PURPOSE
The goal of this committee is to expand members’ knowledge of botany and horticulture through workshops, lectures, focused garden visits and demonstrations. Participating members develop gardening skills including growing plants from seed, plant care, pruning, propagation, and organic plant management. Activities include workshops, seed swaps, plant sharing events, and training from local garden experts. The committee encourages members to exhibit in regional flower shows (GCA and FGCCT) as well as in-club bench shows and sweepstakes. The Chair or an alternate is encouraged to attend horticulture meetings of GCA (Shirley Meneice Conference) and FGCCT and report to the Club membership about them. Club participation is mandatory for any flower show that is part of GCA Zone II Annual Meeting. The committee is responsible for propagating plants for the GCA Zone II Gavel Competition and collecting seeds for the GCA Seed Exchanges, which take place during the Shirley Meneice Conference and the GCA Annual Meeting.
MEMBERS
Chair: Robin Hochstrasser
Previous Chair: Liz O’Connor
Members: Martha Alexander, Elaine Anderson, Susan Anton, Nory Babbitt, Linda Badgley, Sharon Bender, Cordalie Benoit, Nyla Carlton, Rosaline Crowley, George Davis, Deborah Desir, Janice Dreier, Adele Edgerton, Amy Estabrook, Judi Freudenberg, Melissa Gambaccini, Melanie Ginter, Susan Godshall, Trish Helm, Ann Hoefer, Millie Legenhausen, Lisa Lovejoy, Carolyn Millman, Rosita Murphy, Pat Sabosik, Barbara Shiller, Lois Warnock, Ellen Smith, Nessie Stewart, Celeste Sugg
ACTIVITIES
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October 18, 2022
Seed Exchange and House Plant Swap
2-5 PM, home of Robin Hochstrasser 72 Spring Glen Ter. Hamden
November 9, 2022
Living Wreath Workshop with Nancy Ballek
11 AM at Balleck’s: 91 Maple Avenue, East Haddam, CT 06423
January 18, 2023
LOGEE’S GARDEN CENTER TOUR; meet at 11:00am
141 North Street, Danielson, CT
January 25, 2023
Let’s Talk Houseplants,
Zoom Event, 5pm
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 @5pm
“How to Exhibit Your House Plant, Zoom demonstration
February 23-26, 2023
CT Flower and Garden Show
March 8, 2023, 1pm
Propagation Workshop with Adam Wheeler
Broken Arrow Nursery: 13 Brokeb Arrow Rd. Hamden 06518
March 13,2023, 10:30am
Pre-meeting – “Splendid Houseplants”
April 3, 2023
Pre-meeting – “Eliminating Invasives”,
June 17, 2023 10am -4pm
Litchfield Flower Show
June 23-25, 2023
Newport Flower Show
RECENT EVENTS
Spring Seed Exchange, hosted by Millie Legenhausen, May 3
Splendid House Plants In-House Bench Show, March 13
Blue Ribbons: Sharon Bender, George Davis, Robin Hochstrasser
Red Ribbons: Melissa Gambacinni, Cordalie Benoit, SharonBender
Yellow Ribbons: Sharon Bender
January 18,2023 Logee’s Garden Center Tour
October 18, 2022
Seed Exchange and House Plant Swap
Photos from the Ballek’s Live Wreath Making Workshop
Nancy Ballek guided us through the wreath or plaque making process. In attendance:Robin Hochstrasser, Cordalie Benoit, Melissa Gambaccini, Amy Estabrook, Nessie Stewart, Janice Dreier, Karyl Evans, Lisa Totman, Melissa Castleman, Ann Pingoud, Laurel Van Stone, and Sharon Bender.
June 3, 2022
Field trip to Ballek’s Garden Center in June! A wonderful tour given by Nancy Ballek, followed by lunch at Sharon Bender’s beautiful home by the sea. What a wonderful day!
October 4, 2021
“Show What You Grow’ Bench Show”
The Floral Design, Horticulture and Photography Committees sponsored a virtual Flower Show during our October 4, 2021 General Meeting on Zoom!! Entries were a floral arrangement made with flowers from their gardens in a 28 oz can. Commentary by Cordalie Benoit. Click to see the video.
October 2021 – May 2022
Gavel Challenge Quercus alba
November 6, 2021
Seed Exchange and Seed Bomb Workshop
HOW-TO
Winter Sow
Watch Trish Helm’s hands on instructions on how to start your spring plants from seed.
Download the written instructions.
Here is a Brochure on Winter Sowing
Forcing Branches
White Flower Farm “Forcing Branches Tutorial”
Management of Invasive Plants
Here is an excellent presentation on when and How to Manage Invasive Plants
Gardening Under Lights
Christopher Bolick from Marsh Botanical Garden has recommended the book Gardening Under Lights by Leslie Halleck to anyone interested in experimenting with grow lights this winter. The book is a wonderful how-to for both novices and seasoned indoor growers.
ENTRY FORMS
You may fill out the entry cards directly and save to your desktop “with your changes” and then print it, or OR download the file, fill it out on a computer and then print it, or print and fill out an entry card by hand.
- Horticulture Entry Card
- How to Complete a Hort Entry Card
- Horticulture Propagation Card
- How to Complete a Hort Propagation Card