April 10th Annual Meeting-- Note NEW LOCATION!

Susie Glessner's house is under construction and the project is running behind schedule.  She has arranged for us to use her brother's home very near her house on Argilla Road for the Annual Meeting at 2pm on Tuesday, April 10th.
 

Note from Janet

Jan Blencowe

Hello Fellow Garden Club Members,
 
Our Annual Meeting is coming up on Tuesday, April 10 at Susie Glessner's brother's home at 2:00pm.
 
Please note the following information:
#1. You recently received a notice from Jani Gunsaulus for membership dues.  The amount was incorrect for sustaining members;
Should be: $40.00 Active members and $50.00 for Sustaining members.  April 10th is Deadline for annual dues.

#2. Jani will be stepping down as Membership Chair later this spring.  She has done a great job for the Club for the last five years.  Under her leadership our membership has grown and the Club has added many new contributing members. Thank you, Jani!

#3.  We currently will have several offices open this spring. As your outgoing president, I want to say how much I've enjoyed being your president. All members - both new and old - should consider serving the club in some leadership capacity whether co-chairing the Plant Sale, serving as a committee chair, or as an officer of the club.  It's fun to be involved and to promote the outstanding work  of the club and carry on the fine traditions that have been established over our 80+ year history.

- Membership Chair
- Vice President
 
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN SERVING OR WANT TO RECOMMEND SOMEONE.

Many thanks,
Happy Spring
Janet

You are Invited to a Dance Concert

Ann Hobson's Memorial Service

 from Janet:

On behalf of all of Ann's friends at the Ipswich Garden Club, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to all of Ann's family.


Ann joined the Club just a few years ago.  But in that short time, we all enjoyed her companionship, her gardening expertise and all the energy she brought to our various projects - the Greens Meeting, making holiday decorations for the town's buildings, offering a helping hand with the spring clean up at the Town Wharf, and participating in our Annual Plant Sale fundraiser.


Many of us did not realize that Ann's illness had progressed so quickly.  It feels like a sudden and enormous loss.  It is difficult to image Ipswich without Ann here contributing her many talents and always sharing her gentle and generous spirit.  She was a good friend and we will all miss her very much.

Biography and Services

Ann Peyton Hobson, 64, of High Street, Ipswich, died peacefully on February 11, 2012 in the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following her brief illness.
Born March 29, 1947 in Louisville, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Robert Cochran Hobson and Elizabeth Crews Senter.  She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her Nurse Practitioner degree from Simmons College. Ann was a naturalist and athlete.  Her eye for art and love, unsurpassed.  She owned and operated Hobson's Gallery in Ipswich.  Many years ago she cooked and share owned Alfalfa Restaurant in Lexington Kentucky.  Many more years ago, Ann traveled and exhibited her black and white photography. Most recently she was employed by Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.  

She is survived by her siblings,  Liz Hobson of Lexington, KY, Jane Hobson Marcus of Long Grove, IL, and Bo Hobson of Asheville, NC, and best friend, Lea Nation formerly of Ipswich. She also leaves behind her nephews Sam Hobson, Elijah Martin, and Jesse and Peyton Marcus, godsons Graham and Alexander Schmidt, and her faithful feline companion Pearl. 

Her family expresses appreciation and admiration to Ann's many friends for sharing in her life.
A memorial service celebrating Ann's life will be held on February 18 at Ascension Memorial Church, 31 County Street, Ipswich at 5:00 pm. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Arrangements are by the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA. 01923.V

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

Taking a Stand on Washington St. Project

Janet Taisey Craft
62 East Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
978-356-0334 jtcraft@comcast.net

March 5, 2011

Charles Surpitski, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
Town of Ipswich
Ipswich, MA 01938

RE: Washington Street Project

Dear Mr. Surpitski,

I am writing to the Board to express my concern regarding the planning and scope of work for the Washington Street Project. Of particular concern is the planned removal of twenty (20) mature trees from the streetscape.
As President of the Ipswich Garden Club, I represent an organization that for eighty-one years has devoted its efforts to the beautification and environmental preservation of our town. The planting and preservation of trees has been an important mission of the Garden Club. In 1976, a trust was established, The Helen W. Ross Fund, for the sole purpose of purchasing, planting and maintaining trees and other plantings for the beautification of the Town of Ipswich. Since that time over a hundred trees have been planted in the town along streetscapes to enhance the beauty and provide shade.
The Washington Street Project specifies the removal of twenty trees. These are mature trees that are over thirty years old and provide a beautiful canopy and add to the aesthetic beauty of the streetscape. The plan calls for re-planting new trees. But new trees will take twenty to thirty years to mature if they survive. The survival rate for the first three- four years of streetscape trees can be as low as 10%.
I request that the Board defer final action on the Washington Street Project until alternatives can be explored to save the trees. Several members of the Ipswich Garden Club with landscape design expertise can be helpful to the town and are planning to attend your March 7th meeting. I also request that no final action be taken until the Town’s Shade Tree and Beautification Committee (of which I am a member) can review the plan and make their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.

Cordially,


Janet Taisey Craft
President, Ipswich Garden Club
Member, Ipswich Shade Tree and Beautification Committee

President's Message: Gardening News and Events

Janet Taisey Craft

Is anyone interested in volunteering to hostess the Art in Bloom show at the MFA?

From The Garden Club Federation Of Massachusetts

February 3, 2011

Be a hostess at Blooms! at the Boston Flower and Garden Show!

Volunteers are needed to be a hostess in the ballroom where the two Design Divisions are staged. Duties include answering questions (you will be given a sheet with frequently asked questions and answers) and discouraging the public from touching the exhibits. Shifts are 3 hours. On the day of your service, you will be able to see the rest of the show at no charge!  Show dates are Wed. March 16 - Sunday, March 20, 2011 from 9 am - 8 pm daily except for closing at 6 pm on Sunday.  Please contact Vivien Bouffard at vbouffard55@msn.com or 617-933-4934  to sign up. Thank you very much!

For those interested in wild flowers, you may want to check the events at the New England Wild Flower Society. Link on to: www.newenglandwild.org/visit/events

Cocktails and Garden Books! The Arlington Garden Club announces their annual "Books in Bloom" event in early March.

The lobby of the library will be filled with unique and creative floral arrangements that will bring to life a variety of books. Local florists as well as Garden Club members will create the arrangements. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and are available at the Circulation Desk at the Robbins Library or by e-mail from Pat Cura of the Garden Club (cura.pa@gmail.com; 617-947-4159) or Amy McElroy of the Friends (ae65@verizon.net; 781-648-4109). Checks can be made payable to the “Arlington Garden Club”.  This program is presented by The Friends of the Robbins Library and the Arlington Garden Club. Proceeds will benefit Arlington’s libraries and the Arlington Garden Club.


Local authors will also be featured with their books. The Jazzabelles will provide background music during the program.  Delicious and savory hors d’oevres and sweets will be served and cocktails will be provided for sale. 

With Warm Regards,

Janet