Daily Archives: December 17, 2020


Wreath of the Day, From the Archives – The Bold and the Beautiful

Mary Ellen Udelson has been a Garden Club of the Back Bay member since 1982, and represented the Club at the Museum of Fine Art’s Art in Bloom. She did floral arranging for St. Cecilia’s Church as well. She moved out of the Back Bay a couple of years ago, but is known at wreath making for her bold, eye-popping designs. She uses large scale elements, and often they are gold or silver. Her wreaths can be seen for miles. One customer bought a wreath each season for a country house door which sat on a hill far from the road below, and wanted her wreath to be visible to cars driving by – Mary Ellen’s work was just perfect for that. In recent years, the crown of bold design guru has descended to Carlos Soto-Chaves, whose wreath is pictured below, but in her heyday, Mary Ellen could give him a run for his money.

Thank you to our Wreath of the Day Sponsor Linda Zukowski, a Garden Club member who often delivered Mary Ellen’s wreaths around the neighborhood.


Athol Bird & Nature Club 2021 Calendar

The Athol Bird and Nature Club (ABNC) calendar, chock full of nature notes, trivia questions and of course, some amazing photos of local birds, animals and plants is now available. While many people may enjoy a calendar with pictures of exotic nature and scenery, the “Birds and Nature of the North Quabbin” 2021 calendar focuses on the local beauty of this region making this calendar a local treasure.  

The calendar, originally created by Cindy Hartwell, and now coordinated by Ernie LeBlanc, showcases photos taken in the North Quabbin region mostly by Athol Bird and Nature Club members. In addition, each month features extensive nature notes that provide very specific information such as when certain birds are migrating into or out of the area, when native wildflowers are blooming, when the peak of several meteor showers occur, and even when to listen for coyotes howling. Club members have an extremely broad range of interests, so a very diverse set of nature notes was compiled merely by picking their brains. 

Fine-tuned for the climate in this area, the nature notes are what set this calendar apart from other pretty nature calendars. Many people frequently use the calendar as a learning tool with their children by going outside and trying to find what the calendar says to look for. 

To further enhance the learning value of the calendar, each month features a nature trivia question. Do you know what a Red Oak Clearwing moth caterpillar eats?  Or, how does a beaver communicate danger to other beavers? Get the calendar to find out; the answers are on the inside back cover. Interesting facts about each month’s photo are also provided along with the photo credit to the member who took the photo.

In keeping with the local theme, the calendar was printed by Highland Press of Athol, and as in previous years, area businesses have continued their enthusiastic support and paid for advertising in the calendar to help cover the printing costs. Being a high-quality product, people love to give them as gifts; they are great for grandparents and children, and are a wonderful reminder of home to family and friends that no longer live in the area.

Order your Calendar Online today, or pick up your calendars in person at one of our local vendors (save on shipping fees) 

The calendars are now available for purchase through the following local merchants: Trail Head, Quabbin Harvest, and Mount Tully Kennels in Orange; Flowerland @ Tintagels Gate, Else Where, Cornerstone Insurance,  MacMannis Florist, the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, and the North Quabbin Community Coalition in Athol; the Royalston Country Store in South Royalston,  the New Salem General Store in New Salem; the Red Apple Farm in Phillipston; the Petersham Craft Center in Petersham; the Hardwick Farmers Co-op in Gilbertville; the Kitchen Garden in Templeton; the Wendell Country Store in Wendell; Connecticut River Liquors in Turners Falls; and the Wine Rack and Ruggeri’s Beverage & Redemption Center in Greenfield. Still Just $10.00