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September/October 2010
All events are FREE unless noted
Visit the web site for more information and
current scheduled events
http://www.elizabethpark.com/ |
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As always we would like to thank
AETNA for their support of all
FREE public tours & events in
Elizabeth Park!
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September Calendar
1 Perennial Garden Workshop ~ 9-12
2 Rose Garden Tour ~ 6:30
7 History Tour ~ 10:00 am ~ Info
Center
11 Rose Garden Super Saturday ~
9-noon
26-Oct 2 Farm to Chef Week at the Pond
House Cafe
29 Closing the Perennial Garden
Workshop ~ 9-noon
31 Full Moon Tour ~ 7:45 ~ Pond
House
October Calendar
2
Autumn Bird Walk 7:30 a.m. Greenhouse
Parking lot
9
Autumn Tree Tour 10:00 a.m. Greenhouse
Parking lot
16 Rose Garden Super Saturday ~
9-noon
22 Full Moon Tour ~ 6:30 ~ Pond
House
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Park Tours, Shows, & Plant Sales
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Learn about Elizabeth Park
History
Tours ~ 10 am
September 7
October 9
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Perennial
Garden Workshops
How to care for Perennials ~ A
hands on workshop with Bill
Turull
The 1st
Wednesday of each month from
9-12, rain or shine beginning in
May.
All are welcome.
Bring pruners,
gloves and kneeling pads if you
have them.
September 29 ~ Closing the
Perennial Garden Workshop ~ 9-12
Garden
Tours
Rose Garden
September 2 ~ 6 pm
Full Moon
Tours
Corn Moon ~
Sept 23
~ 7:45 pm (Rain date 9/24)
Harvest Moon ~ Oct 22
~ 6:30 pm (Rain date 10/23)
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Elizabeth Park in the News
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Colin McEnroe Show: The
Magic of Elizabeth Park.
Parks stir emotion, inspire
imaginations and ignite
memories.
“In certain parks, there's a
vibration. Maybe it comes from
deep deep in the ground, from
something that was there before
they even made a park in that
spot. You'll hear today.
Elizabeth Park speaks to
people.”
Read more, listen to shared
memories of the park, and view
photos at
http://www.yourpublicmedia.org/node/5313 |
Hartford Courant article |
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To kick off the city of
Hartford’s Week of Parks,
The Hartford Public Library
displays 4 x 5 foot
reproductions of historic photos
of Hartford's “Rain of Parks" in
the lobby of the downtown
library, including this one of
Elizabeth Park
The exhibit continues through
fall. |
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Croquet
The Elizabeth
Park Croquet Players play on the
greens at Asylum Avenue Sundays
around 1 pm and "after work".
Weather and player availability
permitting, we play mid-May thru
October.
Walk-ins are welcome
(flat-soled shoes or sneakers).
There is no fee.
Contact Bobbi Shorthouse at
860-608-1222 or
bobbi@NotaryServicesLLC.com
for information
These happy faces are why PUBLIC
parks are so important. The
Windsor Locks youth croquet
teams at Elizabeth Park
practicing for the Special
Olympics of CT tournament.
Elizabeth Park is one of two
public parks in Connecticut that
have croquet/lawn bowling
greens. |
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Heritage
Garden Project Update
Some of the roses saved from
the old garden will be
re-planted on Wednesday,
September 8th.
Nancy Schoeffler from the
Hartford Courant will be
there with a photographer,
so watch the Courant for a
story.
Read Nancy’s blog at
http://blogs.courant.com/connecticut-homes-gardening/2010/07/a-rosette-in-stone-with-roses.html
Beth Montgelas and some
Connecticut Valley Garden
Club members will also be
helping out as this project
is a gift from the club in
celebration of their
centennial anniversary.
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The man behind the “Secret
Garden”
Thanking Richard
Shaffer
What’s in bloom for September in
the Shade Garden.
Sept. bloom (#'s are from the
Shade Garden brochure published
by the Friends of Elizabeth
Park):
#2---Chelone lyonii & Buddleia
'Black Night'
#3---Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank',
Anemone tomentosa 'Robustisssima',
& Liriope muscari 'Variegata'
#8---Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and
Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark
Knight'
More information about the Shade
Garden:
Overall garden dimensions (50 x
125') = 6250 sq. ft.
Overall planter dimensions
(incl. ornamental grass area at
So. Wall) = 3120 sq. ft.
Rock/Shade Garden first appears
on a Park map in 1914 (this and
other information was taken from
the Garden's brochure) |
Have you ever visited the Rock /
Shade Garden in Elizabeth Park?
It is sometimes referred to as a
“secret garden” because it is
tucked away behind the perennial
beds—beautiful, cozy and
contemplative. The gentleman
who takes exceptional care of
our “secret garden”, aka
Rock/Shade garden, is Certified
Advanced Master Gardener Richard
Shaffer. Richard is one of
Elizabeth Park’s super
volunteers! In his case he has
taken on the responsibility for
the rock garden in the Park and
recruits a group of volunteers
with special interest in this
garden to help him care for it.
Richard has been caring for the
Shade garden for the better part
of five years.
After spending 25 years as the
grounds manager for all nine of
the Hartford Insurance Company’s
corporate office parks, Richard
is now retired. During
Richard’s tenure as ground’s
manager, several of the
Hartford’s office parks were
award winning. Before working
for the Hartford he worked as a
landscape assistant in a local
nursery as well as taking on the
responsibility of superintendent
of West Hartford Parks. He is a
horticultural and grounds
expert. He knows his flora.
Weekly he sends email updates to
all of his volunteers detailing
“what’s in bloom” in the shade
garden.
The Friends of Elizabeth Park
are grateful to Richard and the
Shade Garden volunteers for all
they do for Elizabeth Park’s
“secret garden”. Richard is very
modest quietly working away but
ever so diligent in his efforts
in the Shade Garden. We can’t
thank Richard enough. When you
see him working in this
beautiful space, be sure to tell
him how much you enjoy it
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Community Clean up at
Sunrise Overlook
Working together ~ The City Of
Hartford (Week of the Parks),
West End Civic Association,
Knox Parks Foundation, & Friends
of Elizabeth Park
Saturday, August 28
The West End Civic Association's
Beautification Committee,
chaired by Charlie Ortiz,
organized the clean-up in
cooperation with Knox Parks
Foundation, the Friends of
Elizabeth Park and the City of
Hartford. |
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Kids at work-the next generation
helping with the cleanup
Photo courtesy of the West End
Civic Association |
Friends & neighbors at work
Photo courtesy of the West End
Civic Association |
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Photo courtesy of the West End
Civic Association Hartford Mayor
Pedro Segarra and Charlie Ortiz,
Chair of the West End Civic
Association's Beautification
Committee |
View toward downtown Hartford
from restored Sunrise Overlook.
Photo courtesy of the West End
Civic Association
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Paul Grimmeisen & David Wilson –
Friends of Elizabeth Park |
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Super
Saturdays 9-12
Volunteer Opportunity
The Friends of Elizabeth Park
and the City of Hartford need
your help to maintain the
gardens in Elizabeth
Park. All are welcome on Super
Saturdays.
Bring gloves and gardening
tools.
Meet at 9:00 AM in the rose
garden for clean-up and weeding. |
September 11
October 16
November 20 |
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The Right Place and the Right
Time
We are pleased to re-introduce
Jackie Lee
as the new Administrative
Assistant and Volunteer
Group Administrator for the
Friends of Elizabeth Park.
Jackie has been committed to
devoting 2 days a week
volunteering at the Information
Center assisting Executive
Director, David Wilson, since
January of this year. The
‘Friends’ could not be more
pleased with Jackie’s work
performance and effort. Not to
mention an overall joy she
brings to the Park and office.
Jackie has been so hard working
and taken on so much
responsibility that we would
sometimes forget she was not
being paid. “No good deed goes
unnoticed!” The Friends of
Elizabeth Park Board of
Directors recognize what a
valuable asset and good fit
Jackie is to the organization
and to the Director, and have
decided to make Jackie an
official permanent addition to
our employed staff. Jackie will
continue to assist David Wilson
with the day to day public
interactions and office
administrative activity. She
will also be developing our
volunteer program which will
bring more corporate groups,
civic groups, other organization
and individual volunteers into
the Park to help maintain and
beautify the gardens and other
areas of the Park. We have
officially graduated to an
administrative staff of TWO!
However, we do have a very
hard-working volunteer board
whose efforts are evident in our
accomplishments. |
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Free Is Not Free!
Yes, the gardens, tours and
concerts are Free to the Public,
but the costs for these are
consider-able. Our efforts to
raise the funds to maintain the
gardens, offer garden and
history tours, and host the
Summer Concert series depend
upon support from people like
YOU. Please consider a donation
so we can continue our services
to the public. |
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“THE
END OF SUMMER”
The summer days are
fading, as they must
From endless hours to
short and fleeting light
The bird’s once bright,
immortal tune, now cries
A melancholy aura to the
dusk
The children fiercely
climb, and dream, and race
Before their wild and
unchained days depart
And yet beneath the zeal
lies a half heart
For there isn’t time,
there’s only enough space
The sun seems low, a hazy
orange sphere
Now reminiscing sweetly
of the days
When endlessly before you
summer lay
And as in the deep,
crimson dusk you stir
Your soul joins with the
birds in wistful brood
Crying for lost summer
days, for childhood
--- Shannon Georgia
Schaubroeck --- |
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Yes, summer days are indeed
fading fast. Many of us
might be melancholy and
reluctant to say good-bye to
summer. Summer is more than
just a season it’s a way of
life. Lazy days spent on
vacation, visiting loved
ones, returning to places we
remember from our childhood,
setting off on new
adventures or just resting
are what many of us enjoy
doing each summer. Shannon
Schaubroeck’s poem
accurately describes how
difficult it is accept the
diminishing daylight hours
and the imminent return to a
more structured lifestyle.
For the kids it will be
back-to-school for another
year. I’ll bet many of you
mothers can’t wait for the
kids to go back to school?
For adults it will be
transitioning into the fall
season. Co-workers will be
back from summer vacations,
the office will return to
normal and neighbors will
reconnect sharing stories of
their summer activities.
In Connecticut fall is a
fabulous time of the year.
Those of us that don’t like
the hot and humid weather
will gladly leave this
summer behind. However, we
can all look forward to
September and October which
have so many great days to
enjoy being outside. I
think that those who don’t
like the fall season and
depart from summer kicking
and screaming are those that
choose to focus on the
season that comes after
fall. You know the “W”
word? I started a list of
things that to me are
synonymous with the end of
summer, September and
October. My list is far
from complete and I’m
certain you have a similar
list of your own.
·
Being able to wake up by the
alarm instead of by the
birds that start chirping an
hour before the alarm is set
·
Waiting for school buses on
the way to and from work
·
Looking for my favorite
sweater that I put away
sometime in June
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Mums, asters, kale,
cabbages, pansies and corn
stalks for sale
·
Goldenrod ready to bloom and
seed heads ripening on many
roadside plants; that’s
nothing to sneeze at!
·
Leaves of maple trees and
burning bushes starting to
turn after a dry and
stressful summer
·
Those first few crispy
colorful leaves in the grass
catchers or blowing down the
streets
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Peaches, raspberries and
corn being replaced by
apples and cider at roadside
stands
·
Removing annuals and
planting the daffodils &
tulips for next spring
·
Yellow jackets visiting fall
picnics and tailgating
parties
·
Wondering if those last few
green tomatoes will ever
ripen
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Hearing the heat go on for
the first time since spring
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Wiping the dew off of the
windshield before heading
out for the day
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The first day I realize it
is just too chilly to wear
shorts for golf and I should
have worn slacks
·
The end of the baseball
season
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The start of the football
season
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Needing the headlights on
the way to and from work
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Scrambling to find the
blanket that somehow ended
up entirely on your spouse’s
side of the bed
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Lawn signs decorating the
town until the November
elections
·
Coming in the house to get
WARM
·
And, the smell of a roast or
apple pie in the oven
This list is far from
complete and I’m certain you
have your own list as well.
As the season winds down in
Elizabeth Park, it’s time to
say a special “Thank You” to
all of those who worked
diligently to make sure the
gardens in the park looked
their very best. 2010 was a
long season. Warm
temperatures and early rains
hastened the need to get
going a couple of weeks
ahead of schedule.
Nevertheless, our dedicated
City of Hartford staff,”
Friends” staff &
consultants, “Friends
members”, “Friends”
sub-contractors and the many
volunteers organized through
the “Friends” persevered
faithfully despite
incredible humidity and
almost thirty days over
90. We are also grateful
to the many corporations,
non-profits and civic
organizations that chose to
donate their time doing
community service in our
park. Without the
knowledge, sweat, dedication
and sense of stewardship
from all of you it simply
would not be possible to
accomplish what is necessary
to maintain the gardens of
Elizabeth Park. We need you
all back again in
2011!
Elizabeth Park is truly a
park for all seasons! There
are still many opportunities
to contribute this year.
There is also a little
summertime left and a
glorious fall season to
enjoy. I know that many of
you will “cry for those lost
summer days” as Shannon
Schaubroeck laments. But,
take heart! There will be
another spring and the
tulips will pop up through
the soil! There will be
another summer and the roses
will bloom. Elizabeth Park
will be here next summer as
it has for over 100 summers
for all to enjoy!
Have a safe, happy and
restful end-of-the summer!
Enjoy the splendor of the
fall season! See you in the
park!
Dave Peterson, President |
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If summer is ending, it’s time
to plan for the
Garden Lecture Series at
Elizabeth Park!
The schedule is still being
finalized, but here is some
preliminary information to get
you looking forward to the next
season.
All lectures will be on Winter
Wednesdays: Jan 19, Jan 26, Feb
9, Feb 16, Mar 2, Mar 9, Mar 23
and Mar 30
$85 for the series, $10 for each
lecture
Some of the speakers & topics
will be
Deb Kent ~ Designer and Garden
Coach ~ What the Nurseries Don't
Tell You
Chrissie D'Esopo ~ Her Garden
Ron Aakjar ~ Pruning
Marci Martin/John Mattia ~ Roses
Margery Winters ~ Roaring Brook
Nature Center ~ Saving our Wild
Areas, One Yard at a Time
Bill Duesing ~ Organic
Gardening. |
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ROSE BED / ROSE ARCH DEDICATION FORM
Name _________________________________________
Address _______________________________________
City/Zip _______________________________________
Memorial plaque included. (circle one)
Dedicated to In honor of In memory of
Gift to
Name:
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
Photo: Earle Stone |
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Artist of the Month September:
Ron Parent
Born and raised in eastern
Connecticut, Ron received his
undergraduate degree in Art
Education from Southern
Connecticut State University and
a graduate degree in Art
Education from Central
Connecticut State University. As
an art teacher for 32 years, Ron
taught at all grade levels in
the Vernon, Connecticut public
schools. In addition to being a
highly respected teacher (Ron
was named Vernon’s Teacher of
the Year in 1994), Ron’s
publications on teaching art
have appeared in School Arts
magazine. Ron returned to full
time painting after his
retirement and today specializes
in landscapes and seascapes,
primarily utilizing the medium
of pastels. He draws inspiration
from the waterways and beaches
along the eastern seaboard. Ron
shows his work regularly in the
Western Massachusetts and
Connecticut area at various
exhibitions. He is a member of
the Pastel Society of
Connecticut and Easthampton City
Arts in Easthampton,
Massachusetts, where he
currently resides. His website
address is
www.ronparent.com. where you
can view his work and exhibition
schedule. |
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“The Meadow”, Pastel
on Paper, 12”x18”
image. |
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“Dawn”, Pastel on
Board, 8”x10” image |
“Surfacing Koi”,
Pastel on Paper,
23”x30” image. |
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Dahlia Explosion
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Artist of the Month October:
Virginia Lynn Anderson
"Up Close and Personal"
Virginia Lynn Anderson returns
to Elizabeth Park Gallery this
year with her floral paintings
providing an up close and
personal view of nature.
Inspired by the park's roses
and dahlia gardens, the show
features oil paintings with
larger than life artistic
interpretations. Her "macro
abstracts" take on an almost
abstract appearance as she
brings you into the inner world
of flowers that inspire her.
Virginia ,
who signs her work as "Eland'Ra"
is a renaissance person at
heart. She is an artist,
musician, storyteller, healing
practitioner and spiritual
minister. She began painting in
the early 90’s when she was
inspired by a beautiful sunset
and quickly grabbed her son’s
crayons to capture its beauty.
Since then she has explored
several artistic mediums,
allowing each medium to teach
her. During her early process of
learning to paint, Virginia
began to receive visions for her
paintings and continues to be
inspired by her meditations for
her current work in oil
pastels and oil paint sticks.
She has studied with Connecticut
artist, Diana Lyn Cote, and has
been inspired by working with
Diana in her studio.
Virginia is a writer and
illustrator of a children’s
picture book, The Flying
Phlox and offers
storytelling and arts integrated
programs for children and their
families along with book
signings. She has worked as an
artist-in-residence in numerous
classrooms, inspiring children
to use their art to tell
stories, engaging them as
actors, singers and musicians in
the process. Her
multi-disciplined approach is
integral to her work.
The name that Virginia signs her
art with, “Eland’ Ra”, means bringing
heaven to earth. The intent
for all of her art is to inspire
others, to assist them on their
path of awakening to the divine
within and to share the beauty
and mystery of the natural
world. Her work can be found in
public and private galleries,
hospitals and corporate
collections. For inquiries or
commissions, contact Virginia
at: www.elandraarts.com
860-523-8943 |
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The Magical Forest
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Angels in the Shadows Series |
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CT Dahlia Society
www.connecticutdahlia.com
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Thistle Lawn Bowling
Don’t miss it! Come and find out how much fun it can be..
Lawn
Bowling 1920
Contact Zane Gershman at 233-6860 for information |
Croquet
The Elizabeth Park
Croquet Players play on the greens at Asylum Avenue Sundays around 1
pm and "after work".
Weather and player availability permitting, we play mid-May thru
October.
Walk-ins are
welcome
(flat-soled shoes or sneakers).
There is no fee.
Contact Bobbi Shorthouse at 860-608-1222 or
bobbi@NotaryServicesLLC.com
for information |
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Visit the
Pond House Website
for information on events & promotions
Open Tuesday – Sunday.
Special !!
The Pond House
will be offering "Pond House Cash"
Purchase a $25.00
gift certificate and during August & September it will be worth
$50.00
Phone: 860-231-8823
Visit
http://www.pondhousecafe.com |
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The Friends of Elizabeth Park is a non-profit organization, founded
in 1977 & dedicated to assisting the City of Hartford in
maintaining, restoring and preserving Elizabeth Park’s horticultural
gardens for today’s visitors & tomorrow’s generations.
Call the Information
Center at (860) 231-9443 for announcements, changes, & updates. Send
e-mail to
elizabeth_park@sbcglobal.net
Visit Elizabeth Park on Facebook
– be a Fan!
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