May Newsletter

Flowers by Erika Rodriguez at Tulipmania: more below

 

Arbor Day 2025

An intrepid crew turns out on a drizzle filled April morning to mark the Club’s annual donation to the town. Photos by Lauren Huyett

This year’s tree, chosen by Arbor Day Chair Jane Rupley, is an Oxydendrum, otherwise known as a Sourwood, or a Lily of the Valley tree. Sourwood is a medium sized tree that develops showy white flower clusters in mid-summer and attracts pollinators. Planted in front of Concord Armory, it will soon soften the stern exterior of the building. 

Jane Rupley shows off the Public Works’ Tree Planting Guide and a copy of Dirr’s Hardy Trees

 

May Community Program, Wednesday Evening: History of the White House Gardens and Grounds

Bring interested friends and family! 

The Programming Committee along with our fellow Garden Club, Seeds and Weeds, welcome Matthew Costello, Chief Education Officer for the White House Historical Association. He previously worked on the George Washington Bibliography Project for the George Washington Papers at the University of Virginia. His books include The Property of the Nation: George Washington’s Tomb, Mount Vernon, and the Memory of the First President and a chapter in James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House. Costello also teaches White House history at American University.

Meeting will begin at 7pm at TriCon Church, 54 Walden Street. Refreshments to follow

 

Tulipomania! at the Clock Barn Garden

A Tulipiere filled with Flaming Parrot and Maureen Tulips at the Clock Barn Garden

Garden Club members who made it to the Gardens at the Clock Barn either Saturday post-plant sale, or Sunday by special invitation extended by Maureen Ruettgers, were in for a delight to see the floral talents of member Erika Rodriguez featured as part of a special educational display in the barn about the Dutch Tulip Mania of 1630’s. 

Flaming Parrot and Maureen Tulips, Hypericum, Anemones, Antonia Roses, Lysimacia, Peonies, Asparagus Greens

Black Hero and Strawberry Cream Tulips, Astrantia, Ranunculus, Carnation, Fritillaria Persica, Dusty Miller

 

New member tea

The Club Board gathered at the home of Membership Committee Chair Jen Stone last week to enthusiastically welcome newest members from this past year. 

Lisa Resnick, Leila Parke, Ruthanne Igor, Pamela Callahan, Jo-Anne Lovejoy

 

Requests!

• • Numbers, please! Please check the club directory linked here to ensure your phone number and address is up to date before the end of the month. Send corrections to Lauren Huyett.
  • Volunteers, please! You may very well know about the upcoming Carlisle Garden Tour, June 13-14 and that there is special early bird pricing through May 31st $30, seniors $20 (and that all tickets hike up to $35 after that date). What you may not know is that they are looking for volunteers! If you are interested, you should email their volunteer coordinator, Julie Meier who visited with us at the Plant Sale. Here’s her email: jmeier32@yahoo.com
  • Ideas, please! The Program Committee is looking for ideas. If you have any program ideas for the coming year (or beyond), contact incoming Program Co-Chairs Joan Campbell or Pamela Callahan, thank you!

 

Boston Athenaeum presents: Wild Flowers of New England

On view June 10 – September 5, 2025

“There is no record so true as the good photographic study; as we see the conditions of plant life eternally changing everywhere, the value of these permanent authentic records to future generations cannot be overestimated.” — Edwin Hale Lincoln, 1916

Photographs of daisies, lilies, ferns, milkweed and other plants welcome visitors to Wild Flowers of New England. Centering around the work of Massachusetts-based photographer Edwin Hale Lincoln, this exhibition explores his photographic effort to document and preserve New England’s wild flowers.

Over three decades, Lincoln explored the forests around his Berkshire home, studying the lives of native wildflowers, and photographing the plants in his studio. Lincoln created a unique photographic language, blending scientific specificity and artistic expression, producing portraits that celebrate the ephemeral beauty of native plants.

Wild Flowers of New England places Lincoln’s work in conversation with botanical printers and photographers of the past and present and contextualizes his practice within larger preservationist movements. Through Lincoln’s lens, visitors will see the timeless allure of New England’s wildflowers and the enduring power of botanical artistry.

For more information, visit this link

 

Extras! Extras!

Susan Nock of @thistlecontainers has launched a Substack! If you don’t already follow her on Instagram, add her now for gorgeous container gardening inspiration and more, and be sure to subscribe to her Substack for monthly updates.

 

This newsletter will always have room for Greenhouse Aspirations

 

Summer plans still in flux? How about a list of the world’s most visit-worthy gardens, compiled by the Experts?

 

The Hummingbirds have arrived! Clean your feeders and get them out there. In case you’ve forgotten, here’s the recipe for Hummingbird fuel:

Boil or heat in microwave

1 part sugar

4 parts water

( 1/4 c white sugar to 1 cup boiling water )

NO FOOD COLORING OR HONEY

For more information: https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com