IGC Butterfly Meadow for the Holidays

¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Deck the Halls ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Thanks to Joyce and Jack Kippin for spreading Joy in Ipswich Town

IGC WANT AD

Annual IGC Greens Meeting - Friday, December 5th

Things to Bring to the Greens Meeting

Fall Cleanup at the IGC Butterfly Meadow

HORT MINUTE November 2014 IGC Meeting

Tuesday, November 18th "Hands-on" Meeting. See you at the Ipswich Library at 6:45pm.

Who Doesn't Love this Weekend...

October 2014 Hort Minute by Therese Benadé Armstrong

October Meeting... Saturday, October 18th, 10am

September Hort Minute by Gail Anderson, IGC Horticulturist

A Walking Fieldtrip- Winthrop Elementary Visits the Butterfly Meadow

On September 16th, Winthrop students visited our butterfly meadow garden.

September Meeting at Appleton Farms

Local Cable Show Features IGC Butterfly Meadow by Deb Trevarrow

Great News! The producer of a local cable show in Ipswich was so enamored by our butterfly meadow that he has devoted a segment to it called, "Art in the Garden!"
The gentleman photographed Barbara Monahan and Paula Jones in the garden in July and then created several lovely paintings. He interviewed Barbara and myself  last Friday about the IGC and how the butterfly meadow was established.  The garden was hailed as an excellent example of our club's mission of education, conservation and beautification.  Recognition was given to the many IGC members who have helped to establish and maintain the butterfly meadow as well as the other beautiful IGC gardens in Ipswich!  We will let you know soon when and where the program will air. The club will also receive a DVD of the program to keep for our archives.

Another proud moment for the IGC! 

Photos by Deb Trevarrow

 

Visit the Butterfly Meadow Garden this Summer

East End Open Studio Art Show

Summer Garden Tours ... Check out the List

Alicia Moore refers us to a very good list of upcoming summer garden tours. Check out "Peek Into Your Neighbor's Backyard Oasis: Our Summer Garden Tours Preview" at WBUR's The ARTery website http://artery.wbur.org/2014/06/19/garden-tours-preview. You'll find a full schedule to inspire your horticultural explorations. And just a reminder that the Stevens-Coolidge Place perennial gardens have been restored and a trip to North Andover to see them might be a wonderful local adventure.

Happy Summertime

Free Lecture... Phragmites... Dealing with Phragmites

If you can't attend the live presentation, you will be able to watch this program live on your TV at the same time it is being presented. Also, in the week following the presentation, ICAM will show it each day at various times. About 3 weeks after the presentation you will be able to see it on your own computer by going to the video/film section on ICAM's web site. You can also borrow the hard copy from ICAM and view it that way.

Mayflower to be published ONLINE

Earlier this fiscal year, the Federation committed itself to making our quarterly news magazine, Mayflower, accessible to all members of federated garden clubs. Our objective is to enable a wider audience to learn about the GCFM and local club activities, as well as educational opportunities that can help make us all better gardeners, floral designers and stewards of Mother Earth.

We have concluded that the best way to do this is to make Mayflower available electronically, in addition to its current printed format.

Beginning with the summer Mayflower issue, you will be able to access the digital Mayflower two ways:

1.     Each time a new issue becomes available, the Federation will email all GC presidents a hyperlink that they can share with their members — either by forwarding the original email or by including the link in their own club newsletters. When clicked, this link will take you to a pdf (acronym for "portable document format") of the new e-Mayflower.  Club members will be able to read this pdf, save it to their own computer desktops, and/or print any (or all) desired pages. The e-Mayflower will be identical to the printed version — same photos, same articles, same advertising, etc.

2.     The e-Mayflower will also be accessible via the www.gcfm.org web site. At the top of the home page you will notice a new tab called "MAYFLOWER." Clicking on this tab will take you to a page where the link to the latest e-Mayflower appears. Click on this link, and you arrive at the pdf of the issue. Read, download, print, enjoy!

Another Annual Plant Sale Success!

IGC Spring 2014 Newsletter

CLICK HERE Read the 2014 Spring IGC Newsletter in PDF form.

IGC Annual Plant Sale- See You There!

Some Ideas on Perennial Books from Gail Anderson

Gail,
I seem to remember you mentioning a perennial book or two that you like. Do you have a recommendation? Mine are so lacking.
Thanks,
Laura Larson

If you want a book that concentrates on the perennial plants themselves individually and in groupings without a lot of side topics, then you might like RODALE'S ILLUSTRATIONED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PERENNIALS by Ellen Phillips & C. Colston Burrell. Be sure to get the 2004 edition or a later one if it exists (you can find cheap copies on ebay). Obviously it will not have the latest cultivars, but it has all the tried and true varieties (over 700 pages).
http://www.rodaleinc.com/products/books/rodales-illustrated-encyclopedia-perennials
Another book that, apparently, is wildly popular is THE WELL-TRAINED PERENNIAL GARDEN by Tracy diSabato Aust. It has more about planting, maintenance etc. but also covers the plants. I don't own it so can't speak from personal experience. Again, be sure to get the latest edition which may be 2006. (note: Paula J. loves this book)
http://www.amazon.com/Well-Tended-Perennial-Garden-Planting-Techniques/dp/0881928038/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397502779&sr=1-1&keywords=the+well+tended+perennial+garden+by+tracy+disabato-aust
Then American Horticultural Society offers two huge comprehensive references. One is A-Z ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN PLANTS. We use an earlier version as the "big book" reference at the garden club plant sale. It covers not only perennials but some woody shrubs and trees and some plants that are not hardy in our zone. It's also a bit outdated and does not include some of the cultivars. However, as a one-stop go-to reference I still like it.

There's also the A H Society's A-Z ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PERENNIALS, which is also huge and comprehensive. However, it too, covers some perennials not hardy here. Have been tempted to buy this one but haven't sprung for it yet.

Link for both of the above:
http://www.ahs.org/gardening-resources/gardening-publications/ahs-gardening-books

Best wishes,
Gail
 

Marathon Daffodil Project

See the results at the link below:
 http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/25286392/marathon-daffodil-project-lights-up-race-route-with-hope

Dig Days Calendar

Annual Meeting... New President and Officers... a Note from Deb

And the Winner Is...

Thank Your Maureen

from MAUREEN

Recommended Viewing from Alicia- What Plants Talk About

Recommendation for Viewing from Alicia:

Nova-like PBS' NATURE science series is definitely worth watching. As the growing season begins you will learn so much from watching the episode "What Plants Talk About".
This episode premiered last year in April 2013. We watched this the other night and it is excellent, presents new research. Clever experimentation shows recent discoveries of how plants communicate.
     This is fascinating; it is amazing. It gives a new understanding of what plants are up to. I notice there are several books related to the fairly new topic of  "plant thinking".
Watch the episode online at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/what-plants-talk-about/video-full-episode/8243/

Environmental Gardening Course begins March 18th

Update: This course is now full. Catherine plans to offer it again in the Fall of 2014 and in the evenings.

January 2014 "Hort Minute" by Susan Stone

    The Latin name for African Violets is Saintpaulia after the founder Baron Walter Von Saint Paul-lllare in 1892 and native to Tanzania, southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. The African Violet is in the family of Gesneriaceae which also includes such plants as Gloxinia, Streptocarpus, Aeshynanthus, and Episcia.
    African Violets are quite easy to take care of and just need a bit of love and care for it to bloom. If it is in just the right sunny/humid location they have been known to flower almost continuously. Just keep the soil moist to dry, and allow the soil around the roots to dry out before watering to encourage blooming. It is best to water from the bottom with room temperature water. I keep a gallon jug of water full at all times. This ensures room temp water. When feeding, use 100% water soluble African Violet fertilizer, keeping in mind there is a specific food for the miniature varieties. Basically they need equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Read the container labels as some companies use cheaper ingredients with impurities.
    African Violets thrive in moderate to bright, indirect, indoor light. Rotate your plant every time you water them or once a week to ensure even sunlight. They do best with temperatures around 70 degrees, trying not to allow temps to fall below 60 or rise above 80 degrees. African Violets thrive with humidity. In the Usambara Mountains of East Africa the humidity is generally 70-80 percent. In most homes they do best with at least 50-60 percent humidity. Without this the buds will fail to open and overall your plant will not be happy. An easy way to increase humidity levels is to place open jars of water around your plants, or have their pots sitting a top of moistened pebbles. They also like to be placed in the bathroom while someone is in the shower.
    African Violets are susceptible to powdery mildew. The leaves will look white/powdery. I spray common Lysol above the plant from a high vantage point so a fine mist lands on the plant. They are also susceptible to crown rot which occurs when there is poor air circulation and when they have been over watered.
    Lastly, the best potting soil for African Violets is one with no dirt or soil, and keeping the ph between 5.8 and 6.2. They grow best being slightly root bound in small plastic or ceramic pots. A good soilless mixture to make yourself is (using a lb. coffee can as a unit of measure):
3 parts Canadian Sphagnum Peat
2 parts Vermiculite
1 part Perlite
1/4 part Ground Charcoal
2 TB Dolomite Lime
1 TB Superphosphate
    If this is too much, you can purchase commercially bagged African Violet soil and put a couple handfuls of perlite or vermiculite in it. To avoid any micro organisms that can be in the soil, I pasteurize the soil before potting. It can be baked on a tin foil lined and covered baking sheet at 180 degrees, and checking to make sure the internal temp is also 180 degrees for 30 minutes. This also kills weed seeds and fungi. Last fall after repotting most of my houseplants before bringing them inside for the winter, I noticed that all the plants that were repotted grew mushrooms. So now I bake my soil, or, just inquire with a reputable greenhouse about soils.
    There are many websites, but a couple of good ones are: www.avsa.org and www.optimara.com African Violets look pretty any time, but especially when they are flowering during the cold winter months.

Ipswich Moving Company Presents...

For Tickets and information call Ipswich Moving Company 978-356-5565 or email: info@ipswichmovingco.org. Online tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Ticket Co. www.brownpapertickets.com

Allison Kemmerer Shows "Industrial Strength" by Carol Williams

Fellow IGC member (a.k.a. Curator of Photography and Art After 1950) Allison Kemmerer has curated a terrific show, titled "Industrial Strength", at the Addison Gallery. Don’t miss it!  Beautiful images – mostly photographs, along with some drawings, paintings, and lithographs – evoke a broad spectrum of emotions about industry in America from the late 19th century through the present. The main images I carry away in my head are of the bridges, especially a Walker Evans series on the Brooklyn Bridge, in which the geometric images look almost abstract.
Some of the most moving pieces are of people. Winslow Homer’s New England Factory Life: Bell Time, from an 1869 Harper’s Weekly, shows hundreds of weary workers walking home, and the winding mass of stumbling people snakes back to the horizon. 
Justin Kirchoff’s five-panel Sewing Room, Lawrence includes so much loving detail about the work and workers that looking at it becomes a kind of Where’s Waldo experience: bundles of pant legs stand beside a chair with a woman’s lacy sweater draped over the back, and Christmas decorations hang above industrial-sized ironing boards and bobbins. This one is oddly comforting, because the individuality of the workers is evidenced all over the workroom.  Others stand out for their astonishing beauty – lush green undergrowth in Rackstraw Downes’ Henry Hudson Bridge Substructure is a startling contrast to the hard lines of the looming bridge.

And Hopper’s Railroad Train is gorgeous, with the train trailing smoke as it runs right out of the frame. Much of the show is of the industrial east, and the ones of the industrial west are almost refreshing. The Thomas Hart Benton painting of cattle loading verges on being a cartoon, or a children’s book illustration, and a line of grain silos dwarfs the lone human being down at the bottom. 
"Industrial Strength" is a fine complement to the Whistler show, with all those bridges. Go see it! http://www.andover.edu/Museums/Addison/Exhibitions/IndustrialStrength/Pages/default.aspx  

In Memory of Joan Cook

The Naming of Roses by Judy Hallberg

Last October I was eager to put away shovels, trowels, clippers, gardens carts and various pots and trellis and I thought perhaps this was the year I would lose my desire to put my hands in dirt, cut back canes, and become over-protective of tiny 2-leafed sprouts poking through the potting soil.  Then I slid around the Whipple House gardens this morning on my old X-country skis and found myself very interested in what was going on under the snow, would the pear trees produce another super crop, would the roses out-last the June rains, would the Hollyhocks return to either the Bradstreet El or the Housewife's Garden Fence, and maybe, this year, would we discover the names of more antique roses.

I'm working on an article for NE Journal of Antiques, about antique roses, and am stuck on the section I call the naming of roses. For your enjoyment (I hope) I'm sending you today's writing accomplishment (so far) a poem that captures, for me, 6 years' experience attempting to put names to all the roses we have in the garden here. Just as we confidently labeled our Great Maiden's Blush, it seemed to evolve and need a different label. The same could be true of the white spinosissima, some of the cabbage, and even the apothecaries. I could be tempted to give up and call each of them by whatever suits any of us from one year to the next. Perhaps they are conspiring now, under the foot of snow, gleeful at the prospect of trading some stripes, some blush color, some quantity of whorled petals amongst themselves just to keep us guessing.

February Meeting .. CANCELLED BECAUSE OF WEATHER

Observations on New York City Parks- January 28th

Winter Teas at Barbara Ostberg's

Here's to Another Year- Happy 2014!