The October meeting provided an opportunity for members to showcase their artistic talents by creating seasonal wreaths using a variety of materials chosen to be reflective of individual tastes and talents.

Capt. Grizzy Show Boat Parade August 10

The East Hampton Belltown Garden Club entered a show boat in the 9th annual Capt. Grizzy Show Boat Parade on August 10, 2013.  Several club members and their family members joined Capt. Lori Wilcox on her boat.  A committee planned the decorations and theme.using the Friends of  Lake Pocotopaug (FLP) entry guidelines. See the parade route and judging criteria on the FLP web site.
Read about the show boat parade at East Hampton Today @htnp by clicking on the underlined links.

 

At dock, ready to launch.

 

Club member Judy wears the flower theme.

 

The sunshine and clouds matched the club's theme.

 

Along the parade route

 

Thanks to Captain Lori.  And good work, crew!

 

Fairy Garden Tour in Colchester

 

 

 

East Hampton Old Home Days Parade

The Belltown Garden Club entered a decorated car in the celebration parade.

 

Holly and Sue decked out for the parade.

 

Sue's car was decked out also!

 

Belltown Gardeners Visit Hecht Gardens

On a rainy evening, several garden club members met to tour the gardens of Ann Hecht at the end of White Birch Road.  Here are some photos sent by Bonnie.

January Meeting on January 30, 2013

We had a very nice evening of bouquets, wine and cheese--a couple days after the usual meeting date.  These January meetings are always unpredictable and Monday night was postponed due to hazardous driving conditions.  Lynn, Lisa, Peg, Sue, Kim, Cheryl, Adriana and Bonnie were able to get together on Wednesday.

Cheryl shared a bouquet of "flours" now that she is gluten-sensitive. 

Cheryl offered her arrangement to the public library for display in February.

Thanks, Cheryl!

 

Kim was inspired by Valentine's Day and used festive buttons in her vase.

 

Lynn created a wintry arrangement with pines, pinecone and white tulips.

 

Peggy looked forward to spring using daffodils popping

through a snowy white ground cover of statice.

Sue made a Valentine hat as though her granddaughter would wear her favorite colors.

 

 

And Dianne, who could not attend due to her new granddaughter's arrival

on Tuesday, had this arrangement ready on Monday

but visited the hospital to see Lily Rose on Wednesday.

 

Sue had t-shirts available for those who purchased them. They are in spring colors so provided a needed reminder of gardening in our future.  Sue will have them at the next meeting if you could not attend the January meeting.

Cheryl offered her house for the February 25th meeting. We will repeat the popular gardening book or gardening tip discussion--and more wine and cheese!  We have to survive these winter months somehow! 

We hope to see you at the next meeting. Watch for details in the Rivereast and in emails from Bonnie.

 

 

 



 

Summer Activities for EH Belltown GC

Lori Wilcox entered her boat in the Capt. Grizzy Showboat Parade on Lake Pocotopaug in August and asked the Belltown Garden Club members to join her.  Below are some photos of the members enjoying the day (after a weather delay!). The pontoon boat float had a composting theme.

 

That's a real composter on the back end!

Thank you, Lori, for inviting us to participate in this fun, summer activity

with a conservation theme.

 

The Belltown Garden Club also joined the Old Home Days Parade this past summer.

 

We'll use any opportunity to wear a hat with flowers and fill a boat or car with flowers. 

Thanks to Paul & Sandy's for the posies and Peggy for driving her car.

That's Lori hatless on wheels, rather than pontoons.

 

Sue Hewes, Projects Chairperson, held a summer meeting at the gazebo in the village center

to plan the renovation of the plantings there.

 

While sipping some wine and enjoying some finger foods, several members discussed what plants to keep or discard and what plants to divide or transplant in the fall in time for the plant & craft sale.

The Board of Education agreed to have the overgrown laurel bushes

and grasses removed from the planting bed. 

 

The beds are about 15 years old and the plants are overgrown so that they prevent maintenance of the gazebo (painting and repair of the lattice work). The Lions Club built the gazebo but it sits on Board of Education property (Center School). Paul & Sandy's donated hollies to replace the laurels and some smaller grasses will replace the overgrown grasses soon.

 

The Belltown Garden Club members also took shifts weeding the gazebo planting over the summer to keep it looking fresh.

 

 

Here's Lori weeding at the flag pole planting mid-July.

 

The flag pole planting grew from a Center School student project to a place where the Belltown Garden Club could plant some divisions from the nearby gazebo planting.  Now we help weed it through the summer to keep it looking colorful with bloom.

 

Sue also organzied some members to plant the planters at the EH Senior Center

 

and at the EH Public Library

 

with plants donated by Paul & Sandy's.

Similar plants were used in other civic plantings to keep a theme consistent around town

for the summer of 2012.

 

It's been a busy summer for members of the Belltown Garden Club.

We hope you consider joining us for the 2012-13 membership year

as we embark on another year of promoting interest and activity

in all forms of gardening, encouraging education to will lead to a deeper

appreciation of garden development, and when possible, to use

this knowledge to better our community.