It’s spring, and the New Canaan Beautification League (NCBL) has been actively working to help keep New Canaan beautiful. “A lot goes into preparing the town for the beautiful blooms,” says Faith Kerchoff, co-Vice President of Civic Beautification. The planning starts the previous fall when the flowers for the hanging planters are selected to ensure they can be nurtured in pots before being hung in May. After choosing these flowers, other locations are matched to provide a cohesive look throughout the town. “We carefully budget all of this since it can get expensive,” Faith adds. “NCBL financially sponsors all of our projects except for outdoor dining, which the town funds.”
Each season, NCBL plants vibrant flowers at Town Hall in two large round planters on the side and four rectangular planters in the front. This year, members Pam Yee, Kathy Kwiatkowski, Fanny Moran, Faith Kerchoff, and Yvonne Hunkeler filled the planters with hibiscus, lantana, diamond frost euphorbia, gomphrena, angelonia, dahlia, and bacopa.
At God’s Acre, NCBL members Kathy Lapolla, Chris Eng, and Dan Eng planted red, white, and blue flowers. Thanks to members Eniko Szatai, Faith Kerchoff, Julieane Livesay, Mo Flanagan, Diane Coyle, Fanny Moran, and Pam Yee, the large barriers around outside dining received a makeover, enhancing the newly expanded table seating downtown.
Projects at Mead Park included cleaning the entrance and planting two Cornus Kousa (Scarlet Fire) trees in the grassy area just beyond the Mead Park Plaza. These trees were planted in memory of Carol West Seldin, a long-time NCBL member.
Additionally, the Japanese Society of Fairfield County donated two new cherry blossoms to Mead Park’s Gold Star Walk. Jackie Alexander, an NCBL and Japanese Society member, stated, “It’s an honor to recognize the fallen soldiers of WWII and to share friendship and goodwill with the community through these trees.” Thanks to Mike LeBlanc and Jeff Mannella from the Department of Public Works for their assistance.
Many members tend to our 33 triangles, ensuring they remain vibrant and weed-free. You’ll notice the flowers changing as we move from spring to summer. Members Claude Colabella and Sarina Vetterli manage this team. You’ve probably seen many green shirts out and about at the train station, mailbox drop-off, and various other NCBL-tended locations as our Traveling Trowels team makes their rounds.
Finally, this week, the town hung 227 hanging baskets. Members Karen Christie and Suzy Spatz organized this project.
NCBL is thrilled to have such an essential part of our town’s beauty, and we hope you enjoy all the colors.
The New Canaan Beautification League is a nonprofit community service and educational organization in New Canaan, Connecticut. Founded in 1939, its mission is to enhance the community’s beauty while providing members opportunities to increase their gardening, conservation, and horticulture knowledge. To learn more, visit newcanaanbeautification.org.
