Wreath Workshop November 21, 2011

About a dozen members attended the November workshop to complete wreaths for the East Hampton Public Library and the village gazebo.  Sue, Projects Coordinator, decided to learn how to make a garland for the gazebo instead of the swag we've placed there in recent years.  She went to Ballek's Garden Center in East Haddam for help in learning how to do this. The process for making a garland involves small bundles wired (much like making a wreath) and wrapped with strapping cord (different from making a wreath).  Look for the garland on the Summit Street side of the gazebo with adorned with bright red ribbons for the holidays.

New member, Emma, learned to make a wreath with bundles of variegated greens wired to a metal wreath frame.  She was very successful with some help from Karen, President, and Ellen (not shown).

Cheryl helped make the bundles that were used to create the wreaths.

Members take a break for some pizza and conversation before finishing off the civic projects for the East Hampton Public Library.

Entry for Lions Club "Belltown Winter Wonderland"

Sue Hewes and her Projects Committee met Monday night, November 14th to create a wreath to donate to the East Hampton Village Lions Club Silent Auction.  The wreath is called "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" and will be among the offerings on display at the East Hampton Public Library before the silent auction in early December.  Nice job, Sue!

Meeting Monday, November 21, 2011

We'll be making wreaths for the East Hampton Public Library and the gazebo in the village center. Please bring lots of greenery including fir and pine branches and evergreens such as laurel and rhododenron to add variety and texture.  Be sure to bring some gloves and pruners. Wire will be provided but if you are making bundles, a wire ship will be handy.

Hostesses for this meeting are Ellen (paper goods), Sue (mulled cider), Cheryl (dessert) and the club will provide pizza.  Everyone should bring some boxed or canned foods for the East Hampton Food Bank.

Karen will be at the Congregational Church of East Hampton in the village center by 6 p.m. to get an early start on making bundles. Park in the lot between the church and the post office and come in the side door. Plan to come early if you can.

There was a great article in the Hartford Courant on Friday about making wreaths with photos and instructions for changing it for the New Year with herbs. It also outlines the "Artsy" part of making wreaths.  I couldn't find a link to the article but you might still have the Friday newspaper to take a look at it.  I'll bring a copy to the meeting.

If you haven't noticed--the Bradford Pear tree in the village center traffic triangle is gone due to the October storm. It will make our gardening there very different in the future.  Karen is checking into replacement (or maybe not!) with the Town Maintenance Department.  The photo is from my phone and, try as I might, I could not get it on the blog in the right orientation.  I'll send the original with an email notification of this blog posting.

 

Bonnie sent this link to remind us that even though it is the end of the gardening cycle for most of us, we can still enjoy blooms in many ways.  Click on "blooms"!

And one last encouragement...

This rose was still blooming yesterday.

October 2011 Meeting

The East Hampton Belltown Garden Club

met Monday, October 24, 2011

at the East Hampton Public Library. 

President Karen Gallmon began the evening with a short business meeting.

Vice President Bonnie Desaulnier and members Judy and Gloria

dressed in their Halloween black and orange.

Other members including new members Marsha (stripes),

Linda (maroon) and Kim (navy) let the pumpkins take center stage.

After the business meeting, member Judy and Projects Chairperson

Sue Hewes met to work on the Wadsworth Atheneum Festival of Trees project.

St. Nick and his sleigh will represent the Belltown Garden Club in the

Wadsworth Atheneum Festival of Trees in early December. Garden club member

Ellen is quilting a lap robe from fabric printed with national flags. 

Miniature ornaments from many countries will decorate his tree.

Gloria and new member Emma prepare to make their pumpkin arrangements

after Bonnie presented a short lesson in floral design including two YouTube

segments and a learning module that can be found at

Understanding the Principles of Floral Design

New member Kim and Hollye are set to begin their designs.

Cheryl has finished her floral arrangement

showing movement with diagonal lines and drama

with the red roses as the focal point.

Gloria explains her design principle based on a story of a drunken man.

Kim's arrangement exhibits balance and

a variety of materials in a monochromatic color theme. 

New member Linda puts final touches on her design.

Everyone displayed their arrangements for judging.

Sue wonders who will win first place.

Everyone carefully considered each arrangement and placed a ticket

near the arrangement they thought best showed

the elements of good floral design.

And the winner is...

Peggy Becker's design exhibiting good proportion, asymmetrical balance,

rhythm through use of a variety of colors and diagonal movement, and

dominance with a strong focal point.

Peggy donated her design to the East Hampton Public Library.

That's what this garden club is all about:  learning about gardening and plants,

meeting friends with similar interests, and bettering the community through gardening.

Meeting Monday, October 24th at 7 p.m.

The Belltown Garden Club meets Monday evening at the East Hampton Public Library.  The program will include instruction on floral arranging and the opportunity to make a fresh floral arrangement in a small pumpkin. Bonnie Desaulnier has put together a short program using U-tube video and a section of a DVD on flower arranging. There also will be several books available on floral arranging.  Hosts for this meeting are Ariadne Beauchamp and Bill Medeiros, Dianne Kimball, Judy Turck, and JoAnn Hewett. Please plan to attend.  We hope to see you there.

Mini Plant & Crafts Sale September 2011

The Mini Plant & Crafts Sale held in conjunction with the Fall Farmers' Market in the Congregational Church parking lot was successful in raising almost $150 for the Scholarship Fund.

Members brought perennial plant divisions and house plants to sell.  Many members are sewers, quilters, bakers, and papercrafters in the spare time when they are not gardening.

Ellen and Donna hang dried hydrangea.

Bonnie and Donna set up the raffle and some items for sale at the Fall Market.

Donna and Hollye set up Hollye's antique jewelry.

It was a gloomy day, but the sale was successful in raising some money for the Scholarship Fund.  A $250 scholarship will be awarded to a senior graduating East Hampton High School in the spring.

Fall Membership Meeting, September 26, 2011

We had an interesting program at our first meeting of the 2011-12 membership year--and we had remarkable attendance with many returning members and eleven guests. Five new members joined the garden club last night.  We look forward to getting to know them better as we go through our year of activities with them.

Sabrina Granniss and Sioux Wimler of crunchybits.net spoke on Sustainable Gardening.  They shared stories involving their families about composting and red wigglers, making manure tea, finding and eating wild edibles, and medicinal uses of plants such as a concoction called "boo-boo goo."

Sabrina and Sioux shared their enthusiasm for sprouts by describing how to grow fresh sprouts from raw buckwheat, snap pea, and sunflower seeds. You can find directions by typing "sprouting" in the search box on their blog called crunchy bits.

After the program while the speakers answered questions, some returning members refreshed themselves:  Donna, Sue, Gloria, Ellen, and Hollye.

President Karen Gallmon called the business meeting to order. Lori Wilcox, Secretary, took minutes on her laptop.  Bonnie Desaulnier, Vice President (far right), gave a report of the year's upcoming activities.

Karen Gallmon, President (center) and JoAnn Hewett, Treasurer, (right) talk with a new member.

Welcome to Emma, Marsha, Deborah, Katherine, and Kim.  We hope you enjoy our group.  We hope to see everyone at the next meeting, Monday, October 24, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the East Hampton Public Library Community Room.  Bring the materials needed to make a fall arrangement at the meeting.

Reminder:  Gazebo Dig, Monday, October 3rd at 4:30 p.m. at the Gazebo in the Village Center.  Please bring plastic bags, garden gloves, pruners, shovels, and some energy!  Projects Committee:  Sue Hewes, Judy Turck, Lori Wilcox, and Ellen Pettengill will show us what to do!  The gazebo is located in front of the Congregational Church in the village center.  Park in the school (upper drive next to post office) or church parking lot (lower) off Main Street.

Books and Websites mentioned by Sioux and Sabrina

Eat for Health by Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Nutrient density and ANDI scores

Elise and her sweet potato project and chlorpropham or Bud Nip

Lasagna gardening

Mary the Worm Woman and worm composting

Wild Man Steve Brill and wild edibles

Edible Landscaping with Rosalind Creasy

Sproutman Steve Meyerowitz