September meeting: Welcome Back

Becky and Jo remind us: there is so much color in our fall gardens!

Another full house - thank you to the Rutland Free Library for the great space!

Our first meeting for this fall was well attended: 47 members, 4 guests, and 5 lecture guests. The meeting began with thanks from Susan, our new President: to the Program Committee, which develops and handles the details for this year's programs; to the Yearbook Committee for the new yearbooks (our main source of information on meeting topics, bylaws, and upcoming program guests and refreshment committees); for special work on developing workshops, and for today's Refreshment Committee for the lovely lunch choices.

All our regular monthly meetings this year will be held at the Rutland Free Library, with great video and meeting support. We appreciate their gracious welcome. Lunch selections included a first time treat, a gazpacho bar! Many thanks to Margery, Sue, Judy, Heather and both Beckys for the delicious snacks.

The "FloralOpoly' Flower Show this time last year won 3 awards from the State, one from New England.

Sue, one of our quite new members, won an award for having received the most garden design awards in the last year.

Two long time members, Kathy and Jo, were each a recipient of the Golden Trowel award; congratulations to all.

A new feature this year will be "Horticultural Moments" at the start of each meeting. Members spoke highly of a visit to the Seven Springs Sculpture Park and Gardens in Manchester Center.

Becky and Jo brought a selection of cut flowers to demonstrate how our gardens still have

so much color as we enter the fall season.

The wonderful Henry Holmeyer, garden writer

Our presenter, Henry Homeyer, entertained us mightily. [..more about Henry, below the photos..].

His theme was "Learning from other gardens: New Plants, Pathways, Art and Whimsy and Stonework".

Henry showed us so many photos of garden features that have caught his eye over the years, and how he tried to emulate them in his own wonderful rambling gardens. Sometimes the item was shown with "You can do this!" and sometimes, "Don't plant this!"

Henry Homeyer is a life-long organic gardener who has lived in Cornish Flat, NH since 1970.

He writes a weekly gardening column that appears in 12 newspapers around New England, and has written for the New York Times, The Boston Globe and other newspapers. He was the Vermont/New Hampshire associate editor for People, Places and Plants magazine for 10 years (until it went out of business).

Henry teaches organic gardening workshops throughout New England at garden shows, clubs, nurseries, public gardens and other venues.

 He is a regular monthly commentator on Vermont Public Radio and is a UNH master Gardener. Henry has taught Sustainable Gardening a Granite State College and Lebanon College, and is excited to be promoting his new children’s book, “Wobar and the Quest for the Magic Calumet”.