Mad Gardeners, Inc. is an organization of professional horticulturists and serious home gardeners. The Corporation is formed for charitable, scientific, and education purposes, including to promote and foster the appreciation and understanding of horticulture, botany, and related environmental and ecological concerns; to conduct educational programs and forums; to promote public education, the development of students, and the improvement of professional skill in the field; to provide support to schools, arboreta and other organizations qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and conduct any other activities and perform any and all acts which may be necessary, useful, suitable, or proper for the furtherance of the foregoing purposes.
Members can see the full bulletin with photos and links on the members page.
From Assistant Newsletter Editor Kathleen Nelson, November 1, 2023
Expect a full newsletter in mid-January. Please send short articles, comments, pictures, questions to Newsletter Editor Kathy Diemer at kathy@agardenforall.com, copied to Assistant Editor Kathleen Nelson at knelson151@sbcglobal.net by January 12, 2024.
• November 18, Saturday—Regular meeting
• January 14, Sunday—Regular meeting
• February 3, Saturday—Annual Meeting for the Election of Directors
• March 2—Symposium, Housatonic Valley Regional High School
• April 12—Science Day, Housatonic Valley Regional High School
• Regular Meeting—November 18, Saturday at 2 PM—The Sherman Library
Come early to socialize—the room will be open by 1:30. Beverages are provided. We always appreciate cookies and other refreshments.
The Magical Gardens of Bunny Mellon: The talk shares the innovations and garden focuses of this gifted and cutting-edge designer with 12 archival photos from Oak Spring Foundation. It sheds light on why Mrs. Mellon's work was ahead of her time and how she may well have started the landscape revolution (ecology, sustainability, beauty) which many landscape architects and designers are continuing in her footsteps today.
Speaker: Jennifer Yates, B I Arch is the owner of Jennifer Yates Landscapes in Sherman, CT. She shares her passion for creating award-winning landscapes which nurture the environment and focus on garden beauty and magic for the client's delight. Her strongest skillset is color/architectural harmonies and creating environmental solutions. Her education includes the Rhode Island School of Design and New York Botanical Garden. She also has a NOFA Certificate.
Directions: The Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Center, 06784 (www.shermanlibrary.org). See details below.
Questions: contact meeting organizer Angela Dimmitt, 860-355-3429, angeladimmitt@aol.com
Directions to The Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Center, 06784 (www.shermanlibrary.org).
• From the bridge in New Milford—go north on Rte 7 towards Kent for 2.8 miles and turn left at the flashing light onto Rte. 37 to Sherman. Go 3 miles, and in the village at Giddings Garage and the School, continue straight on for two hundred yards and turn left at the library then into the parking lot.
• From Kent at the traffic light—drive south on Rte 7 for 6.5 miles and turn right on Rte.55 in Gaylordsville. In 1.0 mile, turn left (caution: traffic comes fast) onto Rte 39 to Sherman; at the end, turn right and go 200 yards to library on left as above.
• From New York State on Route 22—at the traffic light in Pawling, turn onto Quaker Hill Road/Rte 67. At the end (3.2 miles), turn right then just past the stone library, turn left onto Kirby Hill Road/Rte 67. At the end (2.5 miles), turn left onto Rte. 37, go 2.0 miles and at the Old Store, turn right onto Sawmill Rd and almost immediately turn left into the Library parking lot.
Directions to Minor Memorial Library, 23 South Street, Roxbury, CT 06783
• From New Milford at the junction of Rtes 202 from the north and 67—head east on Rte 67 towards Bridgewater/Roxbury. At 5.3 miles, turn right on Wellers Bridge Road. Go 1.3 miles to stop sign and turn right on South St – the library is 0.2 mile on right.
• From Woodbury on Rte 6—at the traffic light take Rte 317/Sycamore Avenue west to Roxbury for 6.1 miles. Rte 317 becomes Rte 67 in Roxbury and where 67 turns right, keep straight to stop sign (church on right) and turn left on South St as above.
Directions to New Milford Public Library, 24 Main Street, New Milford, CT 06776
• From Litchfield—head south on Route 202. In New Milford, turn right onto Bridge St then turn right onto Main St. The library is on the right.
• From Bridgewater—head north on Route 67. In New Milford, turn left onto Bridge St then turn right onto Main St. The library is on the right.
• From Kent or Danbury—follow Route 7 to New Milford and continue onto Bridge St. Cross the bridge and turn left onto Main St. The library is on the right.
Our website, www.madgardeners.org, is an excellent site. It is hard to decide what to explore next. Access to the main pages does not require a password, but you need the password to access pages containing members-only information. You can even view the complete newsletter on the website. There is a ton of educational information as well. If you have trouble logging into the website, please contact MadGardener@madgardeners.org. Remember to check events of interest to gardeners and job listings.
To Join Mad Gardeners: Membership renewal forms are mailed to members every fall. Membership applications for new members are available 1) on-line on our website, 2) by email from moebius122@optonline.net, or 3) by sending a request for an application with a stamped self-addressed business-sized envelope to the membership coordinator, Margaret Moebius, 122 Ridge Road, Clinton Corners, NY 12514-2549. People requesting membership applications after 9/1/2023 will receive the 2024 membership application when it is ready.
Donations: Mad Gardeners members have always been generous when we have been in need of money. Dues cover our basic expenses. Please continue your generosity. Your tax-deductible donations have allowed us to cover increased costs, organize educational programs, provide student scholarships and launch the Mile-a-Minute Control Project. Thank you!
The Early Career Award has been developed for professionals to further develop their desire to become more knowledgeable in their field. The purpose of this award is to provide a platform for new horticulturists to advance their work and reputation.
This opportunity is available to established professional gardeners, growers, landscape designers within the first 2 to 4 years of their current position to attend classes or meetings. It may also be awarded to qualifying second-year Horticultural and Environmental Science College students.
A one-time stipend not to exceed $2,000.00 will be offered.
Each participant will be required to submit details of the costs of the proposed program and an expanded 500-word letter detailing and explaining the entire learning program and how the learning opportunity will benefit them and the local community.
The applications will be judged by the Scholarship committee based on the following criteria:
• Applicants must be a member of Mad Gardeners and/or other professional Horticultural Organization.
• Scholarly Content: Description of the desired program is original, relevant, and presented clearly.
• Writing is concise, informative and effectively conveys knowledge. The story about the applicant's need is clear.
• Importance to Horticulture: The value and contribution to the horticultural science profession is substantiated.
Application may be submitted at any time.
For questions or to submit your application, please contact Robert Gambino, Chairman, Mad Gardeners' Scholarship Committee, 4 Old Mill Road, New Milford, CT 06776 • Telephone: 860 354-3319
The award will be announced as needed.
JOIN / RENEW Mad Gardeners Membership—Download the Mad Gardeners Membership Application HERE. Visit the About Us page to learn about the benefits of joining.
Do not hesitate to recommend us to anyone who might benefit from the networking and educational opportunities we provide. As always, any donation sent in with your membership is greatly appreciated!
OUR WEBSITE—Our website is now open to the public, so it is much easier for our members to spread the word about our organization. Feel free to share the website link with prospective members. The Members section of the site remains private, however, and requires use of our password.
AREA EVENTS—Noteworthy events and announcements are listed. It is a frequently updated resource for garden-related events in the area, and is a page we recommend you visit regularly. Events open only to MG members will be listed in the Members section of the site and accessible by password.
HOW TO SHARE NEWS & EVENTS—How to spread the word about your non-profit organization’s event through us: We are an informal group. Our 3 mailed newsletters are published fall, winter and spring.
Some events are included in the newsletter, but all are forwarded to our webmaster for possible posting. Note: notices emailed to members are restricted to business-related information and meeting reminders, with other events occasionally tacked on. They are sent infrequently so we recommend that you regularly check this website for area news and events.
Thank you to Douglas Tallamy for his talk "Plant It And They Will Come" and thank you to all who attended! The video is posted below.
Douglas Tallamy: Plant It And They Will Come
sponsored by Mad Gardeners
a non-profit organization of professional and non-professional gardeners dedicated to promoting "appreciation and cultivation of plants, and the creation, conservation and maintenance of gardens and suitable habitats for such plants through educational programs and meetings.
LINKS—Here are some links from Douglas Tallamy's talk:
• Homegrown National Park—https://homegrownnationalpark.org/
• Native Plant Finder—https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/
Email:
MadGardener@MadGardeners.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 146, Sherman, CT 06784-0146
Copyright © 2021 Mad Gardeners. All rights reserved.