Luncheon at the Pond House (Closed Meeting)

2016

Speakers

January 7

Chris Fisher - Galapagos Photos (Open Meeting)

February 11

Martha Fanelli - Pavé Workshop (Closed Meeting)

March 10

Lelaneia Dubay - Landscape Designer Raingardens (Open Meeting)

April 14

Veronica Skerker - Elizabeth Park History (Open Meeting)

May 12

Stephen Scanniello - Rosarian - Roses’ Names (Open Meeting)

June 9 Tablescape Activity - Annual meeting and election of new officers (Closed Meeting)

WHGC Programs for 2015/2016

OTHER DATES TO NOTE: Set to Celebrate (Tablescape Display) November 13 & 14, 2015 Federated Flower Show February 18 - 21, 2016

Easter - March 27, 2016

Mother’s Day – May 8, 2016

WHGC Plant Sale - May 21, 2016

Ronnie Schoelzel shared her tips on “Grow for Show” at our January meeting, just in time for The Federated Flower Show. Ronnie generously donated her speaker fee to the Federated Scholarship Fund. Applications are currently being accepted. If you know a resident Connecticut student, specializing in environmentally studies, please refer them to: www.ctgardenclubs.org/scholarship

Our March 12, 2015 program, “Bee Kind to Pollinators”, featured guest speaker, Lois Nichols. We learned how to entice bees into our gardens, how to keep them there and how to reap the benefits of their busy work. This was a “Honey” of a program.

A little known pollinator- bats … One species of nectar-feeding bat has the longest mammal tongue (proportionally) in the world. Did you know that bats almost exclusively pollinate wild bananas? Tequila is made from the agave plant; it relies solely on bats to pollinate its flowers. Bats service many plants that we use for medicinal, cultural and economic purposes.

“Getting Your Garden Show Ready” is something we all want to know more about. Sheila Wertheimer presented a slide show at our February meeting featuring many Do’s and Don’ts when preparing your garden for public viewing. She is a renowned landscape designer and photographer and has influenced many garden designs including the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.

Shannon Gagnon, owner of Azalea Floral Design in Plainville CT, dazzled us with her distinctive arrangements for any occasion. She often uses local flowers hand selected for beauty and fragrance. Mans best friend is not to be forgotten - there is something for everyone…

“Spring Floral Arrangements” Our Featured Program for April 9, 2015

“Rediscovering Beatrix Farrand Farrand’s designs stretched across America from

First Woman Architect and founder Garland Farm in Bar Harbor, Maine to

of the “American Society of Landscape Bellefield Walled Gardens in Hyde Park, NY to

Architects” with Colleen Plimpton Hill-Stead in Farmington, Connecticut to Santa

May 7, 2015. Barbara Botanic Garden in California

Native Plant Sources The following are some suggestions for where to find Native Plants for your garden

Conservation Committee

Back Yard Habitat: Madeleine turned in the Wildlife Habitat Certification Numbers. Over 18% of our club has registered. That’s an impressive commitment to our environment.

MIRA Trash Museum: Our group toured the Museum on April 10th . Educator, Pam Garry, enthusiastically guided us through the entire process of recycling. Elsie Harp, Conservation Committee Member organized the trip. It was extremely informative and well worth a visit. For hours and further information, visit www.crra.org . ◄The Weighing In! Nearly 1 ton of active Elsie Harp, Madeleine Hexter ► Recycling Woman Power & Julie Przybycien, Organizers

Geo Bins: They have been delivered and are currently stored in Joan’s garage. They will be available at the compost workshop for $30. Steve and Suzanne will provide details about the workshop. Madeleine has designed a prototype label, complete with our logo, to be affixed in a watertight way to the bins.

RRR: Our last RRR sale of this club year is scheduled for the May 7th meeting. The theme is Garden Artistry...object d’art, pots and tools. In addition, design materials donated to the club by Betty Weurthner’s husband will be for sale. Barbara, Janet and Anita have already selected items to keep for the club.

Finances: The club made $32 from the sale of products from Mimi’s Hilltop Aviary.

Planting Natives: According to a landmark report released March 26, 2015 by the New England Wild Flower Society, 22 percent of all native plant species in New England are now either extinct, rare, or in a state of decline, strangled by invasive vines, trampled by incautious hikers, or drowned by man-made dams. If each of us in New England planted one new native this year, we would go a long way to reducing the threat of extinction to native plants. Because of this, the Conservation Committee is encouraging each Garden Club member to commit to planting at least one new native plant in their garden this year. A list of these plants will be made available. Consider the native milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, for monarch butterflies to lay their eggs. It spreads both via seeds and rhizomes forming colonies growing best in full sun. It is drought resistant.

New England Wildflower Society Two locations: 1. Garden in the Woods 180 Hemenway Rd, Framingham, MA 01701 (508) 877-7630 Hours: Tue – Sun 9-5 April 11 – October 31

2. Nasami Farms Nursery 128 North St; Whately, MA 01373 Ph (413) 397-9922 ~ Fax (413) 397-9944 Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat - Sun www.newenglandwild.org

Earth Tones, LLC Native Plant Nursery and Landscapes 212 Grassy Hill Rd, Woodbury, CT 06708 (203) 263-6626 Tue – Sat 9-5 ~ Sun 10-4 earthtones@charter.net www.earthtonesnatives.com

Natureworks 518 Forest Rd, Northford, CT 06472 (203) 484-2748 Apr 12 - Jun 21 Mon - Wed 8-6; Thu 8-7; Fri - Sat 8-6; Sun 9-5 Nature works also publishes many handouts accessible online. One particularly relevant is titled: Succession of Bloom with Native Plants. www.naturework.com

Project Native 342 North Plain Rd (Rt 41) Housatonic, MA 01236 (413) 274-3433 Opens April 22, 2015 www.projectnative.org

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

Federated Garden Club of CT

Annual Meeting Aqua Turf

April 14, 2015 Wednesday 9:00-3:00

www.ctgardenclubs.org Car Pool at 8:15 AM from Corbin's Corner, Sears

CHANGING OF THE GUARD Website – Madeleine Hexter announced that Ellen Guest has graciously agreed to take over the position of webmaster freeing up Madeleine to devote more time to her personal business as well as the Conservation and Program committees. Thank you, Ellen.

Communication – Martha Keener reported that the club's email carrier

was automatically changed from AT&T to Frontier (was

AT&T) and advised if you are having any difficulty

with the change to let her know. She asked that if you

have a new e-mail or any pertinent information changes,

to let her know as well.

Civic Projects Jeanne Grandy is working with the Town of West Hartford on upgrading the Town Hall

planter boxes. WHGC will supply plant material and soil amendments for the rear entrance. Jeanne is also working on the Rockledge Golf Club Yellow Trail Project to identify arboreal

specimens, install identification plaques and to create a brochure with descriptive details. Heather Bale (former member) has inquired if WHGC would provide flowers to complement the

paintings of Paul Gobbel and other local artists from the West Hartford Art League at an art

show at Brookdale Manor, 22 Simsbury Road. The event is planned for May 6th. Lynn Horne

has been enthusiastically supportive in her offer to have the club participate in the show by

providing floral designers. To date, Sheila Daley and Mary Mulcahy have volunteered. Stay

tuned for further details from Jeanne and Lynn.

Some of our members have joined Neighbors and Friends of WH Facebook group. We hope to post information about our open club meetings. West Hartford Newcomers and Neighbors agreed to post a WHGC link on their website in addition to distributing our informational flier, currently being prepared for the Celebrate West Hartford booth. They are also willing to distribute it to their members.

Save the Date

Our Annual Meeting and Luncheon will be held at

the elegant Country Club of Farmington

June 4, 2015

Rachael Desmond is coordinating this event

Kudos to all our members who continue

our clubs tradition of planting trees in

public and in private spaces.

To exist as a nation,

to prosper as a state,

and to live as a people,

we must have trees.

Theodore Roosevelt

APRIL 24, 2015

34th Annual Fine Art & Flowers May 1–3, 2015

Floral arrangements inspired by masterworks

from the Wadsworth collection

www.thewadsworth.org

Horticulture Study Group and Conservation joined together to sponsor a Composting Workshop to be held

from 12:00 to 1:00 on April 20th at the home of Suzanne Sayers,

72 Vera Street, West Hartford. Rain Date is April 24

Ride the Garden Express You never have to miss a meeting! If you need a ride to a monthly meeting, call Chloe Horton. She is coordinating the "Garden Express" so that every member has an opportunity to attend our meetings. Her phone number is 860-523-4574 and her e-mail is hnutcracker@aol.com. Please don't wait until the last minute to call; she needs time to make the arrangements. Thank you Chloe.

Junior Gardeners

Inspiring a child thru great programs is a rich reward ♥

Karen Ryder reported that the 20 children, under the supervision of

Liz Cloud and Priscilla Thomas, made wreaths for their

February project. Red and white flowers decorated grapevine

wreaths, on which a red ribbon was affixed.

Judy Joly wishes to share this inspiring poem with us.

I Saw My Parsley Flying By

I planted parsley in the Spring With plans for tasty garnishing, But then one day, to my dismay,

I saw some plants were vanishing.

The leaves were gone, the stems were bare; I found the culprit lurking there,

The parsley Worm, so fat and firm, Was munching, munching up her share!

Oh, let it be, they said to me, It won’t eat much, and soon you’ll see,

She’ll eat her fill, and then she will A lovely Swallowtail set free!

The days wore on, into July, And lo! I saw that butterfly!

A glorious sight, in joyous flight! ~ Louise Weber -July 1995

Our dedicated committee has had activities at Loomis and Plant every month. April 10th is the next and last event at Plant this Spring.

Recently, Trader Joes had an abundance of flowers that we delivered to Hughes and they were delighted. A lovely thank was received from Olivia.

April 13th, Monday, was flower arranging at Loomis. We will do the planters there in May.

Elmgrove planters are next on the list. No dates yet, but keep up-to-date with the calendar.

All members are encouraged to attend each event. We can use the medium size deli containers and the Folgers 10 oz. coffee cans. Thanks for helping to make these programs successful, Judy Joly, Chair.

Butler McCook House & Garden (Cheryl Fine, Chloe Horton, Carolyn Lind & Paula Mooney)

Noah Webster House & Garden (Toni Battistini and Jamie Wein)

If you have not already signed up for your “tour of duty” at the above landmarks, please contact one of the committee chairs listed above to schedule a date that will work for you. Work accomplished in these important gardens reflects our clubs commitment and pride in maintaining these historic sites.

Garden

Therapy

PORTS OF CALL - FLOWER SHOW

Congratulations Anita Herbst - Madeleine Hexter Thank you for representing West Hartford Garden Club. Anita Herbst Madeleine Hexter Miniature Design Backyard Paradise Highly rated in Design Division of the Federated Flower Show

The butterfly counts not months, but moments, and has time enough

~Rabindranath Tagore

OUR NAME IS GETTING AROUND

Do you know where this “historic site” is located?

A surprise will be awarded to the first person who correctly identifies the location of this plaque. Simply e-mail Ann Painter with your answer abpainter1@comcast.net The earliest dated e-mail wins Don’t delay, e-mail Today

Hartford Blooms

The West Hartford Garden Club is designing a garden at the corner of Collins & Sigourney Street in time for the Hartford Blooms event this summer. The Committee’s design will focus on native plants and the City of Hartford will supply soil, mulch and stone dust for the walkway. Our committee is requesting club members donate items from their garden including: Coneflower, Black Eye Susan, Day Lilly, Hostas, Grasses, Pachysandra and Montauk Daisy. Planting is anticipated for early May. Please contact one of the committee members with your donations before the end of April! Thanks in advance for your help: Ellen Clark, Jeanne Grandy, Susan Fellman, Linda Aldrich, Steve Kovack and Lynn Horne.

~ Buds and Blossoms @ Brookdale Place

Heather Bale and Susan Chaponis of Brookdale Place (Assisted Living & Alzheimer’s facility), Roxanne Stachelek of the West Hartford Art League and WHGC members, Pat Duncan, Sheila Daley, Mary Mulcahy, Anita Herbst and Lynne Horne will be participating in an exhibit at, 22 Simsbury Rd. on May 6th 1– 6:30. Twenty paintings and 8 floral designs will be on display. Members wishing to donate a container, (not a vase), please contact Lynn Horne @ 860 559-3438

Proceeds donated to Alzheimer’s Assoc. of CT

Public attendance is encouraged

WHGC – Our 2nd Year June 6 & 7 Our Booth features

• Creative planter designed by Cheri Stabnick and Barbara Dalton to be raffled at the end of the event.

• A Compost demo by Madeleine Hexter and Steve Kovack; Geo Bins will be for sale.

• Artfully designed informational posters outlining our clubs activities, Linda Aldrich & Paige Falasco.

• Free annual seed packets.

Come visit our booth.. Celebrate and Enjoy the Event

A very warm welcome to our newest member, Becky Hurvitz, 344 Westmont St, WH Her contact information is: 860 521-5953 bhurvitz@comcast.net

Becky signed up for our Junior Gardeners Committee under the inspiring leadership of Karen Ryder and Liz Cloud. We’re confident she will find this a rewarding experience. Thank you Ann Painter and Steve Kovack for sponsoring Becky. Please be sure to update your yearbook.

Our Purpose To stimulate interest and creative activity in the art of gardening; To enhance the beauty of our community; To contribute to civic improvement; To work for the conservation of native plants and wildlife.

152 Wood Pond Road

West Hartford, CT 06107

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