December Newsletter

By Julia Farwell-Clay | December 2, 2021

Town Wreaths, 2021

Dear Members:

There is so much happening this month, nay this WEEK! December is the culmination of so many of our community projects. Wreaths, grants, trees, cans, mugs . . .  It’s enough to wring us all out. So because we’ve been so very very good, we deserve a party. 

Town Wreaths

report from Kate Wharton:

Every year at the end of November for the past eight years Pat Lashley, Chair of the Wreath Committee, has corralled her eager participants and all the greens and tools necessary to construct the Holiday Wreaths that adorn our town.  The lively crew gathers to attach bows, berries, local flora, and even a Minuteman to a grapevine and balsam wreath, all according to Pat’s clever design, experiencing good club camaraderie along the way.  These bountiful creations are then delivered to: The Town House, Police Dept., both fire stations, both libraries, Keyes Rd. Town offices, Beede Center, Emerson Gardens, Hunt Gym, COA at Harvey Wheeler, and Peter Bulkley building.  Recipients are always grateful and display them proudly for the whole town to appreciate.
The committee this year consisted of Elise Woodward, Dennis Fiori, Jane Couture,Tracy Lyne, Jennifer Stone, Jennifer Lannan, Georgine Feldt, Charity Tremblay, Ellen Matheson, Kate Wharton, and our inimitable leader – Pat Lashley!

Kate Wharton, Ellen Matheson

Elise Woordward

Pat’s famous ping pong table: Georgine Feldt, Jane Coutre(hidden), Charity Tremblay, Dennis Fiori

Grants

Report from Joan Campbell:

This coming Wednesday at our Holiday Gathering, the membership will be asked to vote on the following from our hard-working Grants Committee. Thank you to Pam Nelson, Victoria Mulligan, Dennis Fiori, Joyce Lamensdorf, Kate Wharton, Bean Nardi for their hard work and careful consideration through the application process this year. Here are the projects we propose:

     MinuteMan Arc – New outside oasis Garden to plant herbs and flowers –
              Soil amendment – raised beds for Clients                                    $   900.00
    MCI Concord – Seeds and soil amendments for prisoner projects         350.00
    Gaining Ground – plant pollinators and hedge rows                               1000.00
    Concord Museum – Courtyard plantings to renew garden                        792.00
    Alcott House – Shrubs and plants along protecting road hedge             1200.00              
    Council on Aging – Front plantings to beautify welcoming door              250.00
    CCHS  Garden  –  Student project to focus on De-Stress environment   200.00 =$4692.00    
                                                                                                                                          

Concord Museum’s Family Trees 

You’ve heard a lot about this committee this season, so I am sure you would like to see what all the fuss is about (see November’s newsletter for  faces of these talented makers). Here finally is the result:

Our tree this year was inspired by Welcome Flower Child, the Magic of Your Birth Flower, by Brigitte Barrager. The family trees committee was inspired by the translucence and variety of the colors in Barrager’s art work, and used tissue and crepe paper flowers to bring the book to life on our tree. Joyful handmade fairies, tags illustrated with flowers of the months, and many paper butterflies join the flowers on the tree for an abundant display. 

This year’s Family Trees, a celebration of children’s literature, features 32 trees and wreaths and can be see until January 2nd. 

Workshop for Council on Aging 

Ellen Matheson has created a fun take-home craft for a workshop at the Council on Aging this coming week using fresh greens and this cheerful mug. Look for the few of these charming arrangements that will be available for sale for $15 at the Holiday Gathering on Wednesday. Teacher’s gift? Deserving postal carrier? Secret Santa? 

Cans for Caring

Dig out your club apron, December 6th is finally here. Check the sign up if you don’t remember if you’re on it. Monday morning 9:30 to 11 at Ellen Whitney’s, mask required. Someone take pictures and send them to me, please!

Holiday Gathering

Do you know where your name tag even is?

Phew! All this good work, don’t we deserve a little celebration? Wednesday December 8th, 1123 Monument Road, 11:30. Outside-ish, light fare, dress warm and WEAR YOUR NAMETAGS! 

Sign up quickly so we know how much nog to egg. More details on the Sign Up page.

Bonus Early January 5th Program

In collaboration with Weeds and Seeds and West Concord’s Green Thumbs, we will share a webinar with Ecologist, Conservationist, Douglas Tallamy website Homegrown National Park with links to all of his books. Dennis Fiori recently finished Nature’s Best Hope and reports that it will change the way you think about gardening. Mark your calendars, and look forward to more details about how to join this program in the near future.

News to Use: The Year in Gardening Books

Not strictly gardening, but oh so delicious: Flower Magazine‘s Best Books of 2021.

A rambling list compiled in June from Gardens Illustrated on the best books to read this year.

Five newish books Horticulture Magazine thinks you need to read.

And the American Horticultural Society‘s Book Awards.

(and don’t forget to put one of Doug Tallamy’s books on your year end-list. Concord Bookshop still had copies of The Nature of Oaks just this last week)

 

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