PURPOSE
The Civic Committee undertakes and oversees civic commitments that support the New Haven community. Examples of these for 2025-26 include:
working with St. Martin de Porres Academy to provide a plan for site planting and improvements; Maintaining and improving Phelps Triangle and its nearby bioswale; Providing financial support for some New Haven tree plantings under Project Trees; Holding a Holiday Workshop in early December to make holiday arrangements of natural plant materials for deliver to nonprofit service organizations, nursing homes, and homebound members; Organizing a planting project with over 40 partner organizations with shrubs from Broken Arrow Nursery in 2025, as part of the club’s centennial celebrations; Re-assessing the Centennial Planting Partners project of shrub plantings with 40 partner organizations; Working with the Conservation Committee to establish ongoing community-focused projects; and Identifiying candidate for the annual Florence Bradley award who are then voted on by the general membership.
MEMBERS
Co-Chairs: Joanne Rees and Mary Barnes
Previous Co-Chairs: Lisa Totman and Rosaline Crowley
Committee Members:
Martha Alexander, Elaine Anderson, Susan Anton, Cordalie Benoit, Judith Clark, Rosaline Crowley, Janice Dreier, Peggy Eatherton, Pixie Elsberry, Joy Ford, Melanie Ginter, Dorothy Hurt, Francie Irvine, Chris Janis, Millie Legenhausen, Mollie LeVan, Lisa Lovejoy, Katherine Porter, Joanne Rees, Jane Snaider, Becky Royston, LPat Sabosik, Robin Sauerteig, Lisa Totman, Sally Tyler, Carol Warner, Linda West, Susan Wildridge
Florence Bradley Award Winner
The Florence Bradley Award is given to a “Greater New Haven group, organization, or individual whose work best reflects the mission of our Garden club.”
Environmental Heroes 2025
The Garden Club of New Haven named six individuals to receive the Environmental Heroes Award. Each honoree has contributed to protecting the health, sustainability and beauty of. the environment. The Club. has planted trees in their honor in places of their choice through the city of New Haven.
CIVIC PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES 2025-2027
Holiday Workshop:
Carol Warner
Phelps Triangle Park:
Maggie Gottschalk
Project Trees:
Martha Alexander
Liaison with Proprietors of the Green:
Joanne Rees
Florence Bradley Award: Civic Committee and General Membership
This is a cash award given annually to a Greater New Haven group, organization or individual whose work best reflects the mission of the club: “to create interest in and promote knowledge of gardening, preservation of natural resources and civic horticultural work.
St. Martin de Porres Academy
In 2025 GCNH was asked by St Martin de Porres Academy, a grade 5-8, tuition-free middle school for low-income students entirely funded by private donations and non-public money to help with a landscape design to beautify its site on Columbus Avenue in New Haven. The project entailed assess existing plantings, conduct soil testing and remove mugwort from the site. A time line and design were developed. The Club anticipates this to be a 2-year project.
Adopt a Tree Program
The Adopt a Tree Program is an option in which residents can expedite tree maintenance or removal and stump grinding by hiring, at their own expense, an arborist to provide services to City owned street trees. A list of arborists approved by the city is at the end of this e-mail.
The link below provides the “Adopt a Tree” policy & application form, which must be submitted to the Tree System Coordinator at least two weeks before work is expected to begin. Work may not begin without a permit, however most city-approved arborists will do the application for you.
https://www.newhavenct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10724/637842484807570000
For further information; Martha Alexander Chair, Street Tree Projects, GCNH; Annie, Tree Warden, City of New Haven, Parks Department, 203-946-8092; amixsell@newhavenct.gov
May 9, 2026 Wake Up the Green
The GCNH will participate in this event on the New Haven Green, organized by the Proprieters of the Green on May 9th, 2025. The theme of the event is Connecting to New Haven’s 250th Anniversary. The Club’s activities will include samples of Colonial flower arrangements and hands on flower arranging for children.
SUMMARY OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
I. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
1. Holiday Workshop
2. Conservation
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- Partners for Plants (Quinnipiac Meadows)
- Other Ad Hoc Initiatives in support of Community Conservation Efforts
3. Community Awards & Scholarship
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- Florence Bradley Award
- The Henry and Nancy Bartels Award
- GCNH Scholarship Fund for the Future
II. FOUNDER’S FUND
III. PHELPS TRIANGE PARK & BIOSWALE
IV. PROVISIONAL MEMBER PROJECT
V. ROLES IN LIASION WITH CONSERVATION, FINANCE, AND SCHOLARSHIP