Colorful Containers For Any Season:

Garden Club Program And Plant Sale Preview

The Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown has a busy week ahead, first with its monthly public program and then with its tenth annual plant sale.

On Wednesday, May 9, at 7:30 pm, Kevin Wasilewicz will present a program titled “Creating Colorful Containers For Any Season.” Sponsored by Town & Country Garden Club, the program will be at Newtown Senior Center, within the multi-purpose building at 14 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook.

Mr Wasilewicz is a master gardener, certified nurseryman, and organic gardener. In a recent interview he said he started out his career being a fine artist, but found himself drawn to combining art with plant material.

His program will demonstrate how container gardening can work for everyone all year round. For example, people who live in a climate with drought conditions need to plant a low maintenance container featuring small trees, shrubs and evergreens mixed with hearty tropicals and perennials.

Mr Wasilewicz enjoys working with containers, he said, because they represent a movable garden that can be placed in different locations.

It is very easy to change out the plant material whenever needed, so gardeners can experiment with seasonal color combinations. They need to consider the height and planes involved in an arrangement along with creating a focal point.

The sides of the container are also very important, so trailers of different lengths should be planted in order to cascade and develop interest.

Mr Wasilewicz enjoys using foliage contrast rather than flowers because “you get more bang for the buck” that way. He might combine golden leafed spirea and bronze euchera or mix in cannas because of their height and colorful leaves. Sometimes he will plant one specimen, say a special hosta that makes a statement on its own, and then surround it with small violas around the rim of the pot.

He emphasized that gardeners need to plan ahead when purchasing their plant material, for example, combine colorful lettuces or purple swiss chard with yellow pansies.

Also, soil needs to be changed in the containers every year. Old soil can be put in a compost heap, but should not be reused.

Another good idea he offered is that when visiting a nursery, gather up a variety of specimens and group them together to see how they complement each other before purchasing anything.

Mr Wasilewicz will also discuss watering techniques and the judicious use of fertilizers. He gathers his containers from all over the place and uses such items as sap boxes, old wine boxes, and baskets to create unique holders.

Anyone who feels the need to add color to their life after this cold, weird winter is invited to join members of the garden club for the program. There is no admission charge.

Plant Sale Approaching

The garden club will hold its Tenth Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 12, from 9 am to 2 pm, in front of The Inn at Newtown, 19 Main Street. 

Ten years ago, the members of the garden club were looking for a fundraiser and heard that a garden club in Westport had held a plant sale that was very successful, so they decided to try it as well. One has been held at the site of the inn since that memorable decision.

The first plant sale, however, truly tested the fortitude of the members because it poured. Nevertheless, their inventory sold out and a tradition began. Club members chose the weekend of Mother’s Day because it would be a lovely time of the year to get people thinking about spring and plants as gifts.

Early in March all club members are urged to select member grown perennials to contribute to the sale. The club distributes pots and plant identification sticks that inform the buyer of the name of the plant, the color, and the size. On the day of the sale, club members are requested to wear their signature garden club, vibrant green aprons decorated with the club logo, a jack in the pulpit.

There are several master gardeners in the club who will be available all day to answer any questions customers might have about their purchases.

Arline Shanley is this year’s plant sale chairperson, and she stated: “The plant sale is a wonderful activity for the club. It encourages a special camaraderie with everyone working together to achieve a common goal. There’s also a lot of laughter and sharing of plant stories.”

In addition to the member-grown perennials, the sale regularly offers shrubs, small trees, ornamental grasses, and interesting vines such as unique specimens of clematis. Last year, the club decided to sell the Newtown Rose in connection with the Tercentennial Celebration and there will be some available this year as well.

A new idea this year is called “Garden Treasures” and members will contribute decorative garden pieces such as ornate flower pots, artistic ornaments, and some other surprises.

Some of the money that is raised will be donated to the Federated Garden Club of Connecticut, which awards a substantial scholarship to a high school graduate who will be majoring in a field connected with gardening such as horticulture. The money will also support programs throughout the year such as maintaining several of the traffic islands around town.

For additional information about either of these events or the club itself, call Liz Arneth at 426-5359.