We got things off to a cheery start in the Berkshires with our annual holiday party on January 5. We are so fortunate to be able to use the new kitchen and dining room at the BBG for our party. The spectacular setting always adds to our merriment. The food was wonderful as always and the party had a “no need to hurry” atmosphere since the holiday rush was over.
We spent some time patting ourselves on the back for a job well done this year. We are a small but industrious group. So we gave thanks to a few of this year’s headliners. We thanked Terry for his service on the Board, and brought Martha on Board 😂 to replace him. Thanks to Dawn O’Brien for successfully leading us in our first experience making a new Road Show Board. Thanks to Dot Forrest for faithfully being at the Demo Gardens every
Tuesday night over the summer. Thanks to Margy Gwozdz for taking over Marilyn Wiley’s position heading up the Symposium. And special thanks to Chris Stodden for always saying yes, wherever and whenever she’s needed.
The Yankee Swap was the usual fun with some gifts being stolen shortly after the wrap was off.
We were thrilled to have two of our new interns with us at the party and most appreciative to see them jumping right in. Martha Hamilton will be our Representative on the Board and Laura Jordhal is taking responsibility for soliciting items for the symposium auction.
The symposium plans are all in place, fliers are done and being distributed with our next meeting scheduled in the Athenaeum Room
on February 20 at 1.
A date to be determined in April after the rush of the
March 28 Symposium will set us off and running with this summer’s plans.
The Berkshire Master Gardeners are a relatively small group. We have one Master Gardener designated area, the demonstration gardens housed in Springside Park. As an organization we meet weekly to plan, plant, and maintain the area. We are proud of the beauty and knowledge that we share with the community from that site through our presence and monthly gardening Q & A’s.
Today I’m drinking a cup of tea, dreaming of summer, and playing a quick game of “I spy a Berkshire MG”. February is a good time to think about the fact that this group’s love and devotion to gardening and community service is so widespread and definitely worthy of note. Just a few that come to mind:
Our MGs change out of their green aprons and into fluorescent yellow tee shirts when they help Pittsfield Beautiful to give the city a welcoming presence.
When the Community Gardens in Lenox were being established they were supported and advised by MG’s.
The Main Street island bed in Lenox is planted and maintained with help from one of our MGs.
The
BBG Herb Associates have a number of our MGs in residence every
Tuesday morning.
And, of course, the Lenox, Cheshire and Springside Garden Clubs all have members from the Berkshire MGs so you’ll see them at club activities and projects.
Kudos to the many Master Gardeners who exemplify the true meaning of the title!
Mary Tierney