*****Winter 2016*****

As 2016 begins, we look forward to a busy and constructive year for the Cornwall Garden Club.   We concluded 2015 with educational meetings, a chance to demonstrate our creativity, a festive holiday event and, as ever, the good friendship of our fellow Garden Club members. 

October Meeting

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cornwall was the location for our October 15 meeting.  The day’s events began with a pot luck lunch.  The culinary expertise of our members was clearly evident in the wide variety of delicious lunch and dessert choices. 

After lunch, Philomena Mahood, an Adam’s Fairacre Farms floral designer, delighted us with her creations using a minimal number of flowers.  Philomena showed us that one doesn’t need an armful of blossoms to produce lovely and unique displays. 

A brief business meeting and a review of the horticulture exhibits followed the program.

 

  

November Meeting

November’s meeting was a hands-on workshop.  The evening’s assignment was to design a holiday centerpiece using the greenery and decorative elements provided.  Our instructors were Brooke Moore and Patti Martellaro, Master Gardeners from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. 

Brooke and Patti emphasized the importance of using Oasis as the base for the design in order to keep the greens fresh and hydrated.  They pointed out that lots of variety in the greenery used adds interest.  Members’ designs were beautiful and would definitely add holiday cheer to the home. 

The program was followed by some time for refreshments and to chat.  At the business meeting, we welcomed new member Dorothy Brooks and received the nominating committee’s proposed slate of officers for the upcoming year. 

“A Season to Celebrate”

Cornwall Garden Club members met at the Powelton Club on Sunday, December 6, to celebrate the season with gardening friends.  The Powelton Club was beautifully decorated for the holidays with poinsettias, greenery and festive lights. 

Adding to the seasonal décor were the design exhibits created by our members.  

The reflective table centerpieces were titled “Shining Light,  Shining Bright.” 

  

The excellent dinner was followed by dancing.  We also held a brief business meeting.  Marie Elise Pearson thanked those who served as board members for the past year, and we elected officers for 2016 – 2017.  The duties of president will be shared by Arlene DeSocio, Marge Krupa and Beth Nedwetzky.  The First Vice Presidents will be Lisa Morasse and Eileen Wood, and the Second Vice Presidents will be Marge Krupa and Angela Calabro.  Third Vice Presidents are Andrea Hamburger for 2016 and Rita Chase for 2017.  Dawn Vacek will continue as our Recording Secretary as will Beth Nedwetzky as Corresponding Secretary and Arlene DeSocio as Treasurer. 

District X News

The District X Fall Meeting and Luncheon was sponsored by the Garden Lovers’ Club and was held at Kuhl’s Highland House in Middletown on October 14.  The restaurant was filled with chrysanthemums and charming fall décor. 

After a tasty buffet lunch, a program on using everyday objects as the basis for floral designs was presented.  Drawings were held for gift baskets. 

The District’s Spring Meeting and Luncheon will be on Wednesday, April 13, at the Fountains at Middletown.  Invitations will be sent to all.  Let’s carpool! 

Library Book Donation

Each year the Cornwall Garden Club makes a donation to the collection at the Cornwall Public Library.  Our 2015 donation is Outstanding American Gardens:  A Celebration - 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy.   The book’s editor is Page Dickey and the numerous photographs were taken by Marion Brenner.  It features 50 gardens from across the United States including elaborate and expansive gardens and more simple cottage and vegetable gardens.  The photographs are a visual treat and illustrate landscape ideas that can be translated into our own smaller home gardens. 

Outstanding American Gardens celebrates the 25^th anniversary of the Garden Conservancy, headquartered in Cold Spring.  The Conservancy was founded by Frank Cabot, the creator of Stonecrop Gardens, one of our local treasures.  Mr. Cabot wanted to establish an organization that would preserve outstanding and unique gardens that reflect America’s rich gardening heritage.  To date, the Garden Conservancy has worked on preserving about 100 private American gardens. 

Many of these gardens welcome visitors as part of the annual Open Days program.  Check out their website (https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days/2016_od_schedule) for a schedule of when area gardens will be hosting visitors this year.   

The Language of Flowers

We think of a red rose as representing love, but have you ever considered what other flowers signify?  In the Victorian era flowers, and in particular the specific color of the blossoms, had specific meanings. 

Giving a bouquet of freesias would indicate that you were sending message of lasting friendship, whereas bulbs of purple hyacinths could be given to ask for forgiveness.  Marigolds signify grief and forget-me-nots, of course, to forget not!

A tale of the significance of flowers has been written by Vanessa Diffenbach in The Language of Flowers.  The book explores Victorian flower history in a way that captures a gardener’s attention.  In each chapter, details of the flower trade, orphans, homelessness, independence and triumphant love are described in a manner that surprises the reader.  The Language of Flowers is a must read for all flower lovers. 

Tina DeSchmedt-Wells

Editor’s Note:  I followed Tina’s suggestion and read The Language of Flowers.  A hearty green thumb’s up for this book.  It is available at the Cornwall Public Library in print form, electronically and on tape.  Andrea Hamburger.  

Annual Plant Sale

It’s not too early to start thinking about our Annual Plant Sale.  This year’s sale will be on Saturday, May 7, at the Cornwall Town Hall, so start spreading the word. 

Members are expected to attend from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  All members are welcome to lend a hand to unload the plants when they are delivered on Friday, May 6.  Please plan to be there by 11:45 a.m. 

Remember that members should bring two plants for the Members’ Plants booth and two baked goods for our ever popular tasty treat table.  You might want to donate something for the Silent Auction.  Or perhaps you know someone who might be willing to donate goods or services to the Silent Auction.  Ask around!   And don’t forget to collect a few “yard sale” items to donate for Grandma’s Attic. 

This year’s chairs, Arlene DeSocio and Andrea Hamburger will be looking for volunteers to assist with security at the Town Hall grounds on Friday evening.  Another volunteer opportunity - our post Plant Sale get-together needs a home.  How about your house? 

The Annual Plant Sale is our only fund raising activity each year.  The helping hands of all are needed to make it a success.  

Upcoming Events

Time to take out your new 2016 calendar and enter these Cornwall Garden Club activities. 

March 19, Saturday:  “Spring Luncheon and Installation” at Painter’s,

266 Hudson, Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson.  Social hour - 11:30 a.m. with Luncheon and Installation of Officers at 12:30 p.m. 

April 13, Wednesday:  District X Spring Meeting and Luncheon at the Fountains at Middletown.  Social hour with vendors in attendance at 11:30 a.m.

April 14, Thursday:  Cornwall Garden Club monthly meeting.  6:30 p.m. at Munger Cottage, Cornwall Town Hall, Cornwall. 

April 29, Friday:  Annual Arbor Day Observance.  2 p.m. Cornwall Town Hall 

May 6, Friday:  Set up for Annual Plant Sale. 

May 7, Saturday:  Annual Plant Sale

Think Spring!!!

******FALL 2015******

The past few months have been busy ones for the Cornwall Garden Club.  Community gardens were nurtured, meetings were held and trips were taken.  Here’s a brief look at recent club activities.   

July Meeting

In July, club members met at the CVS parking lot to carpool to Skylands, the New Jersey Botanical Garden.   The gardens are just south of the New York – New Jersey border, so the drive wasn’t too long.

 

The gardens were just beautiful.  Originally a private estate, a hardworking group of volunteers now does much of the work of tending the gardens.   We visited the Octagonal Garden surrounding the Octagonal Pool, the annual and perennial gardens and the hosta garden. 

Our tour concluded at the Visitors Center courtyard, where we arranged our lawn chairs in a large circle and enjoyed our bag lunches.  The hosting committee treated us to dessert, and we held a brief business meeting. 

Skylands is a terrific local destination for gardeners.  If you didn’t attend our July meeting, remember to make the trip in the spring when the azaleas, rhododendrons or lilacs will be in bloom.  And if you did make the July trip, you now know that visiting again is certainly something you should do. 

  

August Meeting

The Cornwall Public Library was the location for our August 18^th meeting, which was open to the public.  We met at 1:00 p.m. for our program, refreshments and business meeting. 

The program was a light hearted presentation on how victims were dispatched in literature by using poisonous plants.  Nancy Kolacz, the presenter, makes it a point to grow many of these deadly specimens in her own garden.   Nancy included much humor in her talk, and a good time was had by all. 

The meeting also included design exhibits using a line mass design and a horticultural exhibit of a toad lily.  Horticultural talks on sedum and genetically modified plants were given.  And no meeting would be complete without a lovely refreshment table prepared by the hosting committee. 

September Meeting 

“Fall Vegetables in the Garden” was the topic of our meeting held on September 24 at the Cornwall Presbyterian Church.  The meeting included transparency design exhibits titled “Looking Beyond,” horticultural exhibits a horticultural talk and delicious refreshments.   

                             

Fall’s Glorious Blossoms

Chrysanthemums are everywhere this fall.  These beautiful autumn days have been filled with their glorious color.  Cornwall Garden Club members planted, watered and tended chrysanthemums at various locations and in various ways.  

The Main Street urns sported sunny yellow mums and the baskets on the Canterbury Creek Bridge and the town parking lot overflowed with blossoms.  Chadeayne Circle was brightened by an assortment of different colored chrysanthemums.   And many Main Street businesses added to the festive air by adding more flowers and fall décor to their storefronts. 

 

The burlap wrapped mums used for decoration for the Sands Ring Homestead fundraising event were repurposed by the Garden Therapy committee as gifts to residents at the New Windsor Country Inn.   Committee members delivered the plants and visited with residents. 

Garden Club members also delivered a mum to our dear Honorary Member Jeannette Stowe.  Club members also visited Jeannette on her birthday. 

Winter might be fast approaching, but for now, let’s enjoy the final flowers of the season – the hardy and so very colorful chrysanthemum.  

 Fall Harvest Treat

Our local orchards have produced a bumper crop of fruit this year.  Why not use some of that harvest to bake a seasonal treat.  Here’s a family favorite from Tina DeSmedt-Wells.  

Grandma Market’s Open Fruit Cake

Pre heat oven to 400°Grease 8 inch x 12 inch pan (double the recipe for a larger pan)

½ stick butter (1/8 lb.) softened         

1 cup flour

¼ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon salt (or less)

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Sugar and butter for glaze

Fruit of choice – Italian plums, apples, peaches

Mix flour, salt and baking powder together.

Add sugar and egg.  Mix well.

Add butter and vanilla.  Mix all together.  (Works best by squeezing by hand.)

Put in pan.  Arrange fruit on top.

Place small pieces of butter on top and sprinkle sugar on fruit to glaze.

Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Bake for ½ hour at 400°.  

Hen of the Woods

Dawn Vacek found this “Hen of the Woods” mushroom recently.  According to AmericanMushroom.com, the “Hen of the Woods” mushroom is an edible wild mushroom common in the Eastern United States.  It appears in the fall, often at the base of oak trees. 

The name “Hen of the Woods” refers to its appearance which looks like a chicken with ruffled feathers.  The Japanese name for this mushroom is “Maitake.”  This means dancing mushroom and refers to the fortunate mushroom hunter dancing with joy when finding a specimen. 

Remember that wild mushrooms can be extremely poisonous and eating some varieties can cause death.  Do not eat wild mushrooms unless someone highly experienced in species identification has given the okay. 

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar for these upcoming Cornwall Garden Club events.  

November 17, Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m. - Workshop and meeting at the Cornwall Presbyterian Church, Cornwall-on-Hudson.  Learn how to make a “Fresh Greens Centerpiece” for your holiday table.  Those wishing to participate in the workshop should RSVP to Fran Clifford by October 30.  The cost for materials will be $20.00 for members and $25.00 for guests, with payment in cash or by check due at the meeting.   

December 6, Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. – Our annual holiday celebration will take place at the Powelton Club.  “A Season to Celebrate” will begin with a social hour at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing.  There will also be a brief business meeting.  The cost per person is $40.00.  Please RSVP and send your payment to Brigid Flynn by November 15.

And Don’t Forget

Please don’t forget to complete your preference sheet for 2016.  The preference sheets are used to help in the formulation of our committees for the upcoming year.  When possible, individual requests are honored, but this is not always feasible.  Bring your sheet to the November meeting or send it to Michele or Marie-Elise. 

Cornwall Garden Club annual dues in the amount of $20.00 for active members and $25.00 for associate members are due by November 30.  Checks, payable to the Cornwall Garden Club, can be brought to the November meeting or sent to Arlene.