VOLUME 1

Newsletter # 8, June 17, 2008

Welcome to the Chatham Garden Club 2008 version of "Art in Bloom"! Enjoy the artistic creations of our members as we relax with friends and savor refreshments in a picnic style atmosphere at our last meeting before summer.

And while we're on the subject of summer, here are some suggestions for garden related activities. First, you might visit a few of our Club Beautification Gardens, while they are at their peak from mid-June through early July. Don't forget to attend the Chatham 4th of July "Norman Rockwell-like" Parade where the Chatham Garden Club will have a presence. Give a cheer when Betty and Len Magnusson's sleak, vintage red convertible rolls down Main Street - all decked out with a Club sign to celebrate our 40th Anniversary.

Mark your calendar to visit our Garden Market August 15th at Chase Park. (If you signed up to help you need to drop off baked goods August 14th at Lee Siegel's house at 70 Cross Street between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.. You will be called several weeks before the event as a reminder).

Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich is a not-so-far-away, wonderful place to spend the day with family or friends exploring a first class museum & arboretum. This year, HM&G is sponsoring two special events: a tour of Seven Gardens in Cotuit - Thursday, July 17th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (cost $40), and an enchanted evening in a Secret Garden, at the home of Lance and Tracy Isham of Hyannis Port, Saturday, July 26th . Call 508-888-3300 (ext 111) for more information. Both events benefit Heritage Museums and Gardens

On September 6th, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod is sponsoring A Symphony of Houses tour of six homes in S. Yarmouth, W. Dennis and Harwich. Tickets are $20, but half price if you volunteer to house sit. If you create a floral arrangement for the event, the tickets are free. To purchase a ticket - send a $20 check made out to Cultural Center of Cape Cod, PO Box 118, So. Yarmouth, MA 02664. For more information call 508-394-7100. Tickets are available at the Claire Murray shop in Chatham.

Another must-see, unforgettable visit to an arboretum (about two hours away) is the beautiful newly expanded Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA. The gardens are a treat for the eyes and a plant hound's dream, you'll be on cloud nine before you know it. Spend the day - come back down to earth at lunch in their restaurant and browse in a delightful gift shop.

Back in Chatham, when at the beach - take a close look at Sea Lavender, heaths and heathers, beach roses, grasses and wildflowers along with other seaside treasures. (You can see Sea Lavender along the front of our Oyster Pond Environmental Garden thanks to Anne O'Brien who found Sea Lavender at a local nursery and donated the plants for the garden.) Finally, spend some quality time in your own personal garden retreat and reflect on this beautiful place, Chatham, that we are so fortunate to live in. Relax on a deck chair with the Cape Cod Chronicle and look for the "Your Garden" column. Once a month a Garden Club member will submit an article to be published. Tim Wood requested that we share our knowledge with the public in this new and exciting way. Marty Koblish, Ann O'Brien, Sally Herbst and Barbara Cotnam have volunteered to write so far. Would you like to try your pen? Call Barbara Cotnam 430-7720 to volunteer and join the fun.

Attention - important announcement! Our first meeting in the fall will be held October 21st in Truro! Yes, Truro at a wine making vineyard. This is a meeting we all look forward to attending and we can toast our new Club members with a sample of Truro wine. Details, directions, and all you need to know will be in the 2008-2009 Club Yearbook which will be sent to your home before our October meeting.

November 18th will be our first Club meeting at the Chatham Community Center. There is ample parking in the rear of the building and a welcoming committee headed up by Judi Clifford will see to it that you feel comfortable in our new surroundings.

Membership DUES are due by the end of the month! Club Treasurer Claire Dubis is collecting DUES today! Cash or check - $25 regular membership and $35 sustaining members.

Newsletter #7, May 20, 2008

A lovely little poem written in 2002 as a tribute to our founder and first President Helen Norton.

A Tribute to Our Founder by Kathleen Dow

It took but a single thought for a new idea to grow.
It took but a love of gardens for a seed of hope to know

That banding together with others to share ideas and plans
Would someday blossom and flower to a Club of creative hands.

As we beautify our gardens and decorate our town,
A bouquet of thanks to Helen, our founder of renown.

Welcome spring and the return of our snow birds and garden birds from the south. Helleborus have been blooming for a month and spring bulbs have brought welcome color to our gardens and things are popping. We really did have warm spring weather this year (at least for a while) and then back to the usual, but then cool is good for working in gardens and Club Beautification Projects about Town. There are 83 of us working on our 12 Beautification Projects!

Dues are due today - if you forgot Claire will collect dues once more at our June 17th meeting! That's the easy way for you to pay Club dues and easier for Claire because she will not have to call and remind you to send payment in the mail by June 30th.

Art in Bloom coming in June! On June 17th we will meet at the Methodist Church for the last time and have a treat for the eyes with a display of flower arrangements and coordinating works of art. It will be an informal meeting with iced tea, sandwiches, potato chips and cookies. A time to visit and chat about summer plans and after a short business meeting stroll around and view member's artistic creations. A great way to wind up our regular meetings for this year! CGC ART IN BLOOM - Coming here JUNE 17TH - call Marty Koblish to participate 945-4253.

The following is a list of opportunities and events that may interest you. For flyers with details about some of these events - look on the round table.
1ST CLUB MEETING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER OCTOBER 21ST. Six volunteers are needed to work with Judy Clifford on a welcoming committee for our first meeting at the Community Center. Please sign up ON THE CLIP BOARD BEING PASSED AROUND to help out at our first meeting.
BEAUTIFICATION GARDENS - Two more volunteers are needed at three of our beautification gardens. Please sign up ON THE CLIP BOARD BEING PASSED AROUND to help out at the one closest to where you live. Many hands make light work!
CAPE COD CHRONICLE - Do you have a flare for writing? Now is your chance to write a short article 500 words or less having to do with some aspect of gardening. The column which appears in the CCC is called 'Your Garden'. A CLIP BOARD IS BEING PASSED AROUND - there is an example of an article for you to look at attached to the clip board. Barbara , Marty, Anne O'Brien and Joyce Williams have agreed to write an occasional article. Sign-up - use your creativity, we'll email topics to each other to ensure different themes.
Susan LaTour is co-chair of the Open Studio Tour. There are flyers on the round table with details about this May 24th Saturday 10 to 4 event. 19 artists participating at 16 different locations. If you are an art lover make sure to pick up information about this event.
Tilda Bystrom informs the Club about WE CAN'S Annual Fund Raiser called "Women's Wit, Words and Whimsey"- held at the Monomoy Theatre on June 5, 2008. The event features three women authors who are Hollywood screen writers. Chatham author Anne LeClair will emcee, and Harwich's Joan Anderson, who recently appeared on Good Morning America will be the opening speaker. The keynote speaker will be Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle. A special award will be given to Donna Salala, President of the U of Miami and former US Sect. Of Health, Education and Welfare. The event is followed by a Garden Party with cocktails and food. Tickets are $125 call WE CAN office at 508-430-8111.
May 24th Saturday 1 to 2:30 p,m. Chatham Lighthouse Tours - 1 to 6 Open House, Chatham Historical Society Archives at the Atwood House Museum. Also view documents belonging to Chatham Marconi Maritime Center being stored at the Museum until their archival center is complete.
Cultural Center of Cape Cod 3rd Symphony of Houses September 6, 2008. Flyers on the round table. Opportunity to volunteer and attend the event at half price.
Heritage Museums and Gardens sponsoring a tour of seven beautiful gardens in Cotuit. July 7th - 10 to 4 - $40. Call 508-888-3300 Ext. 111 for tickets.

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