My Blog

Global Water Shortage

Masons Island Mystic — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:41:00 +0000

http://magazine.angieslist.com/story/global-water-shortage-turns-local

Daffodils & Crocuses

Masons Island Mystic — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:56:00 +0000

These crocuses photographed by Valerie Grimm in her garden are spectacular – a sure sign of spring.

The daffodils along Shinny’s stone wall are certainly a beautiful sign of spring.

Norah Lindsay: The Life and Art of a Garden Designer

Masons Island Mystic — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:11:00 +0000

Our April 28th Meeting is guest day so be sure to invite an interested friend for our excellent program. Allyson Hayward will be speaking about Norah Lindsay (1873-1948)

Lecture BIO Allyson Hayward

Allyson Hayward is an internationally acclaimed garden historian, who writes and lectures extensively on topics related to gardens and their history. She is a graduate of the Landscape Institute of Harvard University, and for several years served as Chairman of the New England Garden History Society. In 2003, she was awarded a Gold Medal by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for her work in promoting New England’s garden history.

Allyson’s interest in Norah Lindsay started while she was still a student at the Landscape Institute. This interest turned into a passion as she retraced the footsteps of Norah Lindsay through the gardens and estates of England. Her research represents more than ten years of travel and delving into private and public archives in both the UK and the US.

Her recent book, Norah Lindsay: The Life and Art of a Garden Designer, has been widely and positively reviewed, including in the London Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, British Vogue, the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Boston Globe, Town & Country, and many more. Since the book’s release, Allyson has lectured throughout England and Wales, and extensively from California to the East Coast.

Noted garden historian and garden writer, Lady Mary Keen wrote in the British magazine, The Spectator: “It has taken an American to recognize Norah Lindsay’s worth and Allyson Hayward has done her proud”.

For more information visit the website at http://www.norahlindsay.com/

March Meeting Fabulous Photos

Masons Island Mystic — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:28:00 +0000

Our March meeting featured fabulous nature photography by Todd Gipstein a National Geographic photographer.

From 2009_03_24_MGC_Meeting

For more photos visit Picasaweb

Asian Longhorn Bark Beetle

Masons Island Mystic — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Joan Allen from UConn Home And Garden Education Center will be speaking to our club on May 25, 2010 on the devastation caused by this preditor insect. You can read more in this New York Times Article.

A photo of the Asian Bark Beetle

March Meeting Speaker – Todd Gipstein

Masons Island Mystic — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:51:00 +0000

A Feast for The Eyes

Our March Meeting speaker is Todd Gipstein – renowned photographer and media specialist – “committed to continuing his long career of creating elegant, emotional shows that touch a responsive chord in viewers. In short, ‘media with a message. “

You can see Todd’s work and read more about him on his website www.Gipstein.com.

Quoting his history from his website:

A LITTLE HISTORY:

Todd Gipstein has been working as a photographer, writer, producer and lecturer for more than thirty years.

He studied writing and film at Harvard University, where he graduated with honors in 1974. After working for Time-Life Multi-Media in New York, he started Gipstein Multi-Media in Boston in 1975. There he created numerous multi-image shows for museums and corporate clients. His writing included scripts, magazine articles and columns. He also travelled extensively as a photographer.

In 1989, he moved to Washington, D.C. to work full-time as the Director of Multi-Image / Executive Producer for the National Geographic Society. His work for National Geographic included writing and producing shows about geography, history, nature, cultures, photography, environmental issues and the Geographic. His work provided him opportunities for travels around the world as a photographer and lecturer. He also worked with Vice-President Al Gore on media related to environmental issues.Though the topics of his documentaries have been extremely varied, Todd has tended to focus on projects dealing with history and culture. He has been very successful at bringing the past to life and making it relevant to contemporary audiences.
Todd’s photographic archives include approximately 250,000 images. His work is currently represented by the National Geographic Society, Getty Images, and by Corbis.

Todd has lectured across the United States and around the world on topics as diverse as Machu Picchu, the Panama Canal, Venice, photography, visual communication, geography and history.

Over the years, his productions have won more than 40 gold awards in media festivals. His work has also garnered a dozen grand-prizes in international competitions. He is a member of the Association for Multi-Media International’s Producers’ Hall of Fame, and he has also received several lifetime achievement awards.

In 2005, Gipstein Multi-Media moved to Groton, Connecticut. Todd continues to photograph on contract for National Geographic. He has his own production studio where, along with his wife Marcia, he creates compelling original media presentations in a variety of formats. Todd continues to lecture and teach. He is always looking for new challenges and forums to explore storytelling media. He is committed to continuing his long career of creating elegant, emotional shows that touch a responsive chord in viewers. In short, “media with a message.”

February Meeting

Masons Island Mystic — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Stony shared some great photos of the February Meeting.

Brussels in Bloom

Masons Island Mystic — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:20:00 +0000

Click on the images to enlarge

Craftsmen arrange the flowers by hand, directly onto the square’s cobblestones, without any soil. Grass and tree bark are also used to provide color.

Story submitted by Jane Bogdan.

Rooms and Blooms: A Mystic House and Garden Tour

Masons Island Mystic — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:40:00 +0000

June 20, 2009 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Presented by the Mystic Garden Club and the Mystic River Historical Society

Two long-standing Mystic community organizations are joining forces to offer Rooms and Blooms: A Mystic House and Garden Tour for one day only, Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to view historic and unusual homes and gardens in Mystic. As this is a walking tour, it gives participants a chance to soak up the unique flavor and wonderful river views that are just two of the reasons why so many sea captains, artists and early entrepreneurs chose to live in this magical area.

Tour Description

Houses and gardens featured on the tour are on Gravel Street (formerly known as Captain’s Row), Eldredge Street, Park Place, Pearl Street, Grove Street, Clift Street and Starr Street. The area was originally granted to the Burrows family in 1654. In the early 1800s, Amos Clift acquired much of the property and began developing it by laying out the streets and selling lots. After he died in 1819, his wife Thankful and sons Amos and David continued to build many houses in the area, some of which are on the tour. Newer homes in the neighborhood will be featured as well. Many of the older homes have undergone extensive renovation to their interiors and their gardens, and are an example of how we are making history even today.

As an added attraction, there will be a boutique featuring a small number of local garden suppliers, artisans and more.

Parking and Getting Around

Parking will be available at various nearby locations, and there will be several jitneys running throughout the day. Mystic Community Bikes will make their free bicycles available (with a $10 refundable deposit for bike, lock and helmet). Ticket holders may begin at any house or garden on the tour (each will have a special tour sign outside) and pick up their tour booklets at any location.

Lunch

Mystic has a number of excellent restaurants within walking distance of the houses on tour. St. Mark’s Church on Pearl Street is offering a boxed lunch featuring your choice of a variety of sandwiches for $10. Proceeds go to the St. Luc’s Church and School in Haiti. All boxes must be ordered in advance by calling Cally Evers at 860-536-0126 before June 6.

Tickets

Tickets are $22 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased in person with cash or check at Bank Square Books, 53 West Main Street, Mystic and The Whaler’s Inn, 20 East Main Street, Mystic.

To purchase on-line, click the Buy Now button [PayPal button].

Or you may download an order form here and mail it with your payment.

Pre-purchased ticket sales end June 19. Any ticket purchased by mail received after June 5 will be held at our Ticket Tent on Gravel Street on the day of the tour.

For more information, email info@mystichistory.org or call (860) 271-3980.

February 24 Meeting Speaker

Masons Island Mystic — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Cheryl Thevenet – “Japanese Ikebona”

Cheryl Thevenet has been a member of the Mystic Garden Club since 1996. Cheryl has had a lifelong interest in flowers and gardening. She lived Marin and owned and operated a successful design Atelier in San Francisco. She specialized in corporate events, producing gala gatherings for the likes of Fetzers Winery, Mumms Vineyards, Hewlett Packard Corporation, Visa Corporation, The French biscuit company “LU”, and “Art Bash for Hot Trash” a Santa Fe Event for commercial artists.

Cheryl’s interest in Japanese floral design dates to 1982 when she began her first formal instruction in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in San Francisco. Her course of studies was directed by Soho Sakai and continued for nearly a decade. Following marriage and relocation to Tokyo, Japan, Cheryl pursued further studies at the world’s center for Sogetsu Ikebana. Cheryl completed the requirement to obtain a teaching certificate during her residency in Hong Kong. During her four years of residency in China, Cheryl exhibited at several international shows and collaborated in the floral design for the Italian Institute of Hong Kong’s Armani opening of Italian Fashion. The display work involved the arrangement and presentation of 24,000 red roses.

Following her return to America, Cheryl next earned her certification as a Connecticut Master Gardener. She has volunteered her skills to help further various community initiatives that have ranged from the Voluntown Peace Trust’s organic community garden, to habitat a garden at the Voluntown Elementary School, and teaching seed propagation to the conservation initiative, “Women in the Outdoors”. Cheryl is presently enrolled in a course of studies with the National Garden Club’s Environmental Study School at Yale University. Cheryl will be part of the first graduating class here in Connecticut. She is married and lives with her husband and 2 teenaged boys, in Voluntown., Ct.