NAUSET GARDEN CLUB’SSpring 2011, VOL XXVII, No. 3, Issue 120Bev Singleton, Editor

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Mary Ellen Sussman

Wow, it’s cold outside!  I guess I’ve been kidding myself that the Lower Cape was going to miss the worst of the snow and cold this winter.  Well, we haven’t had Boston’s snow, but the temperature this morning was perilously close to zero.  I always wonder: if the dividing line between Zone 7 and Zone 6 is 0oFarenheit, how many times do we have to have below-zero weather to lose our Zone 7 status?  The USDA may tell us what zone we’re in, but it’s our plants that tell us the truth about the weather. Being forced to cancel our January meeting was a real disappointment. If any of you happened to stop by Mary Garrett’s flower shop next to Phoenix Fruit just after the cancellation, you would have seen the beautiful flowers she had purchased for her floral demonstration.   The peonies alone would have made you swoon.  We’ve reimbursed her for the flowers and hope to have her come to

one of our fall meetings.

Stacey Morgano reports that the requests for scholarship applications are coming in fast. We should all be so proud that we are able to offer three $5000 awards. There isn’t another club in our Southeastern District (and maybe the entire state) that can afford to be so generous.

I’m looking forward to the day trips we’ve planned for the club.  The first one, on March 18th, will be our trip to the Boston Flower Show, which is always fun.  The blast of cool fragrant air that hits you when you walk in immediately transports you to spring.  It would be enough if they had only the landscape gardens, some of which are truly inventive.  Others are simply beautiful.  But they also have the huge flower show competition, the horticultural show, the special exhibits, and good shopping for garden-related goodies.  I usually buy my dahlia tubers there and get them potted up soon afterward.  It’s the beginning of gardening season. What else could you ask for?

ORLEANS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2ND GRADE “ART IN BLOOM” – Carol Newsome/Irene Mitchell

In January, the second graders at the Orleans Elementary School prepared artwork with the theme “Love and Friendship.” Several of our club members did flora interpretations of the art. These were displayed alongside the art at a reception for the second graders, their parents, and our floral designers. The entire project was a huge success, enjoyed by all who participated. The flower arrangements were spectacular and the children loved them! Sorry you all couldn't have been there to see and hear their enthusiasm! Thanks to tall of you who participated and to those who came to the reception. We know you must have enjoyed it as much as we did!

ART IN BLOOM – Nancy Clough/Wendy Bellavance/Janie Wilson

We are getting excited about our Art in Bloom fundraiser planned for May 18th.  Please look for the clipboards across from the sign-in table at the March and April meetings, and sign up to prepare a general design (a floral arrangement complimenting a work of art), a table setting on a card table with a floral design to match, or a tray set for brunch with a floral arrangement.  Those of you who are not doing a design, please sign up to help with set up on the 17th and 18th. We need everyone to participate in order to make this a success. Thank you in advance...it will be fun!

GARDEN THERAPY – Heidi QuillThe Garden Therapy committee has been very busy in October, December and February. We are known to the residents of the Latham School as the “Gardening Grannies” (with apologies to all who haven’t reached that golden age) and are welcomed by the kids when we bring our projects to them. They are always excited to see what we have for them. They love to make something to take away and happily tell us what they are going to do with their art and nature work. In October it was colorful dried and live flowers in a hollowed out pumpkin for each person. December brought glitz and bling in evergreen arrangements, and in February they made Valentine cards featuring hearts and flowers, real and imagined. April and June will feature plantings in individual spring baskets, and then in large containers for the whole campus to enjoy all summer. It’s safe to say that Latham School visits leave us all with a sense of warmth and gratitude for being able to bring a little fun and beauty to the residents.

HOSPITALITY – Carolyn Dowd

Hospitality assignments are being made alphabetically so that everyone participates in making sandwiches, cookies, a fruit platter, or a centerpiece. Members will receive a reminder call in advance of the meeting. If you are unable to fulfill your assignment, it is your responsibility to find a substitute and call the chairman, Carolyn Dowd, at 508-240-0071 with the name of the person taking

your place. Please list the ingredients on a 3x5 card and bring your contribution on a serving plate to the hospitality area by 11:30 AM. Members bringing sandwiches are expected to set up the luncheon table and serve beverages. Those bringing cookies are responsible for cleanup.

MARCH 9TH APRIL 13 TH MAY 18TH Sandwiches (4 dozen) Sandwiches (4 dozen) “Art in Bloom” Jean Uebele Marcia BechtoldKim VonThaden Mary Ellen BowerAnn Ward Susan ChristieEdith Ward Sandra DelnickasMartha Williams Sally DrewJanie Wilson Lynn FarberJoyce Wood Marilyn Ayer

Cookies or Fruit (2 dozen) Cookies or Fruit (2 dozen) “Art in Bloom”

Martine Amundson Carolyn DowdVirginia Barker Elaine DownsJeanne Berdik Connie BenderBarbara Blanchard Ann BrownMarilyn Bornemeier Nikki CarterElaine Brooks Janet ChappelOonie Burley Melinda Conrad-Cooke

MEMBERSHIP – Sue McFarlane/Jan Crabtree

Please make the following change to the Membership Roster in your yearbook:

Gagliano, Jan – email address: houseparl@comcast.net (missing an “e” in the yearbook)

Santry, Betty – resigned from the club

PLANT SALE – Gretel Norgeot

Once again our annual plant sale will be held at Friends Market Place on Saturday, May 28 th beginning at 7:00 AM. All members are expected to contribute at least 6 plants to the sale, so please start thinking about what plants you will bring. Plan to pot them up well ahead of the sale, so they will have enough time to set good roots. Besides contributing plants, members are asked to assist in setting up the sale, assist customers with their purchases, and help clean up afterward. So, be sure to sign-up for the job that most interests you. Sign-up sheets will be at our March, April, and May meetings.

RECEPTION FLOWERS for CCMNH – Debby Saliba

Each week one of our members supplies a plant or flower arrangement to be on display at the reception desk of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (CCMNH). Assignments are being made alphabetically. The arrangements

should be delivered to the library on Thursday in a disposable container, if possible.  If the container is not disposable, be sure to put your name on the bottom. Please tuck a card under the container listing the names of the flowers and plants in the arrangement and any specific watering instructions.  No artificial plant material may be used. When you drop off your arrangement, please pick up the container from the previous week (if it was not disposable) and return it to its owner at our next monthly meeting.  If you are

unable to fulfill your assignment, please find a substitute and let Debby Saliba, Chairman, know who will be filling in for you.

MARCH: 3 – Connie Bender APRIL: 7 – Beth Bradanini MAY: 5 – Nikki Carter 10 – Jeanne Berdik 14 – Elaine Brooks 12 – Janet Chappel 17 – Barbara Blanchard 21 – Oonie Burley 19 – Sue Christie

24 – Mal Bornemeier 28 – Jan Capodilupo 26 – Nancy Clough 31 – Mary Ellen Bower

WILDFLOWER GARDEN – Jeanne Berdik/Sue Christie

The Wildflower Garden is in hibernation for the winter season, but the work continues there.  The young man who did tree work in the garden for us last winter is there again to cut down two dead pines --- one on the edge of the garden and another just as one turns left on a Museum trail. The Museum and the NGC are sharing in the cost of this endeavor.   Judy McKenzie has put up a wonderful birdhouse with a copper roof in the center of the "Fern Garden".  And, before we know it, spring will be here!  The crew who tends the garden assembles the first Tuesday in April just as the garden is awakening.  Every week

there are new surprises in the garden – first the ephemerals such as the wild lupine, star flower, and hepaticas followed by the fiddleheads, wild columbine, shootingstars, lady slippers, and trailing arbutus just to name a few.  April and May (into early June) are the busy times in the garden for the flowers and for those of us who tend them.  We hope you will pay us a visit and see this special place in bloom this spring.

CALENDAR

MARCH 2 BOARD MEETING: 9:30 AM* at Cape Cod Five; Hostess: Sue Christie

*Refreshments at 9:00 AM 4 WORKSHOP: 9:00 AM at CCMNH

“Underwater Creative Design” presented by Mary Finan and Marty Williams; please bring flowers suggested for this, a small pin holder, and 1 gallon of distilled water; a clean cylinder container will be provided; fee $15.

9 REGULAR MEETING: 11:45 AM – Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans (Horticulture and Design entries due by 11:30 AM)

Program: “Controlling Invasive Species on the Cape” by Seth Wilkinson, Wilkinson Ecological Design

Design: Underwater – a creative design (Handbook page 212, 1-6)

Horticulture: “Tough and Handsome” – a planter containing succulents, not a

Underwater Design landscape; accessories not permitted. (Handbook pages 112-114)

Member’s Choice Exhibit: “Something Special to Show or Tell” – not to be judged; describe on a 3x5 card with your name on the back.

18 TRIP Boston Flower and Garden Show; The bus will leave from Staples parking lot at 8:00 AM and return by 5:00 PM. Please send you check for $36 to Nancy Clough. This will cover the cost of the bus and your admission ticket. Reservations will be on a first come, first served basis.

APRIL

6 BOARD MEETING: 9:30 AM* at Cape Cod Five; Hostess: Dinny Goodwin * Refreshments at 9:00 AM

8 WORKSHOP: 9:00 AM at CCMNH“Arrangement in the Oriental Manner” presented by Elaine Downs; please bring a low-sided dish (rectangular, oval, or tulip shaped), notebook, small watering can, clippers, and pin holder; flowers and branches will be provided; fee $15

13 REGULAR MEETING: 11:45 AM at Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans (Horticulture and Design entries due by 11:30 AM)

Program: “Edible Centerpieces” by Lou Greenstein, Epicurean Consultant

Design: Design in the Oriental Manner – incorporating flowering spring branches (Handbook pages 177-178, A and B)

Horticulture: “Dancing Daffodils” – a single daffodil of standard size (not miniature), displayed in an appropriate container.  (Handbook page 129)

Oriental Arrangement Member’s Choice Exhibit: “Something Special to Show or Tell” – not to be judged; describe on a 3x5 card with your name on the back.

MAY 4 BOARD MEETING: 9:30 AM* at Cape Cod Five; Hostess: Jan Crabtree

*Refreshments at 9:00 AM

11 GRAPEVINE DEADLINE

18 “ART IN BLOOM” 10:30AM – 3:30 PM at Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans (set up on the 17th)

28 PLANT SALE Friends Market Place, Main Street, Orleans – deliver plants by 6:00 AM; sale starts at 7:00 AM.

”I heard it through the Grapevine…” Editor’s Note: As time and space permit, we will include items of personal interest in this column. If you have a special gardening story, recipe, poem, photograph, helpful hint, or special event in your life that you would like to share with our members, please mail it to me at 6 Viking Road, Orleans, MA 02653, or email it to seafarms@gmail.com.

A Book Review by Mary Ellen Sussman

EDIBLE ESTATES:  ATTACK ON THE FRONT LAWN, by Fritz Haeg (Metropolis Books, 2d Ed.  2010

Warning:   if you read this book, you may never look at your front lawn in the same way again. When it was first published in 2008, the basic concept in Edible Estates was a bit out of the mainstream.  Americans tend more than 50 thousand square miles of lawn and we spend about $30 billion per year on them.   Yet most of those lawns are occupied only when they are being tended.  Our lawns are a bad habit, which we are now slowly beginning to reconsider.

The case against the front lawn is hard to refute.  Our lawns devour resources as they pollute our ground, water, and air.  The gasoline motors that cut and trim them are responsible for a sizable amount of our greenhouse gas emissions, because the hydrocarbons they produce react with nitrogen oxides to produce ozone.  We ply our lawns with fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to create a boring monoculture, and then drink water from the very aquifer into which those same chemical pollutants and poisons have seeped.

Edible Estates proposes that we rethink our slavish devotion to the suburban lawn ideal.   At the same time, it recognizes and incorporates the powerful recent movement, which demands fresh food locally produced.  The book describes in words and pictures how eight prototype vegetable gardens were started in the front yards of typical suburban homes in various locations across the U.S. and in England.  Despite the initial hostility of neighbors in some instances, the gardens prove that the elimination of a front lawn can transform a banal and arguably wasteful use of land into an important source of fresh food, and at the same time become a place of beauty and pride in the neighborhood.

This book is an inspiration.

Cranberry Lemon Walnut Cookies- Recipe from Bev SingletonSome of you asked for the recipe for these cookies, which I brought to the February meeting. I’m so glad you enjoyed them. Be warned that if your household has a cookie monster, as mine does, you should consider doubling the recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients:1/2 cup butter1/2 cup sugar1/3 cup brown sugar1 tsp lemon zest1 egg2 tsp vanilla1 cup flour1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon1½ cups chopped walnuts (or pecans)1½ cups chopped fresh cranberries

Directions:Cream the butter, sugars, and lemon zest. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Stir in the nuts and cranberries. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350o for 10-12 minutes, or until golden. Let cool slightly before removing to cooling racks. Yield is about 40 cookies.

Looking ahead to June, we will be taking a bus to the World Association of Flower Arrangers Annual Meeting in Boston on Friday, June 17th. Details will be announced later.

OTHER DATES OF INTEREST:Southeastern District Annual Luncheon, Pine Hills Golf Club, April 21, 2011Museum of Fine Arts “Art in Bloom” show, Boston, April 30 to May 2Newport Flower Show, June 24-26, 2011Osterville Garden Club Garden Tour, July 14, 2011Barnstable County Fair, Standard Flower Show, July 16-23, 2011Falmouth Garden Club House Tour and Standard Flower Show, August 3, 2011