Minutes February Meeting

GARDEN CLUB OF NEW HAVEN, INC.

GENERAL MEETING

www.gcnh.blogspot.com

February 7, 2011

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

The General Meeting was called to order by President Carol Ross on Monday, February 7, at 12:21 p.m., at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut.

President Carol Ross welcomed everyone to the February General Meeting and introduced Anemone Schweizer-Kaplan who provided a committee report.

Garden History and Design—Anemone Schweizer-Kaplan

• The committee is gathering information on the history of Phelps Triangle, the garden selected for submission to the Smithsonian. Currently, between the years of 1975 to 2000, no information has been found about the park and what was done to maintain it. It is known that in 1970 the Phelps Triangle oak trees had died, a new design was incorporated for the park, and 12 cherry trees were planted to replace the oak trees; those cherry trees are now gone. Members who might have any information on file concerning the Phelps Triangle design or landscaping, please forward this to Anemone. Louise Carter, Peg Campbell, and Ruth Martin have come forward to help, and Jennifer Radford and Maria Miller will be contacted. Research has been conducted at the New Haven Historical Society regarding this project, and the gathering of information is ongoing.

• A landscape drawing (mounted on bond board) of Phelps Triangle, which was made by Jennifer Radford, is needed. Please contact Anemone or President Ross if you know of the whereabouts of this drawing.

Program

Debbie Moore, Program Chair, introduced guest speaker, Graham Stevens, Office Director, Constituent Affairs and Land Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Connecticut. The topic of his power point presentation was “Who Are We and What We Do,” a lecture with discussion concerning the responsibilities of the Department of Environmental Protection. In essence, Mr. Stevens summarized the DEP as a steward and protector of the land and water in the state of Connecticut.

Business Meeting

President’s Report

•President Carol Ross reported former GCNH member, Betsey Nininger, had experienced a fall and a broken femur and would, therefore, be unable to be the program speaker at the May GCNH General Meeting. Thankfully, Betsey is recovering and doing well.

• With heartfelt sadness, President Ross reported the passing of long-time GCNH member, Betsey Gentry. A GCNH member since 1988, Betsey had been a mentor to many, sharing her many talents, and passing on her love of gardening. She will be sorely missed. A special service will be held in the spring; a date and time to be announced.

• Members were asked to take note of the two special plants on display at the meeting: one, an exotic poinsettia brought by Louise Carter; the other, an unusual amaryllis from White Flower Farm, brought by Ruth Martin.

• Thank you to Corresponding Secretary, Marty Dauwalder, for providing copies of the December Holiday Workshop minutes.

• Thank you to Civic Committee chair, Judi Freudenburg, and to Lucy Elliot for their organization and contributions to another successful Holiday Workshop. President Ross read the most recently received thank you note from one of the recipients of the holiday arrangements; the note came from the Mary Wade Home.

• Reminder of upcoming events:

°All members are welcome to attend the flower arranging K1 Workshops. Watch for their listing in the GCNH blog.

°The Federated Garden Clubs of CT will hold a Standard Flower Show, “Capture the Magic,” at the Connecticut

Convention Center, February 24-27, 2011.

° Prospective member wine and cheese party, February 27, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the home of Nancy Duble.

• It was noted a GCNH General Meeting was not held in the month of January 2011.

• Amy Estabrook held a Shoot & Share photography workshop at her home on January 10; and another workshop will be held on Saturday, February 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Please contact Amy if you are interested in attending.

• Susan Ehrenkranz represented GCNH at a recent Zone II President’s Council meeting. Technology was the topic of discussion.

• Ballots for the Founders Fund 2011 Award were given to members present at this meeting. The three finalists and a description of their specific projects are mentioned in the current issue of The Garden Club of America Bulletin (Volume 101, Number 4, February/March 2011). President Ross read a description of each proposed project and asked members to mark their ballots for the club/project they felt most deserving of this award. The 2011 Founders Fund finalists are as follows:

(1) BEYOND THE BEETLE, Green Hill Park, Worcester, MA; Proposed by the Worcester Garden Club, Zone I.

(2) THE GREENWOOD CEMETERY PROJECT, Shreveport, LA; proposed by Sheveport Garden Study Club, Zone IX.

(3) KAME ALIVE . . . NATURE THROUGH TIME, Dayton, OH; proposed by the Garden Club of Dayton, Zone X. Ballots were marked and collected.

• Congratulations to GCNH club member, Nancy Bartels, who was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from the University of New Haven, CT, at the January 15, 2011, Winter Commencement. A newspaper report of this event is on the side table.

• Peg Campbell has donated a collection of books to GCNH, and these books are on the side table for review and purchase. Also, GCNH aprons and hats are on display and for sale.

Treasurer’s Report

• Treasurer, Sondra Haller, presented the following report.

Report of the Treasurer

Garden Club of New Haven, Inc.

January 1, 2011 to February 1, 2011

New Alliance $ 75,781.54

LWNP $ 6,139.38

Project Trees $ 16,578.07

Board Designated Legacy Fund $ 10,074.96

Zone II Meeting $ 7,743.50

Administrative $ 20,550.54

Civic $ 14,695.09

•GCNH recently received $7,349.00 from the Community Foundation. This money will be transferred from the Civic account into the Project Trees account.

• Congratulations and thank you to Ways and Means Chairperson, Vicki Arkins, whose organization of the Holiday Boutique helped produce a profit of $1,065.00.

Committee Reports

Flower Arranging—Lisa Lovejoy

•FGC of CT Standard Flower Show, “Capture the Magic,” February 24-27, 2011, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Our club has entered the Club Competition, Section D – Enchanted; Class 10 “Lotions and Potions.” Members putting the club competition design together are Cordalie Benoit, Amy Estabrook, and Lisa Lovejoy. Any members interested in helping with this entry are encouraged to join the group in a meeting in the Jones Auditorium after this general meeting. Vicki Arkins has entered Section C – Abracadabra; Class 8 “Sit a Spell.” Horticulture entries are open to all amateur gardeners, and registration must be received by February 12, 2011. Volunteers are needed to serve as Judges Clerk or Hostess (this includes free admission to the show). The Flower Show schedule, dates/times of the show, and contact information can be found on the FGCCT website: www.ctgardenclubs.org President Ross reported the Garden Club of Woodbridge has contracted transportation to this event, also. The Woodbridge club booked transportation for 30 people, had 20 sign-up, so 10 seats could possibly still be available. If interested in going with this group, information is on the side table, and the contact person is Linda Reilly @ 203-387-1051. Their bus will leave the Woodbridge Town Hall at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, February 24; a pickup will also be made at the Hamden Connector, Rt. 91, Exit 1, at 10 a.m. Approximately three hours will be spent at the show, with a return around 3 p.m. A ticket cost of $25 also includes the entry fee.

• K-I Workshops. All members are invited to participate; please sign up if interested.

° Wednesday, February 9, 2011 (Valentine’s Day floral arrangement).

° Wednesday, April 20 (Easter - Symmetrical Triangle design).

° Wednesday, May 4 (Mother’s Day - Hogarth Curve design).

•WAFA 10^th World Flower Show (World Association of Flower Arrangers), “This Glorious Earth,” June 16-19, 2011, at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA. This show has never been held in the United States. Over 600 floral designs from over 30 countries will be displayed. Group-rate tickets can be secured if 20 people sign-up per day. If 20 people do sign up, Lisa will arrange transportation and hotel accommodations for the group on Thursday, June 16, and Friday, June 17. Please contact Lisa if you are interested. lmlovejoy@yahoo.com.

Photography—Amy Estabrook

•Shoot & Share Workshop, Saturday, February 12, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at Amy’s home.

• Shoot & Share Workshop, Sunday, March 27, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at Amy’s home. These meetings can deal with any aspects of photography the members would like to cover. A schedule of upcoming photo shows is placed on the side table for review.

Membership Committee—Susan Wildridge

• Prospective member wine and cheese party, February 27, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the home of Nancy Duble. Invitations have been sent. Applications can still be submitted for membership consideration; the deadline is March 1, 2011. Telephone or email Susan if you have questions or want an application.

Hospitality—Rosita Murphy

•Thank you to all who brought refreshments to today’s meeting: Katharine Goodbody, Karyl Evans, Beth Gilson, Pamela Hamilton, Jenny Byers, Mae Festa, and Judi Freudenburg.

Guests

• Trish Helm (Master Gardener, 2010)—guest, and prospective new member, of Cordalie Benoit.

• Joan Nast—guest of Billy Ladd.

•Amanda Martin—guest, and daughter, of Ruth Martin.

Announcements

•President Carol Ross announced the Founders Fund 2011 ballots had been counted, and the majority of GCNH members present had cast their votes for BEYOND THE BEETLE, Green Hill Park, Worcester, MA; Proposed by the Worcester Garden Club, Zone I.

There was no further business for discussion.

M/S/P to adjourn at 1:58 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Recording Secretary, Marty Dauwalder