Elizabeth Park Newsletter July 2009

July Calendar

1 History Tour ~ 10 am Info Center

1 Concert: Soul Sensation ~ 6:30 pm

7 Summer Care of Roses Workshop ~ Noon & 6:30 pm

Rose Garden (rain location Info Center)

8 Concert: N2Wishin ~ 6:30 pm

9 Perennial Garden Tour ~ 6:30 pm Perennial Garden

11 Super Saturday Volunteer Day ~ 9-12 Rose Garden

11 HartBeat Ensemble Play in the Park ~ 4:30 pm

11 Bonsai Show ~ 11 am – 6 pm

12 Bonsai Show ~ 10 am – 4 pm

15 Concert: Island Girl ~ 6:30 pm

22 Concert: River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs ~ 6:30 pm

23 Perennial Garden Tour ~ 6:30 pm Perennial Garden

25 Super Saturday Volunteer Day ~ 9-12 Rose Garden

29 Concert: Latanya Farrell ~ 6:30 pm

July 1	Soul Sensation: Motown
July 8	N2Wishin: Rock
July 15	Island Girl: Caribbean
July 22	River City Slim & Zydego Hogs: Zydeco /Cajun
July 29	Latanya Farrell: R&B, Soul

August 5	Sophisticats: Jazz, Swing
August 12	Tirebiter: Rock & Roll
August 19	Abbey Road: Beatles music
August 26	Mass Conn Fusion: Rock, R&B

Aldo Leopold had expertise in forestry and land conservation. He developed his love of the outdoors as a boy in his native state of Iowa and his understanding of environmental issues while earning his Master’s degree at Yale. He also spent eighteen years working for the US. Forest Service. Aldo believed that conservation was the responsibility of the individual, the community and the government. He encouraged citizens to: “obey the law, vote right, join some organizations and practice what conservation is profitable on your own land; the government will do the rest”. It wasn’t until after Leopold’s death, however, that his “land ethic” was published in “The Sand County Almanac” in 1949.

Here we are over sixty years later. The environmental movement has certainly had an impact on us all. The debates continue about global warming, the impact human beings have on the environment and the rights of the individual in all of this. One of the new buzz words used in this lively debate is “sustainability”.

For those of us who care for our own lawns and landscapes, sustainability means to create and care for those lawns and landscapes in a way that imitates nature. By doing so, we will be leaving the environment in better shape for future generations. We will “leave no footprint” behind. How can we do this and what rights do we have as individuals to have that “great American lawn” and to grow the plants we like that may have come from foreign soils? What rights and responsibilities do we have to protect our own property, our town, our state, our country and our Mother Earth?

Those promoting the move toward sustainability are asking us to think about lawn care and landscaping in a different way. These groups and individuals certainly have gained much traction lately, so it is important for all of us to educate ourselves so that we can then choose what is right for us, right for the environment and right for future generations. Garden clubs, Master Gardeners, horticultural organizations such as the “Friends” as well as “Green Industry” professionals are trying to take the lead in educating and guiding the public about sustainable options for their lawns and plantings. There are many educational opportunities available to gardeners and property owners that are interested.

So, what about roses and what does all this stuff have to do with Elizabeth Park? Roses probably aren’t mentioned in many “sustainability” conversations. Indeed, most roses require much more in the way of nurturing than almost any other plant. Nevertheless, people love roses and the “Friends” are actively involved in educating the public about them. Our new Rosarian, Marci Martin, is an expert that is dedicated to giving all existing and potential rose gardeners the information they need for success in their own gardens. Marci’s confident approach will remove any fear of failure and encourage even the novice to give roses a try. Many of you know that Elizabeth Park is the oldest of twenty-three test sites spread around the United States that evaluates new roses for the All American Rose Selections (AARS) which is a nonprofit association dedicated to introducing exceptional new roses each year to eager gardeners all around the globe. Evaluating roses is expensive and taken seriously. To be chosen as an AARS Winner, a rose must survive rigorous evaluations in fifteen different categories for a two year period. To find out more about AARS, you can visit them at their website: www.rose.org

There is no question that roses belong in the discussion about sustainability. Fortunately, there have been a number of roses introduced that have disease resistance as well as other qualities that make them “easy care” roses. These roses require much less in the way of spraying and grooming and therefore can be considered as important additions to sustainable landscapes, although it might be stretching that term a bit. Almost anyone can take a stab at growing “easy care” roses and enjoy their blooms when most other shrubs in the garden have already finished blooming. I’ll leave it to Marci to suggest some of the varieties that are best suited to our Connecticut landscape and to pass along tips for success in growing them, but you can see them for yourself in the gardens of Elizabeth Park. It is important to realize that some of the roses in Elizabeth Park are over one hundred years old and do not have the “easy care” care characteristics of the newer varieties. They are definitely not even close to being considered sustainable in any way, shape or fashion. We grow these roses because of their historic significance and many of them are old favorites. Therefore, we must take great care in their culture. Nevertheless, many of the cultural practices recommended to help other plants be more sustainable are those that will lead to success with roses as well.

They include, but are not limited to:

v Choose roses that are disease resistant to minimize the need for spraying.

v Provide good drainage and site preparation.

v Practice proper pruning techniques.

v Use good compost to provide organic matter to the soil profile.

v Mulch to retain moisture, eliminate splashing and to keep down the weeds.

v Fertilize judiciously by avoiding broadcast applications and applying fertilizers only to those areas near the base of the plant you are feeding (there is no reason to fertilize the weeds). Use organic fertilizers whenever possible.

v Provide adequate sunlight and air circulation.

v Practice proper watering techniques.

v Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to determine when it is necessary to control insects that will damage the plant. Use natural controls that are kind to beneficial insects whenever possible. You can also manually remove beetles, etc., if you have the time and don’t have too many roses.

vAnd, whatever you do, DO NOT place a beetle trap
anywhere near your roses. If you do, you’ll have every
beetle in the neighborhood on YOUR roses.

The Friends of Elizabeth Park want you to feel that you are “in harmony with the land” when you visit our many gardens. We are striving to look towards alternative methods that are environmentally friendly and we will continue try to educate the public about “best practices” for maintaining roses and many other types of plants. Part of our mission is to educate gardeners in a way that will help them understand the implications of the choices they make in their own gardens and that will make them feel good about the results.

Have a safe and happy summer! And, see you in the park!

Dave Peterson, President

Marci Martin is the new consulting rosarian for the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden

Click here to learn more about Marci and her ideas for the park, in this article from the Hartford Courant

Link to Article

Photo by MICHAEL McANDREWS

Perennial Garden Tours

July 9 & July 23

6:30 pm

Volunteer Opportunities!

Super Saturdays 2009

9 am to Noon

The Friends of Elizxabeth Park and the City of Hartford need your help to maintain the gardens in Elizabeth Park. All are welcome on Super Saturdays. Bring gloves & gardening tools.

Hand tool donations are welcome too!

JULY ~ 11 & 25

AUGUST ~ 1 & 15

SEPTEMBER 12

OCTOBER 17

NOVEMBER 21

Photo: John Mattia 2009 Rose Show

Artist of the Month:

July/ August 2009

Earle Stone

From the early 1960’s when, at the age of 14, he took his first photographs with a box camera, Earle Stone has been fascinated with capturing scenes to share with others. Over the years many have enjoyed his work, primarily nature, wildlife, and, landscapes.

His photos have been used in the book Hartford: Connecticut’s Rising Star, the last three covers for the magazine Seasons of West Hartford, in travel promotional materials for Tauck World Discovery, the Greater Hartford Guest Guide, the 100^tth anniversary calendar for the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden and the Friends of Elizabeth Park, and has been accepted in a number of juried art shows, including the recent West Hartford Artwalk. He has recently returned from another photo shoot in Yellowstone and Arches National Parks, two of his favorite places to work. Five artists have used his work as the subject of their paintings. One artist said that she would like to follow him on his photo shoots just to see what he sees!

Earle has been a resident of West Hartford for more than 30 years. He has taught History, coached high school baseball and basketball, and started his own consulting business successfully working with numerous organizations on diversity issues. In all he has done, family continues to be the most important work he does.

Earle feels blessed to have traveled to many different places and bring back some of the beauty of those places in his photography. His unusual perspective, as well as his sense of humor, is apparent in his art. Earle’s photography is sold as note cards, as well as matted and framed prints. He now has a website which shows some of work in several galleries which can be seen at earlestonephotography.com.

Contact info: earlestone@sbcglobal.net or 860-521-8218.

Photo: Earle Stone

ROSE BED / ROSE ARCH DEDICATION FORM

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Address _____________________________________

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Dedicated to In honor of In memory of Gift to

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Amount of Donation $

Please make checks payable to:

Friends of Elizabeth Park & mail to:

Friends of Elizabeth Park

PO Box 370361

West Hartford CT 06137-0361

The HartBeat Ensemble presents the fourth season of it's popular outdoor summer play series

The Economy Hits Home...tells the stories of people in Greater Hartford who have had to confront issues of housing, job loss, job creation, rising energy costs, maintaining small businesses and much more.

July 11 - Elizabeth Park

Family activities begin at 4:30.

Performance begins at 5:00pm

Free !

www.hartbeatensemble.org

Bonsai Society of Greater Hartford

http://www.greaterhartfordbonsai.com/

28^th Annual Bonsai Show - Pond House
July 11 11 am - 6 pm & July 12 10 am – 4 pm
Admission $3