Generous Gardeners

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Re-blogged from the Generous Gardners newsletter

Dear Generous Gardener Supporter,

Generous Gardeners is honored to have been nominated by a listener for GBH’s weekly “Joy Beat,” which aired July 5th and features news stories about real people doing the hard work to make their communities and world a better place. The nomination was based on the joy found in appreciating the beauty of the outdoors, and how the connection with nature can rejuvenate the spirit and come with solid health benefits.

The listener called in to share her appreciation for those who keep her city, Gloucester, beautiful and in bloom, saying: “Just an incredible brigade who work to plant dahlias and tulips — beautiful gardens all over the city of Gloucester. Traffic islands, the Boulevard… just the most innocuous little corner where it’s just filled with flowers. It’s just a remarkable, remarkable group.”

Generous Gardener’s founder, Susan Kelly, and dahlia expert, Antonietta Calabrese, sat down with Arun Rath of GBH’s “All Things Considered” program to discuss the joy of gardening and the impact that their organization has had on the city of Gloucester. Beginning 12 years ago with the idea of online plant-swapping, the now 80-volunteer, non-profit organization has transformed the city’s waterfront and 48 other garden spaces with colorful blossoms from May until late fall. Boulevard plantings alone now include dozens of roses, hundreds of lilies, tulips, annuals, perennials and more – and over 2,000 dahlias! Susan and Antonietta discuss the work involved in planting and maintaining the beds, as well as protecting them from winter storms.

To help fund beautification, Generous Gardeners just completed their 12th garden tour of 15 beautiful, private gardens on Wheeler’s Point in Gloucester.  The tour is an annual event in a different Gloucester neighborhood each year and one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers.

We are grateful to the garden tour’s homeowners, our donors, admirers, and all who help to support our organization – and proud of the happiness we bring to our community.

Fondly,
– Susan Kelly
– Antonietta Calabrese

WGBH Joy Beat, July 5, 2024, read or listen here:
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-07-09/meet-the-generous-gardeners-that-have-helped-gloucester-bloom

Generous Gardeners:
https://generousgardeners.org/

 

 

The Rockport Public Library is hosting, the Plant Guy Eric, a Cannabis Cultivation Consultant who will educate patrons on how to successfully, affordably, and legally grow their own cannabis at home. 

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Rockport Public Library is hosting, the Plant Guy Eric, a Cannabis Cultivation Consultant who will educate patrons on how to successfully, affordably, and legally grow their own cannabis at home. 

This free program will be held on Saturday, July 27th at 11AM in Rockport at the library in the Brenner room and is open to the public.

This could be the first time a library on the North Shore has hosted such a program.  With the dispensaries on the island and overall trend towards Cannabis as a medicinal resources, this program will be well-received in our community.

No Registration is required, but here is the link to learn more about the program: https://rockportlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/learn-how-to-grow-your-own-cannabis-at-home-w-plant-guy-eric.

Here is some press on past experiences at libraries for PlantGuyEric!, as he is sought-after in the library realm: https://plantguyeric.com/pastevents.

There’ll be ice cream in August. The Cupboard Update in the news.

Posted on by Catherine

The spring without The Cupboard has turned into summer and ever more. Gloucester’s authentic, reliable & affordable summer eats is **gasp** done.

Read more about the status in a front page story by Ethan Forman in the Gloucester Daily Times.

Although the restaurant and food take out won’t open, the ice cream windows will serve happiness for a few weeks. So, trying to stay positive, the send off will be a sweet, soft closing which may soften the blow. At the very least it will prod a visit and a chance to express gratitude.

When summer days and nights beckoned and our cupboards were bare, The Cupboard was indescribably full. Wish them all the best!

“The Headlands” at Meetinghouse Green Friday, July 12

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“The Headlands,” vocalists John Rockwell, Amy Rich and Eric Wilson, star at Week 2 of the free Music at Meetinghouse Green concerts, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Friday, July 12. Location: the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, corner of Middle and Church Streets, downtown Gloucester. Food onsite from Markouk Bread; a collection at intermission will benefit Backyard Growers. Because of construction this concert will be indoors; enter the church social hall at 10 Church St. Handicap accessible. www.gloucestermeetinghouse.com.

See You Next Week At The Bluefin Blowout!

Posted on by Pat D

Pat D’s Photos will be with Good Morning Gloucester at the Bluefin Blowout next week (July 16-18 and fundraiser July 15) broadcasting the up-to-the-minute updates on the tuna fishing tournament from Cape Ann Marina. We hope you will stop down when you are able. It is so much fun!

I will be offering these refrigerator magnets created especially for the Bluefin Blowout (a goodwill donation will be appreciated and forwarded to the Alzheimer’s Association) for as long as they last. Other magnets from Pat D’s Photos will also be available.

On Wednesday July 17 Pat D’s Photos will be set up at the Bluefin Blowout from 5-8 PM for the Bites By The Sea event (a new event that sounds amazing…get your tickets!). This is the first of a number of events Pat D’s Photos will be attending and I am including the current schedule. Stop by, check out the merch and say hello.

Summer on Cape Ann — pat morss

Posted on by patmorss

One sign of summer is the outdoor performances at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport. Last weekend we stumbled on the first-ever presentation by the new United Flamenco Arts Society, which was concluding its week-long residency for international Flamenco artists.

The Windhover campus, where Flamenco Arts was in residency.
Dancers, musicians and singers waiting to go on stage.
Taking turns showing what they have learned.
A dancer exhibiting her love for the art form.
There are other signs of summer – larger yachts moored in the harbor.
Flying the colors, returning home during Fiesta.
Summer comes with fireworks over Gloucester Harbor.
And then there’s fishing – Eddy egret joins his friends on Niles Pond.
Humans are fishing too – it works fine from a properly equipped kayak.
Or casting from the rocks in the fog.
As a “ghost ship” coasts by.

Check out these awesome stickers available at Pauline’s Gifts

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Pauline’s NEW Design! Gloucester magnet, sticker, $2.95 and keychain., $4.95 available NOW in the Shop.

512 Essex Ave Gloucester MA

House Finch Nest Cam

Posted on by Pat D

FOB Susan LaRosa submits these photos of the finch family in her door wreath. Four babies recently hatched and the wreath fell to the ground taking the nest with it. Susan carefully returned everything to its previous position and the parents returned to the nest to take care of the young ones. Four hungry hungry finches. Thanks Susan!

Lynn Simonson will be teaching four YOGA CLASSES for the public on July 15th, 16th, 17th, & 18th from 8:30 am to 9:45 amat Windhover Center for the Performing Arts

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Event: Gentle Yoga 

Date: Monday, July 15th to Thursday, July 18th at 8:30am- 9:45am

Location: Windhover Center for the Performing Arts- 257 Rear Granite Street, Rockport MA, 01966

Price: Suggested $10.00 donation per class

 

Lynn Simonson will be teaching four YOGA CLASSES for the public on July 15th, 16th, 17th, & 18th from 8:30 am to 9:45 amat Windhover Center for the Performing Arts.  A moving meditation blending slow deep postures with breath intention and affirmations. Safe for all levels. Please bring your own mat or towel.

 

Bio: Lynn Simonson is an internationally respected educator of jazz dance. She is the creator of Simonson Technique, an organic approach to movement that prepares the body to move in a way that is anatomically intelligent and somatically aware. Her call to jazz dance grew out of a deep love of jazz music and a need to express that music in movement. Since 2005, she has been living and working on the west coast, and continues to direct the “Simonson Method of Teacher Training” in New York City and at other locations nationally and internationally. She leads teacher workshops around the country. Certified in senior fitness in 2003, Simonson developed a senior seated yoga class (Seated Wellness) which she teaches regularly in senior centers, assisted living homes, and hospitals. In 2008 she developed an intergenerational dance class that coupled seniors with second, third, and fourth graders entitled, “100 years of Social Dance”.

In 1978, while teaching in Europe, Lynn explored and defined what would come to fruition as the Simonson Technique.  In 1984, Lynn along with Simonson Technique teachers, Laurie De Vito, Michael Geiger, Danny Pepitone, and Charles Wright, created and co-founded Dance Space Center, now known as Dance New Amsterdam. Simonson Technique is currently taught by certified teachers in more than 20 countries worldwide. Her teacher training course fulfills her mission of developing skilled and articulate dance educators. Dance New Amsterdam offers certification programs in Simonson Technique Teacher Training.

In 1990, she created and directed “New Vision for Dance” at Jacob’s Pillow, which focused on a holistic approach to dance. Continuing her interest in holistic work, Simonson produced and directed her own program, “Expanded Dance”, at Windhover in Rockport, MA, from 1992-2004. This program sought to delve deeper into somàtics and the whole person dancing. Since 1989, she has taught classes in Yoga and Somàtics at Dance Space Center and Caps 21 in NYC, University of Illinois, Decidedly Jazz Dance, Calgary, Canada and various International Festivals in Canada, Finland, Sweden, France and Spain.

Simonson has received awards from American Dance Guild, National Dance Educators of America, Dance Magazine, and National Dance Association of USA. She was honored for lifetime achievement in dance by Encore International Festival, 2003, Boston Youth Moves, 2004, and Dance New Amsterdam, 2005.

 

To sign up for Gentle Yoga click on this link: https://windhover.org/event/gentle-yoga-taught-by-lynn-simonson-2/2024-07-18/ or email Lynn Simonson at simonsondance@gmail.com