New Canaan Garden Club Launches Tree and Shrub Sale

An organization whose first-ever civic project was the planting of two maple trees in front of Town Hall in 1909 has launched its annual sale raise money for projects in New Canaan.

New Canaan Garden Club members Jo Ziesing, Tori Frazer, Ellen McMahon & Carrie Deane Corcoran. Contributed photo

The New Canaan Garden Club for this year’s Spring Tree and Shrub Sale—held through April 20 (see the venerable group’s website here for order information)—is featuring two trees and two shrubs that it says appeal to a wide range of gardening interests: Stewartia pseudocamelia and American Pink dogwood (trees) and oakleaf hydrangea “snow queen” and viburnum dentatum “blue muffin” (shrubs).

Asked to describe the level of interest in gardening here, club President Caroline Garrity said strong, “as evidenced by not only the different gardening groups, but by the many townspeople who love strolling through Waveny Walled Garden (which our club restored, plants and maintains) and by the many residents who use and admire the plantings at Irwin Park.”

Any day now, we may see the 5,000 daffodils that the club planted there pop up through the ground—they’ll be visible from Weed Street, we’re told, on the crest of the hill in front of the main house. Other civic projects from the club include the garden at the New Canaan Historical Society—a fuller list of activities can be found here.

Asked about trends in local gardening, Garrity said, “I would say there is now a keen interest to landscape with native plants and switch to organic lawn care.”

For those planning to participate in the sale, more information on the specific trees and shrubs available can be found below, directly from the garden club. If you’re buying: Purchases must be picked up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 between at the commuter lot across from Karl Chevrolet at 244 Elm St. (between Grove and Park). For more information: www.ncgardenclub.org or contact Ellen at (203)801-0530 or email ellenmcm@optonline.net.

These descriptions are directly from the New Canaan Garden Club:

Stewartia pseudocamellia tree (credit New Canaan Garden Club)

The Stewartia pseudocamellia tree has multi season interest with showy white flowers, foliage that changes color from green to attractive shades of deep red and burgundy in the autumn and exfoliating bark which provides great winter color.

An all time favorite, the American pink dogwood tree has bright pink spring flowers and glossy red late summer berries which attract birds. Leaves change from green to bronze during the fall and winter brings checkered gray bark.

Oakleaf hydrangea “snow queen” (credit New Canaan Garden Club)

A much-improved variety, the oakleaf hydrangea “snow queen” has a long late spring to summer bloom period. Flowers turn pinkish purple and rich green leaves become a superb burgundy red color in autumn. Flower heads are held on rigid stems, which tend to stay straight after rain.

The viburnum dentatum “blue muffin” has white flowers that appear in mid to late spring which give way to blue berries that attract birds and butterflies. Dark, glossy leaves turn attractive shades of orange to burgundy in the fall.