News from the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut

Above, First Vice President Jacqueline Connell (left) was officially installed by Parliamentarian Inge Venus on Nov 16, 2011. Both are pictured here at the December 8, 2011 Annual Awards Luncheon at AquaTurf.	Below, FGCCT President Ronnie Schoelzel presenting her power point program on the Merritt Parkway at the October 17, 2011 NER Meeting in Chelmsford, MA.
Above, New England States presidents attending the October 17, 2011 NER Meeting in Chelmsford, MA - from left to right: Judy Hager, RI; Ronnie Schoezel, CT; Kathy Marty, ME; Joyce Kimball, NER Director; Ginny Urdy, NH; Heidi Kost, MA; and Gay Gaston, VT.
GARDENING CONSULTANTS COUNCIL LOVE-LY GARDEN AWARD This year’s Love-ly Garden Award was presented to Lucy LaCava at the Awards Luncheon on December 8, 2011. Lucy is a member of the Garden Club of Woodbridge, and it was evident upon visiting her garden in Hamden that Lucy “loves gardening”.  This Love-ly Garden was competently and creatively designed with plant material in prime condition and well maintained.  The exemplary story of the garden and the enthusiasm of the gardener are exhibited in her choice of unusual hostas and daylilies to add color to a largely shady area. Pathways meander through this totally charming garden and make one want to linger and enjoy the beauty and color everywhere. (At right, winner Lucy LaCava with her award.) The Gardening Consultants Council also presented two Honorary Certificates this year.  One award went to Susan Faulkner, Past President of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut for her continued enthusiasm and teaching of garden techniques to the residents of Ashlar Village in Wallingford.  Susan has established a garden in the Village for everyone to enjoy and to learn about creating a Love-ly Garden. The second certificate was presented to Nancy and Al Lenoce.  Nancy, a member of the Long Hill Garden Club, and her husband Al are recognized for the beauty of their Spinning Wheel Garden in Trumbull.  Comprised mostly of David Austin roses, the garden has received national and international acclaim, and shows the dedication and love of gardening which truly symbolizes a Love-ly Garden. — Mary Sullivan, GCC Chair (At left, honorary certificate winners Susan Faulker, left, and Nancy Lenoce.)
Arbor Day Observed at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station - As in several years past, The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. has given a tree to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in observance of Arbor Day. A beautiful Halesia tetraptera "UCONN Wedding Bells" was selected by The Federation Horticulture Chair Kathrine Neville. The Federation Past President Donna Nowak presented the tree to Director Dr. Louis Magnarelli, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Experiment Station. Groundskeeper Richard Cecarelli planted the tree. Board members Inge Venus and Spring Glen President Anne Bell joined the ceremony. Above: Partaking in the Arbor Day ceremony, from left to right, Kathrine Neville, Donna Nowak, Dr. Louis Magnarelli, Inge Venus, Richard Cecarelli, and Anne Bell.
Front, left to right: Kathy Thomas, Kathrine Neville, Donna Nowak, Maria Nahom, Dee Mozzochi, Renee Blaschke, National Garden Clubs President. Back, left to right: CT Science Center: Aaron Wartner, Director of Marketing and Communications and Matt Fleury, President and CEO Proud members of the National, Regional and Connecticut contingents visited the Connecticut Science Center on September 20 for an interactive tour followed by the groundbreaking of the FGCC Rooftop Childrens' Garden. The Connecticut Science Center is dedicated to inspiring lifelong learning through interactive and innovative experiences that explore our changing world through science. To that end, Dee Mozzochi, FGCC Connecticut Science Center Childrens' Garden Chair, has worked with Maria Nahom, FGCC Past President, Donna Nowak, FGCC President, and Kathrine Neville, FGCC Horticulture Chair to realize the dream of constructing a rooftop terrace garden for all visitors to enjoy. Over 50 member clubs, three private donors, and the FGCC Board have provided funding for the project. THE FGCCT CHILDREN'S ROOFTOP GARDEN at the CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER So many clubs have been supportive of our Science Center Children’s Garden by sending in donations. We welcome other clubs to join in. This endeavor will be so rewarding to families visiting the center. For a complete list of clubs that have donated, check our website www.ctgarden.org/sciencecenter.html. A special thank you goes to Chair Dee Mozzocchi, and to Kathrine Neville and her committee for working on the exciting garden plans. Click here for more photos from the Groundbreaking in September ... and see it NOW!

The FGCCT Judges Council

The Federation Judges Council is committed to promoting the study of the Handbook for Flower Shows and the fair and proper judging of Standard Flower Shows throughout the state. The Council also promotes flower show schools and symposiums within the state.

We have seventy Student, Accredited, Life and Master judges. We meet five times a year to clarify changes in the Handbook, discuss judging concerns and practice judging horticulture and design.

Maria Nahom, Chair

The FGCCT Gardening Consultants Council

Click here for images from the Gardening Consultants Council's most recent activities!

Established in October 2000.  To increase knowledge and stimulate interest in horticulture;  to keep informed of advanced gardening techniques; to share this knowledge and promote interest in gardening by giving special programs; and to promote Gardening Study courses and special events.

Members attend educational programs and seminars at places of interest; Arboretums, CT Agricultural Station, Lockwood Farm, Vineyards, Tobacco Barns and Wickham Park.

Visits to nurseries and garden centers as well as tours of private gardens take place during the year.

Two special projects were established in 2006 to honor Penny Jarvis, a lady who loved to garden and who gave an endowment to the Consultants Council.  The Love-ly Garden award was given for the first time this year to Lisa Cocco of the Suburban Garden Club of Cheshire and a scholarship award to Gardening Study School to Pattie Pitts of the Long Hill Garden Club.

Members are invited to join the council as provisionals  upon completion of two courses of Gardening Study school.  Upon completion and test passed of four years of Gardening Study school, members may join as Active Members.   Currently there are 45 members of the Council and one Master Gardening Consultant.(Completion of eight Gardening Study Courses.)

Mary Sullivan, Chair

The Gardening Consultants Council presents the "Love-ly Garden Award" each year. This award is open to all garden club members who have created and maintained her or his own garden. Deadline for submitting the nomination form is June 15.

Click here for award form in PDF format.

The FGCCT Landscape Design Council

2009 Landscape Design Council Award Winning Garden
Theme: A Summer landscape incorporating a water feature (pond, river, fountain, seaside). The garden was judged in July. Winning Garden: Gary and Carol Dornbush 's award winning landscape in Simsbury. Landscape Architect Regina Neal was the designer.
Below: Landscape Design Council Members Judging Gardens at the Stanton House Museum, Clinton, CT. Submitted by the Arbor Garden Club of Clinton. Gardens there include The Sally Stanton Fragrant Herb Garden, the Kitchen Garden, the Heritage Perennial Garden and the Heirloom Vegetable Garden.

Excellence in Design Award
The overall theme is Seasonal Landscape Design with judging taking place in different months of the year. By announcing the themes several years ahead of time, we are hoping that we will have more participants who would have additional time to prepare their landscapes for the various themes.

2009	Summer Landscape incorporating a water feature(pond, river, fountain,seaside) to be judged in July (Applications due June 15th)
2010	Fall Landscape featuring fall color to be judged in October
2011	Winter Landscape to be judged in February
2012	Spring Landscape featuring bulbs and flowering trees/shrubs to be judged in May
2013	Summer Landscape incorporating a moon garden to be judged in late June
2014	Fall Public or Corporate Landscape to be judged toward the end of September

Brief summary of 2008 activities:

Feb	landscape judging at the Connecticut State Flower Show
May	council meeting and speaker Kristin Schwab on Sustainability in the Landscape
June	garden visits to Partricia Porter's historic home and garden and Skyflower Ingram hilltop garden
July	judging for the Excellence in Design Award
Sept	garden visits to Steve Silk's garden in Farmington and the J.Kemler Appell Waterfowl Sanctuary
Oct	council meeting and speaker Marie Stella on Being Green
Nov	garden visit to Judy and Michael Steinhardt's garden in Mount Kisco

The Federated Garden Clubs of CT Landscape Design Council is made up of Landscape Design Consultants who have successfully completed all four Landscape Design Study Programs as well as Provisional members who have completed two courses. The official purpose of the Landscape Design Study Program and the Council is to educate citizens and Consultants alike in good landscape design principles in order to promote landscape design in their own communities, especially as it relates to public design.

The unofficial purpose is to learn as much about landscape design as possible, to get to know and learn from other people interested in landscape design, to learn how to improve our own gardens, and in some cases, learn more about designing gardens for others.

We also host a yearly Excellence In Design Competition with different categories each year. Once again, we will encourage Consultants and Provisionals to judge the gardens. We get to see wonderful gardens all over the state, meet with and learn from experienced and new members, and usually go out to lunch or have a picnic. The winner receives our now legendary BIG SILVER REVERE BOWL at the Fall Awards Luncheon.

During the summer we go on field trips or view Garden Conservancy Open Gardens, and then retire somewhere for refreshments to discuss what we have seen. This is such a fantastic way to learn since everyone, new and experienced members alike, sees different aspects of the gardens.

Barbara Deysson, LDC Chair

BLUE STAR MARKER
Maria Nahom NGC Chairman

(condensed from the February-April, 2007, "Keeping In Touch" Quarterly Publication of National Garden Clubs)

2006 - BLUE STAR MARKER PROGRAM'S MOST INCREDIBLE YEAR

242 new orders were received this year. The unprecedented growth began with very welcome grants from Principal Financial Group, and continued to escalate when the manufacturer announced a price increase for all markers. Clubs hurried to place orders before the change - the last increase was in 1996.

Ultimately the final credit for this exciting growth goes to our members across the country who support our Armed Forces, and I predict that the program will continue to grow.

Congratulations to all clubs who helped to make this a banner year for Blue Star Memorial Markers.


Durham Blue Star Memorial, given by Durham Garden Club

This Blue Star Marker in Durham, CT, given by the Durham Garden Club, was dedicated on November 9, 2006

From left to right: Susan Parr, Historic/Memorial/Public Gardens Chairman, FGCCT; Maria Nahom, 1st VP, FGCCT and National Garden Clubs Blue Star Memorial Chairman; Flo Flynn, Blue Star Marker Chair, Durham Garden Club; Mary Gray, National Projects/Patriotic Trees Chairman, FGCCT; Maria Nilson, President, Durham Garden Club

Mary Gray, National Projects/Patriotic Trees Chairman for FGCCT, dedicates a tree at the site of the Durham Blue Star memorial.

ALL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LANDSCAPING GRANTS DISTRIBUTED

Seven Habitat for Humanity homes were beautifully landscaped this past year. Four FGCCT garden clubs took advantage of grants that were funded by of the NGC Walk-A-Thon, which raised more than $800 for CT. The garden clubs who landscaped Habitat for Humanity homes were:

• Ledyard Garden Club, four Habitat for Humanity homes in New London - club members planted more than 350 bulbs around the homes to delight the homeowners last spring.
  
  
• Country Gardeners of Glastonbury and Glastonbury Garden Clubs each landscaped a home in Hartford’s Habit for Humanity neighborhood Swift Village.
  
  
• North Haven Garden Club provided landscaping for a Habitat for Humanity home in New Haven.

In addition to designing, purchasing and installing landscaping, members of these garden clubs are providing education for the new HfH homeowners so that the newly landscaped yards will thrive.

For all clubs that participated in the 2005-2007 HfH project, report forms must be submitted to the NGC Chairman by March 1, 2007 for the club to receive a special certificate. These may be downloaded from the NGC Website at www.gardenclub.org.

This year the company Periwinkle and Bloom will be repeating their generous offer of "container garden in a box" for Habitat 2007 BLitz Build homeowners. This new collection will be available this spring so watch for details on the web. For more information, please contact:

Duane Luster, FGCCT HfH Liaison
860 633-9098

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Tips from Jo Williams NGC Chairman

(condensed from the February-April, 2007, "Keeping In Touch" Quarterly Publication of National Garden Clubs)

If your Club, District or Council would like to join in the fun of becoming involved in landscaping Habitat homes, please follow these easy as 1, 2, 3, 4 steps.

1. Telephone your local Habitat Affiliate. You'll find the number in the white pages of the telephone directory
2. Learn from the Habitat Affiliate what the particular landscaping needs are in your community.
3. After taking this information back to your club, decide with your members how you would like to help.
4. Make the commitment and dig in! Help needed in landscaping Habitat homes varies from one community to the next. Many times, the need may be monetary. On the other hand, it might be physical. In some cases, the need might be for gardening tools or equipment of that nature. The theme of the HFH Landscape Project is 'OPEN YOUR HEART AND HANDS' and the philosophy has always been: "No contribution - physical or monetary - is too small," and all donations are gratefully received.