"Plant, Nurture, Celebrate Trees"

The Arbor Day Assembly is an annual event at Winthrop School in Ipswich. Each year, the students from the lower grades take part in celebrating the beauty and the importance of trees. Students prepare for the day by learning how important trees are in their lives. When Arbor Day comes, they decorate themselves with headbands that show the leaves of their favorite trees, read poems, and sing songs. 

The IGC continues to be present at the assembly. Members Barbara Ostberg, Susie Glessner, Therese Armstrong, Paula Jones joined other parents to see President Maureen Leonard address the students and Vice President Debbie Trevarrow discuss the tree which is planted for the year and the seedlings that were given to each student by the Ipswich Forestry Dept. Honorary member, Armand Michaud was also at the assembly. This year, Maureen shared the message that students have the ability to make the world a better place. "One thing you can do is to plant a tree. Or if you can't plant a tree and don't have a place, you can still NURTURE a tree and CELEBRATE trees."

 

To read more about the IGC and its strong connection with the Winthrop School Arbor Day over the last 20 years, see our next IGC Newsletter which will be out in early June.

Can You Dig It?

The IGC continues to prepare for this year's Annual Plant Sale on May 19th. Have you been able to help on a Dig Day? It's a great way to do your part for the Club and get to know members, get exercise and have fun. Here are a few photos from two of the Dig Days this week.

If you would like to help with a "dig", please contact Carol Williams who is Dig Days chairman.

Joyce Kippin and Susie Winthrop work together on dividing some "great" perennials for the Plant Sale.

A perfect morning to dig and divide perennials... (right to left) Susie Glessner, Dianne Fischbach, Janet Craft and Maureen Leonard show how it is done.

Happy worker, Connie Price, fills newly potted plants with extra soil.

Dig Day at Barbara Ostberg's... Here is Barbara on the JD with Plant Chairman Susie Winthrop.
Are those "Bleeding Hearts" they are capturing for the Plant Sale?

Springtime at The Arnold Arboretum

"The structure and wide canopy on this maple are gorgeous"-- Gail Anderson

70• temperatures in April -- A perfect day to explore the Arboretum!
 

Thanks to the planning of Alicia Moore and Laurie McAleer, the IGC enjoyed a beautiful and fascinating Saturday afternoon at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University on  April 21st. Michael Dossman PhD, Curator of Living Collections at the arboretum, met with club members to explain the many aspects of his job. Dr. Dossman guides the development of historic and contemporary collection of woody species; he researches and documents each plant's native environment and past scientific research, and explores new ways to improve the management and collection of present and future plants. Dossman's presentation included a lecture and a glorious tour of selected collections of the Arboretum. It was a perfect warm and sunny day for learning about the importance of the ecological study of woody temperate plant species-- all this in the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants.

Top Row: (Left to Right) Richard Howard, Laurie McAleer, Alicia Moore, Gail Anderson, Therese Armstrong, and Nancy Howard. Middle: Joan Cook, Bottom Row: (Left to Right) Peter Moore, Michael Dossman, Annie Pulver, Susie Winthrop, (standing) Barbara Ostberg and President Maureen Leonard.

Photos by Maureen Leonard and Nancy and Richard Howard.

Early Blooms at Market St. Island

This article appeared in the Ipswich Chronicle on Thursday, April 19th.
We are so proud of Ann and all the work she and her committee do to beautify the town.

The Ipswich Garden Club has fulfilled another year of planting and maintaining the islands at Market Square, the Hall Haskell House and the corner of Main and Elm Streets. This year's early arrival of warm weather has brought the beauty of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils to the center of town in April. The Club plans to replace spring bulbs with summer flowers earlier than usual and to refurbish the Hall Haskell House garden.
  Special thanks to Ann Wright who chairs the Ipswich Garden Club's town beautification committee and her hardworking co-workers who plant, maintain, and water the flowers throughout the seasons. Many of this Spring's bulbs were chosen and donated by Pieter Messlaar of Messlaar Bulbs. Don't forget to take time to enjoy the floral displays when you are in town.

In Memory of Ann Hobson

Annual Meeting

This year's annual meeting was particularly poignant since it was the last meeting for Janet Craft as President; and a new beginning for Maureen Leonard who begins her two-year term as IGC's new president. Janet praised the work of members and reviewed the Club's progress these past two years. Maureen spoke of her goals for next two years. See the late June IGC Newsletter for more details. In the meantime, enjoy these photos from April the 12th. Thanks to Susie Glessner who graciously secured a beautiful site for the meeting.

 Laurie Matson, Joan Cook and Pam Kelleher pose for a quick photo. Laurie and Pam hosted the meeting.

 Therese Armstrong took notes of the meeting and took a "bean poll" in place of a questionnaire, to find out how people stood on several issues.

 Getting the meeting started is difficult, because everyone wants to visit.

Janet thanks the Club for a great two years as President. And THANK YOU

Janet for your guidance and leadership!

Grace Hanson and Susie Winthrop explain the guidelines for this year's

Annual Plant Sale as Paige follows along.

 Carol Williams has a Dig Day schedule for everyone to sign.

Dorcas Rice reads her report on the Ross Committee's 

activities this past year.

Everyone needs a little sherry at an Annual Meeting Tea. Cucumber sandwiches by Paige Mercer.

This year's Greenslet Cup entries on the theme "Early Birds".

 

And the winner is ... Maria Hebbel posing with IGC's new 

President Maureen Leonard.

Maria, Mitzi Marsh and Judy Hallberg enjoying the tea and putting up with

the photographer. Isn't that Gail Anderson in the background?