Garden Club of New Haven
GENERAL MEETING
www.gcnh.blogspot.com
March 8, 2010
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
The General Meeting was called to order by President Carol Ross on Monday, February 8, 2010, at 12:15 p.m., at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT.
Peg Campbell presented a report on the GCA Founders Fund finalists. The February-March 2010 GCA BULLETIN highlights the three finalists being considered for the Founders Fund 2010 Award of $25,000.
(1) Training + Trees, Restoring New Haven’s Urban Canopy
New Haven, CT Zone II
Proposed by The Garden Club of New Haven – Seconded by The Litchfield Garden Club
(2) Planting Native Trees at Storm King Wavefield
Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NY Zone III
Proposed by The Ulster Garden Club – Seconded by The Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties
(3) The Urban Farm and Produce Stand
Wilmington, DE Zone V
Proposed by The Garden Club of Wilmington – Seconded by The West Chester Garden Club
GCNH cast a unanimous vote for: Training + Trees, Restoring New Haven’s Urban Canopy.
Program
Debbie Moore, Program Chair, introduced guest speaker, Kaye Vosburgh, 1st Grade Teacher Komon, who demonstrated floral design techniques of Sogestsu Ikebana while making seven arrangements. (Notes from this program are attached to these minutes and will be made available at the April General Meeting.)
Business Meeting
President’s Report—Carol Ross
Thank you to GCNH Recording Secretary for the February minutes, which can be found on the GCNH blog, www.gcnh.blogspot.com. Hard copies are available at the sign-in table for those without Internet access. Reminder: The Sunday after this General Meeting (March 14) is the deadline for submitting information to Ann Hoefer for inclusion in the GCNH Newsletter blog.
Kate Schmidt, Zone II Nominating Representative to GCA, announced that Debbie Edwards has been elected Zone II Program Chair. This is a wonderful honor for Debbie and GCNH. Congratulations Debbie!
Congratulations to GCNH members entering exhibits at Hartford’s “Spice of Life” Standard Flower Show. GCNH members won ribbons and top Judge’s Awards. Flower Design Winners: Nancy Ahlstrom—3rd place in Class 8; Vicki Arkins—1st place and Table Artistry Award in Class 2; Lisa Lovejoy—1st place and Designer’s Choice Award in Class 13; Betsy Nininger—1st place and CT Judges Design Award in Class 4. Horticulture Winner: Betsy Nininger—1st place for an ivy topiary design.
Katie Stewart and Marshall Lawson presented a $3,300 check to GCNH to be used for our Founders Fund project.
The Sasqua symposium, “Go Native,” will be held April 20, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Garden Club of Hartford is presenting a program at the New Britain Museum of American Art on April 6, at 11:30 a.m. Jenny Rose Carey will be speaking on “The Gardens of the Jazz Age.”
Meeting Reports
The steering committee for the 2011 Zone II Meeting met on Thursday, February 29, to prepare a broad outline for the event that will take place on October 26 and 27, 2011. The theme will be ‘neath the Elms, and the logo will be that which was created for the 1980’s “Project Trees” initiative. Plans include purposing the growing of elm trees for the gavel competition. Elm seed will be gathered this spring and 30-50 seeds sent to each of the 20 Clubs in Zone II. GCNH members will be encouraged to become involved in this project.
At the March GCNH Board meeting, Sharon Cappetta, senior philanthropic officer of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, provided an informative and instructive overview of the history and management of the Garden Club Project Tree Funds that are housed at the Foundation.
There are currently over 700 funds at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, all with fund agreements (to establish the fund and specify how the funds are designed to be used). In 1983 our fund was established with a gift of $5,000 by Marcia Stevens, Peg Campbell, Joyce Harris, Sandy Taylor, and Barbara Brink—the original signatories. The intent of the fund was for “proper care and maintenance of trees and shrubs on the upper green and other public parks and neighborhoods in New Haven.” In 1984, $10,000 was added, and additional monies came from local banks and businesses as well as individual Garden Club members. Funds today are at $134,429, and we are scheduled to receive a distribution of just over $7,000 for 2010.
We are grateful for the foresight of our members of the 1980s who established a fund that continues to support our on-going and important civic endeavors.
Committee Reports
Membership Committee—Debbie Edwards
Debbie Edwards, chair of the Membership Committee, announced a unanimous committee vote to recommend
Dr. Sandra L. Anagnostakis for Honorary Membership to the GCNH Board and to the General Membership. With enthusiasm GCNH approved the committee’s recommendation. This honorary membership will be bestowed at the May General Meeting—until then, GCNH members are asked to please keep this information confidential and a surprise for Sandy.
Hospitality—Rosita Murphy
Thank you to all who brought refreshments—Betsy Nininger, Stephanie Rank, Page Wildridge, Katharine Goodbody, Christine Janis, and Mikey Hirschoff. Thank you to Jeanne Bjorkman for the beautiful table arrangement.
Garden History and Design—Karyl Evans
More images are being added to the Garden History & Design features book. The committee is assessing two gardens for documentation. The next meeting will be held April 5, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the home of Nancy Duble.
2011 Zone II Meeting—Betsy Hartmayer
A meeting was held to discuss the Zone II Cookbook which will contain recipes from members, their families and friends. A publisher has been chosen. GCNH members will be asked to submit three to five favorite recipes along with a short narrative about each. GCNH Photography Committee will make the subject dividers for each section of the cookbook.
Flower Design—Lisa Lovejoy
April 14-16 - Middletown Garden Club Standard Flower Show, “Connecticut Barns & Farms – Their Beauty & Bounty.”
April 15-17 - Garden Club of Irvington-on-Hudson GCA Flower Show, “The Gilded Cage.”
April 22-25 - 29th Annual fine Art & Flowers at the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art.
April 29-30 - Rye Garden Club Standard Flower Show, “Founder’s Keepers.”
K-1 Floral Design Class will make the Hogarth Curve, on Wednesday, April 7, 12 noon, in the lower level laboratory room of the Jenkins Building at the Ag. Station. Please contact Lisa if you are interested in this workshop (open to all interested members).
May 7 - FA 101 Flower Arrangement Workshops for NOVICE Flower Arrangers only, and is limited to first 20 applicants.
Photography—Amy Estabrook
The first committee meeting was held, ideas for committee focus reviewed, and three selected. (1) Collection of old photographs pertaining to GCNH. (2) Collection of current photographs pertaining to GCNH. The committee will begin archiving photographs annually. (3) Garden Journal Workshop—visit a garden and learn how to correctly document it. A sign-up sheet was passed for members to notify the committee about photographs which can be offered for reprinting or interest in taking the workshop.
Conservation—Mikey Hirschoff
Flower Design and Conservation Committees are teaming together to present a program of floral design techniques, “Everything Old is New: Sticks, Stones, Frogs and More for Flower Design.” Lisa Evarts of “Hot Petunia Fine Flowers” will demonstrate six arrangements using reusable mechanics (arrangements will then be auctioned off). This program will be held at the Ag. Station on May 11, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Beverages and desserts will be served. Members of other garden clubs and their guests will be invited.
Mikey Hirschoff attended the GCA National meeting in Washington, D.C., and reported GCA is helping to make a significant impact on Congress regarding environmental matters. Mikey had the opportunity to hear numerous speakers and spoke with CT Senators and our local Representative or their aides. This year the focus of Connecticut club representatives in meetings with CT Senators and Representatives was on (1) climate change (an issue coupled with energy independence and green job creation); (2) Senate approval of the Law of the Sea Treaty; (3) full-funding of environmental programs (especially Land and Water Conservation Fund); (4) restoring and making permanent the enhanced tax deduction for donations of conservation easements; and (5) banning mountain-top mining. To Congresswoman DeLauro’s aide, club representatives emphasized the need to insure food safety regulations do not impose unnecessary costs and regulations on small and mid-sized farms.
Civic Committee—Judi Freundenburg
A questionnaire from the Civic Committee was placed on all the chairs at the meeting to be reviewed, filled out, and returned.
Guests
Guest of Marty Dauwalder: Jane McCoy
M/S/P to adjourn at 2:05 p.m.
The next GCNH General Meeting will be held on Monday, April 8, 2010, at 11:45 a.m.
Minutes submitted by Recording Secretary, Marty Dauwalder
Sogetsu Ikebana
“Sogestsu Ikebana is a three-dimensional artistic expression composed of flower and plant material arranged in a container, based on Japanese tradition.”
Traditional Sogestsu Ikebana - Placement of Plant Material (1st Line + 2nd Line + 3rd Line)
The height of all plant material used in this style originates on the container size which determines the 1st Line of plant material height, with each successive line measured on what is used before it.
1. 1st Line (tallest material used in the arrangement)
This material should be 1-1/2 to 2 times the measurement of the container diameter + the container height.
When placing the tallest material, cut the bottom of the stem on an angle, push it into the kenzan (flower frog), then tilt it 15°.
2. 2nd Line (2nd tallest)
¾ the height of the 1st Line. Slant this material slightly forward.
3. 3rd Line
½ to ¾ the height of the 2nd Line used before it.
4. Add depth to your arrangement by placing some plant material going towards the back.
Free-style Sogestsu Ikebana
Free-style Sogestsu Ikebana design was created in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara to embrace the modern age. The importance of height requirements (each one dependent upon the height of previous material used), is not considered. There are no specific rules to follow, per se; however, the designer should always consider the basic principles of design in art. The arrangement should be asymmetrical with an area of “more” and an area of “less” in the design, and depth going back in each arrangement. As designers we strive to help the arrangement “talk to us” and to help the plant materials of the arrangement “work together within the arrangement, itself.”
Lecture Notes:
•Ikebana stresses the beauty of nature.
•Cut all plant material under water. When the stem is cut it is crushed a bit by the scissors; when released from the scissors it draws air in, so if cut under water, it will draw in water instead.
•Remember to place the plant material forward a little.
•The space between the two main, lines (1st and 2nd Line) = negative space.
•If the 1st Line is a branch, place a shorter branch just behind it in back to look like it is growing from the main branch.
•Darken the trimmed areas of a branch with a “Magic Marker” so wounds are less noticeable.
•Specific numbers of like flowers are not necessary although three of anything keeps the eye moving, however. Never use four of any one type of flower because this number refers to death in the Japanese culture.
•To angle a branch, split a stick several inches on one end, insert the decorative branch you want to angle into this end, and then place the stick into the vase container.
•There are specific front and side views. Traditionally, in Japanese homes these arrangements are placed in the room equivalent to a living room in the Western culture.
•Sogestsu Ikebana is not judged because the person creating the arrangement is “putting her or his soul into the arrangement.”
•When using hollow-stemmed plant material (like Delphinium) which can be difficult to anchor on a kenzan, insert a small stick into the hollow stem; and then push this stick into the kenzan.
Educational Information:
•Kaye B. Vosburgh, 1st Grade Teacher Komon, Ikebana Lessons & Demonstrations: vosburghk@aol.com
•Country House Florals for supplies (kenzan): http://www.countryhousefloral.com/index.htm
•Website for Sogetsu North America information: http://www.sogetsu-na.com/sogetsu_home.html
•You Tube Video: Ikebana Plant Stem Holder - Japanese Kenzan Flower Frog, plus other related Ikebana videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybEUWWYdDA
•Boston Flower & Garden Show, March 24-28, 2010: http://www.paragonexpo.com/471.html
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