MAY 2020 GARDEN THYMES MIDDLEBURY GARDEN CLUB NEWSLETTER middleburygardenclub.org In this Newsletter: Plant Sale — CANCELLED Sheldon Museum Garden Update 2020 Roadside Garden Awards New Officer Elections - Update - PLEASE READ UPDATE ON THE ANNUAL MEETING - IMPORTANT! “Member to Member” - Questions and Stories and More! What Can I Do For the Planet Today? Article of Interest Words of Inspiration “Activity Page” In a separate file: More Survey Results -> Annual Meeting “The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.” Edwin Way Teale, American naturalist, photographer, and writer
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MAY 2020
GARDEN THYMES MIDDLEBURY GARDEN CLUB NEWSLETTER
middleburygardenclub.org
In this Newsletter:
Plant Sale — CANCELLED
Sheldon Museum Garden Update
2020 Roadside Garden Awards
New Officer Elections - Update - PLEASE READ
UPDATE ON THE ANNUAL MEETING - IMPORTANT!
“Member to Member” - Questions and Stories and More!
What Can I Do For the Planet Today?
Article of Interest
Words of Inspiration
“Activity Page”
In a separate file: More Survey Results -> Annual Meeting
“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.”
Edwin Way Teale, American naturalist, photographer, and writer
Annual Plant Sale - CANCELLED The Plant Sale Chairs, Pat Morrow and Gail Hietzker, have decided to cancel our 2020 plant sale for a number of reasons:
There is still much uncertainty as to when, and in what manner, large gatherings will be permitted this month and next The sale was to take place at Mary Hogan School and with the schools being closed until September, it was not certain we would be permitted to be there Our club’s financial situation is good - especially as we have had to cancel our activities for the time being
HOWEVER - we know that many of you have plants to divide or extra seedlings growing that you won’t have space for….SO we encourage you to use the “Member to Member” section of June’s Garden Thymes to list your offerings. Please send your plant offerings and contact information to Andrea by MAY 27th
Spring in the Sheldon Museum Garden
If you stop by the garden you will see little Stardrifts (Puschkinia), Snow Glories (Chionodoxa) and Daffodils in bloom! The Tulips are not far behind.
Pat Morrow stopped by for a quick pruning of the Rosa Rugosa in the front, and the leggy Sambucus Nigra and Weigela schrubs.
A bunch of Pansies now fill the large urns by the side entrance and the new Annabelle Hydrangeas are pruned to the ground.
Shari and Pat have ordered several flats of annuals, red Geraniums and assorted New Guinea Impatients.
Plans are to have them in the ground before Memorial Day weekend.
Shari and Pat will coordinate volunteers to plant and water through June.
If you are a frustrated gardener, feel free to stop by the garden and clean up a flower bed. The pollinator border needs a little work. And please wear a mask.
2020 Roadside Garden Awards As you may already know, the MGC commends outstanding non-member private, public, and business gardens in Middlebury and surrounding towns each year. This helps us to achieve one of the objectives of our club, “To undertake and to encourage projects that make Middlebury and surrounding areas more attractive.”
But we need YOU to help nominate attractive gardens that you see as you drive around your neighborhood, town and surrounding areas - remember the gardens need to be visible from the road or sidewalk.
When a garden catches your eye, please note the address of the garden and whether it is a private home, business, or public area. And then send that information to the Roadside Garden Award Team and they’ll follow up. If you know the gardener’s or owner’s name, include that too.
Nominations can be submitted May through August.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!
New Officer Elections Coming Soon!!The Nominating Committee (Pat Morrow, Shari Johnson, Ann Crumb) announced at our March 10th meeting the new slate of candidates
for our 2020/2021 election. As a reminder they are:
Co-Presidents Marilyn Needham Peg Lawrence
First Vice-Presidents (Program Chairs) Tricia Welch Marijke Janeway
Recording Secretary Sharon DeHaven
Corresponding Secretary Rachel Doran
Normally, elections would have occurred at our April meeting - but alas, it is not a
normal year! And so you will be getting an email this month to VOTE BY EMAIL for our officers. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you reply to that email and vote! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Second Vice-President (Membership Chair) Lorraine Abramson
Treasurer Pat Durfee
Assistant Treasurer Priscilla Leng
Middlebury Garden Club Annual Meeting - CANCELLED
With much regret, the MGC Executive Committee has come to the conclusion that we cannot proceed with our in-person Annual Meeting and luncheon as originally planned. Our scheduled day is only one day following the Governor’s date for re-opening of restaurants and it is likely many of our members will not yet feel comfortable with attending a large public event.
✦ However, our Club By-Laws require that we hold a meeting each June to announce new officers, approve the Treasurer’s report, and approve the minutes from last year’s annual meeting.
✦ To meet this requirement, the above business will be voted on by the Club members using email in May
✦ We know from our 2019 Survey results that club members really enjoy the social aspect of the Annual Meeting; and the recognition of volunteers, and the ‘Year in Review’ slide show (see the supplement to May’s Garden Thymes for Annual Meeting survey results)
✦ SO - Good News! The Club will hold a luncheon at the Middlebury Inn on Tuesday, September 15th. We’ll have time to socialize, recognize and aware dedicated service by some of our members, and enjoy the Year in Review slide show
Member to Member
4 GREAT QUESTIONS WERE SUBMITTED THIS MONTH!!
1.Marion Bauer asks: “I would love to learn how to save my hostas, several
varieties, from being ravaged by slugs. They are on the East side of my lake house.”
2.From Lorrie Muller: “I would like to know who donated the heritage tomato plants for the plant sale. I have purchased one plant for a couple of years and would like one this year again if she has started and has extra.”
3.Lynne Boie poses this question: “What are these patches of thick moss growing over my peonies and iris? Actually growing over a lot of stuff. Does this mean something is wrong with the soil? I have it in sunny and shady spots. Also it seems quite happy in dry areas.”
4.And finally this very botanical query from Lyn DuMoulin: “What is the
difference between a diploid and a triploid daylily?”
ASK A QUESTION - GET AN ANSWER!
If you have an answer to any of these questions, PLEASE send it to
and I will share the answers in June’s Garden Thymes!
Member to Member (cont.)
SHARING STORIES AND DISTRACTIONS!
We bought an organic sweet potato from the co-op. We put it in a pan half filled with water, keeping it at least that half fill mark, and after 5 weeks we have slips growing on them. When they get big enough we will cut them off and put in a glass of water to keep them growing until we can plant them. We did this last year, but it was late in the season and only got little potatoes. This year we are ready and looking forward to a bumper crop. Barbara Pelton
I have no “of the moment questions,” but a joy. A few years ago I planted a flowering almond bush. When it blooms, it lights up my world. Lyn DuMoulin
A great diversion from Tricia Welch - Visit British Gardener Alan Titchmarsh’s garden! One of Britain’s best-loved gardeners, writers and television presenters, Alan Titchmarsh is lending his support to the National Garden Scheme’s campaign to keep its garden gates ‘virtually’ open and to continue to raise funds for vital nursing and health charities during the current pandemic. http://email.ngs.org.uk/c/12QR5kdfh0IUsoBWuBIMQ5F
Member to Member (cont.)SHARING STORIES AND DISTRACTIONS AND PLANTS!
Just an anecdotal story: I was clearing brush and suddenly a small bunny popped out. It ran towards the dit ch on the other side of the driveway. Then another small bunny head popped up and ran in the opposite direction. I waited to see if any more bunnies
would appear and then herded one of them towards some safe bushes up the hill. They were so tiny. It looked like their mother had tucked them safely there and then gone to find some food or… Remember to be careful of the small creatures that may be living in our space. They are quickly running out of wild places to live. Everyone be well. Rachel Doran
And this from Barbara Blodgett: A great way to spend a rainy day is to take a virtual tour of the Keukenhof tulip gardens!
Heirloom Rhubarb!! Pat Morrow has plants to spare and is offering up curbside delivery. She says they are great as an ornamental and for tart and sweet pies and crumbles! Reach out to Pat at
✦ Consider using native plants as ground-cover instead of mulch
✦ See the “Article of Interest” on the next page for some ideas
✦ Try organic seeds. Planting organic seeds is a simple way to start your garden on eco-friendly footing.
✦ Cut back on chemicals in the garden! Try natural pest control (e.g.: Erect boxes to attract nesting birds to help with caterpillar control; Grow dill and fennel to entice greenfly-munching hoverflies) and companion planting (e.g.: Onions and chives grown around roses will help combat black spot disease; Grow carrots and leeks together to repel each other’s garden pests; Pungent-smelling marigolds will keep aphids off tomatoes and discourage rabbits and deer)
The Sun shines not On Us but In Us
John Muir (American Naturalist and Wilderness Advocate)
