Ah, December December! Part 2

By Julia Farwell-Clay | December 17, 2023

December is always brimming with our annual opportunities to enjoy each other’s company and make some beauty in the world. Fast and furious it comes and goes, so let us be grateful for photographers able to capture our time together. Pictures for this installment came from Jeanne Hamilton, Anne Umphrey, Jen Lannan, Hilary Robinson, and Ellen Whitney. Thank you all!

10th Annual Cans for Caring, December 4th

From Ellen Whitney:
Kathy at Meals on Wheels called this morning and asked especially that I reach out to you to tell you how deeply the boxwood trees were appreciated.
The trees made it into the homes of all Meals on Wheels recipients in both Concord and Lincoln this year. Every last one has been delivered.
Kathy is a matter-of-fact person, but she was ebullient:
 
Everyone who received a tree was “ecstatic”
 
“This starts my good holiday”
“Oh, we got it again this year!!”
“Here’s the spot I got ready for it!”
Everyone who got the trees were so smiley, said Kathy, with “smiles all over their faces, even the grumpy ones” (grumpy for good reason, she clarified 😉
 
“This means GOOD is coming”
“I put it here so I can look at it from my chair every day, and, because I take care of it, it lasts til February!”
“With so many things changing, I’m so happy to see my tree again.”
“This smells like the outdoors!” as they took a big whiff.
 
She emphasized how much it seemed to make everyone not only happy, but hopeful.
And that whatever holiday the recipient might personally celebrate, this seemed to them to be a fitting centerpiece.
 
Please know that your work on Monday morning made a difference in our small corner.
 
Thank you everyone for producing these sweet, engaging trees. Special thanks to Georgine, Jane, Jen Stone and I’m sure others for extra clean-up, and especially to Cathy Jenkins for delivering the trees with me. 
 
Happy holidays! 
Ellen
ps: I always need tuna cans in the future!
 
Lauren Huyett, Joan Campbell, Kate Wharton, Hilary Robinson
 
Leslie Cheney, Jane Rupley

COA Workshop, Dec 7

Now in its third year, the Garden Club’s holiday workshop at the Council on Aging hit its stride last year and was very much anticipated part of this year’s calendar. Jeanne Hamilton designed and wrangled materials, and with her team of Mary Pope, Sarah Paino, and Georgina Feldt, guided a happy crowd of 25 through a beautiful arrangement to take home and enjoy.

Sarah Paino, Mary Pope, Jeanne Hamilton, Georgine Feldt

The finished arrangement

 

Holiday Workshop, hosted by Anne Umphrey and Katie Wilson, Dec 12

Anne and Katie

Laurie O’Neill, Kelley Bothe behind talking to Jeanne Hamilton, Catherine Cagle

Karen Perkins, Katie Wilson, Andrea Meyers

 

Holiday Luncheon at Jen Lannan’s, Dec 13

Andrea Meyers, Holly Salemy, Lisa MacDonnell, Sarah Paino, Georgine Feldt

Bean Nardi, Susan Amorello, Lori Bratzler, Mary Pope, Karen Perkins, Kathy Venne

Carol Haines, Betsy Howerton, Marti Fritz, Cathy Jenkins

Pat Lescalleet-Lashley, Georgine Feldt, Barbara Freeland

Co-hosts Jen Lannan, Tracy Lyne

Carol Haines, Georgine Feldt, Melinda Shumway, Kate Wharton

Betsy Spaulding, Patricia Waters, Rod Seidel, Melinda Shumway

 

Welcome new member Lisa MacDonnell
 

I started gardening after moving to Concord with my husband, Craig in 1986. This is where we raised our daughter, Sarah who currently lives in NYC. Professionally, I have been in the healing arts for 35 years as a licensed practitioner in a style of body-centered counseling called, Life Centered Therapy. I’ve been a practitioner with the Healing Garden in Harvard, MA since 2001 and offer my services at Emerson Hospital. I am pleased to become a member of the Concord Garden Club in order to be of service, broaden my community, continue learning and to have fun! My other interests include hiking, birding, meditation, beekeeping and bridge.

 
 
Mourning Joan Freeman
 
On a sad note, the club has learned of the passing of Joan Freeman, past president and long-time member. Her husband John also passed away less than a month ago. Please keep their two daughters, Nina and Stephanie, in your thoughts. Joan’s obituary is not yet available at the time of this writing, but I will edit to include it once it is published.
 
I do have this note from Mary Kemp.
 
Julia, How sad this all is.
     I have known Joan for over 35 Years.  Joan and her family lived in West Concord ad our family. both off Old Marlboro Rd. Stephanie and Katie were in grade school  together and were great friends, Joan and I were always picking up and the girls had playdates. Katie loved their house because it had three floors!  Eventually Joan and I were in Garden Club together. We were always eager to hear about the girls, through college, marriages, right up to traveling to see our daughter and their families.
     Joan was great fun to work with, had a great gardening talent, was always so upbeat and positive. It was my pleasure to know her.      
 
 
Miscellanea
  • We are still looking for an arrangement for our February meeting. If you can step up, please email Andrea Meyers if you’re able to oblige. 
  • Thank you to Kate Wharton for reminding me that the Garden at Elm Bank is currently holding their annual A Festival of Tress and they are open daily at dusk 3:30 to 6 for maximum delight. Weekend hours do vary a bit, and timed tickets are required and increasingly limited so check them out if you’re interested. Their newsletter featured this breathtaking photo of luminaria in their new labyrinth. I don’t know if this is happening at the moment, but I’m going to go to find out!

  • Thank you, Dorrie Kehoe, for alerting us to this program at Verrill Farm, hosted by the Concord Free Library:
 
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