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November 2008 All events are FREE unless noted
Visit the web site
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the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. It is certainly going to take a long time getting used to the park without her. Donna was “the Rock” and “the Rose” in Elizabeth Park. She mended fences and built bridges to help achieve the way the garden functions cooperatively with the city and the community. Donna touched us all. If you met on a Rose Garden tour, chances are you were completely charmed and enchanted by her. Not to mention she filled your mind with knowledge of roses. There was seldom a question she couldn’t answer and certainly she would find out, if on the rare occasion you could stump her.
Donna was eager to help anyone who needed it, anyone with an interest. She loved the rose garden and the park, she loved nature and she loved people. Donna was many things to many people. Everyone knows she made the best cookies and she made them for everybody. I personally am very grateful to have known her. One person connects to another and so on and in that way I came to be here, through Donna Fuss, helping the Friends of Elizabeth Park fulfill their mission. She was certainly my “rock” as she kept me steady and diplomatic. There are not enough words to honor her but she will continue to be an inspiration and never forgotten. I will now have to remind my self to be kind, optimistic and patient, to enjoy the sunny days and to always just stop….stop and smell the roses. If you have a personal story you would like to share about our “Rose Lady”, Donna Fuss, or photos please email them to us at Elizabeth_park@sbcglobal.net. We would like to share them. It has not been decided what we will do to memorialize donna at this time, however, the board of the Friends of Elizabeth Park and the owners of the Pond House Restaurant certainly intend to honor Donna’s memory in Elizabeth Park for years to come. |
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Volunteers Needed on Super Saturdays
November 1 November 22 (Rain Date is December 6) Bring your garden gloves
Meet in the Rose Garden at |
The following obituary appeared in the Hartford Courant: FUSS, Donna (Johnson) Donna (Johnson) Fuss, 63, of Bloomfield, beloved wife for 41 years of Michael D. Fuss, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, (September 30, 2008), at Hartford Hospital. She was born in Hartford on March 20, 1945 to Donald T. Johnson and the late Esther (Sandin) Johnson. Donna grew up in West Hartford before moving to Bloomfield in 1969. She was well known as the "Rose Lady". She was a garden consultant and her talent as such led her to become the rose consultant for the Friends of Elizabeth Park, a co-founder of the Connecticut Rose Society, a Master Rosarian and horticultural judge for the American Rose Society, and was actively involved in the Yankee District of the American Rose Society. Donna's positive outlook and unmatched optimism were hallmarks of her giving personality. She had a golden heart and was always looking to find the good in life and in others. She made everyone see a brighter side. Besides her husband Mike, and father, Donald, she leaves her son, Sean Michael Fuss and his wife Cora of Wethersfield; her daughter, Jennifer Fuss Asmar and her husband Jeff of Canton; a sister, Patricia J. Aucoin and her husband John of West Hartford. She was especially blessed with three young grandchildren, Grace, Noah, and Sarenna, that she was able to enjoy and enrich their lives. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 4, 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Bloomfield, 10 Wintonbury Ave., Bloomfield. Donations in Donna's memory may be made to The Friends of Elizabeth Park, PO Box 370361, West Hartford, CT 06137 or The CT Rose Society, c/o Robert Martin, Treas., 1244 Windsor Ave., Windsor, CT 06095. For online condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com. Hartford Courant Obituary / October 2, 2008 |
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When you enjoy the annual tulip display next spring, you can thank the West Hartford Garden Club. Their members worked with Bob Prill to plant the bulbs this October. Thank you to everyone who volunteered!!
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11/1 Workshop Closing your Rose Garden / Winter Protection ~ 10 am - Rose Garden Gazebo
11/1 Super Saturday 9 am to noon - Rose Garden.
11/2 CT Rose Society Meeting ~ 2:30 pm -Pond House.
11/15 Workshop: Iris Garden Closing ~ 10-11 am - Iris Garden. Hands-on, bring tools and gloves. 11/22 Super Saturday ~ 9am to noon Rose Garden |
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Artist of the Month: Micheline Champagne November 3 - 30 |
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Lecture 1: January 14 Gardens as an Element of the Landscape Jeff Hutton - Landscape Designer & Owner of Earthworks Landscaping How to integrate gardens with all the other elements of the landscape…walls,patios/decks, driveways and walkways. Lecture 2: January 21 Bulb Planting for Additional Color in the Garden Jane Gottier - Horticulturist, Westmoor Park & Freelance Landscape Designer Bulb selection, design and planting methods for successful garden display
Snow make up date: January 28 Lecture 3: February 4 Honey Bees-More than just Honey Becky & Ted Jones - Owners of Jones Apiaries The important role honey bee's play in the production of our food; information about honey bees and recipes too! Lecture 4: February 11 Roses TBD Snow date: February 18 |
Lecture 5: February 25 Enduring Gifts from Herbs Carole Miller - Topmost Herb Farm Herbs are useful today, as they have been for centuries, for medicine, flavoring and aromatherapy. Lecture 6: March 4 Gardening for Birds & Butterflies Ronald & Catherine Aakjar - Sharon Audobon Center Lecturers Attracting birds, caterpillars and butterflies to your garden with non invasive and/or native plants. Make-up date: March 11 Lecture 7: March 18 Dry Shade Gardening Bill Turull - Garden Sales of Manchester Learn from an expert how to garden in difficult dry shade conditions Lecture 8: March 25 Old Favorites, New Introductions Nancy DuBrule-Clemente - NatureWorks Improved varieties of many old fashioned plants which can be used to enhance your landscape Snow date: April 1 Top |
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2009 Garden
Lecture Series Order Form
I would like a reservation(s) for the entire lecture series & final dinner at $85 per person. Number of attendees_______x $85 = $_______
GIFT CERTIFICATE Please send me _______gift certificate(s) for the entire series (includes buffet dinner (6:00pm) on 3/25) $85 x (# of certificates) _________= $__________ OR
Individual Garden Lecture Registration Please circle the lecture(s) you plan to attend
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Looking for a special gift? Give the Gift of Roses Elizabeth Park Rose Garden Arch Dedications Give a gift that is already wrapped for winter and is the perfect gift for the person who has everything. The gift gives back in June when the arches are in full spectacular bloom. Many of the Excelsa, Crimson Rambler, Dorothy Perkins and White Dorothy roses on the arches are original to when the Rose Garden was established in 1904. 1 Year Dedication for $125 You will receive confirmation of your donation and the recipient of your gift will receive a card depicting a scene of the Historical Rose Garden stating that an Arch has been donated in their honor. A plaque will be placed at the arch in the Spring of 2008 |
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Photo: Earle Stone |
ROSE ARCH DEDICATION FORM
Name
Address
City/Zip
Arch is: Dedicated to In honor of In memory of (circle one) Name: Amount of Donation $
Please make checks payable to Friends of Elizabeth Park and mail to:
Friends of Elizabeth Park
PO Box 370361 |
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“In The Bulb There Is A Promise”
In the bulb there is a promise; in the seed an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, Unrevealed until its season, something God can only see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity, In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
--- Natalie A. Sleeth (1930 – 1992) ---
Just after writing to you all last month, I had an early meeting with a friend at the Pond House. I entered the park from Prospect Avenue and drove around the gardens “surveying the kingdom” as is my wont. It was a dark morning and the roses, perennials, ornamental grass and even the boughs of the trees were bent over with the weight of the rain that had fallen overnight. The blossoms of the roses were mournfully bending down towards the earth. The park didn’t have its usual light-hearted spirit on this morning rather it was draped in an eerie sadness. My friend at the Pond House didn’t great me with her usual smile and humor. Instead there was shock and sadness on her face. It was then that I learned that Donna Fuss, our beloved “Rose Lady” had passed away the night before. It was then that I realized that the roses and indeed all of Elizabeth Park were mourning for Donna.
It is impossible for those of us who worked with Donna to enter the park without reflecting on the rich legacy she leaves behind. Soon the “Friends” will have to select a new rosarian for the years ahead. We understand that it will not be possible to “replace” Donna Fuss. It is painful for me to even think of filling the position in those terms. The challenge is to not only preserve Donna’s legacy, but to be certain that future decisions are made with wisdom, intelligence and common sense. We also have to include the undying love that Donna had for Elizabeth Park in our mission. It is with a sense of duty, respect, gratitude and a commitment to stewardship that we will find our way and proceed.
In the past few weeks, the City of Hartford workers busily removed all of the annuals (that were especially beautiful this year) and began preparing the gardens for tulip planting. Bob Prill( a consultant to the Friends of Elizabeth Park) along with a great group of enthusiastic volunteers then began to lay out and plant the fabulous display of tulips that will bloom next spring. Seeing this going on reminded me that gardening is both a cyclical and never ending task. The seasons come and go, but just like in the theater, “the show must go on”.
As I saw the tulips being planted, I was reminded of the words above, written by Natalie A. Sleeth that she wrote while mourning the loss of one of her close friends. I heard these words for the first time in a hymn that was sung at Donna’s memorial service. These words were especially moving to me and also describe the Donna Fuss that I was fortunate to know. Donna knew well that there are many thorns that come along with roses. She knew that there was a price to be paid for both fragrance and bloom. Donna understood the changing of the seasons and the many promises that gardening provides to the gardener. Donna gardened with hope and optimism. In fact, she lived her entire life with hope and optimism made possible by her faith. Yes, we will no longer be greeted by Donna’s twinkly eyes or unforgettable smile when we wander through the rose garden. We will miss her willingness to engage in friendly chatter and her good gardening advice. However, we will always feel Donna’s spirit and presence whenever we enter Elizabeth Park and thankfully we will be able to share the fruits of Donna’s labors for many years to come.
Donna, I’ll see YOU in the Park! Dave Petersen, Friends of Elizabeth Park President |
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Connecticut Rose Society Meeting November 2, 2008 2:30 pm at the Pond House
Photo: John MattiaPutting the Rose Garden to Bed for the Year (How to Properly Winterize for your best roses next year) - PanelAnnual Rose Plant Auction- Art Emmons, AuctioneerThe Rose Society has added a Donna Fuss page to remember this incredible person: http://www.ctrose.org/donna_fuss.htm |
Greater Hartford Bonsai Society Club Meeting November 17
Meetings are usually on the 3rd Monday of each month 7:00PM -9:30PM. At the Wethersfield Community Center - 30 Greenfield St.
The public is welcome. Visit www.GreaterHartfordBonsai.comPhoto: Todd HansenTop |
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Phone: 860-231-8823 |
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The Friends of Elizabeth Park has helped the City of Hartford to care for the park since its incorporation in 1977.
Call the Information Center at (860) 231-9443 for announcements, changes, and updates. Send e-mail to elizabeth_park@sbcglobal.net |
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