Franklin Beautification Day, May 20th 8AM - 11AM

This coming Saturday is Franklin Beautification Day, May 20th 8AM - 11AM
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS WILL BE GIVEN AT BOTH LOCATIONS

Help needed at following locations and times:

1. 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM at Fairmount Farms at 887 Lincoln St to transport plants to Downtown or Town Common locations. Trucks or SUV's will make the job easier.

2. 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Downtown Franklin - 20 volunteers needed to help do the plantings in downtown area and bridges. Prefer high school age and/or Adults due to traffic and safety.

busy volunteers making Franklin look beautiful!

3. 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM at the Town Common - 20 volunteers needed to help the Franklin Garden Club plant and mulch. There will be A FEW hundred plants and two trucks of mulch and many young muscles need to help distribute and spread it around. Feel free to bring your garden tools and wheel barrows, just put your name on them!

Eileen Mason providing guidance on what to do

spreading much on the Town Common

Adult, students and young children are all welcome to participate at this site.

Feel free to email emason4234@gmail.com or call 508-330-4234 with any questions.



Additional photos of prior beautification days can be found on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/1888838038052880/

Reporting by Walking Around - Saturday, May 13

After spending most of the week out of Franklin on business, my Saturday morning walk got me caught up on some of what was happening or had happened while I was away. 

Join me as I walk downtown and then out Pleasant St to DelCarte. Starting with some close up photos of the new Horace Mann statue. 

Horace Mann 1

Horace Mann 2

Horace Mann 3

Horace Mann 4

I am impressed by the level of detail shown in the statue. The coat has texture and folds just like a real coat. Amazing work!

the exterior stonework is being applied to the Library addition

mystery dinner theater event coming to Franklin Federated June 10

volunteers from the Franklin Garden Club were hard at work on the grounds
at the Town Common with help from some of the Newcomers Club

new pavement on a section of Pleasant St was completed during the week

the reinstalled playground at DelCarte is open as of Saturday,
so when the rain decides to end it can be used again

while we have been getting a lot of rain, the water level at DelCarte is still way below normal

Franklin Garden Club: "Pruning 101" - April 4

“Pruning 101” will be the featured program at the April 4 meeting of the Franklin Garden Club. The meeting will take place at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a member of the Garden Club.

Featured speaker will be Gretel Anspach, a Master Gardener, who will discuss pruning methods that result in new growth and healthy plants, bushes and trees. She will also discuss the science behind when, how and why to prune woody plants. 

Participants will learn how to make the best use of their money by making good choices about which plants can be pruned by a home gardener and which require the services of a professional.

The Franklin Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, offers educational programs, maintains the garden at the Franklin Common, provides an annual scholarship to a high school graduate, and helps elementary students celebrate Arbor Day.

Franklin Garden Club

You can follow the Garden Club on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-Garden-Club-Massachusetts/305256026231649

Change of Location for March 7 Franklin Garden Club Meeting

Due to a broken pipe at the Franklin Senior Center, the Tuesday, March 7 meeting of the Franklin Garden Club will take place at the Remington Middle School Cafeteria, 628 Washington Street. 

Those attending should enter the building from the door on the left of the building.  

Please call 774-571-0843 if you cannot enter the building.

Remington Middle School in the snow

“The Sustainable-Enough Garden” - March 7

“The Sustainable-Enough Garden” will be the featured program at the March 7 meeting of the Franklin Garden Club. The meeting will take place at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a member of the Garden Club.

Featured speaker will be Rebecca Warner of Newton, an area gardener with 30 years’ experience, who will discuss her journey toward sustainable gardening and the methods she now uses that fit within the time she has to garden and her environmental goals. Club members will be able to learn from her experiences to set their own goals for gardening sustainably.

Warner’s talk will cover the following topics: simple, sustainable methods for making compost, improving soil, and making mulch from easily obtained materials found lose to home; time-saving ways to prepare beds for annuals and vegetables and why turning the soil is unnecessary and counterproductive; and an easy recipe for making an environmentally friendly potting mix to use for containers. Slides will be used to illustrate the topics to be discussed.

Warner has authored a book, The Sustainable-Enough Garden, in which she discusses how she has changed her gardening practices over the past few years from composting to mulching, lawn care to irrigation. Her weekly blog can be viewed at http://thesustainable-enoughgarden.blogspot.com.

The Franklin Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, offers educational programs, maintains the garden at the Franklin Common, provides an annual scholarship to a high school graduate, and helps elementary students celebrate Arbor Day.

Native flowers feed native insects

In the News: sustainable gardening; Tri-County Children's open house; big band brunch; Beauty and the Beast

"The Sustainable-Enough Garden" will be the featured program at the March 7 meeting of the Franklin Garden Club at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill, 7–9 p.m. 

The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a member of the club. 

The featured speaker will be Rebecca Warner of Newton, an area gardener with 30 years of experience who will discuss her journey toward sustainable gardening and the methods she now uses that fit within the time she has to garden and her environmental goals. Club members will be able to learn from her experiences to set their own goals for gardening sustainably."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170228/franklin-garden-club-to-hear-sustainable-gardening

"The Tri-County Regional Children's Center, 147 Pond St., Franklin, will host its annual open house and registration events for the 2017-2018 school year this week. 

The first open house will be held on Thursday, March 2, from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. The second open house will be held on March 3, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. 

Parents are encouraged to bring their children so they can participate in many of the same activities they'll enjoy as preschool students. 

The preschool program is open to children who are 3 years old by Sept. 15, 2017, and no older than 5 years old by Dec. 31, 2017."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170228/open-house-set-at-tri-county-childrens-center

"THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's theater, music, and event venue, will present a big band brunch with the renowned Kenny Hadley Big Band on Sunday, March 5. 

The critically acclaimed 16-piece ensemble, led by drummer Kenny Hadley, boasts musicians with performance ties to big band legends Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and more. The band has shared the stage with such notables as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and has hosted guest soloists including Clark Terry and Louie Bellson."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170228/franklin-black-box-jazz-to-present-kenny-hadley-big-band

"The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will present Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central St., downtown Franklin, in March. 

Show times are March 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees on March 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. 

The musical is a family favorite with an unforgettable cast of characters and an irresistible score. Based on the Academy Award- winning animated feature film, the stage version includes the movie's memorable songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Menken and Tim Rice. The original Broadway production ran for more than 13 years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170228/fpac-to-stage-disneys-beauty-and-beast

Franklin Library: Gardening With Native Plants: why it matters

Gardening With Native Plants: why it matters
Event Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 
6:30pm to 8:00pm

Led by Claudia Thompson of Grow Native Massachusetts

Learn about the importance of native plants to local ecosystems. The talk starts with the concept of co-evolution between plants and animals, then explains how to create a healthy habitat in our own gardens and managed landscapes. In between, we discuss the differences among native, naturalized, and invasive plants, and their effects on ecological communities. 

We explore the food web that links plants to insects, to birds, wildlife, and humans — and give examples of “cool” ecosystem relationships. 

A detailed case study illustrates the conversion of an urban garden from a conventional landscape to a largely native one, and the resulting impact on birds and wildlife. By the end of the program, you will “get” why this issue is so important and understand what you can do about it.

image from http://www.grownativemass.org/

“Pots with Pizzazz” the featured program at a joint meeting of the Franklin, Norfolk and Millis Garden Clubs

“Pots with Pizzazz” will be the featured program at a joint meeting of the Franklin, Norfolk and Millis Garden Clubs on Tuesday, November 1, at the Remington Middle School located on 628 Washington Street, Franklin. The program will begin at 7:00p.m. in the school cafeteria. It is open to the public.

Presenters will be Jana Milbocker and Joan Butler of Holliston-based Enchanted Gardens. The workshop will inspire participants to design jazzy containers that can be the “jewelry” of a garden, elevating it from “good” to “great”! 

Participants will learn how to brighten shady spots with pops of color, create focal points for vistas and welcoming entry gardens with stunning container groupings. Including designs for all seasons, the presenters will show examples of pots ranging from whimsical to grand. They will also provide information on creating unusual, eye-catching pots.

Franklin Garden Club

Butler and Milbocker are avid gardeners, plant collectors, garden designers and writers. They lecture on a variety of gardening topics to garden clubs and community education classes. They have presented programs at the Boston Flower & Garden Show, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and Blithewold, as well as at the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts (GCFM) Landscape Design Council, Judges’ Council and Horticultural Mornings. Both are past presidents of the Holliston Garden Club and are active in the GCFM and other horticultural societies. Currently, they both serve on the board of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council.

Milbocker is principal of Enchanted Gardens, a landscape design and garden construction firm in Holliston. She has authored gardening articles which have been published nationally and can be found on her website blog. Butler is a horticulturalist at Weston Nurseries. She is a former Chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council and is a member of Garden Consultants Council and an accredited Flower Show Judge. Currently, she serves on the GCFM Board as Awards Chairman.

In the News: School dress code feedback meeting; Pots with Pizzazz scheduled for Tuesday

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A group of school district officials will be seeking parent feedback on the dress code this weekend. 

The policy subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee is set to meet from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday on the third floor of the town municipal building to discuss the matter. 

Subcommittee Chairwoman Mary Jane Scofield announced the session during the School Committee meeting this week. She said the subcommittee was currently on its fourth draft of the policy, and would likely be seeking a full committee vote on it after Saturday's event."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161027/franklin-schools-set-dress-code-meeting

• Related post on dress code policy

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/we-dont-want-to-link-clothing-and.html

• What is the current policy?

Actually there is no current policy (hence the meeting looking for feedback), the prior policy was
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_EManual/J/Jdocs/Removed/S01818E15

Four students from Portland, Oregon, testified in front of the board in May 2015.
Image via PPS Communications/YouTube.

"Pots with Pizzazz will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at Remington Middle School located, 628 Washington St. This event will be the featured program at a joint meeting of the Franklin, Norfolk and Millis garden clubs. 

The presenters will be Jana Milbocker and Joan Butler of Holliston-based Enchanted Gardens. The workshop will inspire participants to design jazzy containers. Participants will learn how to brighten shady spots with pops of color, and create focal points for vistas and welcoming entry gardens with container groupings. Including designs for all seasons, the presenters will show examples of pots ranging from whimsical to grand. They will also provide information on creating unusual, eye-catching pots."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161027/pots-with-pizzazz-announced

“What Does It Mean to be Native?” - Oct 4

The Tuesday, October 4 meeting of the Franklin Garden Club will feature a presentation on “What Does It Mean to be Native?” by Doug Williams, the Director of Mass Audubon’s Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk, MA. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Senior Center at 26 Daniel McCahill Street. It is open to the public and those interested in joining the Garden Club. 

Williams will focus on the benefits of using native plants in landscapes, including their adaptability and variations in size, texture, and seasonal colors. He will highlight the strengths of native plants, as well as some common misbeliefs regarding these plants. One of the strengths of using native plants is that they support native pollinators, which are decreasing in number. The use of native plants in gardens and landscapes helps to conserve species important to the ecosystem. 

Williams has more than 35 years’ experience as a botanist and ecologist working with rare plants and habitats in Massachusetts and Texas. He holds a master's degree in conservation biology from Antioch University – New Hampshire where he wrote his master’s thesis on the old-growth forest of Wachusett Mountain State Reservation. He has led natural history field trips to such diverse places as Big Bend National Park, the upper Texas Coast and Alaska. 

The Franklin Garden Club was founded in 1987 and became a member of The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. in 2015.

Stoney Brook boardwalk in seasonal glory (note: boardwalk is closed for repairs)

Perennial Plant Sale at the Franklin Farmer’s Market

Franklin Garden Club

The Franklin Garden Club will hold a perennial plant sale at the Franklin Farmer’s Market on Friday, September 23. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the club’s scholarship fund. The plants will be from the gardens of members as well as the Town Common garden, which is maintained by the club. 

The Farmer’s Market is held from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Franklin Town Common.

“Fall is an excellent time of the year to plant perennials,” noted club co-president Susan Childers. “There will be a variety of healthy perennials to choose from and the average cost will be $3.00 per plant, a significant savings over those sold in the stores.”

Each year, the club conducts a variety of fund raising activities to support a scholarship that is awarded to a graduating senior who will be majoring in environmental or horticultural-related studies. The club also purchases pine tree seedlings which are distributed in elementary schools to celebrate Arbor Day.

"giving the gift of a carefully and thoughtfully prepared meal"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Being a chef is more than just knowing the correct technique for dicing an onion, how to create a béchamel, or what the difference is between blanching and shocking a bunch of asparagus spears. 

It’s also – perhaps most importantly -- about knowing the ingredients, how to choose the freshest and best, understanding how they work together, and knowing where they come from. 

That’s where the garden at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin comes in – the pride and joy of culinary arts instructor and garden coordinator Nancy Haney."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160905/franklin-lessons-from-garden-at-tri-county

cherry tomatoes in the Tri-County garden (photo provided by Tri-County)

Nancy Haney check out tomatoes from the Tri-County garden (photo provided by Tri-County)

Related posts on the Tri-County garden

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/08/despite-drought-tri-countys-garden-tops.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/the-tri-county-insider-january-7.html

Franklin Garden Club meets Sep 6

The Franklin Garden Club, which is now affiliated with the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, will hold its first meeting of the 2016-17 season on Tuesday, September 6 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Franklin Senior Center, located at 26 Daniel McCahill Street. Membership is open to all members of the community. Those interested in joining the club are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the club’s activities and services. Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to bring a perennial to swap with others.

A highlight of this year’s programming will be a joint program with the Millis and Norfolk garden clubs on November 1 that will focus on “Pots with Pizzazz,” presented by Enchanted Gardens. Other programs scheduled for this year are: October 6 - Native Plants and Pollinators; February 7 – Cooking with Winter Vegetables; March 7 - A Sustainable Enough Garden; April 4 – Pruning 101; and May 2 – Cooking with Gardening Herbs. Other activities for the coming year include field trips to Borderland State Park in Easton, MA and Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol, RI.

Franklin Garden Club

The Franklin Garden Club was founded in 1987 and became a member of The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. in 2015. Activities include a combination of education and service. Speakers provide information on different garden related topics. Members volunteer to plant and maintain the Veteran’s Memorial Garden at the Town Common, distribute pine tree seedlings to all first graders in Franklin schools, and provide a scholarship to a graduating senior pursuing an education in horticulture or environmental studies. Members also participate in a yearly fundraiser, enjoy field trips to area gardens, plan a holiday dinner and auction and provide helpful support to each other with gardening problems and questions.

In the News: Taste of the Towns, Rise and Shine food drive, Tri-County gardens produce

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The 11th annual Taste Of The Towns will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 at The Portuguese Club, 119 Prospect Heights, Milford. Proceeds of this year’s event will support the Medical Center’s Palliative Care Service. 

Participating restaurants include 3 Restaurant, 110 Grill, Alicante, Atria Draper Place, Bamboo Express, British Beer Company, Candy Cottage, Dinner & Company, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hay Wagon, Jalapeno’s Grill, Jr’s Diner, Little White Market, Miss Mendon Diner, Milford Regional Medical Center’s Atrium Cafe, Oliva’s Market, Price Chopper, Restaurant 45 and Wanokura. There will also be prize raffles, a 50-50 cash raffle and a cash bar. 

Tickets are limited, and are on sale now. To purchase tickets: 508-473-4493. 

Tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 at the door."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160826/taste-of-towns-set-for-sept-15

"The St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Mary’s Parish, 1 Church Square, will host the Rise and Shine food drive Sept. 3-4. 

Donations of breakfast foods, especially instant oatmeal, dry cereals, Pop-Tarts, protein bars, granola bars, pancake mix, maple syrup, corn muffin mix, peanut butter, juice boxes, tea, coffee and school snacks will be accepted. 

All items must be in the original packaging. Donations can be left in the boxes at the doors of the church at any time."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160826/st-vincent-depaul-society-to-hold-food-drive

"Dry conditions presented new challenges to the teacher and student volunteers responsible for maintaining the garden at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School this summer. Despite the drought, the garden yielded 300 pounds of fresh produce by Aug. 23. The garden yielded 325 pounds by the same time last year. 

All of the produce harvested from the garden is donated to local food pantries. 

Culinary arts instructor and garden coordinator Nancy Haney said plants were wilting at a faster rate than in the past, but the garden was still enveloped in red tomatoes and yellow sunflowers. This year’s newest additions to the garden were cabbage, kale and corn."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160826/tri-county-garden-yields-produce-despite-drought

Culinary Arts Instructor and Garden Coordinator Nancy Haney

Despite drought, Tri-County's garden tops 300 pounds donated

Dry conditions presented new challenges to the teacher and student volunteers responsible for maintaining the garden at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School this summer. Despite the drought, the garden yielded 300 pounds of fresh produce by Tuesday, August 23. The garden yielded 325 pounds by the same time last year.

All of the produce harvested from the garden is donated to local food pantries.
Walking through the garden Tuesday, Culinary Arts Instructor and Garden Coordinator Nancy Haney pointed out that although the plants were wilting at a faster rate than in the past, the garden was still enveloped in vibrant red tomatoes and hulking yellow sunflowers. This year’s newest additions to the garden, cabbage, kale, and corn, were also alive and well.

Culinary Arts Instructor and Garden Coordinator Nancy Haney

Tri-County sunflower

Tri-County tomatoes

The school has donated nearly 3,000 pounds of produce to food pantries in Franklin and Medway since the garden was established four years ago. The initiative educates students about proper gardening techniques and helps to bolster philanthropy.

For more about Tri-County, visit them on the internet  http://www.tri-county.us/

Rain Garden Tour, register by Aug 10

Did you know that the Town of Franklin is committed to including rain gardens in each of their public projects? Join us for a rain garden tour on Wednesday, August 17th to see some of these rain gardens first hand.

If you've ever wondered what was special about the gardens at Parmenter Elementary School or the Franklin Department of Public Works, now's your chance to find out.

Participants will meet at the Department of Public Works and travel together by van to each rain garden site. The tour will return to the Department of Public Works at approximately 6pm.

The tour is free and open to all Franklin residents and employees of the Town of Franklin. Please register by August 10, 2016. Space is limited.

http://www.soakitupfranklinma.org/rain-garden-tour.html

rain garden doing what it is supposed to, catch the rain and let the ground soak it in

Find the Facebook event here
https://www.facebook.com/events/280094492369237/

Boston Common flag garden - 2016

If you got to the Boston Common this weekend, you might have seen the flag garden.

"Each of the 37,000 flags we plant at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument will represent every brave Massachusetts service member who gave his or her life defending our country since the Revolutionary War."

plaque noting the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and acknowledging John Hancock as a sponsor 

a view of the flag garden

another view of the flag garden

Video I captured on Thursday during my lunch break:




Follow the link for a time lapse video of putting the flags in the garden
http://www.massmilitaryheroes.org/our-work/community-building-events/public-program-events/memorial-day-flag-garden-planting/


Note: I am employed by John Hancock, one of the prime sponsors of the flag garden

In the News: Franklin's Beautification Day, Dean's 150th Commencement

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Volunteers adorned the streets of Franklin with nearly 1,000 pots of flowers Saturday as part of the town’s annual beautification day. 

The event’s chairwoman, Eileen Mason, a Garden Club and Downtown Partnership member, said that annual event was established about 14 years years ago by the Garden Club, with a simple goal to “put a little more color into downtown.” 

The event is a collaborative effort put on by the Franklin Garden Club and the Franklin Downtown Partnership, with the help of many volunteers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160521/hundreds-of-flowers-planted-in-franklin

"Dean College held its 150th commencement exercises on May 14 at the Dean College campus in Franklin. More than 300 students received their degrees, with a large number of family and friends in attendance. 

Continuing with tradition, the 2016 commencement ceremony was held outside along Awpie Way, considered by many as the most beautiful and iconic part of campus. 

The keynote address was provided by Dean College President Paula Rooney, who encouraged students to push themselves out of their comfort zones and keep an open mind."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160521/dean-college-holds-150th-commencement

Dean College set up for the graduation along Awpie Way

Rain Garden Training and Demonstration - June 4

The Town of Franklin, in conjunction with the Charles River Watershed Association, is hosting a rain garden training and demonstration on Saturday, June 4 at the Department of Public Works, 257 Fisher St, Franklin.  

Learn to design, build and maintain a home rain garden to treat polluted rainwater from your driveway and roof while adding beauty and visual interest to your property. 

Register for the program online at www.soakitupfranklinma.org/rain-garden-training.html. 

For questions, contact Kate Sjoberg at ksjoberg@franklin.ma.us

one of the many rain gardens around Franklin can be found at the Parmenter School

Volunteers are asked to bring gardening gloves

"Two local groups are hosting a volunteer project later this month to spruce up the downtown area. 

The Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Garden Club will hold the annual Downtown Beautification Day on Saturday, May 21. The event has been held for the past 13 years. 

The effort works to spread mulch and replace flowers in the plant boxes downtown and at the town common. Eileen Mason, one of the organizers of the event, said the flower colors for this year would be blue and white."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160508/franklin-beautification-day-set-for-may-21

volunteers from a prior year