Because of COVID-19 restriction, there were no
official activities marking National Garden Week
this year.
POLLINATOR GARDEN AT SETTLERS PARK PROVIDES A
TRANQUIL SPOT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO ENJOY NATURE
The SGC's Pollinator Garden at Settlers Park
provides a tranquil spot for local residents to
escape the stress of pandemic stress in a beautiful
natural setting.
The garden not only provides a beautiful spot to
observe pollinators up close, but the covered
bulletin board features important educational
materials explaining the need for such a project.
President Elizabeth Berlenbach and First Selectman
Jeffrey Manville officially dedicated it on June 24,
2019 while a large group of club members and local
residents looked on.
This exciting project, designed to celebrate the SGC’s
60
th anniversary of civic involvement in the
area, addresses the important issue of pollinator
decline due to habitat
loss, use of pesticides and other environmental factors
and provides a habitat for these important birds, bees,
butterflies and other insects who play such a vital role
in the human food chain.
The new garden consists of native plants and no invasive
species, reflecting the motto of the 2019 president of
the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc..
As you enter Settlers Park the garden is located at the
first right turn just beyond the horse farm’s paddocks.
There is a small parking lot and a large covered
bulletin board to mark the spot. It is at the trailhead
of a bucolic walking trail and is a wonderful addition
to the community. If
you haven’t been there yet, it is certainly worth a
visit.
AN OAK TREE GROWS IN SOUTHBURY...
The Southbury Garden Club recently purchased a northern
red oak tree and donated it to the Town of Southbury.
The northern red oak is an adaptable, widely planted
species with a rapid growth rate. It will reach a height
of 60 to 70 feet and a spread of 40 to 60 feet when
fully grown.
Past President Cheryl Smith, said: “Planting a tree is a
symbol of hope because it will be enjoyed by future
generations and the club hopes area residents will enjoy
this tree for many years to come.”
With help from the Town of Southbury Public Works
Department Director John Cottell, Public Works Foreman
Jim Sugden, and his hard-working crew, the tree was
planted on a hill in Community House Park in late spring.
A plaque commemorating the event will be added later.
The inspiration for the tree occurred when
Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Past President Jane
Waugh installed the new Southbury Garden Club officers
and inspired us with her passion for trees.
During her two year tenure Jane chose the theme “Growing
Together: Tiny Acorns to Mighty Oaks,” a program
encouraging clubs to plants native oaks trees in their
communities. She reminded us we don’t plant trees for
ourselves, but for future generations. Jane observed:
“We have planted a forest of oaks across the state. A
lot of tiny acorns are on their way to becoming mighty
oaks!”
The program resulted in approximately one hundred new
oak trees in communities across the state.
The Southbury Garden Club is a non-profit group and
undertakes many civic projects benefitting the local
area.
HELPING PRESERVE THE TOWN’S HERITAGE
Members of the Southbury Garden
Club and
the Historical Building Commission joined together
to plant and restore historically accurate gardens at the
Bullet Hill School in Southbury, one of the oldest surviving
brick schoolhouses in New England. It dates back to 1789 and
was in use until 1942. The authentic gardens feature plants used in
the school’s colonial period.
The volunteers spent several days working hard to thin and
transplant existing ferns and iris. They then added lilies,
babies’ breath, shasta daisies, black eyed Susan, bleeding
heart, lavender, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Members
later returned to add mulch, because watering
must be done the old fashioned way… with buckets and
watering cans!
The Town of Southbury Public Works Department has
now taken responsibility for watering the new gardens.
Future plans includeworking with the Historical
Building Commission, to design and plant historically
accurate gardens at the "Old Town Hall" in South Britain.
MULTIPLE
CIVIC PROJECTS GREATLY BENEFIT AREA RESIDENTS
The
Southbury Garden Club
is a non-profit organization which undertakes many projects
benefitting Southbury and its residents. Here are some
of the activities club members have performed recently.
Some are traditional endeavors others are new projects.
-
Youth Activities - The SGC conducts workshops workshops
and floral related projects in cooperation with the
Southbury Public Library, local scout organizations and
school teachers and students.
- Therapy Baskets for Safe Haven –
This long standing project is very popular. Each spring members assemble and decorate dozens of baskets
containing a small plant and toiletries for the clients of
Safe Haven. Club members also donates gifts during
the holiday season. Participation in these projects is
strictly voluntarry.
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- Community Garden - During the growing season, club members plant, tend and harvest fresh produce
from the
club’s plots in Heritage Village and the Southbury Community
Garden. Lettuce,
tomatoes, beans and other veggies are harvested weekly and
brought to the Southbury Food Bank.
-
This activity has taken on special
significance during the COVID-19 pandemic when the
Southbury Food Bank has experienced an increase in the
number of families requiring assistance.
- Library Flower Arrangements
–
Club members donate floral arrangements weekly for
display in the Southbury Public Library. The club also provides
additional floral designs for special library events.
Although this activity
was halted in early spring when the library was closed
due to COVID-19 restrictions, members began
donating weekly arrangements again in September 2020.
As patrons return to the
library, there has been a lot of positive feedback about
the live arrangements.
Colonial Herb Garden
–
The club maintains an herb garden at the Bent of the
River Audubon Center, featuring plants and herbs used in
colonial times. It is an educational tool for area
students and is also a popular site for pictures and
wedding ceremonies.
- Community Gardens in Town Parks –
In addition to the Pollinator Garden in Settlers Park, the
club plants and maintains public gardens
in Ballantine Park and Ewald Park for the enjoyment of
area residents.
- Harriet
Koons Memorial Scholarship* -
The club awards a five hundred dollar scholarship
annually to a Southbury
resident who is enrolled in an accredited college, majoring in
horticulture or a related field of study which reflects the club’s goals of promoting
horticulture, conservation and the creative use of plant material.
*It is named in honor of past club president Harriet Koons. For many
years she and
her husband, Walter, generously supported many conservation projects
in the local area.
For full details contact
Scholarship Chair Helen Smith at
203-405-6304 or at
portlandgh@yahoo.com.
Application forms are
available from Helen, and at the Southbury Public
Library.
(Click here for Scholarship Application)
Scholarship applications
for the 2021 scholarship are available now.