Date: September 27, 2022
Program Title: How to Get Great Shots of Gardens and Nature with Your Cellphone
Presenter Info: Steve Silk
Steve Silk recently rediscovered a letter he wrote to his parents from summer camp and was not surprised to find in it a request to make sure that, while he was away, could Mom and Dad please save all the Life magazines for him. Inspired by visual reportage in the heyday of photojournalism, Steve went on to spend almost 20 years as a newspaper photographer, working in New Haven, Providence, and finally at the Hartford Courant, winning scores of state, regional, and national awards. He has photographed everything from forest fires at Big Sur, California to FBI raids on Puerto Rican terrorists holed up near San Juan, not to mention studio food shots, rock stars, presidents, athletes, and plenty of regular folks.
Forever enamored of going places, he next jumped the journalistic fence to spend a decade writing about travel. He visited Indonesia, Hawaii, central Europe, South and Central America, and many places in North America. These experiences cemented his ongoing interest in both travel photography and in the plant communities that help define the world’s varied ecosystems.
From there Steve moved to Fine Gardening magazine, where he was Managing Editor and, later, spent 10 years working for the magazine from home as a Contributing Editor. His photography of plants and gardens has garnered two Garden Writers of America awards for best portfolio. He collaborated with Sydney Eddison on two garden design books, “Gardens to Go” (published by Bulfinch) a book about container gardens, and The Gardener’s Palette: Creating with Color in the Garden,” (published by Contemporary Press). Steve has appeared several times on HGTV’s “Gardening by the Yard.” He is a past President of the Connecticut Hardy Plant Society and of the Connecticut Horticultural Society.
Description of Program:
The best camera for taking pictures is the one you are carrying, which, for most of us, means the camera that’s part of our smartphone. We all use them to take snapshots of our everyday lives, Cellphones are everywhere! But don’t let that deceive you. These are sophisticated cameras. This talk will cover the basics of iphonography for gardens and nature, from exposure, focus and composition to ways to process your photo to create the image in your mind’s eye. We’ll also discuss tips to get the most out of your smartphone camera, planning and processing apps, and how to get the most impactful images for your social media posts.
Raffle Centerpiece: Vicki Boccuzzi
Date: October 25, 2022
Program Title: Design with Principles
Presenter Info: Peggy Townsend
Have you ever wondered just what are the Principles of Design that dominate floral designs, judging comments, and Flower Show Schools? This workshop will introduce you to the NGC principles of design – balance, dominance, contrast, rhythm, proportion and scale.
Description of Program:
Peg will review the basics and then you can create your own design highlighting one principle or a new design type to take home.
Club will provide flowers and plant material. Bring your own container or buy one that day. $5.00 fee for materials.
Raffle Centerpiece: Peggy Townsend
Date: November 15, 2022
Program Title: Many Hands Workshop
Presenter Info: Joyce DeWolfe, Vicky Taloni, Peg Townsend, and Paula Toi
After the club meeting we will work together to assemble some of the materials and embellishments we need for our Greens Sale. Our team leaders will demonstrate and show you what to do. We need your helping hands to:
- Wire pinecones and other dried, and painted pods
- Assemble clusters of dried and painted leaves, pods, and cinnamon sticks.
- Make bows of many sizes.
- Make tags, labels, and cellophane packets
It is a lot of fun working with others to make the items we need to embellish the wreaths, boxwood trees, and centerpieces we sell at our Greens Sale.
Raffle Centerpiece: Paula Toi and Peggy Townsend
Date: February 28, 2023
Program Title: Native Spring Wildflowers
Presenter Info: Peter and Barbara Rzasa
Barbara and Peter Rzasa are nature photographers who provide presentations on such subjects as trees, lichens and wildflowers that are found in CT.
Barbara obtained a B.S. degree in art from Southern Connecticut State University and is a retired graphic designer who uses her artistic skills to create nature-based watercolor paintings. Peter earned his B.S. degree in Forest Chemistry from S.U.N.Y. College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Both are members of the Wallingford Garden Club and serve as Co-Chairs on the Horticulture Committee. In 2015, they were presented the Ellen Carder Memorial Award for their horticultural education by the Federated Garden Club of Connecticut. They maintain a native plant garden and a DIY bog at their residence.
Description of Program:
The Rzasas will share many of their beautiful images of wildflowers that are native to Connecticut and share their extensive knowledge about these springtime beauties to encourage everyone to look more closely at the wonders of the natural world.
Raffle Centerpiece: Louise Zierzow
Date: March 28, 2023
Program Title: Invasive Plants Among Us
Presenter Info: Barbara Thomas and Holly Kocet
Barbara Thomas is an avid gardener, a UConn Advanced Master Gardener, current Chair of the Monroe Conservation Commission and board member for the Aspetuck Land Trust. Barbara is committed to working toward educating people on the importance of considering our environment in everything we do and long term for preserving and improving the environment for future generations.
Holly Kocet is co-founder and current president of Protect Our Pollinators, a nonprofit organization devoted to public education and to conservation of pollinators and their habitats. A UConn Advanced Master Gardener since 2013, Holly is current Chair of the Newtown Conservation Commission and Co-chair Native Plants, Invasives, Lawn Care committee for the Pollinator Pathway Northeast.
Description of Program:
Why are invasives so destructive to the environment, our wildlife and us? This program describes how these plants are spoiling our wild places and invading our yards. We explain the criteria for invasive designation, what they look like, where they come from, their method of spread and options for control. Lots of colorful photos, taken around town, can help identify these harmful thugs that have invaded our yards and neighborhoods.
Raffle Centerpiece: Peggy Jepsen
Date: April 25, 2023
Program Title: Creating Moss Dish Garden
Presenter Info: Peg Townsend
Moss can be a great alternative to high maintenance grass lawns, shady areas, and problematic stony landscapes. Using moss instead of a lawn provides a wonderful springy groundcover that can be moderately walked on as well as a no-mow alternative. The rich, deep colors and varied textures of moss can make a shady corner, walkway, or rocky hillside vibrantly beautiful. On a smaller scale, you can bring some moss inside and create a decorative dish garden for your table.
Description of Program
Peggy will narrate a brief PowerPoint presentation showing some of the latest trends and techniques for creating moss gardens in yards, walkways, and other shady areas. Afterwards, Peggy will lead you in creating a moss dish garden. to take home. These miniature moss gardens will be the perfect accent piece for your table, porch, balcony, or shady spot outside. Containers, potting soil, plants and moss will be supplied.
Raffle Centerpiece: Alma Kearns
Date: May 23, 2023
Program Title: Not in My Garden: How to Identify and Control Garden Weeds
Presenter Info: Peter Russell
Peter Russell is a University of Connecticut Extension Certified Advanced Master Gardener. He is Chairman of the Board of the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford Connecticut and Chairman of its Buildings and Grounds Committee. In addition to conducting weed and invasive plant identification and control workshops, Peter works with corporations and organizations volunteering on projects on the Arboretum’s 93-acre campus.
Description of Program
Do you know the answers to these questions?
- Can you identify the weeds growing in your garden?
- Do you know why weeds appear at different times of the year?
- Are you controlling your garden weeds without chemicals?
Please join us as Advanced Master Gardener Peter Russell defines and discusses the characteristics and lifecycles of weeds common to Connecticut, their ID features and the 4 keys to weed control.
Raffle Centerpiece: Andrea Zimmerman
