Ansonia gardener's plant sales to benefit St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Derby

Our green-thumbed and generous pantry friend, Diane, is supporting St. Vincent de Paul with sales of her own greenhouse grown plants over the next two weekends - May 8 & 9, 15 & 16!

164 Hull St., Ansonia, noon-6 p.m.

Vegetables, herbs, flowers, hanging baskets, and multi-flower planters!

Come shop local while supporting our pantry! Thank you Diane!

Craft fun at Derby Neck Library features kids' faces in flower blooms

DERBY - Kids can make a flower with their face inside at 4:30 p.m. today at Derby Neck Library. A perfect gift for someone special!

The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave., Derby. 

Seymour Farmer's Market open for season on Tuesdays, rain or shine

Recuperation journey: From the spring photo archives

 Sharing from around the yard ~ May 2, 2020. 

Learn about flowers at in-person program at Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby

Kellogg Environmental Center./ State of CT photo

DERBY - Join the Kellogg Environmental Center staff at 10 a.m. Saturday for an in-person program to learn about the symbolic meanings and history of native and popular flowers in Connecticut.

Many flowers found across the state possess folkloric and historical meanings that have given strength and comfort to those who possess them.  

This program explores the roles of these flowers throughout U.S. history as well as the symbolic meaning that each flower represents.  

Herbal teas, including teas made from native plants, will be provided as the importance of native flowers is discussed.  

Afterwards, enjoy a stroll through Frances Osborne Kellogg’s formal garden of the Kellogg Estate to further discuss the symbolism of the flowers she owned; please note that some walking will be involved.  

Registration is required for this free program.  Please register through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Calendar of Events page at www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar/viewev.asp?id=7489 .

The Kellogg Environmental Center, a facility of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s State Parks and Public Outreach Division, is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

It is located at 500 Hawthorne Ave. For further information or directions please email donna.kingston@ct.gov or call 203-734-2513. 

This is a press release from the Kellogg Environmental Center.

Recuperation journey: Around the yard - Part 41

 

Pretty blooms, that's all.

Recuperation journey: Around the yard - Part 38

 These day lily blooms were not open yesterday. Nice to be greeted by them this morning!

Recuperation journey: Around the yard - Part 33

Enjoy the day!

Recuperation journey: Around the yard - Part 32

Not sure what has transplanted itself next to the patio. Any ideas? 

Olde Ripton Garden Club in Shelton to hold plant sale at St. Paul's Episcopal Church

 

Recuperation journey: Around the yard - Part 27

Spring! 

It's getting cloudy as I write this. No more blue sky. 

Rain is on the way.

Recuperation journey: Blooming

This geranium plant lost all of its blooms and only had green leaves for about the last month. This week it surprised me with some new blossoms. 

It's the little things in life!

Farmer's Market slated Friday in downtown Ansonia

*The market runs from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Farmer's Market to open Friday in downtown Ansonia

"Tomorrow is the day! The downtown Farmer's Market opens at 10 a.m through 1 p.m. Come on down for some fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers from Gazy Brothers Farm, along with great homemade mozzarella, fresh breads, and pesto from Beldotti Bakery. 
"Please remember to wear your masks."

*Information shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Recuperation journey: Around the yard - Part 7

Azaleas, a bee, and dandy-lions

He came by at just the right time.

Have a peaceful Sunday.

Lilacs in bloom beautify grounds of First Congregational Church in Derby

Ralph and I are members of the First Congregational Church in Derby. 
When our pastor mentioned in his weekly email that the Lilacs were blooming we had to go there Sunday to see for ourselves!
The beautiful French Lilac is Derby's official bush.

Here they are blooming along a retaining wall next to the parking lot.

In May, 2004 our congregation planted a lilac bush in loving memory of longtime member Christine Ralph.

This is the bush 16 years later.

*The text below is shared from a Derby history quiz posted on the Electronic Valley.

On Thursday, May 13, 2004 (Derby's 329th birthday!) the Board of Aldermen named the French Lilac the official bush of the City of Derby.  See the information below to find out why.

When warm weather arrives, with it comes an array of beautiful spring shrubs and flowers. One of the loveliest and most fragrant is the Lilac which blossoms in May.
The story of the Lilac bush in the United States is a first for Derby, in fact, it's a Connecticut first. Dr. John Durand, a French Huguenot physician came to Derby about 1680. He purchased a house on Academy Hill now known to Derbyites as Brownie Castle. The house was supposedly built by Samuel Bowers, the son of one of Derby's first ministers. It is one of the oldest houses in Derby.
Derby was sparsely settled with only a few families. It was mostly wilderness. 
Dr. Durand missed the fragrant Lilac shrubs that grew in France, and upon making a return voyage back to France, he returned with a large number of Lilac roots which he planted on the grounds around his home. Thus, the first French Lilac bushes appeared in the United States. 
All of Dr. Durand's descendants were said to have the loveliest Lilac bushes surrounding their homes.
Dr. Durand is buried in the Olde Uptown Burial Ground.
The Encyclopedia Americana says that the most common and widely cultivated of the Lilac bushes in the United States is the French Lilac.

This quiz contributed by Joan Driscoll

Recuperation journey: Around the yard

Happy Saturday!

Recuperation journey: Easter morning

Checking out the front yard. 

Social distancing.

Have a peaceful Sunday!

Recuperation journey: The 3 Rs of getting through this difficult time

*I'm sure there are more than three, but these are the ones that first came to mind.

Reconnect: I believe we would all feel better by taking at least a few minutes a day to reconnect with nature. It can be quite calming.

Review: Look around you - take stock of your blessings. We all have problems but we also have many things for which to be grateful. Review them in your mind! 

Relax: Do what it takes to fight fearful feelings. Walk around your neighborhood, participate in an online exercise class, listen to music, or do whatever puts you in a less anxious mood. 

I enjoy going outside and taking photos of birds, sunrises, sunsets, and more.
Yesterday it was the bright yellow forsythia in our yard that caught my eye. 

Stay safe and healthy!

Farmer's market will be open today in downtown Ansonia

Sharing from the City of Ansonia Facebook page:

"Managed by Gazy Farm of Oxford, the market includes fresh area farm vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and more. 
"Located on Main St in the park directly across from Doyle Senior Center, the market will be here each Friday at same time and place through early September. See you there!"