Daily Archives: September 29, 2013

Wednesday, October 23, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm – Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Fall Conference

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Please join President Marisa McCoy for the 2013 GCFMA Fall Conference on Wednesday, October 23 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, 1657 Worcester Road in Framingham.

8:00 a.m. Registration, Coffee and Boutique Shopping

9:00 a.m. Welcome, Announcements and Business Meeting

9:30 a.m. The Federation…Who we are and what we do! Communications, our schools, our councils, our outreach and you!

10:45 a.m. Awards and Presentations

11:00 a.m. Boutique Shopping and Social Hour

12:00 p.m. Luncheon

1:00 p.m. Designs with On Thai, AIFD, owner of Surroundings Floral Studio in Schenectady, New York.  Mr. Thai has been a member of AIFD since 1990 and is has won numerous awards in local, regional and national competitions. He won Best of Show in the International Flower Show two years running, and took first place in Teleflora’s People’s Choice Award, and seven times Best of Show in the Northeast Floral Exposition. He has made many garden club demonstrations for the Federated Garden Clubs of the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts; and has been a lecturer/demonstrator for the Northeast Floral Expo held in Connecticut and for the Garden Club of Seattle, Washington. A few years back, Mr. Thai presented a floral design program in the United Kingdom before The Club in the Park, a prominent and innovative garden club in the north of England. While there, he instructed a class in the art of contemporary floral design. He has kept busy on such assignments as creating floral arrangements for the annual Whitney Ball during the racing season in Saratoga, N.Y. as well as the New York State Thoroughbred Gala at the Saratoga Golf and Polo club, the annual National Museum of Racing Ball and the Betters Ball at the Saratoga Track.

2:15 p.m. Raffle and Registration Report

2:30 p.m. Adjournment

For Boutique space contact Lisa Bourgeois at lbourgeois@lowellgeneral.org. For overnight accommodations please call the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center at 508 875 2541. Ask for the Garden Club rate of $149.00.  To register for the Fall Conference, visit http://www.gcfm.org/MeetingsandEvents/FallConference.aspx and click on to the Registration Form link.

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Saturday, October 19, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – The High Line

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Located in the heart of Manhattan’s lower west side, the High Line has become one of the most popular park-gardens in New York City.  This unique park is the restoration of a 1.45 mile section of the former elevated New York Central Railroad West Side Line.  Inspired by Paris’ Promenade Plantee, this aerial greenway currently extends from Gansevoort Street to 30th Street.

Through collaborative efforts started in 1999, Friends of the High Line successfully preserved and transformed this extraordinary public space.  Owned by the City of New York, The High Line is maintained by the non-profit High Line Conservancy working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.  With Phase 1 and Phase 2, opened in 2009 and 2011 respectively, the Friends of the High Line are actively working toward the third and final section, which would run between West 30th and West 34th Streets.

The restoration began with removal of everything down to the steel and concrete structure, in order to safely accommodate the public.  The public space blends plant life (inspired by the self-seeded landscape that once grew on the abandoned track) with long walking paths, a water feature, viewing platforms, a sundeck, and gathering areas for performances, art exhibitions and educational programs. The majority of the plant species in the design of Section 1 are native to New York.

Join Tom Smarr, Director of Horticulture at the High Line, for an insider’s view of the High Line’s sustainable design elements such as the re-purposing of industrial infrastructure as public green space; the green roof design function that uses porous pathways to allow stormwater to irrigate adjacent planting beds, and the use of native plants to enhance habitat value and contribute to urban habitat corridors.  Tom will explain the ecological management practices and will discuss High Line successes and challenges.  This tour, scheduled for Saturday, October 19 from 9 – 11 in New York (rain or shine) is sponsored by the Ecological Landscaping Association and costs $20 for ELA members, $25 for nonmembers.  For more information email ela.info@comcast.net. Advance registration is required.

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