SPICE OF LIFE

THE CT FEDERATED GARDEN CLUBS OF CT INC.

STANDARD FLOWER SHOW  FEB 18-21 2010

The long awaited show has come and gone, and Milford Garden Club brought home many horticulture awards.  Thanks to Kathrine Neville, Horticulture Coordinator and Horticulture Schedule Chair , June Bencivenga , Joan Crimmins ,Connie Wood and Kathy Kobishyn for assisting in Horticulture Entries,as well as Bunny Elmore and Ruth Miller and Connie Wood for painting the staging elements.  Much work goes into a show and the bonus is a free ticket as well as getting to understand the process of putting on a show.  Once you experience it, you will never experience a flower show the same way. 

  

Kathrine Neville 's Pinus strobus 'Louis' won the Arboreal Award and the blue ribbon for Arboreal Specimens.  Kathy Kobishyn's Juniperus chinesis 'Robusta Green' rated a second place ribbon.  June Bencivenga's Dieffenbachia also rated a second place ribbon.  There were other blues , and several honorable mentions . All in all the horticulture that was brought in to the show by club members from around our state was impressive, especially when you consider you had to drive through snow storms and ice to get to Hartford! Well done ladies. There was an unusual design devision this show for Men Only entitled Winning Workshop. This design incorporated wood project scraps.  Most inventive and creative! 

Just as a reminder if you volunteer for the show  in any capacity , you will be given free tickets to come to the show itself, and a discount on parking.  Its a wonderful deal. 

The following slideshow will give a glimpse into the creative side of floral design.  Ask for a copy of the schedule.  It will help you to understand the specifics in the design and the awards each design is eligible for, such as Ct Judges Design Award, Petite Award , Table Artistry Award.  Check out your green Flower Show Handbooks for all the facts and information on creating designs. 

There will be a Garden Photography Workshop Week coming up at the studio of Rich Pomerantz in Washington CT from September 10-12 2010.  

Cost of the workshop is $575 for two and a half days of photographing some of Litchfield County's most beautiful gardens, transportation between the gardens and all meals.  Lodging is provided by a local inn and is offered to workshop particpants at a discounted rated of $100- 125 per room.  Class Size is limited . Book before April 1st and save $50. 

Check out Rich's website to see some of his work. You can contact via phone at  860 355 3356.

In addition, Environmental Studies School ,Course IV , is going to be held at the Jones Auditorium at the Ct Agriculture Station in New Haven from May 3-4-5th of 2010. 

Please contact Kathrine Neville at kgardens@optonline.net to find out further information. 

For those of you who may be thinking about attending Flower Show School at the Jones Auditorium, this announcement just came from Barbara Bruce who is in charge of the program 

Hi Ladies,

I'm sorry to inform you that we are canceling the upcoming Flower Show
School, Course 1 in April, 2010.  This course is being postponed until
October 4, 5 and 6, 2010.  

I know this will be the last course for all of you and I apologize.  

I checked out the National Garden Club website (gardenclub.org) and found the
two schools in the Northeast that will be held before October.  They are:

May 25-28, 2010 - East Brunswick New Jersey
September 14-16, 2010 - Taunton, MA

If you go on the NGC Website you can get more information on these and
other classes being offered around the country.  

It was so great to see so many of you at the CT Flower Show.  You're doing
wonderful designs.  Good luck with your continuing journey and I hope
to see you all soon.

Barbara