January Newsletter

Old North Bridge by Cris Vandyke

Let it be said that January is an underrated month. It’s a time for reflection, for sorting and planning. Whether you’re leafing through seed catalogs or resolving to drink more water, you’re participating in a great collective pause we all take before diving into the longer days ahead. The darkness gives us permission to hibernate a little, to stay home a bit more, and to enjoy the solitude of a special book or a good fire. I hope you are curled up in your favorite chair, toes in warm socks, with a mug full of good tea – or coffee of course, but tea just sounds cozier, doesn’t it? But we shall see each other soon, as there is a meeting this week to enjoy together!

 

January Program

Creating Pollinator Habitat Anywhere with Denise Guerin, January 17, 1pm at TriCon

The first part of this presentation reviews some pollinator basics: what exactly are pollinators, why are they so important, and why do we hear so much about them?  We then explore what pollinators need and are looking for when choosing where to rest, eat, or lay their eggs–in other words “Habitat”!  We talk about the importance of habitat, what it is, and how to create and maintain some inviting habitat for pollinators just about anywhere at all!  Specifically, the presentation illustrates successful pollinator habitats created in places as different as suburban gardens to apartment decks, and small urban yards and patios to parking lot “hell strips.”  

About our speaker: Denise Guérin is a Certified Massachusetts Master Gardener, graduating in the class of 2022.  She fell in love with gardens (and their contents) at a young age while “helping” her father and grandmother in their large family gardens.  She volunteers regularly at the Wakefield Arboretum, the Medford Food Pantry Garden, and the MMGA’s new Ohrenberger School Pollinator Garden.  Her primary focus is on growing native plants and creating habitat for native bees, birds and insect pollinators.  She is a graduate of the MMGA Speakers Bureau Training Program.

 

Grant Committee Updates

Several grants have been awarded to their recipients and everyone loves to see the smiles our support inspires. Sandy Conrad and John Althouse presented the GCC grant check to Jan Turnquist, Executive Director at Orchard House. Sandy writes: [Jan] was delighted, needless to say, and suggested we take the photo in Bronson Alcott’s study. The bust of Bronson in the background is our guiding spirit as it was he who named the home Orchard House. We look forward to using the grant funds to continue to enhance the landscape with the help our Master Gardeners.

 

Meanwhile, there is an article in this week’s Concord Bridge about the improvement of the Blandings Turtle habitat at Peter Spring Field – off the Reformatory Branch Trail at Great Meadows – that our grant to Zoo New England supports. You can read more about that on page 10 of your current Concord Bridge, or on their website through this link.

 

Welcome New Members!

Gail Barnett

I moved to Concord in September 2023 to live closer to my family.  I was born in Manila Philippines, grew up in Puerto Rico and came to the States for boarding school (Westtown School, PA) and college (Hollins College, VA). I have also lived in Westchester County, NY, Cuernavaca Mexico, San Miguel de Allende Mexico, Dallas, Texas and Venice, FL.  I have the last 20 summers in the mountains of North Carolina in Cashiers.  Professionally, I am an ASID Interior Designer and worked in commercial and residential design in Dallas Texas for over 40 years.  I am looking forward to participating in the Garden Club of Concord.

Lili Morss

I moved to Concord in 1997 with my husband, Steve, and three daughters, Alexandra, Abby, and Caroline. As a practicing landscape architect I have had the good fortune to visit and be part of many beautiful local landscapes and gardens. Using native plants and minimizing lawn is a design goal for many of my projects. Despite my landscape expertise, there is always more to learn and being outside and appreciating new gardens and outdoor spaces gives me endless pleasure. As a new member of the Garden Club I look forward to new friendships, spending time with people I already know and all the fun activities and community outreach. In my spare time I love gardening, hiking, long walks with friends, and just spending time outdoors.

 

Of Interest

February 3, 2024: Adrian Bloom at Mass Hort. Plantsman, author and designer of Bressingham Garden Adrian Bloom is coming to the Garden at Elm Bank on February 3, 2023 (it’s a Saturday). Learn about his career, projects including Bressingham Garden at MHS, and his new book, Foggy Bottom, a Garden to Share, which will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Click here for more information and to Register.

If you are a fan of orchids, Franklin Park Zoo will be featuring programming February 2 – March 10. Dubbed “Orchid Adventure”, it promises to blend the delights of exotic horticulture and the “wild wonders” of the zoo. Take your small humans and everyone will be entertained. 

 

For your consideration, some Instagram accounts to inspire your flower arranging and gardening dreams. 

garden smarts from Margaret Roach: @awaytogarden

Ikebana magic: @hoanhi689

Houseplant straight talk: @hiltoncarter