Spring 2015 - Friends of Harkness

Spring 2015
Friends of Harkness
www.harkness.org
Friends of Harkness
Volunteer Opportunities at Harkness
The Friends of Harkness Memorial State Park has a long and proud tradition of achieving major goals
within the park because of its determined volunteer members. This is your organization and every
member has a reason to be proud of its accomplishments. Along with your pride comes the responsibility to make sure that the Friends’ successes continue into the future. A few members cannot do it
alone. It takes the many hands of dedicated volunteers working as a team to fulfill our mission.
Become a Mansion Docent
FAQ’s about Harkness Docents
Docent do·cent /ˈdōsənt/ A person who leads
guided tours, typically on a voluntary basis, in a
museum, art gallery, or zoo.
How old must I be to serve as a docent? Any
age from High School to Adults. Must be able to
negotiate stairs as the mansion is not handicapped
accessible.
You’ve seen them on summer weekends and
holidays leading eager visitors through the Eolia
mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park. You
may have had the good fortune to take a tour and
had an extremely knowledgeable guide provide
insight into the lives or work in the mansion when
the Harkness’s resided there in the early 1900’s.
The guides are so enthusiastic and descriptive that
you can close your eyes and envision Mary &
Edward sipping coffee or tea in the breakfast room
or wandering about the backyard chatting with a
young landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand, as she
planned and designed the beautiful gardens that
grace the grounds around their summer home.
Have you ever thought that it might be fun to meet
new people and tour them through the magnificent
Harkness summer residence? You may have
dismissed the idea because you believe extensive
training is required to become a docent or, you may
believe you must have years of experience and an
extensive history background to have so much
information readily available. While it is true that a
few docents have been steadfast volunteers for
many years, most are new to the corps of docents
who greet and guide hundreds of guests each
summer season. You just need to be personable
and, be yourself.
Is there financial compensation? No, this is
strictly a volunteer position. Any offerings of tips are
to be donated to the Friends of Harkness for use on
projects that will help preserve the park and its
history.
Is there a minimum number of hours/tours I
must serve? Tours are offered Saturdays and
Sundays from 10:00AM – 2:00PM. Each tour is
approximately 20-30 minutes. You can volunteer
for as little as an hour at a time or, up to as much as
you wish.
Is there a training program? Yes. You will pair
with a seasoned Docent and have a copy of the
script with you. You will observe to see how the
tour works. Once comfortable, you will give a tour
accompanied by your Docent. When confident, you
can lead your own tours.
Is there a fee for a tour? FOH request a donation
from each person taking the tour.
What if someone asks a question I can’t
answer? Not to worry. Tell them you don’t know.
Then, take their name and a contact # and, once
you find the answer from a knowledgeable docent,
you can get back to the individual.
Mansion Docent Coordinator
Garden /Greenhouse Volunteers
FOH is looking for an individual with good
organizational skills to coordinate and schedule
the Mansion Docents. You do not have to be on
site but you need to certain that the scheduled
docents are there and that they coordinate with
the park staff to open and close the building.
We know many of you enjoy the beauty of the
Harkness Gardens. While they are beautiful to
look at, it takes a tremendous amount of handson effort to keep them looking their best. The
Friends of Harkness boasts a cadre of
enthusiastic gardeners who work in the gardens
every Wednesday (weather permitting) from
spring through fall. During the winter months,
they can be found in the warmth of the new
greenhouse, busily propagating plants for the
summer gardens.
Garden Docents
If you love to spend time
walking through beautiful
gardens this is the opportunity
for you! The job of a garden docent is a bit more
challenging than a mansion docent as garden
enthusiasts will often ask more technical
questions. Similar to the mansion docents, there
is a script to follow and you will work with a
knowledgeable gardener who will help you
understand the complexities of the Harkness
Gardens. Tours are also about 20-30 minutes.
Garden Docents are often the same individuals
who volunteer on a weekly basis nearly yearround tending to all of the gardens on the
Harkness grounds from spring through fall and
propagating plants in the greenhouse during the
You do not need to know anything about
gardening. You will be taught everything you
need to know. You will need to bring a pair of
garden gloves, sunscreen (for outside work) and
a hat. You should wear old clothes and shoes
that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Special Events Volunteers
Each of our key events requires many
more volunteers. We don’t want to beg
for people at the last minute, so please let us
know your interest now, and help assure our
activities bring continued success for the
Park. Those of you who’ve helped out with these
events in the Park help us have some continuity,
and we especially welcome your return.
Plant Sale
Harkness Family Day & Rose Tea
Gift Shop Volunteers
Do your interests lie in the
entrepreneurial arena? If yes,
the FOH has a gift shop that can use your skills.
The Gift Shop sells Harkness-related items and
other gifts appropriate to the theme of the park.
Ice cream and chilled bottled water are also
available for those hot summer days. The Gift
Shop is expected to be open for Plant Sale Day,
Memorial Day weekend, then Saturdays and
Sundays through Harkness Day in September.
Hours are currently 11AM-3PM but may move to
12noon-4PM.
Friends’ Summer Picnic
Historic Garden Day
Fall Garden Cleanup
Harkness Holiday Party
Where do I sign up to volunteer?
Friends of Harkness phone: 860-437-1523.
Leave a message with your name and contact
number and you will be contacted by the head
of each program.
OR
www.friends.of.harkness@gmail.com
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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES DOMINATE FRIENDS OF HARKNESS ACTIVITIES
SPRING OF 2015
Friends of CT State Parks hosted its annual State Park Legislative Day on March 11, 2015 at the Legislative Office Building. Concourse. The day was a great success with 36 participants representing 15 State
Park Friends Support Groups. Harkness was well represented by Sherry Carter and Bob Dixon. Cliff
Carter, Eileen Grant and Pam Adams also attended, serving in multiple capacities. The Friends of Connecticut State Parks and Connecticut Forest and Park Association posted its State Park Exhibit on the
Legislative Office Building Concourse from March 2-16. It was a very nice backdrop for FCSP Legislative
Day. Senator Paul Formica stopped by to greet Friends of Harkness.
The day culminated with FCSP and FCSP representatives testifying in support of SB1061 (see description
on page 4). The Hearing was attended by many of the Legislative Day participants.
Legislative Day 2015
Photos L-R : DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee and FOH President Robert Dixon, State Parks Director Tom Tyler and Friends of Ft.
Trumbull Chair Cliff Carter, DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen and FOH President Robert Dixon, FOH Member Sherry
Carter and Senator Paul Formica
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Harkness at Hartford
Garden Show
Chris Callahan, Kelly Callahan and
Michael Wilkinson represented
Harkness at the Historic Gardens
booth. Thousands attended the
show in and experienced a few
hours of Spring in the middle of this
long Winter.
A big thank-you to all three for
attending and providing great
information to show visitors
CT Historic Garden Day is June 28,
2015, 12-4PM
Learn to be a Garden Docent and Give a Tour!
2015 Legislative Session—Bills to Watch
H.B. No. 5686 Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF LAND SWAPS.
Statement of Purpose: To require certain notice, public hearing opportunity and assurances prior to the exchange of
land or interest in land that is under the care, custody or control of the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental
Protection and Agriculture.
What it does: Requires an open public process for Property exchanges
Governor’s Bill No. 946 Title: AN ACT CONCERNING REVENUE ITEMS TO IMPLEMENT THE GOVERNOR’S
BUDGET
Statement of Purpose: Implements the Governor’s Budget recommendations.
What it does: Sweeps the Community Investment Act (CIA) from 1/16 through 6/17, thereby devastating critical investments being made for Agriculture/Farmland, Open Space, Historic preservation and Affordable Housing
Raised Bill No. 6998 Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF STATE
LAND.
Statement of Purpose: To convey various parcels of state land and easements over state land.
What it does: Proposes to give 4 acres of Silver Sands State Park to the City of Milford for free and proposes to give
the town of Fairfield 100 acres of Centennial State Forest for free.
S.B. No. 1061 Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY OF STATE PARKS.
Statement of Purpose: To provide for the fiscal sustainability of state parks by establishing
additional sources of revenue generated by state parks and additional revenues dedicated for the
maintenance, operation and improvement of such state parks.
What it does: Proposes new ways to create revenue streams for CT State Parks
H.B. 6824 Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH
2017, AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFORE AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO REVENUE.
Statement of Purpose: To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
What it does: Cuts $2,000,000 from the CT State Parks Budget and eliminates funding for the Council of Environmental Quality.
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FRIENDS OF HARKNESS PLANT SALE
PLANTING WEEKEND AT HARKNESS
21st Annual Friends of Harkness Plant Sale
will be held on Saturday, May 9 from 9am to
4pm at Harkness Memorial State Park in
Waterford, CT. Heirloom heliotrope, Harkness
Daylilies, and plant divisions from members
gardens will be available. Proceeds from the
weekend’s sale will go towards the Lord and
Burnham greenhouse restoration project,
Beatrix Farrand gardens, and horticultural,
historical and arts programs.
The Annual Garden Planting Weekend will be
held at Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, CT on Saturday May 16 starting at 9am.
Come and join Park Staff and Friends of Harkness volunteers to prepare the gardens for the
season and learn the history of these Beatrix
Farrand designs !!!
See www.harkness.org for more information.
See www.harkness.org for more information.
CT HISTORIC GARDEN DAY
Come celebrate CT Historic Garden Day on
Sunday, June 28 from 12 Noon to 4pm at
Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford,
CT. Garden tours and talks about the history
and Beatrix Farrand design of the Harkness
gardens will be provided free of charge by
Friends of Harkness volunteers and Park
Staff. See www.harkness.org. Also on June
28, Historic Garden Day will be celebrated at
13 other historical sites throughout CT.
See www.cthistoricgardens.org for more
information.
FRIENDS OF HARKNESS DAYLILY SALE
Friends of Harkness Daylily Sale will be held this summer on a date to
be determined, at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT.
Harkness daylilies will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the
sale will go towards the Lord and Burnham greenhouse restoration
project, Beatrix Farrand gardens, and horticultural, historical and arts
programs.
See www.harkness.org for more information.
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HARKNESS FAMILY DAY
Activities and exhibits appealing to all ages will be featured at the 22nd Annual
Harkness Family Day on Sunday, September 13, from 11am to 4pm at
Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, CT. Admission is free! Come and
tour this historic estate, experience the many educational and cultural
activities and displays, or just enjoy a day in the park with your family!
Sponsored by the CT State Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection, The Friends of Harkness, and the Youth Services Bureaus of New
London County, the Family Day will be held drizzle or shine. For more
information, contact Waterford Youth Services Bureau at 860.444.5848 or
www.harkness.org
2015 Membership Important Dates
April 13, 2015 Membership Meeting 6:30PM @ Eolia
May 4, 2015 Membership Meeting 6:30PM @ Eolia
May 9, 2015 – Plant Sale
June 1, 2015 Membership Meeting 6:30PM @ Eolia
July 6, 2015 Membership Meeting 6:30PM @ Eolia
August 3, 2015 – Annual Member Picnic
September 13, 2015 – Harkness Day & Rose Tea
October 5, 2015 Membership Meeting 6:30PM @ Eolia
November 2, 2015 Annual Meeting & Elect. of Officers 6:30PM @ Eolia
December 7, 2015 Annual Holiday Party
PLEASE HELP FOH TO CONSERVE RESOURCES AND FUNDS
FOH will begin sending out the Eolian Electronically to those members who wish
to receive the newsletter in this manner. You will find an “Opt out” notice along
with your dues notice. If you would like to receive the Eolian via email, please
make certain that we have your correct email address. If you do NOT wish to receive your Eolian electronically, and still wish to have a paper copy, please check
the “Opt Out” option on the attached form.
By requesting delivery of an Electronic Eolian you will help FOH to
1) To become a Greener organization by not utilizing so many resources in printing paper copies and 2) To be better stewards of Friends of Harkness funds by
directing money toward park projects rather than for increased mailing expenses.
Thank you for helping FOH to go GREEN!
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NOTICE
Membership Renewals
The 2015 Membership Renewal Forms can be found
in this Eolian. Please make every effort to get your
dues in early.
Capital Campaign
New Employee Hired For Harkness
FOH member Mary Maynard has been relentlessly pursuing grants from area foundations.
She reported that while she was disappointed
that some larger grant applications did not come
to fruition, small sums of money have been received for the ongoing greenhouse restoration
project. FOH’s most recent Greenhouse campaign has garnered FOH $31,500 to date. The
campaign to raise funding for the greenhouse will
continue throughout the year.
Mary did yeoman’s work in preparing grant applications. The FOH Board of Director would like
to extend a heartfelt thank-you and our gratitude
for all of her hard work and perseverance in undertaking this tremendous effort.
The DEEP State Parks Division is pleased to announce that it has hired David Nieminen as its
newest Park Employee. He has a strong background in greenhouse management and operation. He has extensive horticultural skills and mechanical expertise. He also has installed and
maintained many landscapes. He ran and operated a family farm, had retail greenhouses and supervised both employees and volunteers. He has
worked as a seasonal employee at Pachaug State
Forest to supplement his business income. He
began his new job as an Agricultural Worker at the
park on Friday, March 27. He will be a welcome
addition to the park staff.
The Lyman Allyn Lecture Series
@ Lyman Allyn Art Museum
All lectures are from 5pm-7pm
$5 members/ $10 non-members
April 22, 2015 The Gardens of Charles Platt
Guest speaker: Maggie Redfern, Assistant Director of the Connecticut College Arboretum
Program sponsored by the New London Garden Club
May 20, 2015 Bringing Back the Beauty – The Harkness Garden Restoration—Historic Garden Restoration: A Case
Study of Restoring the Gardens of Eolia, the Harkness Estate
(Harkness Past President Jeanne Shelburn will be the presenter.)
June 10, 2015 Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens
Guest Speaker: Cynthia Brown, Collections & Education Manager at the Smithsonian Institute
Program sponsored by the New London Garden Club
625 Williams Street, New London, CT 06320
Exit 83 off of I-95
For more information call 860.443.2545
Ample Parking
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Eolian
Spring 2015
Email updates
To receive email notices of our events,
please send a message to
friends.of.harkness@gmail.com
Volunteers Needed
We are happy to see “old” volunteers, and welcome new ones to join our ranks. Staff levels are very
low, so we need volunteers more than ever—for spring and summer garden work. Also to give tours at
Eolia, to write or edit for the Eolian, to help out at our tea and other events. Think you are unskilled to
be a decent docent or a green gardener? No worries. We train. Call 860-437-1523 if you are interested.
Membership Renewal: The mailing label on your Eolian indicates the date that we deposited your most recent
dues. Your membership is good for one year beyond the date indicated on the label. Dues should be sent to FOH,
P.O. Box 10, Waterford, CT. 06385-0010 in the Spring of each year, but are accepted when it is convenient for you.
Friends of Harkness
PO Box 10
Waterford, CT 06385
Permit No. 479
New London CT
U.S. Postage
PAID
Nonprofit Org.