Thanks to IGC from Ipswich Schools Central Office

Ipswich Wetland Videos Premier - January 11th

The Ipswich Conservation Commission invites members of the IGC and the general public to view three short videos on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. in Room A of the Town Hall. The subject of the videos is the importance of wetlands in Ipswich and their value as a unique and natural resource.

The first video is entitled “Inland Wetlands” and was taken at Dow Brook Conservation Area. Mike DeRosa of DeRosa Environmental Consultants is the featured specialist.

The second video entitled, “The River Zone”, focuses on the Ipswich River and was taken at the Ipswich River Watershed Association headquarters. It features (our own) Kerry Mackin, the Executive Director of the Ipswich River Watershed Association.

The third video is entitled “The Coastal Zone” and was taken at Crane Beach and part of the Great Marsh. It features Kathryn Glenn, the North Shore Regional Coordinator of Coastal Zone Management. Catherine Carney-Feldman, a member of the Ipswich Conservation Commission and producer of the videos, will be the host at this premier. (Catherine gave a fascinating presentation on butterfly gardens in October to our club.)

This premier showing is part of the Conservation Commission’s Speakers Series and will include a short question and answer period. As will all offerings of this series, this event is free and open to the general public.  The snow date is  Wednesday, January 25^th.

ICAM will be showing the videos on Channel 9 starting Friday, January 13^th at 6 p.m.. The videos will also air on Channel 9 on Saturday, January 14^th at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, January 18^th at 8 p.m.  Starting on January 18^th anyone can go to ICAM’s web site, ICAMIpswich.com and call up the videos on their own computer at their convenience.

A Message from Tom Rawinski to the IGC

Here is a message from Tom Rawinski, our November speaker and Botanist USDA Forest Service, sent to Alicia on Dec. 16th. Tom's message reads as follows:

Hi Alicia,
If you would be so kind, please forward the note and attached photo to the Garden Club members - as my Christmas card, of sorts.

Click on photo for a larger view.

I photographed this doe today at the Turkey Hill Conservation Area (in Ipswich--she was one of 5 deer I saw there.  She is certainly a pretty gal. While I get so very depressed seeing what these deer have done to our forests and wildflowers, I will forever admire their exquisite beauty and grace.

I also visited Linebrook Conservation Area and found it to be just as devastated by deer as Turkey Hill was.  Life is full of tough choices, and we simply have to do something about the current deer overabundance problem - the forests are disintegrating before our eyes, and my magic wand seems to be on the fritz lately.

We should really, as a next step, meet with key town officials to discuss the issue.  Perhaps the Weston, MA model would work well in Ipswich, for instance.  And, while I was at Linebrook, I thought that it would be a fantastic place for a couple deer exclosures - for educational purposes primarily - like the ones
you saw at Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Perhaps the Garden Club could spear-head or fund the exclosures at Linebrook via Ross? I'd be willing to provide guidance.

I've cc'd New England Wild Flower Society's Conservation Director, Bill Brumback - he may be very interested in partnering with the Garden Club on such a project. I've also cc'd Mike Simmons who wrote the management plan for Turkey Hill - Mike is presently a grad student at UNH and is one of our seasonal employees at the Forest Service.

Happy holidays,
Best,

Tom

Successful Annual Greens Meeting and Holiday Luncheon

Barbara makes a tight maneuver on her JD with Laura and Susie applauding her driving skill.

Thanks to all who attended IGC's Annual Greens Making and Holiday Luncheon on second day of December. It was a mild and sunny day to create wreaths in Barbara's workshop at her home on the banks of the Ipswich River. So many beautiful holiday decorations for our town's civic buildings and the Ascension Church were made by cheerful members. Everyone enjoyed a scrumptious and healthy lunch after all the wreaths were installed. Enjoy some of the photos from the event below.

Paula, Susie, Laura and Grace all helped plan and organize the 2011 Greens Meeting.

Paige makes wreaths for the Hall Haskell House

The famous Chef Fischbach arrives.

Glittering gold for Ascension Church in recognition for use of Boone Hall during the year.

Grace demonstrates the Midas touch to Therese.

Connie and Barbara M. explain the fine art of making ribbons to Janet and Laurie.

Thanks to Nancy who brought many different kinds of greens to add to the balsam wreaths.

Dianne and Carol prepare a vegetarian holiday banquet.

Market St. island crew includes Laura, Susie, Paula and Alicia.

Ascension Church doors are adorned with holiday gold.

Maureen delivers a wreath to the Ipswich Schools Administration Building.

A holiday greeting at the Ipswich Police station.

The Firehouse is adorned with wreaths at its side entrances.

Paige's wreath decorates the Hall Haskell House.

Will anyone try to take the IGC wreath at the train station this year? Thanks to Rick Clarke and the DPW, we doubt it.

After all the decorations are delivered to the town, Dianne explains the menu to Hope, Ann, Joan, Nancy and Mitzi.

IGC Friends celebrate a morning of work...shown here are Carol, Paige, Annie, Joan, Laurie, Therese and Grace.

Carol's gorgeous Mushroom and Leek Galette could serve as an appetizer or main course.

Hope and Barbara make lunch selections.

Smile, Holan, and Happy Holidays!

Dates with Almonds and Candied Orange Peel

Carol Williams served up an exceptionally delicious and nutritional
treat at the IGC Holiday Luncheon. Here's just how nutritional her
dates, almonds and candied orange peel are:

According to a new study by researchers, DATES are a treat to

eat because they contain so many antioxidants. Antioxidants in

general have been linked to a number of potential health 
benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer.
For the study,researchers analyzed the antioxidant content of 
more than 100 different food items, including vegetables, fruits, 
nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. Of all the foods and 
beverages studied, dates actually have the most antioxidants
based on serving size.

The benefits of ALMONDS  are due to loads of vitamin 
content in them. Almonds are rich in folic acid and 
vitamin B. Copper content helps in proper development 
of bone and improves nerve functioning. Almonds function 
as powerful antioxidants due to its Vitamin E content. 
It helps in improving blood circulation and lowering of 
cholesterol thereby providing added cardiac protection. 
Not only this, it helps to stabilize blood sugar as well. 
Therefore it can be the best snack for diabetic patients. 
One of the other significant health benefits 
of almonds are due to its laetrile content which 
serves as an anti cancer component.

And what about the ORANGE PEEL? Citrus peel, 
especially orange, contains considerable amounts of 
mineral and vitamins. Orange peel contains more  
vitamin C (ascorbic acid) than its juice. Likewise, the
peel is rich source of vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, 
minerals such as calcium, selenium, manganese, 
zinc...etc. several fold more than its pulp.

So now that we know how beneficial this treat is, here is Carol's recipe:


Plump medjool dates, cut in half if large
Roasted almonds, whole
Candied orange peel, cut into tiny strips
Shredded coconut (unsweetened)


Pit the dates, and remove the hard disk from the stem end. Add coconut.Tuck an almond and a strip of peel into each date and arrange on a flat dish.


Thank you Carol!

Annual Greens Meeting and Holiday Luncheon

Jingle   Jingle♫   Jingle♪ ☃  Jingle  ♬ Jingle  ❄ Jingle   Jingle   Jingle     

Firehouse Wreath made at last year's Greens Meeting!

           
            Please join fellow gardeners
            for a festive and creative morning of holiday greens-making
            to enliven the
            Town of Ipswich and
            a delicious holiday buffet.
           
            Date: Friday, December 2nd
            Time: Wreath decorating begins at 9:30am followed by greens
                        deliveries and lunch.
            Location:   Barbara Ostberg's house,
                                 21 Nabby's Point Road, Ipswich

                        http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
           
                Coordinators: Paula Jones and Grace Hanson
                Luncheon: Diane Fischbach and Carol Williams
                Market Street Island Greens: Susie Glessner and
                                                                             Laura Larson

            We will have wreaths, ribbons, ornaments and wire to create the
           decorations for the Ascension Church, the Hall Haskell House,
           the Library, the Schools' Administrative Building, the Fire House,
           Police Station, Town Hall, Train Station and a couple for
           special friends.

            Bring clippers and your creative genius.
            PLEASE bring additional material from YOUR
            OWN GARDENS to fill planters and decorate wreaths.
            Bring what you have, such as:
           
            Branches of greens- arborvitae, balsam, yew, boxwood,
            juniper, pine, rhododendron and leucothoe.

            Berries- bayberry, winterberry, and rosehips

            Dried Material- Artemisia, grasses, seed heads, pods and
                                          pine cones.


            Mark your calendars. This meeting is always the highpoint
            of our Garden Club year.
            We look forward to seeing all of you and celebrating the beginning
            of the holiday season of 2011.

            PLEASE, PLEASE RSVP by November 25th so that we can plan 
            for greens work and  the buffet luncheon.
            
            RSVP to Janet. (978) 356-0334 or jtcraft@comcast.net

           

Jingle   Jingle   Jingle   Jingle♫   Jingle♪♪ ❄  Jingle   Jingle ♬  Jingle 

View our latest newsletter (PDF)

Late Fall 2011 IGC Newsletter (PDF)

Tulips Planting

Dear IGC members-

I am extending an invitation to anyone in the Garden Club who wants to help plant tulip bulbs this year.

I recently went to Messelaars http://www.tulipbulbs.com and got 450 bulbs consisting of varieties of carmine rose with thin gold edge, canary yellow with flannel red, deep scarlet, and then Hyacinths which Pieter recommended, to plant amongst the tulips and down at the Getty station. The Garden Club purchased 150 of the bulbs and Messelaars donated the rest. Pieter is so gracious and generous every time I come to his store.

I am hoping we can plant next Saturday morning, the 12th. If the weather isn't good--rain only, we would plant the following weekend.

Anyone who is interested, I am starting early around 7am.

Thank you.
Ann

Ann Wright -  Town Beautification Chair

Add to your calendar: Tuesday, November 8th Meeting at 7p.m.

Tom Rawinski and Massachusetts White-Tailed Deer

Join our Speaker, Thomas Rawinski, Botanist USDA Forest Service at Durham, NH for a presentation discussing "How Deer Affect Our Native Plants". We will be meeting at the Ipswich Public Library in the Collins Room at 7p.m. Mitzi Marsh and Mary Smith are the evening's coordinators.

Looking forward to a big turnout from our members for this pertinent Ipswich topic!
Don't forget to RSVP Janet Craft at (978) 621-7884

The Fall Garden and Putting it to Bed- Lecture and Workshop

Hello Garden Club Members,

This looks like a very interesting lecture.
Thanks,
Janet

Friday, October 21, 9 – 10am lecture and 10-noon volunteer garden work,  Riverbend, 143 County Rd, Ipswich

Denise King of Denise King Landscapes Designs, who was instrumental in designing and planting the native plant garden and rain gardens at Riverbend, will be presenting on the fall garden; how to extend the season and what to plant to maximize your fall garden colors. She will also lead us through the steps of putting your garden to bed for the winter. After the indoor presentation, we will head out into the gardens for some demonstrations and some practice putting Riverbend’s gardens to bed. If you would like to stay for the garden workshop, please dress appropriately and bring any tools you like to use (small rake, clippers, gloves).

Please RSVP to Cynthia at cingelfinger@ipswichriver.org or call 978-412-8200

Spring Bulbs: To Fertilize or Not to Fertilize

by Gail Anderson, IGC Horticulturalist    

For years, experts recommended putting fertilizer in each hole as you planted spring flowering bulbs in the fall. Now some bulb gurus say you don’t need fertilizer when planting bulbs.

The traditional recommendation was to use bone meal, super phosphate (now available only as rock phosphate), or Bulb Booster fertilizer (9% nitrogen, 6% phosphorous, 6% potassium) in the bottom of the planting hole. Now experts point out that the bulb already contains the food it needs to produce first season’s flowers and foliage. And animals love to dig up bulbs planted with bone meal. At Long Hill, the Trustees of Reservations garden property in Beverly, we have planted hundreds of bulbs without fertilizer in the holes.

It’s more important, some experts say, to top dress the bulbs after they have bloomed the first year while their leaves are still green. After bulbs have bloomed and after you have deadheaded them, Deb Lambert at Corliss recommends sprinkling rock phosphate on the soil around the bulb foliage. Then scratch it into the soil with a three-pronged hand cultivator. This promotes root and bulb development. The spring top dressing is even more important, she says, than planting the bulbs with amendments. However, she does recommend amendments both at planting and in the spring.

So, it appears, fertilizing at planting time becomes a personal decision.

Tips for Spring Flowering Bulbs

•  Purchase bulbs now for best selection.

Keep them cool (but not below 32 degrees) and dry until you plant them.

• Select only large, firm bulbs.

Squeeze them to be sure. Beware of blemishes, soft spots, or wrinkled outer skin. If the bulb is about to split (common with daffodils) be sure each section seems large enough to support a flower stem.

• You can plant bulbs as late as December 1,

providing the ground has not frozen. Bulbs need a minimum of 11 weeks of chilling in order to perform properly.

• Plant bulbs 2-3 times their depth.

If a bulb measures 3 inches top to bottom, the planting hole should be at least 6 inches deep.

• Plant in average to rich soil with good drainage.

If needed, add organic matter to enrich the soil. Add sharp sand to increase  drainage.

·      Plant bulbs in full to almost-full sun.

Bulbs planted in the shade do not rejuvenate well. Bloom diminishes after the first year.

• Don’t forget minor bulbs—

snowdrop, crocus, winter aconite, chionodoxa, puschkinia, iris reticulata, etc. They bloom very early and are effective near the edges of garden beds and walks.

• If you have deer or rodents, avoid tulips.

Plant critter-resistant bulbs including narcissus (daffodils), allium, crocus, chionodoxa, puschkinia, scilla, hyacinth. Be aware however, that no plant is completely critter resistant.

• If you want repeat bloom in succeeding years, avoid tulips.

Daffodils (narcissus) are fairly reliable repeat bloomers. Tulips are not good repeaters. The best repeat tulips are the Darwin type.

• Plan for a succession of blooms.

Plant early, mid, and late flowering bulbs in the same area. Some garden designers plant large bulbs, then fill the hole halfway and plant minor bulbs over the top.

• Plan to hide the dying bulb foliage.

Consider planting bulbs amongst perennials, so the emerging perennial foliage will mask the dying bulb foliage. Never cut bulb foliage until it is completely brown.

• Consider a naturalistic random pattern with unequal spacing.

This is effective unless you have a very formal setting, At Long Hill we scatter bulbs by hand and plant where they land.

• Or plant several bulbs in one hole.

This saves time and provides a more concentrated show of flowers. However, the overall design will be more “spotty.”

• Plant bulbs fairly close together.

Deb Lambert recommends spacing equal to the diameter of the bulb, i.e., 6-inch spaces between 6-inch-diameter bulbs and 3-inch spaces between 3-inch bulbs. Do not plant bulbs so they touch each other or there will not be enough root room.

• If there are few existing bulbs in your garden, plant one area.

This is especially true if you have budget or time constraints, You will have a better show of blooms in a small space than if you plant a few bulbs throughout the garden. In succeeding years, plant other small areas.

PLANT AHEAD by Gail Anderson

 Each spring, we all have the best intentions to dig dozens of perennials for the annual Plant Sale, but it’s such a busy time of year! So, I’m following Barbara Ostberg’s example and potting some perennials for the sale this fall. The photo shows some hostas and sedums I’ve already potted. Here’s what you can do—

As you are doing fall garden cleanup, dig, divide, and pot some of your perennials. If the foliage is scraggly or has died, cut back to 3”-4” above the soil. You can pot perennials nearly to the end of October, depending on the weather. Don’t use plain garden soil in the pots. Use soil-less potting mix. Or mix your garden soil with generous amounts of peat moss (and Perlite, if you have it). Potted perennials like good drainage. Then sink the pots in the ground so that the top of the soil in the pots is level with the surrounding ground. Pack soil firmly around each pot. Pots must be sunk in the ground, or the plants will not survive the winter. Keep the pots well watered until the ground freezes. In the spring, you simply lift the pots and your plant sale donations are ready! This procedure also prevents potential shock if you wait and dig the plants in the spring.

--Gail Anderson, IGC Horticulturist

Why Design and Plant a Butterfly Garden? Oct.14th Meeting

My Butterfly Garden at the Ipswich Inn

Thanks to Catherine Carney-Feldman who shared her expertise and the butterfly garden she designed and planted at Ray Morley's B&B with the IGC! Catherine inspired us with much information about the life cycle and habitat of butterflies. She presented a slide show, gave many handouts and encouraged all to create a butterfly garden.
                                The meeting was held in the afternoon to catch the light in the Ipswich Inn garden had 22 members in attendance. The vote for changing the fiscal year to July 1st through June 30th passed. The Club is going forward to come under the Garden Federation of Massachusetts' umbrella of a 501C3 organization (registered non-profit).

September 13th Meeting

Thanks to Richard Scott, Supervisor, Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, who entertained and enlightened us with his long experience, love and wit about the state parks that are right here in our backyards. Certainly, we are all excited to see with new eyes both Bradley Palmer and Willowdale after Richard enlightened us on each park's history, flora, fauna and their present uses.

Janet reminded us that IGC has mailed everyone this year's program guide. Its bright lime green color should help keep it visible. Thanks were givien to Paige and Dorcas who worked so hard to preserve trees on Washington St. Susie Winthrop volunteered to take the open position of Plant Sale Chair.

Aldyth Innis and Lynda Mathey were hostesses for the event and they prepared delicious fall refreshments for us all.

See you all at our next scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 4th at 4pm at the Ipswich Inn on East St. Catherine Carney Feldman will be sharing with us butterfly-garden planting.

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FOOD WASTE PLUS Curbside Pilot Program -- and MORE!

COMPOSTING... ANOTHER WAY TO RECYCLE!
Would you like to be able to take your food waste, kitty litter and dirty paper (napkins, paper towels, pizza disks) out of your trash barrel and have it be composted?! If yes, then the ‘Food Waste Plus’ Curbside Collection Pilot may be for you! There is a pilot program planned for the fall.  Go to www.ipswichrecycles.org and sign up. You'll find more about recycling in Ipswich there too.

Click HERE to read more about curbside composting.

If you are interested or have questions and comments, please attend our second informational meeting at the Ipswich Library on Wednesday, Oct. 5th at 7pm in the Collins Room.


* NEW! Bulky, rigid plastic items (e.g. laundry baskets, trash barrels, plastic toys) are accepted at the Transfer Station, Wed & Sat 8am-3:30pm.

*NEW!  Scrap Metal items are now accepted at the Transfer Station also!  Items must be at least 60% metal.  No TV's or Monitors please.

Annual Recycling Extravaganza
Please come to our "Recycling Extravaganza"! It will be held at Winthrop School Saturday, September 24 from 9-1.  We accept electronics, scrap metal, books, and household items to be part of our "everything is Free" Yard Sale!


 Ipswich Recycling Advisory Committee