Garden Club of Newtown

Off To A Busy Season

The Garden Club of Newtown had an event-filled first meeting of the 2010-11 season a few weeks ago.

Beginning with a potluck luncheon and a brief business meeting, the main focus of the day was to honor Caroline Stokes, who is moving to Charlotte, N.C., in order to be nearer to her daughter. A charter member of the club who was involved with its founding in 1955, Mrs Stokes recalled that it was the first women’s club in Newtown. She has been an integral part of the club for 55 years, and was presented with a lifetime membership by the club in 2005 in honor of her many contributions over the years.

Following lunch, club president Beth Caldwell spoke about Mrs Stokes and her many contributions to the garden club and the community, a specially decorated cake was served for dessert, and a painting of the former Stokes home in Sandy Hook was given by artist and club member Margaret Clark.

A tour of the Howard Lasher gardens was next. Club members to Mr Lasher’s Jolly Hill Farm in Dodgingtown — famous for the painting of an American flag across a collection of maple trees near the driveway on Route 302 — where the ladies met Mr Lasher and his head gardener, the talented Giomy Cambizaca.

After spending 40 years on Wall Street, Mr Lasher moved to his home in Newtown full time and particularly enjoys the changes of season and the world of nature all around him. He is one of the rare serious gardeners who has no deer fence and although he attempts to plant things that deer avoid, acknowledges that they were here first and he is willing to live with them and appreciate them, even when they nibble on his prize hostas.

It was while following a doe and fawn that Mr Lasher saw in the bushes that led to his discovery of a very old stone fence on the property from the mid-1800s. The fence has now been cleared and is an attractive part of the garden, near a scenic waterfall over rocks in a wooded area where a very large snapping turtle was seen in the water among the rocks.

The stream wends its way through the lawns and plantings, with a foot bridge and a turtle sculpture carefully placed nearby. There are many birdhouses and feeders and it is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the needs of birds while creating an attractive space for humans to enjoy at the same time.

The Garden Club of Newtown meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, usually at C.H. Booth Library. Meetings and programs begin at noon. For additional information about the club and membership, which welcomes newcomers, contact club president Beth Caldwell at 203-994-4849.