Springfield Garden Club Program
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Garden Club will host ‘Interpreting Art in Flowers, for the Festival of Flowers” presented by Springfield Garden Club members, on Friday, Feb. 16, 11:30 a.m. The event will be in person at the Barney Carriage House at Forest Park.
The 11th annual Festival of Flowers will run from April 4 to 7 at the Springfield Museums. Objects in the art, science and history museums will be creatively interpreted by talented florists and garden club members.
Luncheon will be provided, including gluten free options, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Guest fee is $5 and tickets are available at the door or on Eventbrite. For more information on this and other Springfield Garden Club events go to www.gcfm.org/springfieldgardenclub or visit them on Facebook.
Upcoming programs at Berkshire Botanical Garden
STOCKBRIDGE – Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs. Friday, Feb. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., “Soups from Scratch.” In this class taught by Rachel Portnoy, students will start with the basics of flavor-building and move on to how to create hearty, delicious, and nutrient-dense soups. Participants will learn about different cuisines and culinary traditions and use simple manipulations to take a soup in an entirely new direction. Cost is $75 members, $100 nonmembers; Saturday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to noon. “The Supply and Demand of Straight Native Species.” Instructors Marie Chieppo and Jasmine Callahan will discuss the recent surge in demand for straight native species by homeowners and others who are invested in the campaign to attract birds and insects that depend on straight species for food and habitat. The class includes a presentation and interview, with discussion and Q&A to follow. Cost $40 members, $60 nonmembers; Saturday, Feb. 17, “Medicinal Mushrooms,” 2 to 4 p.m. Are you curious about the power of medicinal mushrooms? Taught by Willie Crosby, this exploration of medicinal mushrooms is an introduction to some of the common mushrooms that can be found in the Northeast woods and cultivated at home. Participants will learn how to prepare mushrooms to access their medicinal potency, as well as get to know reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, maitake, and other fungal allies. Cost is $40 members, $60 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Springfield Garden Club scholarship
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Garden Club is accepting applications for their annual $2,000 scholarship awarded to a graduating high school senior, undergraduate or graduate college student majoring in a full-time plant science or environmental studies program, such as horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, land management or other allied fields.
The candidate must be a resident of Hampden County, demonstrate financial need and have adequate academic standing. High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate college students are eligible for consideration. For additional information and to request a copy of the application contact Jane Glushik at SGCscholarship@gmail.com.
Scholarship applications are to be complete and meet the submission deadline of April 1, to be eligible for consideration. The SGC has awarded over $80,000 to more than 50 students during the past 30 plus years. Funds for the scholarship are raised at the annual plant sale held each year in the spring. The annual plant sale this year will be held at Forest Park on Sumner Ave. on Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information on the Springfield Garden Club events, visit www.springfieldgardenclubma.org or visit them on Facebook.
East Longmeadow Garden Club Scholarship
EAST LONGMEADOW – The East Longmeadow Garden Club announces that the 2024 Esther A. Rosati Memorial Scholarship applications are now available at the East Longmeadow High school guidance office, the East Longmeadow Public Library, and can be downloaded from its website at eastlongmeadowgard.wixsite.com/gardens.
Applicants must presently be an East Longmeadow High School senor or a recent graduate of East Longmeadow High School and is planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall of 2024 or a Graduate student who is a resident of East Longmeadow and is attending or planning to attend an institution of higher learning or an East Longmeadow student who is a resident and has been accepted to participate in a special program.
All applicants must be planning to pursue a degree in agriculture, botany, environmental science, permaculture, or any other related field.
Applications be received on or before Feb. 28. Applicants being considered may be contacted by the East Longmeadow Garden Club’s Scholarship Committee for an interview. The recipient will be awarded the $1,000 scholarship at the annual May meeting of the east Longmeadow Garden Club.
Send completed application and documents to East Longmeadow Garden Club Scholarship Committee, c/o Diane A. Tiago, 38 Rogers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.
Springfield Garden Club hosts beginning gardening series
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Garden Club will host “Gardening Basics” a series of classes on the basics of starting a garden. The series will be at 10 a.m. on Saturdays in the winter and spring.
March 9, is “Preparing Garden Soil.” How to make sure you have soil (not dirt) for your plants. Presented by Kerisa Perazella of Crow River Farm in East Longmeadow.
April 13, is “Composting.” How to turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into brown gold. Presented by Janet Dolder, SGC member and Master gardener.
The classes will be held at the Shea Building at Forest Park, 300 Sumner Ave. The fee is $10 per class or the series of four for $30. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@gmail.com or by calling 413-285-3163.
Agawam Garden Club 2024 Scholarship
AGAWAM – Applications are now available for the Agawam Garden Club 2024 scholarship. To qualify for the scholarship students must be a graduating senior of Agawam High School or a college student who graduated from Agawam High School and is planning to attend an institution of higher learning in the fall. Applicants must be majoring in or planning on majoring in one of the following: botany, environmental engineering, environmental science, earths systems, forest management, natural resources, plant soil and insect science, sustainable agriculture, sustainable horticulture or food and framing, turf grass science and management, landscape design and management technology, clean energy, technology studies, waste water or other environmental related studies.
The recipient will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship at the clubs annual June meeting. Completed applications along with transcripts and references must be submitted to Denise Carmody, 40 Primrose Lane Agawam, MA 01001 by April 1. Applications are available through Agawam High school or can be found on their website at agawamgardenclub.com.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
