Marathon Daffodils Project

Just learned of the Marathon Daffodil Project and thought IGC members may be interested in how gardeners are bring beauty and hope. I hear the Mass Federation of Garden Clubs will also support this effort. Perhaps we as a club might decide to donate as well. It would be a wonderful way to honor those who  ran last April and those who will run again next Spring. Also it can honor our own Mitzi Marsh whose daughter was injured in the race's bombings.

 

From Boston.com    August 12th, 2013

The Boston Marathon route will shine like the sun next year, if local gardeners have their way. Several groups, including the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the New England Wild Flower Society, are recruiting volunteers and asking for donations to help support the planting of more than 100,000 daffodils along the marathon route.

“A lot of us wanted to do something to commemorate the marathon for 2014, and we support the runners and we wanted to do something to lift their spirits and beautify the city at the same time,” said Diane Valle, volunteer organizer for Marathon Daffodils.

Organizers hope to raise $26,500 -- $1,000 for each mile of the route -- to pay for the bulbs, which will need to be planted between October and December, said Valle, a Charlestown resident.

The type chosen for planting is the 'Dutch Master' because it is the right shade of Marathon yellow, she said, and should bloom in time for the big event.
“And, of course, we’re asking for Mother Nature to cooperate, which is a challenge but we’re going to work on good faith,” said Valle.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, New England Wildflower Society, The Garden Club Federation, The Town of Brookline Parks, The Charles River Conservancy and other groups are collaborating on the effort.
Donations may be sent to The Cooperative Bank, 201 Main Street, Charlestown, MA 02129.

North Green Butterfly Meadow.... Progression

We're happy to see the newly planted North Green Butterfly Meadow doing well this summer. Most of the plants have established themselves well and are needing less watering. (Thank you Susan Stone for helping with the watering in July.) The sedums are beginning to show pink flower heads, the asters have buds, the hyssops have tall lavender-flowered spikes and the Joe Pye weeds have reached an impressive size and are heavy with purplish-pink florets. We hope to map and evaluate the existing perennials and to decide what new plants might be added in the Spring. How well the plants do through the winter will be important in making decisions too. Hopefully we might have some fledglings seedlings to nurse along for the Plant Sale too.


Here's a progression of photos showing the garden's evolution with a little help (actually a lot of help) from our IGC friends!

 Historic North Green before renovation...

 March 2013

An opportunity to beautify Ipswich arises as the renovated North Green planting areas take shape.

Early May, 2013

Grass and tree had to be removed so that we could use the entire area for a butterfly meadow.

Early June, 2013

Ipswich Public works skulled off lawn and removed tree and added top soil. Now the job to amend and turn over the soil began.

 June, 2013

This was a tough job but with lots of members helping we were able to ready the area in a couple of work days.

Thanks to all the members show here... Can you dig it?

Mud Girls

Mid June, 2013

As our ordered plants arrived at Corliss Bros., we began planting perennials.

late June, 2013

Late Spring rains helped us with new plant watering.

You may have seen Barbara M. tending the new garden day after day.

Early July, 2013

To keep the weeds at bay, we added about 9 yards of mulch.

Here is the garden on the day we finished spreading mulch. Immediately after that job, we got a very heavy thunderstorm and rain... we couldn't have been happier!

 August, 2013

In early August the garden shows off its lavender hyssops, pink coneflowers, yellow coreopsis, and budding sedums.

Sept. 28th- North Green Dedication Ceremony. Members of the Ipswich Garden Club were thanked publically for their efforts in beautifying this historic neighborhood of Ipswich with the butterfly meadow.

Fall Garden Classes at Corliss Bros.

From Deb Lambert... an invitation to sign up for her fall gardening classes.

updated 8/17/2013
As of today, enrollment in the Pruning Workshops, Parts 1& 2, is closed. You may add your name to this waiting list in case of cancellations.
Spaces remaining in the other classes are filling rapidly. The following spaces remain--2 in 9/14, 4 in 9/21, 8 in 9/28, 6 in 10/5, 4 in 10/26 and 6 in 11/2.
 

Greetings, Fellow Ipswich Gardener,
It's that time again!  Time to start thinking about the fall semester of "Saturday Sessions" at Corliss Bros.  Eight weeks to hone your gardening skills, associate with fellow gardeners, and take away practical gardening info to employ in your own home landscape.  Classes begin 9/14 and run through 11/2/13.  Enroll in the entire series or go à la carte, choosing topics that best suit your needs.

Returning students will notice some changes; in particular, an expansion of our pruning workshop (now presented in two parts) and a rearrangement/expansion of fall feeding, composting, winter prep and winter birding - all essential topics as we close down our gardens for 2013. Returning students will need to show their usual patience, restraining their eagerness to enroll until after mid-August.  As always, there is a waiting list for matriculating students.  We are giving preference to new students in the registration process and judging by the response to date, there will be lots of eager, new gardeners joining us.

We have limited space in our little classroom and many serious gardeners are keen to enroll, so we only ask that your commitment to attending our free workshops, once enrolled, be a serious one.  As your instructor, nothing saddens me more than seeing empty chairs on a Saturday morning, which could have been occupied by someone on our waiting list.  So, if circumstances change once you're enrolled for a class, just drop me an email at your earliest opportunity so we can accommodate one of those patiently waiting gardeners.

How did you fare during this latest heat wave?  More to the point, how did your gardens fare?  Although 2013 has been quite a roller coaster ride, filled with weather extremes, general feedback has been largely positive.  A reminder that many stresses can be prevented or mitigated by following proper watering techniques and providing good plant nutrition.  We have found in our own yard that pressure from disease and insects is either non-existent or extremely low when nursery stock receives a weekly foliar feeding of Neptune's Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer.  These weekly applications help all plants cope with drought and heat stress, as well.  Drop by the garden center for applicator recommendations and to discuss the importance of preventative maintenance. 

Enjoy the remainder of your summer gardening, keep cool and sign up for a few classes.  The simplest way to enroll is to "reply" to this email.  Please include your phone number, as well.

Open the PDF attachment for a detailed description of topics and enrollment options. Corliss Fall Garden Class LIst

Deb Lambert
Corliss Bros Garden Center and Nursery