Perennial Planters is a proud member of the
Garden Club of America and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs
Garden Club of America and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs
The Perennial Planters Garden Club fosters a community of horticulturists dedicated to the love of gardening and to the improvement and benefit of the urban landscape through action in education, conservation and preservation. In addition to membership in the Garden Club of America and ongoing collaboration with other GCA Clubs, Perennial Planters is actively involved with the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, sharing the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, conferences and correspondence, not only in our Community but in our State, Nationally and Internationally.
The Power and Importance of Nature
2021 Four Club Luncheon
September 21, 2021
by Emily McDermott
The upcoming 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmstead created a theme for discussion about the power and importance of nature for this year’s Four Club Luncheon hosted by the Perennial Planters Garden Club at the Agawam Hunt Club in East Providence.
During the past year and half, most of us spent more time outdoors walking, biking and looking for an escape from the captivity and limitations caused by the pandemic. This relief, solace and freedom we found in nature is nothing new according to Daniel Nadenicek, Professor and Draper Chair of Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia and the speaker for this year’s gathering of 90 horticulture enthusiasts. Outdoors, under a sunny September sky, he shared the visions and works of Frederick Law Olmstead, Frederick Billings and Horace Cleveland who collectively designed, created and worked to set aside land that became some of our country’s most treasured outdoor public spaces. Among them are Central Park in New York City ( F.L. Olmstead), Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock, VT
( F. Billings, whose land conservation efforts also led to what we know as Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks) and Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI ( H. Cleveland).
These three men along with literary ‘influencers’ of the 1800’s ( ie. Andrew Jackson Downing: “plant spacious parks in your cities” ) had a clear understanding of the power and importance of creating and preserving outdoor spaces accessible to all. They believed that spending time out in nature provided mental, spiritual and physical health benefits. 150 years later, we all know this to be true. Here in Rhode Island more than a million visitors a year enjoy Roger Williams Park, designed by Horace Cleveland in 1878. He further explained his belief in the benefits of spending time outdoors in his final publication before his death: “The Influence of Parks in the Character of Children.”
This annual luncheon was organized by Liz Mauran and Nancy Compton from the Perennial Planters of Providence. Other Rhode Island clubs in attendance were from Newport, Little Compton and the South County Garden Club which will host next year’s gathering.
2021 Four Club Luncheon
September 21, 2021
by Emily McDermott
The upcoming 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmstead created a theme for discussion about the power and importance of nature for this year’s Four Club Luncheon hosted by the Perennial Planters Garden Club at the Agawam Hunt Club in East Providence.
During the past year and half, most of us spent more time outdoors walking, biking and looking for an escape from the captivity and limitations caused by the pandemic. This relief, solace and freedom we found in nature is nothing new according to Daniel Nadenicek, Professor and Draper Chair of Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia and the speaker for this year’s gathering of 90 horticulture enthusiasts. Outdoors, under a sunny September sky, he shared the visions and works of Frederick Law Olmstead, Frederick Billings and Horace Cleveland who collectively designed, created and worked to set aside land that became some of our country’s most treasured outdoor public spaces. Among them are Central Park in New York City ( F.L. Olmstead), Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock, VT
( F. Billings, whose land conservation efforts also led to what we know as Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks) and Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI ( H. Cleveland).
These three men along with literary ‘influencers’ of the 1800’s ( ie. Andrew Jackson Downing: “plant spacious parks in your cities” ) had a clear understanding of the power and importance of creating and preserving outdoor spaces accessible to all. They believed that spending time out in nature provided mental, spiritual and physical health benefits. 150 years later, we all know this to be true. Here in Rhode Island more than a million visitors a year enjoy Roger Williams Park, designed by Horace Cleveland in 1878. He further explained his belief in the benefits of spending time outdoors in his final publication before his death: “The Influence of Parks in the Character of Children.”
This annual luncheon was organized by Liz Mauran and Nancy Compton from the Perennial Planters of Providence. Other Rhode Island clubs in attendance were from Newport, Little Compton and the South County Garden Club which will host next year’s gathering.
A History of the Mary Elizabeth Sharp Park by Rebecca W. S. More
The City of Providence's Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Park was dedicated in 1989. Until the fall of 1988, the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Park was an eyesore, an overgrown, abandoned lot in the heart of historic Providence. Visitors to the remarkable architectural heritage of Providence and the PPS Festival of Historic Houses had to pass a tangle of underbrush and garbage behind a rusted chain link fence.1
The L-shaped Lot, which fronted Benefit St at 141 and extended behind 147 Benefit St, was part of the original 17th c. Benjamin Cushing Lot which ran from Town (N. Main) St to Hope St. A house was built on the Benefit to Wheaton (Pratt) St portion of the Lot in the 19th c., the outlines of which may be seen on the Park-side of 147 Benefit St. It was owned by "Dr." William Lincoln Bates who operated an electropathic sanatorium there until c. 1900. 2 It is possible that science-fiction author H. P. Lovecraft was inspired to write "The Shunned House," (1924) about the house adjacent at 135 Benefit St., because of its proximity to the controversial Bates Sanatorium. Read more |
GCA Founders Fund initiative, the CheerMobile
On May 28, 2021 Perennial Planters and (our seconding club) Newport Garden Club members came together for the Unveiling of the CheerMobile, a tour of the Farm and to arrange 10 vases of flowers for a Charity delivery that afternoon in the new van. Already, since February 16th, 2021, What Cheer Flower Farm had given away nearly 18,000 stems to deserving organizations across the state. The nan has now made it possible for the organization to expand it’s list of organizations it serves by creating the capacity to deliver flowers to those who need it the most… anywhere in Rhode Island. By late July of 2020 the Perennial Planters was able to deliver their check for 10K to WCFF. In early March, 2021 What Cheer Flower Farm’s new Executive Director, Destenie Vital, purchased the Cheer Mobile van (a 2019 Dodge ProMaster) from Car Max in Warwick, Rhode Island for approximately $25,400. and the Perennial Planters/GCA funds helped to raise these funds plus more than 15K more, that followed. Photographs from the 2020 Farm’s gardens were used to brand the Flower Design across the new van. The van has been used to travel the state of Rhode Island and the greater Providence area to spread cheer and pick up large amounts of donated flowers from local wholesale florists, flower farms, as well as, national retailers. The Farm now delivers to nearly 30 organizations from all over Rhode Island and the list is growing every week. In early July the Van’s interior custom shelving was installed. Now the custom signage for the Parking Space by the new Barn will be designed and installed and will include “2020 GCA Founders Fund Finalist Grant from Perennial Planters Garden Club”. Another Unveiling will be due to inspect the van, signage, and the amazing Farm developments! Click HERE to visit their website. |
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