Newtown Gardener Honored By New England Wild Flower Society

FRAMINGHAM, MASS. — No review of major plant stories of 2005 would be complete without acknowledging the accomplishments of remarkable Connecticut residents — including one from Newtown — who were recognized recently by The New England Wild Flower Society.

The New England Wild Flower Society recently honored the master gardener and author Sydney Eddison of Newtown with The Kathryn S. Taylor Award for Private Gardens "for her remarkable woodland garden." The highly competitive award was presented to Mrs Eddison "for her lovingly tended woodland oasis where thriving plants ensure a garden that inspires visitors and readers."

The New England Wild Flower Society is the oldest plant conservation organization in America, dedicated to preservation of native North American flora. Its annual meeting was held in November at Garden in The Woods.

"Of all the beds, borders and shade plantings I've made over the years, none is closer to my heart than the woodland garden," said the honoree. "Begun in 1978, tiny and secret, hidden in a damp hollow behind our old red barn, having as its centerpiece a vernal pool, one discovers my secret woodland garden.

"The woodland garden is full of memories," she continued. "The little stream that feeds the pond recalls the fun my younger brother and I used to have playing in our brook. Starting in March and lasting for three months, a succession of delicate-looking but amazingly hardy wildflowers bloom."

The New England Wild Flower Society gives the prestigious Kathryn S. Taylor award to a privately owned garden of any size displaying significant use of wildflowers and other temperate North American native plants. It must be at least three years old and must exhibit excellence of design and maintenance in all seasons.

Mrs Eddison takes great care planting in patches and clumps, all the while experimenting with color, design and cultivation," said awards committee chair and New England Wild Flower Society Trustee Karen Pierce, who presented the award to Mrs Eddison. In presenting the award, Mrs Pierce quoted Virginia Small, a fellow garden writer and Newtown resident in saying, "In Sydney's garden plants are allowed to form colonies as they do in the wild, with subtle interventions by the hand of the gardener." The final creation is a "restful oasis that feels like it has always been there."

"I do it for fun!" said Mrs Eddison accepting her award, and thanked the society for protecting the native plants of New England. Featured on Martha Stewart Living television and PBS The Victory Garden, Mrs Eddison is the author of many well-known gardening books including Gardens to Go, The Gardener's Palette, The Self-Taught Gardener, The Unsung Season and A Patchwork Garden, among others.

She offers garden tips on Norwalk Channel 12 Television and in Fine Gardening magazine.

Others Honored

At its annual meeting, The New England Wild Flower Society additionally presented the Connecticut State Award to Casper J. Ultee, PhD, of Glastonbury. The award honors an individual or organization that has done great works in the field of botany or horticulture benefiting a New England State.

Society trustee Beverly Ryburn presented the award "for [Mr Ultee's] enthusiastic pursuit of Connecticut's rare plant habitats through herbarium research and countless field trips."

Mr Ultee has been president of The Connecticut Botanical Society since 1997.

"He has worked very hard at maintaining and updating the society's herbaria at Yale and using herbarium research identified many lost stands of rare and endangered plants throughout the state," said Ms Ryburn. That work has been an invaluable contribution to the New England Wild Flower Society's NEPCoP program, a collaboration of plant professionals volunteering for plant conservation.Â

The society recognizes special achievements in each New England state.

Don Cameron of Augusta received The Maine State Award for outstanding contributions toward the identification and protection of native flora and natural communities throughout Maine.

Tim Simmons of Merrimac received The Massachusetts State Award for accomplishments as a scientist, naturalist and conservationist, helping to protect and manage the Massachusetts ecosystem for over twenty years.

Robert Gamlin of Londonderry was honored with The New Hampshire State Award for his years of sharing knowledge, love, and culture of native plants through field trips, presentations and visits to his extensive wildflower sanctuary.

Rhode Island State Award recipient Jerry Melaragno of Johnston was honored for his long history of dedicated leadership in native plant education and conservation.

And Jenny Ramstetter of Marlboro received The Vermont State Award for years of counsel on the conservation of all endangered and threatened plant species in Vermont.