Program:

Doors open to the public at 12:30PM

Kathy Connolly, Landscape designer and horticultural consultant will share the latest thinking on invasive species management.  If you've been overrun with knotweed, barberry or bittersweet, or just hear them knocking at your gates, this session is a must.  

Program:

Doors open to the public at 12:30PM

Donna Katsuranis, an Advanced Master Gardener and lecturer, and founder of the Brookfield Kiwanis Giving Garden will bring us the latest on vegetable gardening.   Whether you're an old hand at veggies or a newcomer, Donna will have some advice for you.  

Join the members of the Easton Garden Club Conservation committee for the Annual Easton Pollinator Pathway Winter Seed Sowing Workshop at the Easton Library Community Room. This hands-on workshop is open to the public and is family friendly. Come and learn about native ecotype seeds and come away with a winter seed sowing jug of ecotypes natives, as well as some annuals planted by you during this workshop. Admission: free. Registration required: Click here to complete the registration process to reserve your seat in the workshop. Registration closes Friday, March 1

• When: March 3, 2024, from 10:00 to 12:00PM

• Where: Easton Library Community Room, Easton, CT

• What: Hands-on Seed Sowing Workshop

• Supplies we provide: 1 gallon milk jug, sowing materials, and seeds.

• Supplies we ask you to bring with you: gloves, large spoon or hand trowel, apron (if you desire) as we are working with soil. a facemask (if you desire). You will be planting 2 jugs - one to take home and one to leave for community gardens. You are invited to bring extra gallon milk jugs (washed out please), milkweed or other native seeds you would like to try sowing in addition to the jug and seeds we will be providing. Be sure to bring information about the seeds you bring along so we may help you with planting instructions.

Program:

Doors open to the public at 12:30PM

David Brant, President of the Aspetuck Land Trust will speak to us about this local organization's contributions to the health and preservation of local landscapes.  "Green Corridor and Beyond..." David was recommended by two of our members who also belong to the Trust.

Join Us for Pop-Up Garden Bench Pruning Session at Aspetuck Park on Wednesday, 2-13-24, from 9 AM to 11PM:  Meet fellow Club members for a hands-on pruning session at Aspetuck Park in Easton with the EGC conservation committee. The site is home to a native plant riparian buffer and rainwater garden project that is now in its 12th year. Bring loppers, bypass pruning shears, wear gloves and plan to have some fun while practicing your pruning techniques. All welcome.  Aspetuck Park is located diagonally across the street from The Blue Bird at 369 Black Rock Turnpike, Easton, CT 06612. We will meet at the lower parking lot at noon. Cancelled if Raining. Check back here for updates on weather

Program:

Doors open to the public at 12:30PM

Renee Marsh,  Advanced Master Gardener,  designer and instructor will present Conifers for Every Garden, a look at both evergreen and deciduous varieties whose foliage provides color and interesting structural variety for any garden.  Whether ornamental or native varieties, these garden stalwarts are too often overlooked.  

Members Only Event - Holiday Luncheon and Yankee Swap

11:30AM to 2PM

A holiday luncheon at club member Margherita Aloi’s stunning Tuscan style restaurant is not to be missed. Join us for good food, good company and our traditional Yankee Swap.

Bring an inexpensive gift-perhaps a gardening item, holiday plant or seasonal bauble and join the hilarity as swappers make off with each other’s prizes, maybe even yours! Look for an invitation with more details in November.

Evite RSVP date is December 1, 2023. Member fee for luncheon is $25. Click here to pay www.eastongardenclubofct.org/egc-payment-portal/p/holiday-luncheon-december-13-2023 or contact Carol Hamilton to arrange for payment by check.

Workshop - 12:30Pm to 2:00PM

Join us for Creating a Seasonal Centerpiece with Cathy Ritch, a floral designer, instructor and National Garden Club's Accredited Master Judge.  Click here to pay the $25 Materials fee for Nov 8th Workshop or provide Carol Hamilton with a check.

A Therapists Garden

Program:

Doors open to the public at 12:30PM

Erik Keller, Horticultural Therapist, will highlight excerpts and experiences about local organizations he serves.  His book, A Therapist's Garden will be available for purchase.  At 1:30, representatives of our Hubbell Garden team will share their expertise on dividing and repotting perennials having a variety different root structures.  This instruction is a useful preview for all of us as you prepare your contributions for our annual Garden Mart in May 2024.

Welcome Back Picnic - Members only event

Welcome Back Picnic  September 13 at 11:30am at the home of Karen O'Brien, 94 Sunset Rd.  Easton CT

Join your fellow members at Karen's beautiful home, stroll the grounds, admire her personal "arboretum" and gardens.  Bring your chair and a swim suit if you fancy a dip in the pool.  Look for an Evite in late August with details about what you can bring for the menu. 

Program - doors open to the public at 12:30

Levo International Founder Christian Heiden will be presenting the benefits and opportunities of simplified hydroponic gardening. Levo has developed an affordable and low-cost approach to hydroponics that  reduces the time, space, and water required in traditional gardening. Interested Club members will be able to purchase their own simple   hydroponics for their gardens this Season. Levo is a food security organization based in Hartford, CT. To date, Levo has delivered hydroponics to over 1000 households in Hartford County, as well as 300 families in Haiti. 

 Speaker Bio:

Christian Heiden is the Founder and Director of Innovation at Levo International. Christian is a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut's School of Agriculture in Applied and Resource Economics.  Self-taught in hydroponic technology and design, Christian, since his Eagle Scout project in 2016, has been leading Levo’s team in the U.S. and Haiti in the design and implementation of hydroponic farming and has overseen Levo’s product development since its start in 2016.

Join Us for Pop-Up Garden Bench Pruning Session at Aspetuck Park on Wednesday, 3-29-23, from 12 noon to 2pm:  Meet fellow Club members for a hands-on pruning session at Aspetuck Park in Easton with the EGC conservation committee. The site is home to a native plant riparian buffer and rainwater garden project that is now in its 11th year. Bring loppers, bypass pruning shears, wear gloves and plan to have some fun while practicing your pruning techniques. All welcome.  Aspetuck Park is located diagonally across the street from The Blue Bird at 369 Black Rock Turnpike, Easton, CT 06612. We will meet at the lower parking lot at noon. Cancelled if Raining. Check back here for updates on weather

Program: doors open to the public at 12:30

Did you know that the landscape right outside your back door can be important for the conservation of birds and other wildlife? No matter where you are located or how modest your resources, everyone can do something to make a difference. After reviewing essential habitat elements such as food and cover, we'll assess how existing conditions and the larger context of your neighborhood can help you decide how to optimize the habitat value of your own corner of the earth! Along the way, identification tips based on appearance and behavior of common bird species will be emphasized.

 Speaker Bio:

Jim’s primary responsibility is to apply principles of conservation biology to land management and habitat restoration activities at Connecticut Audubon Society sanctuaries. In addition, he enthusiastically assists with a variety of public education activities at Deer Pond Farm sanctuary in Sherman and with the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme.  Jim has more than two decades of fieldwork experience with birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and aquatic insects in far-flung locations from his roots in New England to the Pacific Northwest, Belize, and Hong Kong. He earned a B.S. degree in wildlife biology from the University of Vermont, and a M.S. degree in conservation biology from the State University of New York in Syracuse. Jim joined the Connecticut Audubon Society staff in 2017.

Program:

Come learn the basic rules for houseplants and some of the common mistakes people make that lead to their house plants not thriving. Our speaker will share some of her favorite houseplants and perennials and discuss their care and feeding, what to do for pests etc. There will be a Q&A session at the end. 

About the Speaker:

Eliza Travisano will be joining the meeting virtually. She has worked at Logee’s as the retail manager for the past four years. As an herbalist of 20 years, with a passion for    medicinal plants, she discovered a new love for houseplants and  tropicals after starting her job at Logee’s. She loves to share information about plants with anyone and everyone and enjoys doing this in both an informal capacity at work and a more formal one in the many plant related classes she teaches. 

Join the members of the Easton Garden Club Conservation committee for the Annual Easton Pollinator Pathway Winter Seed Sowing Workshop at the Easton Library Community Room. This hands on workshop is open to the public and is family friendly. Come and learn about native ecotype seeds and come away with a winter seed sowing pot planted by you during this workshop. Admission: free. Registration required: Click here to complete the registration process to reserve your seat in the workshop. Registration open until 9 am the day of the event.

• When: January 14, 2023 from 12:00 to 2:00PM (Snow date - January 21, 2023*)

• Where: Easton Library Community Room, Easton, CT

• What: Lecture and hands on seed sowing workshop

• Supplies we provide: 1 quart pot, soil mix, and native seeds for winter sowing, screen, plant markers and pens

• Supplies to bring: gloves, large spoon or hand trowel, apron (if you desire) as we are working with soil. a facemask (if you desire). Feel free to bring additional small pots and any milkweed or other native seeds you would like to try sowing in addition to the pot and seeds we will be providing. Be sure to bring information about the seeds you bring along so we may help you with planting instructions.

Weather status: We are a go for today! See you at Noon.

Program:

Are you thinking about reducing a lawn, eliminating a veggie garden, cleaning up a weedy patch or turning a perennial bed into a flowering  meadow? Good site preparation is critical. Unfortunately this important step is often given short shrift in the drive to transform an old landscape into something new. Let's look at ways to analyze past land uses, how they affect future plantings, compare removal methods, look at realistic timelines for site transformations, and consider what it takes to thoroughly prepare a site. An extensive handout is included.

 Kath Connolly’s Bio:

Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer who specializes in naturalized    designs, low-impact techniques, and native plants for homeowners,         municipalities, and organizations.

Kathy has a master's degree in landscape planning and design from the Conway School in Northampton, MA. She completed the advanced master gardener program and is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional through NOFA. She is active in the Connecticut Invasive Plants Working Group. Kathy is a regular columnist for The Day community papers, which circulate throughout southeastern Connecticut. She gives more than 30 talks and workshops each year for conservation organizations, master gardeners, museums, libraries, land trusts, and garden clubs. Her website is www.SpeakingofLandscapes.com.

Annual Wreath & Poinsettia Sale Pick up (pre-orders only)

Volunteer! Annual Poinsettia Delivery to our Seniors in Need.

Members are invited to participate in this annual ritual of delivering a Poinsettia to our Seniors in Need on November 29. Contact Janice in advance of the Wreath & Poinsettia pick up on November 29th to sign up and make a delivery.

You are invited to help members of the conservation committee construct the Ecotype Native Seed Bomb Kits on Monday, November 28, from 12noon to 3:00PM. Hope to see you there!

For members of the conservation committee who rolled the seed balls - THANK YOU! Please bring your tray of seed bombs with your seed packet, and any left over seed or arrange for drop off at or before 12noon. Contact Jean with questions.

Workshop

Please join us for a wreath making workshop with Easton’s Garden Club member, Janelle Krizek,  owner of Trellis & Vine. Janelle will walk you through designing a grapevine holiday wreath, wiring dried goods, such as pinecones, and teach you how to tie a holiday bow.  Included in this workshop is a grapevine wreath, evergreens, eucalyptus, and dried materials.  Wire, ribbon, and snips are provided but you’re welcome to bring your favorite pair!  We also encourage you to bring in foraged greens and dried goods to share! There will be a materials fee.

 Speaker Bio:

Janelle Krizek is an event and floral designer located in Easton, CT.  She planned corporate and private events for over 15 years but expanded into floral design during the pandemic. In March of 2020, she immersed herself into the world of flowers and learned as much about her newfound passion to spread joy in the local community and beyond through her business, Trellis & Vine.  Whether she’s working with a bride to make sure her day is perfect, leading floral design demonstrations, or selling bouquets on a farm, Janelle enjoys sharing her love of flowers with    others. Please find more info about Trellis & Vine here: www.trellisvineevents.com

The Growth of Trees: A Journey Through Time

Program:

No single view of a tree is a fixed snapshot in time that tells the complete story. Join Michael and discover how trees grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment across days, weeks, seasons, and years and over varying scales—from the intricate details of buds, flowers, leaves, and bark that we use for species identification to the collaborative roles of trees in ecosystems. We will also note some of the ways that habitat disturbances and climate change can affect tree growth and health.

Join us as we learn to notice more of the beauty of trees!

Michael Wojtech’s Bio:

As a freelance naturalist, writer, photographer, illustrator and educator, Michael strives to share the science and beauty of natural history in an accessible and compelling fashion through presentations, participatory  activities, and outdoor exploration. He writes and teaches about the    structure, growth processes, and ecology of trees—including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood—for audiences at all levels of experience, and explores how knowing the natural history of the places we live and love fosters connection and the feeling of home.

Michael earned his masters degree in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England. He is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast and co-author of Drawing Leaves and Trees: Observing and Sketching the Natural World.

Welcome Back Picnic - Members only event

Join us for our annual Easton Garden Club welcome back picnic at Janice Salva's home. It's time for us to reconnect with old friends and meet new members. Bring a chair, stroll around Janice's beautiful gardens, and share a story or two about your garden's pleasures and challenges. We will have our first general meeting at which time we will introduce our new board members, welcome new members and highlight the club's projects for 2022-23 and  introduce our program line up.

The Garden Bench

• 12:00 PM 1:00 PM

Meet us at The Garden Bench! Easton Garden Club members and garden enthusiasts come sit on The Garden Bench with us and let’s chat! For this month, we will be meeting at Marlene Goldstein’s garden. This is a chance to ask questions and share ideas and knowledge with other club members. Any garden related topic is welcome from seed sowing to garden design to timing for planting to pest and critter control.  There is no agenda here but to offer support and share our successes and challenges, tips and tools, and great for new members to get to know each other! 

It’s an open forum.  Hope to see you there!

Marlene has been very gracious to make this offer. Please look for an eVite to register if you are planning on coming so that she can plan accordingly.

Local Pollinator Pathways Offer Garden Tours in our area on June 25th - Click here for details . Want to know more about the Pollinator pathway? Check out our website

Click this link to register for our Annual Spring Luncheon which will be held at the beautiful IL Palio Restaurant in Shelton. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to get together and celebrate our year together. It is a time to thank our current Board Members and welcome our future ones.  We will learn about club projects, fundraisers, and hear how the club is doing financially.  You have an evite in your inbox for this luncheon to respond to and we set up payment registration through this link to reserve your seat and pay the member portion of the registration fee which is $25.

Field Trip: Grace Farms

Grace Farms is located in nearby New Canaan.  The Foundation aspires to advance good in the world, providing a peaceful respite and porous platform to experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith.  It is a place for meaningful interaction where people of all ages, experiences and interests come to collaborate for good and pursue peace within Grace Farm’s 80 acres.

We are scheduling a private tour of Grace Farms for our members which will include the River building.  A Tokyo-based architectural firm was selected to execute its vision.  SANAA’s design for the facility, known as the River building, was the first U.S. building designed by the architectural firm after they were awarded the Pritzker Prize. SANAA’s goal was to make the architecture of the River become part of the landscape without drawing attention to itself, demonstrating a high degree of sensitivity to the landscape and its topography. Structurally, the building of glass, concrete, steel, and wood is in essence a single long roof, which seems to float above the surface of the ground as it twists and turns across the landscape.

Garden Mart Plant Sale is a tradition here at the Easton Garden Club. Each year we look forward to serving our Easton community. Join us in-person on May 7th, 2022 at the Easton Firehouse Green at 1 Center Road, Easton from 9 AM to 12:30 PM for this year’s plant sale! Perennials cultivated and shared from member gardens, colorful Annuals, Gilbertie’s Certified Organic Culinary & pollinator herb kits, Pollinator Pathway and Master Gardeners onsite to (yes, we will have the coveted Pollinator Pathway Butterfly Yard Signs), our famous Bake Sale tent, vendors and more! Learn More

Speaker: Sally Brockett

Program:

Sally began seriously identifying birds in the early 1970s simply as a fun hobby. As her list of “life” birds grew, her interest in finding some uncommon and rare birds increased. Of course, this meant she needed to travel to new areas to find birds that are not local to our region.

Sally, like many of us, has a love for hummingbirds.  Her desire to see more of the wide variety of these special creatures, took her out West to various states, but especially to Ramsey Canyon, and Sierra Vista, in Arizona.  She also traveled to Costa Rica where she spent 4 days of bird watching and found over 90 new birds to add to her Life list.

Sally began doing hummingbird presentations about 5 years ago, with her first presentation to her local club, the Daytime Gardeners of North Haven.    Sally will talk to us about attracting hummingbirds and other birds to our yard and watching for unusual sightings right at home.  She will also share the discoveries that she made through her travels and her experiences in searching for birds in other locations.

Speaker Bio:

Professionally, Sally has worked in the field of special education as a special education preschool teacher, and more recently as a Berard AIT Instructor/Practitioner. This work gave her the opportunity to travel to various states and countries.  She always tries to incorporate some time to do bird watching while in new territories. She also enjoys gardening and the opportunity it provides to see all forms of nature. She has served as president of the Daytime Gardeners of North Haven for several years and is involved with many gardening projects.