GARDEN AS IF THE EARTH DEPENDS ON IT
Visit our Earth Day plans and activities pages, which shape this Garden Club year.
Highlights of 2020:
SEED SWAP & SHARE | EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS | SUPPORTING POLLINATORS | SOIL RESTORATION | PARTNERING WITH NATURE
Carlisle woodland garden in summer
photo by Elizabeth Acquaviva |
Trees in winter, Great Brook State Park
photo by Kay Hurley |
Autumn color, Great Brook State Park
photo by Debbie Bentley |
Garden Club/Carlisle Cheer
Seedling Giveaway on May 22-23
IN VIEW OF THE COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, we'll be holding a free seedling and small-scale plant giveaway. The event is co-sponsored by the Garden Club and the Carlisle "Plant Some Cheer" Project. It is spearheaded by Alison Saylor, who has obtained permission from the Board of Health to create no-contact distribution of seedlings and small plant divisions. Plants purchased from the Rare Gems auction will also be delivered at that time.
To get started, requestors should email Alison Saylor immediately at saylorfarm@comcast.net, listing your desired plants (vegetables, flowers, herbs) color preferences, growing conditions in terms of sun or shade, soil type, etc. Alison will reply and attempt to “curate” a selection of free seedlings, seeds and plants that best fulfill your request.
To get started, requestors should email Alison Saylor immediately at saylorfarm@comcast.net, listing your desired plants (vegetables, flowers, herbs) color preferences, growing conditions in terms of sun or shade, soil type, etc. Alison will reply and attempt to “curate” a selection of free seedlings, seeds and plants that best fulfill your request.
DRIVE-THRU INSTRUCTIONS: Drive down Church Street to the small fence opening at Spalding Field or join the pickup line. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR! Give your name and bid number or order number to a volunteer, who will load your plants into your trunk and/or back seat. If you want to check your purchased plants, you may pull forward to the bottom of the field -- or drive over to Kimball Farm if there's a crowd.
Friday, May 22 from noon to 6 PM & Saturday, May 23 from 10 AM to 4 PM
Friday, May 22 from noon to 6 PM & Saturday, May 23 from 10 AM to 4 PM
Heirloom seed packets available at https://www.monticelloshop.org/
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SAFE DISTANCE SEED SHARETHE SEEDLING GIVEAWAY ON MAY 22 - 23 IS ALSO OFFERING FREE SEEDS TO THE COMMUNITY
THE CGC SEED GIVEAWAY HAS JOINED the free seedling distribution at Spalding Field on May 22 and 23. (See above article).
To get started, requestors should email Alison Saylor immediately at saylorfarm@comcast.net, listing your desired plants (vegetables, flowers, herbs) color preferences, growing conditions in terms of sun or shade, soil type, etc. Alison will reply and attempt to “curate” a selection of free seedlings, seeds and plants that best fulfill your request. DONATIONS OF SMALL PLANTS OR SEEDLING ARE ALSO WELCOME. Email joeths@comcast.net if you can help! |
WINNING BIDDER IN THE RARE GEMS AUCTION?
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THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS BENEFACTOR ROY HEROLD we've enjoyed a brisk and exciting auction to benefit college scholarships, public projects, and other activities of the Carlisle Garden Club. The spectacular plant at right, veratrum virginicum,
is only one of the wonderful natives you may not yet know about. FOR PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS, SEE THE DRIVE-THRU PROCEDURE described above the automobile icon in the seedling giveaway article at the top of this page. |
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LOVE TO GARDEN? JOIN THE CLUB. If you'd like to be part of the Carlisle Garden Club or if you'd like to attend a meeting as our guest, click the button below to contact our member chair.
Some recent club highlights
Download the most recent member list (password required)
2019-2020 Officers and Committees
Celebrating our 2019 Debbie Wright Scholarship winner
Alison Saylor's Template for land stewardship
Judy Blaikie Lane's Flower arranging demo
2019-2020 Officers and Committees
Celebrating our 2019 Debbie Wright Scholarship winner
Alison Saylor's Template for land stewardship
Judy Blaikie Lane's Flower arranging demo
THANKS TO ALL OUR 2019 TOUR SPONSORS
Our deepest thanks to the sponsors who so generously supported the 2019 tour. It was the club's major fundraiser, which supports civic beautification, community events such as the spring seed swap, and college scholarships for Carlisle students. As you will see when you open our preliminary calendar, we're planning a banner series of outreach events in the coming year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original Earth Day in 1970.
Please patronize our sponsors whenever possible and spread the word among your friends.
Please patronize our sponsors whenever possible and spread the word among your friends.
(Click any sponsor's logo to visit their website.)
Community Garden Sponsors
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Wildflower Garden Sponsor
Herb Garden Sponsors
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Add habitat for native bumblebees to your landscape
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At a fascinating April, 2019 lecture sponsored by Grow Native Massachusetts in Cambridge, biologist Rob Gegear of Worcester Polytechnic Institute shared his research on the ecology of native bumblebees, and offered many evidence-based actions to help conserve these vital pollinators. A key component of Rob's guidelines for creating high-quality bumblebee habitat was plant selection, described later in this article.
His guidelines: first and foremost, avoid using non-native plants as much as possible. Exotic species disrupt the ecological systems within which bumblebees and native plants have evolved, and may actually contribute to bumblebee declines. Of the eleven bumblebee species native to Massachusetts, only a few have stable or expanding populations. Many of the species that are now rare have declined significantly from their historical abundance. Some non-native perennials might buzz with bees when in bloom, but they are often attracting only the most common, least threatened bumblebees. The true indicator of valuable habitat is seeing a diversity of bee species. |
Photo: Bombus impatiens, New England aster. © Janet Wilder
TO VIEW OTHER VIDEOS IN THE EVENINGS WITH EXPERTS SERIES VISIT THE GROW NATIVE WEBSITE . A list of upcoming 2020 topics is now available. |
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Native Plant Trust: a new name for a beloved New England institutionGarden visiting season begins April 15 at Native Plant Trust in Framingham. Sound unfamiliar? It's the organization formerly known as NEWFS -- the New England Wild Flower Society, still headquartered at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road -- open daily 10 AM to 5 PM. It's been renamed to reflect their important work in protecting native species. Take a look at the website, then plan a visit (or several) to watch the wondrous parade of NE native plants in bloom. You can even purchase natives, grown locally from seed, to grace your own property.
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RETHINKING YOUR GARDEN:
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OVER THE MOON ABOUT THE MOON?
If you're one of those wonderful "lunatic" gardeners who believes in planting or harvesting by the phases of the moon, you can click this link for a chart of the moon phases this month. |
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PLEASE SHARE THE RECIPE FOR YOUR FABULOUS DISH |
OUR POTLUCK PARTIES LEAVE US YEARNING FOR ONE MORE TASTE of that amazing salad or casserole, dessert or other special treat you brought to a party this year -- or any year. Though our version won't match your artful preparation, we'd love to share those tasty delights at our own family gatherings. And those who couldn't make it to the event will appreciate a vicarious bite, we're sure.
Pinterest graphic from http://www.jeanettelynton.com
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THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
CHECK OUT THIS PAGE TO SEE A LIST OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR WORK. Many thanks to all our sponsors, donors and supporters. Please patronize them in return, whenever possible, and mention them to your friends.
What else is new?
LAST YEAR'S SEED SWAP/EXPO FEATURED SEED BOMBS, PEA SHOOTS, MILK-JUG MINI-GREENHOUSES, ORIGAMI ENVELOPES FROM RECYCLED PAPER, MASON BEE HOMES AND NEW COMPOSTING IDEAS for gardeners of all ages. Click here to visit recent Seed Swap documents.
KEEP MOVING, GARDENERS: TRY THE EGOSCUE STRETCHES FOR HEALTH AND REJUVENATION, available for all to download here.
A WORKOUT ROUTINE FOR GARDENERS WHO WANT TO GET IN SHAPE. Available to all site visitors.
MORE PUBLIC LINKS HAVE BEEN ADDED: Check out some exciting new addresses on our favorite links page describing permaculture resources, over-wintering tender fig trees, and new sources for obtaining native New England shrubs and perennials. These links are available to all site visitors.
MEMBER DOCUMENTS NOW AVAILABLE: Get a copy of our downloadable current member list, as well as recent newsletters, meeting minutes, financial reports, and member reimbursement form here. You'll be asked for the site password.
A WORKOUT ROUTINE FOR GARDENERS WHO WANT TO GET IN SHAPE. Available to all site visitors.
MORE PUBLIC LINKS HAVE BEEN ADDED: Check out some exciting new addresses on our favorite links page describing permaculture resources, over-wintering tender fig trees, and new sources for obtaining native New England shrubs and perennials. These links are available to all site visitors.
MEMBER DOCUMENTS NOW AVAILABLE: Get a copy of our downloadable current member list, as well as recent newsletters, meeting minutes, financial reports, and member reimbursement form here. You'll be asked for the site password.
HAVE A QUESTION OR SUGGESTION FOR THE CLUB?
OPEN OUR RESOURCES PAGE TO SEE WHAT'S NEW, ASK A QUESTION, OR SUGGEST A TOPIC. . .