Somerville Garden Club

Backyard Havens of the Somerville Garden Club: A Self-Guided Tour

Sunday, June 9, 2013
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Rain or shine
$15 for a map and guide to 20 gardens

Our 2013 tour showcases the gardens of our very own Somerville Garden Club members and celebrates the many kinds of gardeners who create backyard (and front yard!) havens for their own pleasure and the enjoyment of neighbors and friends. The gardeners themselves will be welcoming visitors to their yards on tour day, so this is your chance to learn about plants, design, and horticulture from this wonderful array of passionate SGC members. Prepare to be inspired and educated, and don’t be surprised if you go away eager to create your own urban haven.

And since the Somerville Garden Club welcomes members from any community, the tour includes two gardens just “over the border” from Somerville in neighboring cities.

Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, May 24

• Pemberton Garden Center, 2225 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
• Porter Square Books, 25 White Street (Porter Square Shopping Center), Cambridge
• True Grounds Café and Coffeehouse, 717 Broadway, Ball Square, Somerville

Sunday, June 2, 10 am-4 pm
The Davis Flea, Corner of Holland St. and Buena Vista Road, Davis Square, Somerville

DAY OF EVENT!
Sunday, June 9, 10 am-3 pm
Davis Square Statue Park, opposite the MBTA

Come for fun, leave with inspiration!

Jeff and Ann Marie Harrington were at the meeting this past Wednesday, and their plant sale was mentioned. Here are more details about their plant sale:

Harrington’s Seedlings will be holding our annual Plant Sale on Sat. May 11th & Sat. May 18th from 8am – 2pm.

We also will be at the Somerville Union Square Farmer’s Market on June 1st.

We have many different varieties of vegetable seedlings available such as Sungold Cherry Tomatoes (Best Seller), Rutgers Tomatoes, Super Sonic Tomatoes, & Ace 55 Tomatoes to name a few. As for Peppers, we have Cayenne Purple, Yellow, Orange, Jalepeno & Habanero Peppers. We also have squashes, pumpkins & some sugar peas.

All Plants are $3/each. For a small backyard in Somerville, we have ALOT of seedlings. We love having people come by and visit our greenhouses. Lots of people become inspired & realize they too can grow lots of plants in the small space they have. If you find that you can not come by on dates above, please email us so we can set up a time that is convenient for you.

Where: 39 Ibbetson Street in Somerville
Email: JeffVermonter@aol.com

This recipe comes to us courtesy of Ann Steinberg, who demonstrated one way to make May wine to attendees at last night’s meeting.

30 sprigs (1.5in) of sweet woodruff at bloom time (remove flowers, wash)
8oz powdered sugar
1 cup cognac or brandy
1 bottle Moselle or Rhine wine

Combine all above ingredients. Let stand overnight. Strain out sweet woodruff and refrigerate “essence”.

To make May wine, combine in punch bowl or pitcher

1 part essence (from above)
2 parts Champagne
3 parts Moselle or Rhine wine

Float strawberries and sweet woodruff in May wine. Garnish each wine glass with more woodruff.

Thanks to all of the presenters – it seemed like everyone had a great time!

[UPDATE: This depaving event has been moved to May 12. The post has been edited with the date change.]

Depave Somerville is holding a depaving event on May 12. They have lots of different ways to contribute to the event (see the sign up link for more details).

The idea behind depaving is to add more permeable surfaces to Somerville, which would allow more water to seep into the ground, rather than overtaxing the sewer system, or flooding basements. Additional benefits are that you would then be able to plant that formerly paved area, adding greenery to our city.

Where: Steve Langdon’s house at 44 Bartlett St. (between Macoun Sq. & Winter Hill)

When: Sunday, May 12 from 12:30 to 3:00pm

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFFZbE1OS05XblFXYl9EQUc2UzVKcmc6MQ

See the TEDxSomerville DePAVE the WAY video for more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlTG0Y_zknc

Check out the time-lapse Depaving Maple Avenue video:
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/residents-rip-up-18000-pounds-of-asphalt#video-2291440

Festival Floralia: A Native Plant Sale and Celebration of Spring

May 5 from 2:00–4:30 pm.
Hooper-Lee-Nichols House
159 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Tickets: $28 Members / $35 Non-members
http://www.grownativemass.org/programs/festivalfloralia

Buy plants with the expert advice of horticulturalists and landscape professionals– all while enjoying delicious food, wine, and light jazz music. Tour a native plant garden to see their beauty. This event is also an annual fundraiser to support Grow Native Massachusetts. It includes a silent auction with great garden-related items available for bid: a granite bird bath, outdoor planters, tree services, books and more.

Admission includes all food, wine, music, and programming.

Music by the Silverwood Duo— Sax, Flute, and Guitar.