President's Message…

Our May Meeting turned out to be quite a busy and productive day! Our Annual Plant Sale in conjunction with Elizabeth Park's Perennial Sale and the construction of new raised beds at the display garden kept everyone very busy. It was certainly a great team effort and couldn't have gone more smoothly thanks to the generous time and help by several members.

First of all, many thanks go to Dave and Dottie Crockett for picking up all of the plants for the sale. It took a trip to Bridgeport to pick up 50 plants grown by the Mid-Island Dahlia Society and another trip to Rhode Island to pick up another 150 plants for our sale!

Thanks go also to Marge Schnerr who coordinated not only the plant sale, but got a work crew together to re-do the display beds. Many thanks to Dale Drzwecki for not only designing the new raised beds but also for donating many long hours and excellent carpentry skills in assembling them. With the help of Jessie Peterson, Joe Jasonis, Andre LaRochelle, Dave Crockett, Jonas Karosas and Larry Carlson the job went smoothly and was finished by the end of the day. I'm sure there were lots of sore and tired muscles the next day! The beds look excellent and really add to the overall esthetic look of the park. I'm sure Dale will be getting a call to re-do the other raised beds in the Park! (Continued next page…)

Display Garden News

Once again the CDS will sponsor and maintain the display garden at Elizabeth Park, West Hartford. The garden was a flurry of activity on May 15^th. The garden beds were totally dismantled and replaced. Later that week the gardens were planted and additional soil added to the beds. Thanks to all that came out and participated. Special thanks to Dale who designed and coordinated the project. Please make it a point to visit the garden. Now it is even a more beautiful place.

We have coverage for several days of the week but openings still exist for Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you would like to volunteer to work at the garden please contact me.

Jesse Peterson

Display Garden Coordinator

A Note of Thanks…

Thank you for honoring me with a life time membership. I know the support and confidence you showed me will be shown to our new C.D.S. Treasurer, Donna Paternostro. I will continue to be of service to the society in any way possible...

Phyllis Mulcahy

The Plant Sale run by Marge Schnerr, Dottie Crockett, Dave Murphy and Donna Paternostro was quite a success with plants selling very briskly. Thanks also to Carolyn Drzwecki and JoAnn Pronovost for helping out where they were needed, keeping the cold water coming, and getting lunch for the large group. It just goes to show what many hands can accomplish in such a small amount of time - thanks again for a job well done!

Our meting for June will be a planning session for our July Picnic at the home of Jonathan and Barbara Wooten. The Wootens have graciously accepted the role as our hosts for our July Picnic. Their scenic grounds are supposed to be a horticultural treat for any avid gardener. Save the date…July 11^th

Also for any new dahlia grower or exhibitor…please bring any questions or problems that you're having to the meeting and we'll have an open discussion time set aside to help you with your challenges.

Another important note is that of Elizabeth Park's 100^th Anniversary Rose Celebration during June 18^th to 20^th, 2004. Volunteers are needed to help get the rose gardens in shape for this important event. There will be a Volunteer Gardening Day the same day as our June 12^th meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. If you can, please consider donating some time on that day for a worthy cause - even an hour worth of weeding would help out greatly. Remember to bring gloves, a kneeling pad, and a weeding tool (…but not pruners - that's not allowed!).

I hope to see you at the June Meeting.

Kevin Wasilewski

C.D.S. President