Author Archives: Olde Ripton

Annual Plant, Bake & Book Sale

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The club sold a selection of perennials, wildflowers, annuals, vegetables, herbs and houseplants.   In addition to plants there was a book sale and a wonderful selection of fresh baked goods, local honey and potpourri.

Certified Master Gardeners were on hand to answer questions on soil testing, gardening, invasive plants as well as insect and pest management.

All in all it was a great time and a successful fundraiser for the club.  Thanks to the club members for donating their time and plants.   And thanks for the community for coming out to support us.

DSC04507

May Meeting

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The May meeting was Color, Texture, Structure & More:  Garden Design for Four-Season Interest  by Donna Katsuranis, Advanced Master Gardener.

Old-fashioned Bleeding HeartDicentra spectabilisCourtesy of Renee Marsh

Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart
(Dicentra spectabilis)
Courtesy of Renee Marsh

How can we make our gardens more appealing year-round and not just forget about it in the winter? Donna helped us explore the garden through new eyes – how to focus on the “bones” and the many tricks  to keep a landscape healthy, happy and beautiful throughout the year.

 

 

Sandy Nesteriak covered  the invasive plant of the month:  Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

 

 

April Meeting

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The  April 1st meeting was a presentation Fungi in Forests and Landscapes:  Friends or Foes?  by Robert (Bob) Marra who is a plant pathologist at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station.

Bob’s talk introduced us to the fascinating world of that poorly understood Kingdom Fungi.  He covered fungi as recyclers, pathogens, parasites and plant partners (symbionts).  Many plants, including the trees in our forests, could not survive without the important associations their roots establish with fungi.   The presentation looked at fungus we see above ground like trunk and limb rots, cankers and canker rots, as well as things that go on below ground like root and butt rots.

Courtesy of Renee Marsh

Laetiporus sulphureus
Common name is sulphur shelf and chicken of the woods
Courtesy of Renee Marsh

Linda Tura covered the invasive plant of the month:  Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Autumn Olive with berries

March Meeting

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The  March meeting was on Butterfly Gardens.  The speaker was Rose Hiskes of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station.

This talk introduced the Bird & Butterfly Garden at the Station’s Lockwood Farm in Hamden, gave definitions to some basic terms and then looked at the more common butterflies found in Connecticut.  Images of caterpillars are shown.  Nectar plants for adult feeding and larval food sources for egg laying was presented.  A resource list was handed out along with other pertinent fact sheets.

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail (courtesy of Renee Marsh)

We also covered the Invasive plant of the month:  Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)

For the full meeting schedule and times, see the Meetings page.

UCONN 2013 Garden Conference, March 22

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A Conference for the Home Gardener

The conference offers exciting educational opportunities for home gardeners at all interest levels – from the casual gardener to the garden enthusiast.  It also gives an opportunity to hear and talk to nationally renowned authorities on various aspects of garden design, maintenance, and plant selection.
For more information see www.2013garden.uconn.edu
March 22, 2013 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lewis B. Rome Commons University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut

New CT phosphorus legislation in effect January 2013

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Phosphorus is one of the three key nutrients that plants require in the largest quantities and is commonly found in many, if not the majority, of commercial fertilizer products. Unfortunately, it is the principle cause of declining water quality in Connecticut’s lakes and ponds. Where does the phosphorus come from? – mostly failing septic systems and fertilizers! Last May, legislation was passed that would limit the use of phosphorus
on established lawns. Fertilizers containing phosphorus can still be used when seeding, overseeding and laying down new sod. On established lawns, a phosphorus-free fertilizer should be used for routine maintenance fertilizer applications unless a soil test (taken within the past 2 years) indicates a need for phosphorus.

More information see:

http://www.soiltest.uconn.edu/documents/PhosphorusLegislationinConnecticut.pdf

 

February Meeting

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The February meeting was a presentation on Organic Gardening by Guy and Janelle Beardsley of Eco-Gardens in the White Hills of Shelton.

This program covered the hows and whys of organic gardening including soil amendments, equipment, and the sequence of planting and harvesting.   Guy discussed the basic organic philosophy, the importance of an honest and nutritious food supply and the threat to food quality posed by corporate agribusiness.

We also covered the invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

Common reed

Common Reed – Phragmites

December Meeting

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Our December meeting was the annual Wreath-making Workshop.  We decorated wreaths for municipal buildings and offices.  After the decorating, a Christmas luncheon was served.

Catch the Osborne Homestead Museum “Holidays in Bloom” where the public open house begins Nov. 23 thru Dec. 16, Thurs. – Sun (10 AM – 4 PM).  Holiday Twilight Tours are Fridays, Nov. 30 & Dec 7, 14 from 4 to 6:30 PM.

Norway Spruce

Club Efforts Recognized by the Federated Garden Clubs of CT

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The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut awards luncheon was held on October 31.   The Olde Ripton Garden Club received the following 2012 Awards:

  • Certificate of Recognition – Tributes of Spring  for contribution of Mountain Laurel to the Merritt Parkway Conservancy
  • Horticulture Certificate of  Achievement for plantings at municipal areas
  • Garden Therapy Certificate of Achievement for work with residents of Crosby Commons
  • Recognition for participation in “Plant It Pink”celebrating breast cancer awareness
  • Yearbook Award  (2nd Place)

 Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the club’s efforts.

November Meeting

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The November 5th meeting was the annual Artistic Fall Decoration Workshop where club members tried their hands at making artistic floral arrangements.  Claire Norris gave a brief presentation on important concepts for flower arrangements before everyone got started.

Carol Harding, Ann Gibbons and Marilyn Burkhart commented about the horticulture submissions.  We also discussed the invasive plant of the month which is Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius).

Osborne Homestead Museum “Holidays in Bloom” opens in November.  The public open house begins Nov. 23 thru Dec. 16, Thurs. – Sun (10 AM – 4 PM).  Holiday Twilight Tours are Fridays, Nov. 30 & Dec 7, 14 from 4 to 6:30 PM.

October 2012

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In the October  meeting we reviewed a new invasive insect in Connecticut,  the Emerald Ash Borer.  Click here for more information from the CT DEEP on this harmful insect.

emerald ash borerThe main program was “Honey Bees and a Taste of Honey” presented by Ralph Harrison, a beekeeper from Milford, CT.    We learned about the inhabitants of a hive (the queen, workers and drones), how a hive is constructed, and what goes on inside. The discussion also covered the flowers that bees use to gather nectar and pollen.   Finally there was a honey tasting where we sampled different varieties of honey.

For more information on beekeeping in Connecticut, contact the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. 

September 2012

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Welcome to the new Olde Ripton Garden Club website.   On this site we share information with members and the community.   Here you will find information about the club including meetings, our community projects and contacts.

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring our theme for this year is  “In nature nothing exists alone.”

Our programs will focus on the other inhabitants in our garden from bees and butterflies to fungus.  Unfortunately there are also unwanted, invasive insects and plants that we will learn to recognize and control.