****Winter 2015****

President’s Message

A sincere thank you to my Executive Board and to all the members of the club.  They are the ones who keep the club running smoothly and accomplishing so much.  Being president was a pleasure. 

Enjoy the relaxation of the winter months and have a wonderful New Year!

Jayne 

Road Trip!

Club members hit the road for our October meeting.  We met at 9:00 a.m. at the Cornwall Plaza and boarded our West Point Tours bus for the trip to the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. 

 

After arriving at the Gardens, we first had a guided tour of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a Victorian-style glass house.  The conservatory was filled with tropical plants, shrubs and trees.  The orchids were beautiful.  But the real stars of the display were the chrysanthemums or “Kiku.”  Single immense blooms, bonsai, cascading plants with hundred of blossoms, beds – there were chrysanthemums of all colors, sizes and flower shapes. 

 
 

 

We took a lunch break at the cafeteria, and then members were on their own for the afternoon.  The tram provided a trip around the entire site.  There was the rock garden, the native plant garden and the charming children’s garden chock full of Halloween pumpkins.  The gift shop had many intriguing garden-themed items for purchase.  Needless to say, we found plenty to do.

 

Back on our bus for the return trip to Cornwall, the refreshment committee had a goodie bag of snacks for each member to enjoy on the way home.  While the day started off with rain, the weather improved by the afternoon, making walking around and admiring the gardens a pleasure.  And whatever the skies, sunny camaraderie filled the entire day.  

November Meeting

November found club members meeting at the Cornwall Presbyterian Church for a workshop on design titled “Small Designs Made Simple.”  Ann Bloom and Mary Jane Gisselbrecht gave a brief presentation and demonstration of design principles.  They used a line-mass design as their example.  Club members then had a chance to give it a try using material provided by Ann and Mary Jane and following their basic template.  The results were an impressive array of displays. 

Horticulture presentations were about Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus and spider plants. 

The business meeting included the presentation of candidates for officers for the upcoming year and information about replying to Garden Club email messages.  Michele reminded members that, as one of our first vice presidents for membership, she is the conduit for messages, not the originator.  We need to send our replies to the member who created the message rather than hitting reply and sending a message back to Michele. 

The day’s refreshment table abounded with treats and highlighted the ongoing fall season.  

December Holiday Celebration

The Cornwall Garden Club celebrated the holiday season with a festive get-together at the Powelton Club in Newburgh on December 14.  The evening included a delicious dinner, good fellowship and dancing.  

 Jane Madis, District X Director, was our guest for the event.  New officers for the upcoming year were elected.  In addition to the lovely holiday decorations gracing the Powelton Club, Cornwall Garden Club members created reflective table exhibits for table centerpieces.  

 

District X News

The District X Fall Meeting and Luncheon was held at the Eagles Nest in Bloomingburg on Wednesday, Oct. 8.  The Community Garden Club of Liberty was the sponsor for the event.  The program was an informative presentation by Susan Dollard from the Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension about woodland gardening.  It was a beautiful fall day and the views from the Eagles Nest were inspiring. 

The next District X event is sponsored by the Cornwall Garden Club.  The District X Spring Meeting, Luncheon Installation of Officers will be held on Saturday, April 11, at La Casa Vicina, 1015 Little Britain Road, New Windsor.  The restaurant is located right near the Route 207 entrance to Stewart Airport.  The program will be a wine tasting with lunch and a presentation on pairing wine with food. 

All should have received an invitation with an RSVP form.  Please contact Ann Bloom or Andrea Hamburger if you have any questions about the event.  Let’s have a great turnout of Cornwall Garden Club members.   

Yearbook Honored

At our November meeting, Club President Jayne Petersen announced that our 2014-2015 Cornwall Garden Club Yearbook won first place in the Class 4 division of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc.  This division is for clubs with approximately the same number of club members as us.  The yearbook will now be under consideration for a national award. 

District X Director Jane Madis recognized our yearbook committee for this honor at our December meeting at the Powelton Club. 

Congratulations to all who worked on the yearbook – the 2014-2015 program committee, photographers and proofreaders.  And special appreciation to the one who made it all happen – Sally Mattausch.  Sally’s creativity, attention to detail and artistic flair gave us an award winning publication.  Thanks Sally! 

January Travel Adventures

By Sally Wortmann

WHAT?!!! The flight to Newburgh has been cancelled!  Due to weather?  What weather?  I know this happens all the time, just watch the Weather Channel.  But where was the weather factor?  Now what? 

Imagine the busy Philadelphia terminal, a small group of people have read that on the flight board of Gate F6 after a long day of connecting flights.  This is probably a very familiar story for gate attendants in the winter months.  Not so for me, especially since I wanted to get home after being away for almost three weeks.

I’d left John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California, at 6:40 a.m., changed planes in Phoenix, Arizona, then on to Philadelphia for the connecting flight to Orange County that was due to leave at 6:45 p.m.  Nope.  It was a no-go due to “weather”…that’s all we were told. 

I became part of a four- person “we” group in the same situation: Dolce, having flown on the same plane as I from Phoenix was ready to be home after several weeks with family in Arizona; Christine, flying from Halifax was going to her brother’s funeral in Newburgh; and Beverly, was flying from Denver to join her sister and brother-in-law for a Broadway show.  

So, now what?  That evening’s flights were already full.  US Airways had re-booked two of us for later flights.  Poor Christine was almost in tears as to what she was going to do. She was so frustrated, angry and confused she couldn’t think straight. Somehow I was able to calm this sweet little woman, originally from Jamaica.

My Cornwall friend, who was going to pick me up at Newburgh, suggested I rent a car and drive up to the Newburgh Airport.  Despite the expense, it seemed the best solution - way preferable to staying in a motel and passing multiple hours at the terminal.  I presented this to the other three; taking on the leader role I am familiar with when I lead nature walks.  Off we marched to Customer Service to apply for refunds with Dolce and Christine were being pushed in wheelchairs.  The entourage was then wheeled back to Terminal E where we could retrieve our checked suitcases.  It took about an hour to locate our bags.  I offered to go wherever the stored luggage was and point out mine…not allowed.

We almost agreed to a guy offering his limo service to drive us to Newburgh for the sum of $600, about $150 each.  Yikes!  We thought about it.  I liked the idea of being driven but the cost was totally too much. 

Beverly called National car rentals to see what their rate would be.  This was more doable: $248, making it $62 each - exactly what I had left in my wallet.  Okay.  The National shuttle picked us up after our luggage was finally released about an hour later and by 8 p.m. we were on the road, with me as the driver of a 2015 Camry.  Wow!  Cool car. MY Mini Cooper is a stick shift so this was a little adjustment for my left foot.  

Beverly was the navigator, following directions the young man at the gate had given us, since he was from Newburgh.  We wanted to avoid the Jersey Turnpike; and his directions got us through Pennsylvania on I-95N, leaving the airport. We followed this to Exit 4 in New Jersey.  We picked up NJ 31/202 and finally connected with I 287, then to the NY Thruway Exit 16. 

I include all these details because it’s what made the trip so amazing.  We did it!  The four of us, complete strangers, trusted each other and me, as the driver, to get us safely to the Newburgh Airport.  Beverly had the most trust; she paid for the rental with her credit card.  And I dropped her off at the Bright Star Diner in Central Valley to save her sister who lived in Chester a trip to Newburgh.  At 11 p.m. we arrived at Stewart.  Dolce was met by her sister, Christine, by a brother and me by my friend.  End of trip.  Phew!  And yes, Beverly called me Friday morning to be sure the car had been returned.  I now have an open invitation to visit her whenever I’m in Denver.

However, there’s a little more… we’d just had a moment.  I mean a spiritual moment.  It was real; I felt it…God’s presence.  Please bear with me and let me explain.  I feel it’s worth sharing.  I’ll try to stick to the important details. 

My moment started, flying back from an 18-day visit with family in Oklahoma and then on to California for more visits.  I had reached out to God many times during those days with thanks and for encouragement for myself and loved ones.  I felt strengthened by His assured guidance.  

I think back on the chemistry of the fellow passengers.  Our common need would be met by trusting each other.  I can picture their faces and what they were wearing.  As the Camry sped (most always at the speed limit) through the night, my concentration was on the road, oncoming cars, looking for where we’d be making our next route change.  In the darkness of the car, and being women, we began to share some of our life’s stories.  Dolce lives in what was once a summer home her father had bought near Monticello when she was a child and isn’t willing to give it up to move to Arizona to be near her three sons, at least not yet.  Christine, in her sweet Jamaican accent explained how she’s ended up in Halifax, Canada, and now volunteers at soup kitchens and helps the homeless.  Beverly shared that one of her sons had died from drug overdose.  She had worked for a medical firm and traveled a lot, hence her knowledge of car rentals.  I shared having been a teacher and the reason for my travel that day.

We continued to marvel at how fortunate we all felt having come together.  While this adventure was surely not something I’d choose to have, it still fills me with the euphoria that comes from feeling the Lord’s presence.  I will hold these women in my prayers.  Thank you, Lord.

Upcoming Events

Make sure your 2015 calendar includes the following Cornwall Garden Club activities. 

March 28, Saturday:  “Spring Luncheon and Renewed Friendships” 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 11, Saturday:  District X Spring Meeting, Installation of Officers and Luncheon at the La Casa Vicina, 1015 Little Britain Road, New Windsor.  Social hour at 11:30 a.m., Luncheon with wine tasting program at 12:30 p.m.  The Cornwall Garden Club is the sponsor for this event. 

April 16:  Cornwall Garden Club monthly meeting.  6 p.m. at the Cornwall Presbyterian Church, 222 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson. 

April 24:  Annual Arbor Day Observance

May 8:  Set up for Annual Plant Sale

May 9:  Annual Plant Sale

Spring will soon be here so start planning your vegetable and flower gardens now.  Don’t forget to start a few plants as your contribution to Members’ Plants for the Annual Plant Sale.  In the meantime, take advantage of the fresh flowers for sale at our local florists and markets.  Dawn Vacek recently created this arrangement to brighten a winter day. 

The photographs for the Winter 2015 edition of Capers were taken by Margaret Vatter, Dawn Vacek and Andrea Hamburger.  

Think Spring!