Charlotte Garden Club presents Gardens of the Hudson Valley

Charlotte Garden Club will be sponsoring a slide talk by garden designer Charlotte Albers at the United Methodist Church in Shelburne on Feb. 14.

The Charlotte Garden Club will sponsor a slide talk by garden designer Charlotte Albers at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Shelburne on Feb. 14. The program, called Great Gardens of the Hudson Valley, will feature public gardens along the historic Hudson River, many on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Rockefeller estate Kykuit in Tarrytown, Bellefield at the FDR estate in Hyde Park, and Blithwood, now the Levy Economics Institute at Bard College, located in Annandale-on-Hudson. Learn about new initiatives at these and other properties as you take a virtual tour of grounds, which feature classical and modern sculpture, restored gardens, water features and many splendid plants.

A garden writer and educator, Albers is a member of GreenWorks, the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association, and lectures widely on the art of landscape. “There are many outstanding properties along the Hudson,” she said. “One of my favourites is Olana, the home of painter Frederick Church, which overlooks the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. Once a working farm, the property is being restored, which is very exciting.”

Open to the public. For more information about the garden club and how to get involved contact Ann Mead at (802) 985-2657.

Please Note

Employee garden grants, Green Thumbs at Work, up for grabs
Time to take advantage of this special grant opportunity for small businesses and organizations to support workplace wellness by starting food gardens for their employees. The Green Thumbs at Work grants are open to any Vermont business or organization with 100 or fewer employees.

The application deadline is Feb. 10.

The Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Community Garden Network, in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, Gardener’s Supply Company and gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi, is offering grants that include $500 for materials, a $200 gift certificate to Gardener’s Supply Company and $1,000 in garden planning support and technical assistance from Charlie Nardozzi and the Vermont Community Garden Network.

Now in its fourth year, the Green Thumbs at Work grant program gives employers an additional way to support employee morale and healthy behaviors. Grant winners are selected based on readiness to develop a workplace garden, including the ability to provide matching funds and in-kind services for garden development, plans for employee participation and clear articulation of how the garden will help meet employee wellness goals. Employees must be the primary users and beneficiaries of the garden.

The technical assistance provided through the grant program helps each workplace determine the type and size of garden that best meets its needs and develop strategies to ensure the garden will be successful throughout the 2017 season and for years to come.

Green Thumbs at Work grant winners will be announced Feb. 24, 2017.

For more information call (802) 861-4769.