Bristol Garden Club
Bristol Rhode Island
Bristol Garden Club
Bristol Rhode Island
Hostesses: Bonnie Evans, Mary-Fran Snow, and Barbara Curtis
August 2022
August 10, 2022
What Cheer Flower Farm, tour and presentation
Speaker: Destenie Vital, Executive Director
12:00 pm brown bag lunch and meeting
10:30 am tour and presentation
Location: What Cheer Flower Farm
46 Atwood Street, Providence, RI
“What Cheer Flower Farm gives away 44,500 flowers a year to charity…because everyone deserves a bouquet.” This description encompasses part of the mission of this unique new 501c3 in Providence. Founded in 2017, the farm grows or rescues, and gives away flowers to underserved people in stress – those in shelters and recovery centers, hospitals and hospices, seniors with dementia, and others.
The farm began when 4,000 sf of parking lot was remediated into an organic raised bed field in 2018, on the site of an abandoned former factory. Since then, growing fields, which we will visit, have been expanded and a barn has been built to contain event flower rescues. Future goals include creation of a green job training center on-site, and development of expanded growing fields, topics which our tour guide will discuss.
Hostesses: Pam Delaney and Pam Bishop
September 14, 2022
“Six Simple Steps to Successful Rose Gardening”
Speakers: Mike and Angelina Chute,
Expert rosarians, bloggers, and authors on the subject of roses
11:30 am
Business Meeting
12:30 – 2:45
Program followed by Blithewold’s formal Tea
Location: Blithewold Mansion
101 Ferry Road, Bristol
According to our speakers, “It’s easy to grow beautiful roses in your home garden once you know how.” This program will appeal to every gardener who wants to grow roses, and will explain “everything you need to know in six easy-to-follow steps that take the mystery out of rose gardening.” The Chutes will include an abundance of tips and personal anecdotes gathered during over twenty years of successful rose gardening.
Hostesses Bonnie Evans, Barbara Curtis and Mary - Fran Snow
October 12, 2022
Tour of Coggeshall Farm Museum
1:00 pm
Business Meeting
2:00 pm
Tour of farm with Katie Blythe, Education Coordinator
Location: Coggeshall Farm Museum
1 Colt Drive, Bristol
GPS: Coggeshall Farm Museum
“Set on 48 acres of coastal farmland, (the museum) recreates the daily experience of tenant farmers on a salt marsh farm in the late 18th century.” Our tour will highlight heirloom plants and gardens, heritage-breed animals, and the historic structures on the property.
We will explore the new approaches and options available at the farm since its recent partnering with Old Sturbridge Village, and learn about exciting new opportunities being developed for its future.
Hostesses: Diana Campbell and Alicia Lenarcic
November 9, 2022
Creating Floral Designs for the Holidays
Speaker: TBD
1:00
Refreshments and business meeting to follow
Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room
525 Hope Street, Bristol
Learn how to make those special and unique centerpieces for your holiday gatherings using just what you can easily find at your local store. Basic techniques and design principles will be emphasized for beginners, but there will also be some new tips and ideas for veterans.
Hostesses: Marie Brennan-Chasin and Bonnie Pacheco
December 14, 2022
Annual Holiday Potluck Luncheon
12:00 noon
Location: TBD
Please bring a favorite holiday dish to share (appetizer, salad, vegetable or starch, or dessert). Main course and beverages will be provided, but please give Vera $5 to defray the cost for this.
Share the holiday spirit with clients at a local women’s shelter. Bring your donations of toiletries today. They will be much appreciated.
Hostesses: Vera Bowen, Vicki Iannuccillo and Mary Millard
February 8, 2023
Healing Herbs from Our Backyards, Fields, and Forests
Speaker: Carissa Wills-DeMello, Herbalist, Town Farm Tonics, Westport, MA
1:00 pm
Refreshments and business meeting to follow
Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room
525 Hope Street, Bristol
Carissa has always believed that “the ability to care for ourselves and those we love is an act of empowerment.” She explains “It’s what brought me to herbalism, often referred to as ‘the people’s medicine’.” Her core belief that “our health is in our hands” was intensified during Carissa’s Peace Corps service in Fiji where she witnessed outcomes of herbal medicine and its strong connection to nature.
According to Carissa, “Our bodies are made to be healthy, and our plant neighbors are here to restore that balance.” She will explain how she uses the plants around us in herbal remedies and self-care products which can improve our quality of life.
Hostesses: Maggie Rezendes and Gail Burmeister
March 8, 2023
Gardening to Attract Native Birds
Speaker: Lauren Parmelee, Senior Director of Education,
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
1:00 pm
Refreshments and business meeting to follow
Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room
525 Hope Street, Bristol
We all know that gardens are a life force for bees and butterflies, but they are just as important to enable our native birds to thrive. A garden provides natural nourishment and a habitat that welcomes native birds to our yards.
Lauren will present information on what native birds can be attracted to our gardens, and which plants they enjoy most.
Hostesses: Barbara Curtis and Linda Sheehan
April 12, 2023
Ecosystem Gardening with RI Native Plants
Speaker: Karen Asher, Past-president of the RI Wild Plant Society
1:00
Refreshments and business meeting to follow
Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room
525 Hope Street, Bristol
Learn how to use native plants to create beautiful, well-balanced, thriving landscapes. Turn your backyard into a bio-diverse refuge for the plants, birds, pollinators, and animals that share our planet. Karen will focus on wildflowers for a variety of growing conditions.
Hostesses: Karen Aveson and Hope Avery
May 10, 2023
Annual Meeting and Spring Luncheon
Installation of New Officers
Time: 12:00 P.M.
Location: TBD Hostesses: Bonnie Evans, Mary-Fran Snow, Barbara Curtis
June 14, 2023
Tour of Heritage Museum and Gardens
10:30 am
To carpool, meet in the Newport Bank parking lot on Hope Street.
Those wishing to enjoy a leisurely lunch in the on-site cafe, before the business meeting, may decide to leave somewhat earlier.
12:00 noon
Business meeting and your own bag lunch
1:00 pm
Garden Tour and Presentation
with Les Lutz, Director of Horticulture
Location: Heritage Museum and Gardens
67 Grove Street
Sandwich, MA
“Heritage Museum and Gardens offers 100 spectacular acres of trees and shrubs, designed gardens, exquisite flowers, and sweeping lawns.” Join us on a field trip to tour the beautiful gardens of Heritage on Cape Cod. Visit their new Garden of the Senses and their Hydrangea Test Garden.
Tour price and admission: $22.00
Hostesses: Celeste Bernardino and Marilyn Chadwick