President's Letter February

The Snow-Storm

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air
Hides hills and woods, the river and the heaven,
And veils the farmhouse at the garden's end.
The steed and traveler stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm.

Come see the north wind's masonry
Out of an unseen quarry evermore
Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer
Curves his white bastions with projected roof
Round every windward stake, or tree, or door.
Speeding, the myriad-handed, his wild work
So fanciful, so savage, nought cares he
For number or proportion. Mockingly,
On coop or kennel he hangs Parian wreaths;
A swan-like form invests the hidden thorn;
Fills up the farmer's lane from wall to wall,
Maugre the farmer's sighs; and, at the gate,
A tapering turret overtops the work.
And when his hours are numbered, and the world
Is all his own, retiring, as he were not,
Leaves, when the sun appears, astonished Art
To mimic in slow structure, stone by stone,
Built in an age, the mad wind's night-work,
The frolic architecture of the snow.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a winter! Snow-storm after snow-storm has pounded our city, blurring the distinctions, blotting out boundaries, halting all movement, and creating new shapes and spires and hills in our formerly familiar landscape. By contrast, there was the radiance and warmth of our February meeting during which time we enjoyed being with one another, delighted in devouring delicious sandwiches and romantic candy hearts, celebrated the honors bestowed upon Nancy Bartels and the steady recuperation of Cherry Swords and Robin DuBois, and gazed with amazement – not at the radiant fireplace in which Emerson delighted but at the exotic poinsettia that Louise Carter brought and the dazzling hybrid ‘Chico’ Amaryllis grown successfully by Ruth Martin.

Our February speaker, Graham Stevens, Office Director of the Department of Environmental Protection, guided us through an informative presentation of the work of the DEP, noting that the department was both a steward and a protector of land and water throughout the state. He noted that the DEP not only develops regulations and policies and sets standards, but also manages the state’s natural resources (particularly fish, wildlife, and forests), works on climate adaptation, has developed a robust environmental justice program, encourages sustainability, and promotes a LEAN initiative to improve efficiency. AND, they have developed best management practices for the disposal of snow accumulations from roadways and parking lots – guidelines that we all applauded.

As we move further into the month of February, I know that you join me in searching for those hints of spring: temperatures that rise above 32◦, bright suns that begin to melt the ice, the green leaves of a mature boxwood hedge peeking through the snowbank, an afternoon trip without hats, scarves, or mittens. I hope, too, that you will no longer spend days with “friends shut out” but will venture forth to the Federated Garden Show’s Capture the Magic display (February 24-27) and join us for the prospective members’ wine and cheese party on Sunday, February 27^th, at Nancy Duble’s home. It will be wonderful to see you all!

Carol

February, 2011