Trustees of Reservations Newsletter

I love this quote from the Trustees’ newsletter:

There’s plenty to do for your garden this winter; it’s only the plants that should be dormant!

Click here for the “Garden Year-Round” page.

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Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Scholarship Committee

Hi Everyone,

     It is the time of year that students are planning for the 2016-2017 school year. The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. (GCFM) and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC) offer scholarships to deserving students in fields of study related to farming, ecology, the environment, and more. The GCFM offers eleven $1000 scholarships for students from Massachusetts. (Students may attend an out-of-state school, but must be a permanent resident of Massachusetts). These scholarships are a wonderful way to augment financial planning for college.   The deadline for submission is March 1, 2016 for the GCFM.

The NGC offers two $4000 scholarships to Massachusetts students. The submission deadline is February 1, 2016.   The NGC applications should be mailed directly to Deb Taverna, 109 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA. 01824.

     Please visit the GCFM website for full details and application forms for both the GCFM and NGC scholarships. The information can be found at www.gcfm.org under the education tab.

     A link to a press release that you can send to your local media can be found at the end of this paragraph. We hope to receive many applications.Scholarship press release

Many Thanks,

Deb Taverna, GCFM Scholarship Chair

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Flower Show School

Dear Garden Club President(s),

Attached is some information concerning the Flower Show School which is run by GCFM for all those wishing to learn more about exhibiting floral designs and showing horticulture at any of the many Flower Shows held in Massachusetts.
Click here for:  Course III Brochure  Registration form Course 3

I urge you to share this with your Club members, especially those have expressed interest but are not aware of this program. I have included a FAQs sheet which may help answer some questions that arise.

Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have questions. 508-429-7646 or e-mail juliepipe@comcast.net

Sincerely,

Julie, FSS Co-chairman
FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL FAQS

*              WHAT IS FLOWER SHOW SCHOOL? – FSS is a series of 4 courses, each entailing 2 days of lectures on flower show procedure, horticulture and floral design followed by an exam on the third day.

*              WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE? – FSS prepares students to exhibit horticulture and floral design in Flower Shows and prepares them to become Flower Show Judges if they are interested.

*              WHO CAN ATTEND? – The school is open to anyone wishing to learn how to enter a show. Anyone wishing to become a judge needs to be a member of a Federated Garden Club, not only in Massachusetts but also from any other State.

*              WHAT IS THE COST? – Each course has a registration fee of $135 for member of a garden club and 150 for non-garden club members, plus there is a list of required reading material.

*              DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAM? – No – the exam is only required if you wish to become a judge.

*              DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE COURSES IN ORDER? – No – the courses can be taken in any order.

*              WHERE ARE THE COURSES HELD? – FSS is usually held in a hotel which is centrally located and easily accessible from major highways.

*              HOW DO I SIGN UP? – The GCFM Website has sign-up information. The Fall Mayflower will have the course outline and registration form. Your District Director and Club President will also have all the information.

*              IS THERE ANY FINACIAL HELP? – There is one scholarship offered by GCFM, the Helen deOrsay Freidberg Tribute Scholarship. Your own Garden Club may offer scholarships or have financial resources available to its members.

*              ARE THERE ANY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE? – if you don’t wish to be a judge you can take the courses with a friend using the 2 for 1 option which means you would only pay $60 each for each course.

 

For more information call Cathie Healy 508-429-5055 or Julie Pipe 508-429-7646

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