******FALL 2013******

 

 

President's Message

As summer gradually turns to fall bringing to a close our gardening season, I love looking back on all we've done so far.  With a little help from the rain and our members’ dedicated labors, the gardens around town look great.  

The Plant Sale (hard work, but well worth it), learning how to photograph landscapes and flowers from a pro, walking through such individual member gardens and a visit to Stonecrop on a cloudy August day remind me that our summer was productive, interesting and fun.  

Now if I could only get my asters and mums to have flowers larger than a pinhead, all would be well.   

Jayne

 

 

 

July Meeting

Walking Tour of Members Gardens

July found us visiting three gardens tended by our members.  We started our evening at Helke Pavlaka’s Plum Point home.  Helke’s garden showed us how gorgeous plants can be grown in limited space by using containers. 

 

 

 

We then went to Joan Roach’s home where space isn’t an issue, and she has room to raise fabulous organic vegetables.  Our final stop of the evening was at Sally Mattausch’s beautiful traditional flower garden.  

 

 

We stayed at Sally’s for refreshments, presentations of horticultural talks and exhibits, and a brief business meeting.  Spending a summer evening visiting gardens and being with gardening friends.  What could be better! 

Photos courtesy of Margaret Vatter. 

 

 

August Meeting

Harvesting Inspiration from the Stonecrop Garden

 

August found us traveling again, this time to Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring.  We met our guide in the parking area and began our tour at the Conservatory.  After a comprehensive tour of the gardens, we enjoyed our brown bag lunches with beverages and charming dessert bags provided by our hostess committee.  Lunch was followed by our monthly business meeting.

 

 

If you weren’t able to join us for the Stonecrop visit or would like to go again on your own, the gardens are open from April through October from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  Admission is $5 per person.  Each season brings different wonders to Stonecrop Gardens. It is a true local treasure and is well worth repeated visits. 

 

 
   

 

September Meeting

Designs from the Gardens’ Bounty 

Floral design was the topic for our September meeting.  Skilled floral designer and National Garden Club Master Flower Show Judge Lynn Arnold demonstrated several designs using the guidelines from the Handbook for Flower Shows.  

 

 

Lynn began her presentation with a functional capsule table design.  She emphasized using things in the design that are meaningful to you such as family table linens.  She then demonstrated a transparent design using a sea fan and seasonal flowers.  Her final design was a reflective design with tropical leaves and orchids.   

 

Refreshments, horticultural and floral exhibits, and our monthly business meeting completed the evening. 

 

    

 

 

 

        

  

 

 

 

Dues

Annual dues for each member of the Cornwall Garden Club are $20.  Associate member dues are $25.  Your annual dues should be paid by November 30.  A check payable to the Cornwall Garden Club can be sent to our treasurer, Arlene DeSocio.  

 

A portion of your dues goes to our district and state organizations.  We pay $5 per club member to District X and $8 per member to the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc.  One can easily see why our annual Plant Sale is so important as it generates the bulk of our operating funds. 

Snow-on-the-Mountain

When we went to Stonecrop in August, a plant that caught our eye was Snow-on-the-Mountain or Euphorbia marginata.  We came across it in the Systemic Order Beds and its distinct foliage set it apart.  None of us were familiar with this beauty, so here is some information about this member of the spurge family.

 Euphorbia marginata is a native plant and is found in the wild in much of the United States.  It grows from seeds and is considered a weedy, invasive plant in many areas.  It was one of the botanical specimens collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1806 along the Yellowstone River in what is now Montana.  It is often called Snow-on-the Mountain due to its white leaves. 

 Euphorbia marginata is an annual grown from seeds for its unique foliage.  It grows best in light shade in a ph neutral soil.  It has medium water requirements and likes a somewhat moist area.  The plant has showy leaves that are light green, variegated or all white.  It grows to be 1 – 3 feet tall.  Tiny flowers with whitish, petal-like bracts appear in clusters atop the leaves.  But the flowers are unimpressive, and it is the foliage of Euphorbia marginata that makes it special. 

 

 

Of particular note for Hudson Valley gardeners is that Euphorbia marginata is highly deer resistant.  This is because the plant is quite toxic.  Its milky sap may cause dermatitis that can be severe.  This plant is not for picking.  Plant the seeds where you want it to grow and avoid touching it without gloves. 

Consider adding this interesting plant to your garden, but keep its toxicity in mind.  Those beautiful leaves that we found so intriguing definitely have a negative side to them.  

 

Information from .

Water for South Sudan

Each year we make a donation to World Gardening.  Our World Gardening contribution supports Water for South Sudan.  Water for South Sudan, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 2003.  It is based in Rochester, NY.  They operate with a small paid staff and a network of committed volunteers.  Support comes from civic, educational, faith-based groups, individual donors and grants from foundations. 

Their mission is simple: drill borehole wells that bring safe drinking water to the people in South Sudan’s remote villages, transforming lives in the process.  This mission is inspired and led by the founder of the organization, former “Lost Boy” Salva Dut. 

As of May 2013, Water for South Sudan has successfully drilled 177 borehole wells, bringing clean, safe water to hundreds of thousands of people in South Sudan.  According to staff member Lynn Malooly, they expect to drill 30-40 new wells during the upcoming drilling season.

South Sudan is one of the world’s newest countries.  It achieved independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011.  It is one of the world’s poorest countries, and is about the size of Texas.  Sudan’s war-torn region of Darfur is hundreds of miles north and west of where Water for Sudan currently operates.  The people in this region are often underserved by larger international humanitarian and government sponsored relief organizations. 

Lynn sends greetings and many thanks for our continued support to the members of the Cornwall Garden Club from Water for South Sudan. 

Information from www.waterforsouthsudan.org

 

 

Japanese Anemones

If your fall garden is all chrysanthemums and fading summer annuals, give some thought to planting a real fall beauty – Japanese anemone or windflower.  When we think of anemones, the spring blue, white and pink Anemone blanda comes to mind.  But the pink, rose or white Japanese anemones bloom in September and October.   

 

Japanese anemones are long-lived, fibrous rooted perennials.  Their leaves form a dark clump that is attractive from spring on.  However, they are late to sprout and might not emerge until May.  The arched, graceful flower stalks appear in late summer and are 2 to 4 feet tall.  According to the White Flower Farm website, Japanese anemones are deer resistant and prefer partial sun.  They like moist but well drained soil.   

Relatively disease free, Japanese anemones are available from online and catalog sources and local gardening stores.  Give your fall garden a new look with these different and lovely plants. 

 

 

Design Ideas with Bulbs

Barbara Wexler-Hall spoke to us last April about bulbs.  Remember her fantastic photos of the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands?  Fall is the time to think about creating your own little Keukenhof.  Garden centers and catalogs are brimming with choices and here are a few ideas courtesy of American Meadows, www.americanmeadowscom, to make your spring bulb display special. 

Plant bulbs in clusters. Don't plant one bulb alone, or make a long thin line along the walk.  Clusters give a concentration of color for greatest impact.  Even if you don't have enough bulbs for a big bed, small clusters can make a super spring show. 

Plant low bulbs in front of high.  This is a good general rule for bulbs that bloom at the same time.  Bulbs are usually marked with the height of the plant and its approximate flowering time.  Of course there are times to break this rule.  For example if the low growing bulbs bloom early and the tall bulbs bloom late, plant the tall in front.  Their display will camouflage the dying foliage of the smaller bulbs. 

Try a double-decker effect. You can plant small bulbs in a layer right on top of large bulbs. If you plant bulbs that flower in the same period you can create an interesting double-decker effect (picture bright pink tulips blooming above cobalt blue grape hyacinths).  Or you can stagger the bloom time by planting mid- and late-season bloomers together, creating a spring display that blooms in succession, for a whole season of color. 

In the end, what you do with fall bulbs limited only by your imagination. A few hours one brisk autumn afternoon can yield months of colorful excitement in your yard or garden next spring. 

 

Preference Sheets 

Preference sheets for our 2014 activities will soon be distributed.  The preference sheet is a critical tool for planning for the upcoming year, so please complete your sheet and return it promptly.   

An important part of the preference sheet is the listing of the times when you know you will not be available to attend club meetings.  The hosting and exhibiting assignment committees use this information to schedule your hostessing and exhibiting responsibilities.   

Don’t forget to list the committees you would like to serve on and the ones you do not want to be assigned to.  It’s particularly important to indicate whether or not you are physically able to be part of one of our beautification projects.  If those bad knees just won’t let you get down in the dirt the way you used to, make certain you say “No” to any gardening duties.   

Those making assignments for 2014 will try to honor your requests, but this isn’t always possible.  Whatever committee you are selected for, you’ll have a good time with your fellow club members and you’ll be providing a valuable service to your community. 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events and Dates to Remember

 

 Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. 

October 9 – District X Fall Luncheon and Meeting hosted by the Artful Gardeners.    West Hills Country Club, Middletown.  The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m.  Contact:  Lynn Burns (845) 856-4515 to see if a last minute reservation is possible.   

October 17 – October meeting at Kowawesee Unique Park.  Meet at 11:30 a.m. for a potluck lunch.  Bring a dish to share.  The hostess committee will provide beverages and dessert.  Lunch will be followed by our program – dividing into small groups and creating arrangements using pre-selected materials and containers provided by the club.  Our monthly business meeting will conclude the day’s events. 

 

November 15 – Reservations for our December Holiday Get Together due. 

November 20 – November meeting at Munger Cottage.  Our program, “Bringing Garden to Hearth and Home,” begins at 6:30 p.m.  We will make a traditional Colonial Williamsburg centerpiece at this workshop held prior to our November business meeting. 

November 30 – Annual dues are due. 

December 8 – Put on your dancing shoes for our annual holiday gathering at the Mountainville Manor.  The festivities begin at 5 p.m. 

And please save the date – Our annual Plant Sale for 2014 will be on Saturday, May 10.