Enjoy the stories our members have shared on their gardening experiences!
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The Toad Lilies (Tricyrtis hirta) - 2009 - 2019, are spectacular this year. These shade loving perennial plants are perfect in the garden when most flowering plants are finished flowering. Toad lilies have unique and orchid-like blooms. These plants attract hummingbirds and butterflies late in the season (late September through October). What a great source of energy as they are getting ready to migrate south.
Lynne Sherman |
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2018, A Look Back At Litchfield Gardens - Some old favorites from years past...by Bronwyn Schoelzel
In 1990, Ronnie and Hugh Schoelzel visited 17 gardens of LGC members and photographed them. Ronnie presented a slideshow program of the gardens to the members, January, 2018. Today, only 6 of those gardens remain. The entire presentation can be viewed by clicking the Download File below. 
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A sneak peek of some of the gardens. Click to enlarge and for Garden ID.
June, 2016
Nancy Post writes - I found this Peony in Costco two years ago. It is an Itoh Peony which is a cross between a tree Peony and a herbaceous Peony. The Latin name is Paeonia 'Bartzella'. What a $20 bargain! I hope you enjoy the image of my garden - what joy it brings to me!
Nancy Post writes - I found this Peony in Costco two years ago. It is an Itoh Peony which is a cross between a tree Peony and a herbaceous Peony. The Latin name is Paeonia 'Bartzella'. What a $20 bargain! I hope you enjoy the image of my garden - what joy it brings to me!
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Itoh Peony - a cross between a tree Peony and a herbaceous Peony. My garden - June, 2016
August, 2015
Diane Stoner shares her photos of a tree she grew from the GCA Plant exchange. She received it in 1992 in a 2" pot. It was propagated by Marcy Crutcher who belonged to Hortulus Garden Club of Greenwich (In 1994 the “Marcy Crutcher Zone II Award: for Horticultural Excellence” was established). The seed was given to her by Corliss Engel (a very important person in begonia growing) who had received it from the New York Botanical Garden. As you see, it is now a large tree and flowers the beginning of August. Its common name is bee tree. One sideline - Marcy died shortly after Diane received the plant…which made her want to have it live on for her!
Diane Stoner shares her photos of a tree she grew from the GCA Plant exchange. She received it in 1992 in a 2" pot. It was propagated by Marcy Crutcher who belonged to Hortulus Garden Club of Greenwich (In 1994 the “Marcy Crutcher Zone II Award: for Horticultural Excellence” was established). The seed was given to her by Corliss Engel (a very important person in begonia growing) who had received it from the New York Botanical Garden. As you see, it is now a large tree and flowers the beginning of August. Its common name is bee tree. One sideline - Marcy died shortly after Diane received the plant…which made her want to have it live on for her!
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Evodia daniellii, Korean Evodia: 1992 – August 2015
A Litchfield Backyard Garden - 2015
Above, Ellen Oneglia’s Japanese garden lanterns are decorative during the day and candle lit at night.
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The arbor supports a Clematis, Jackmanii, which leads into her vegetable raised bed gardens.
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The pear espaliers were installed against a stone wall. On the right, the espalier produces three varieties of American pears. On the left, the espalier produces three varieties of Asian pears.
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The pears pictured are Pryus pyriflor, Asian pear.
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A Secret Garden on Tallmadge Lane - 2015
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Above: Sixteen blueberry bushes were planted in Irene Oneglia’s ‘field' in June, 2015 by a new Honorary Member of the LGC, Gary Rodgers.
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Above: An exact replica of Irene Oneglia’s old potting shed was built in the same location on her property. The original wooden counter top, used by Hildegard Plehn, a former LGC member and previous owner of the property, was installed.
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Above: The Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendron trichotomum) was brought back from the 1995 GCA Annual meeting in Boston by Irene Oneglia as a seedling. Despite taking a beating over the years, the plant keeps coming back. It has since taken over the south side of her home, with Irene’s blessing.
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Above: This is the spot where Irene planted the original seedling.
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Above: Irene shared five tiny glorybower ’sucker plants’ with her neighbor Doreen three years ago. Two survived and thrived. One is flowering.
Delphinium “Royal Aspirations” 2012 - 2015.
Lynne Sherman reports - In January 2012, Barbara MacDonald and Nancy Post spear-headed a workshop on growing delphiniums. From that workshop, we sowed delphinium "Royal Aspirations" seeds from Dowdeswell's Delphinium Ltd., New Zealand. I was skeptical because I have purchased several delphiniums from very reliable nurseries in the area and they all failed to grow the following year. However, this year was different. While only one plant grew from the three seeds planted - it is just amazing and it gets bigger each year. I did not want to cut the beautiful center stem, but the wind and rain blew it over before it was staked. Thankfully, there are still two very large stems which continue to flower from this one plant in the garden.
Lynne Sherman reports - In January 2012, Barbara MacDonald and Nancy Post spear-headed a workshop on growing delphiniums. From that workshop, we sowed delphinium "Royal Aspirations" seeds from Dowdeswell's Delphinium Ltd., New Zealand. I was skeptical because I have purchased several delphiniums from very reliable nurseries in the area and they all failed to grow the following year. However, this year was different. While only one plant grew from the three seeds planted - it is just amazing and it gets bigger each year. I did not want to cut the beautiful center stem, but the wind and rain blew it over before it was staked. Thankfully, there are still two very large stems which continue to flower from this one plant in the garden.
GCA Daffodils
To commemorate its centennial, the Garden Club of America named its own daffodil. Swaths of these lovely GCA daffodils were planted in New York’s Central Park. The Litchfield Garden Club members also planted GCA daffodils to commemorate their our own 100th anniversary in 2013.
White Flower Farm LGC 100th Anniversary Bulb Collection
Our friends at White Flower Farm created a Litchfield Garden Club 100th Anniversary Bulb Collection and generously donated ten percent of the sales proceeds from this special collection of minor bulbs to the Litchfield Garden Club. This donation is earmarked for beautifying our town.
To commemorate its centennial, the Garden Club of America named its own daffodil. Swaths of these lovely GCA daffodils were planted in New York’s Central Park. The Litchfield Garden Club members also planted GCA daffodils to commemorate their our own 100th anniversary in 2013.
White Flower Farm LGC 100th Anniversary Bulb Collection
Our friends at White Flower Farm created a Litchfield Garden Club 100th Anniversary Bulb Collection and generously donated ten percent of the sales proceeds from this special collection of minor bulbs to the Litchfield Garden Club. This donation is earmarked for beautifying our town.
LGC Daffodils
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Close up of the LGC Daffodils
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White Flower Farm Collection
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Dahlia Café au Lait,
September, 2013
This luscious Café au Lait dahlia was grown by Barbara MacDonald. The hybrid was registered in 1967 but lately has become all the rage for weddings.
Dahlia is a genus of bush, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants. It is a member of the Asteraceae or Compositae, dicotyledonous plants. Related species include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum and zinnia. This dahlia is what is called a "dinner plate" because its blooms are 8-10" across.
The color is mocha or creamy-beige with slightly darker shades of beige and peach toward the centers. No two blooms are identical in color.
September, 2013
This luscious Café au Lait dahlia was grown by Barbara MacDonald. The hybrid was registered in 1967 but lately has become all the rage for weddings.
Dahlia is a genus of bush, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants. It is a member of the Asteraceae or Compositae, dicotyledonous plants. Related species include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum and zinnia. This dahlia is what is called a "dinner plate" because its blooms are 8-10" across.
The color is mocha or creamy-beige with slightly darker shades of beige and peach toward the centers. No two blooms are identical in color.
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The Litchfield Garden Club, Inc. ~ PO Box 848 ~ Litchfield, CT 06759
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