New Hampshire State Bird
Purple Finch

Hampstead Garden Club
Box 714 Hampstead, NH 03841

~ 2011 Program ~

Business Meeting Presentation of Program and Budget to Members

There is no presentation this month because we devote our entire time to approval of the 2011 program and budget. Our Program theme for this year –Putting Down Roots-Gardening in Historical New England.

Garden Find of the Month: 
 magazine subscription won by Laura Treat. She highly recommends her choice, Country Gardens. Type in "Country Gardens magazine" on our Amazon link to check out the 2 year special subscription offer.

 
Betsy Williams, our special speaker, with 
Margie Gove, our Program Co-Chair

February 16:

Old Plants in a New Land

Wherever humans have wandered, whatever new territory they set out to explore, their important plants have traveled with them – plants that would provide food and medicine at the end of the journey.

When the English settlers arrived on the coast of New England in the early Seventeenth century, the roots and seeds of their most necessary plants came with them. Many were herbs that had been important to the health and well-being of humans for thousands of years and still are widely used today. Learn the stories of some of these herbs as Betsy Williams, florist and teacher, author and historian, entertains us as she weaves stories and legends throughout her presentation. This program is open to the public.

Please follow link to access a recommended booklist from 
Betsy Williams. 

Garden Find of the Month:
  orchid won by Doreen Ayers

March 16:

Using Vintage and Found Objects in the Garden

Have you found a great object at a yard sale or auction or inherited a neat item that would go just perfectly in your garden? Member Kim Sharpe’s sister, Cheryl Cravino, will show us how these items can enhance our gardens and will suggest ideas for what to do with your cherished one-of-a-kind objects or any items you find interesting. Feel free to bring these articles to the meeting and tap into Cheryl’s imagination. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for old things that can be transformed into garden gems! The public is invited to attend a meeting sure to inspire us all!  Have you found a great object at a yard sale or auction or inherited a neat item that would go just perfectly in your garden? Member Kim Sharpe’s sister, Cheryl Cravino, will show us how these items can enhance our gardens and will suggest ideas for what to do with your cherished one-of-a-kind objects or any items you find interesting. Feel free to bring these articles to the meeting and tap into Cheryl’s imagination. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for old things that can be transformed into garden gems! The public is invited to attend a meeting sure to inspire us all!

Garden Find of the Month:
  hanging cactus won by Marie Fisichella

April 20:

Edible Wild Plants and Mushrooms of New England

The early settlers in this country found both familiar and strange fruits, vegetables, and wild foods in the forest. How did they know what was edible?  Could you fend for yourself in the woods?  Russ Cohen will present a program entitled Edible Wild Mushrooms & Plants of New England.  Russ has been featured on NPR, and is the author of the book Wild Foods I Have Known … and Eaten. He has been featured in Yankee and several other magazines. He’ll bring wild foods he’s foraged for a tasting so come and join in the fun. This program is open to the public.

Garden Find of the Month:
  hummingbird feeder
 won by Linda Windmill

Yellow Ladyslipper at the 
Garden in the Woods

May 11:          

Sticks, Sticks & More Sticks!

In preparation for the annual plant sale, this night has been dubbed "Stick Night." Join us as we prepare hundreds of sticks used to label each plant as to common name, Latin name, plant light requirements and price.  We will have an abundant variety of plants obtained and divided from our home gardens and Civic sites. These locally harvested plants will be sold at our largest fundraiser of the year on Saturday, May 21st!

Special event in May:
               May 28 - Trip to New England Wildflower Society's Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts

Garden Find of the Month:
  Phantom Petunia with Dragonfly Stick
 won by Theresa McTammany

June 15:

Garden Walk at Connie Adams' Home

From Roses to Rue (Meadow, that is)

The gardens at Connie Adams’ 1780 home are, as Connie puts it, “household gardens of barely controlled chaos!”  Connie firmly believes variety is the spice of life.  Her gardens reflect this, with everything from wildflowers we can hunt by the stream – to Meadow Rue to Roses. Join us for a tour of her delightful grounds and a sandwich swap.

Special events in June:
            June 4 – Trip to Cheryl Cravino’s Hosta Amour in Pelham, featuring An Illicit Love Affair with Plantain Lilies
            June 11 – Members Wholesale Day 9-12:30 at Van Berkums in Deerfield

July 20: Early Start at 6 pm

ART in the GARDEN

Join us for our annual Art in the Garden celebration, held this year in the beautiful Storybook Garden around the back of the Hampstead Public Library.

On display will be arrangements of fresh flowers members have used to interpret works of art.  The public is invited to enjoy an evening of friends, artistic expression, and a beautiful sunset in a lovely setting.

Special event in July:
            July 9 - Hypertufa container workshop at member Margie Gove’s house, 242 Main St., 10 am

Kim Sharpe's porcelain vine

August 17:

Tour of Kim Sharpe's Gardens

We’ll be meeting at Kim Sharpe’s home for a garden tour and sandwich swap in August.  Kim’s extensive gardens include sun, shade, and vegetable gardens, fruit trees and a fish pond all scattered amongst the stone walls.  Kim keeps a flock of chickens who will be anxiously awaiting our arrival!

Special event in August: 
            August 20 - Trip to Bedrock Farm in Lee

Garden Find of the Month:
  Porcelain vine with Garden Candle
 won by Jean Tanner

September 21:

Not Your Grandmother's Preserves

Alice Mullen from the UNH Cooperative Extension will entertain and educate us as “Gert,” everyone’s favorite cooking show hostess.  More seriously, she’ll keep us posted as to what’s new and good in food preservation and food safety.  Join us for this very entertaining evening!  This program is open to the public.

Garden Find of the Month:
  Fall aster with Garden Thermometer
 won by Cheryl Poussard

October 19:

Turn of the Century New England Plantswomen 

Let’s take a look at historical New England gardens in a program called Turn of the Century New England Plantswomen.  Gardener Nancy Wetzel lectures and writes on turn-of-the-twentieth-century garden history and the notable plantswomen of that period.  This program, in conjunction with the Friends of the Library, will feature the wonderful gardens these historical women created and how the gardens influenced their writing.

The public is invited to this inspiring program which continues our year’s theme of Putting Down Roots – Gardening in Historical New England.

November 16:

Deck the Halls

Tonight’s the night we work together creating wreaths and garlands to decorate the town for the holiday season.  Our Deck the Halls Committee provides the greenery, accessories, and an example of the creative design.  Club members work in groups to make the finished seasonal creations. When ready, we will set out in teams with flashlights and ladders to display these wreaths and garlands on several town signs and buildings.  Our fellow townsfolk are delighted when they see them for the first time the next morning.

Our annual Giving Tree will be available for members to take one or more tags to provide gifts to benefit community members in need.  The gifts, wrapped and tagged “From Santa” will be brought to the Holiday Gathering in December.

December 7:

Holiday Gathering Sue Norris' Home

Our last club event of the year is located at the warm, inviting home of Sue Norris. This year we’ll remember our roots by asking each member to bring a special family recipe to our Holiday Gathering.  Because this recipe is special to you, there will be no sign up sheet. Just bring a (covered) dish, be it an hors d’oeuvre, salad, specialty condiment, side dish, main dish or dessert that brings you back to times past in your family.

As we’ve done throughout the year, please contribute your recipe so it may be included in the collection to be shared with the club.

Please bring your gifts for the annual Giving Tree wrapped and tagged “From Santa.”

Last updated on September 27, 2011