The best time to plant most trees is fall, and with that in mind, Barrington Garden Club members chose to forego planting on Arbor Day, traditionally in April, in favor of an October planting. The selected tree, an American fringe tree, was planted with the assistance of the Department of Public Works employees who have been of considerable help over the years in a joint community effort. BGC’s Arbor Day chairperson, Beth Welch, spoke about the tree to a gathering of garden club members, non-members, and town employees at Police Cove Park, the third to be dedicated in the park by BGC. The American fringe tree, chionanthus virginicus, is a native Spring flowering tree that characteristically blooms bright, white flowers with long thread-like dangling petals in May or June starting before the leaves appear. It can grow to 20 feet tall or more as a small tree or shrub. We envision a show of long, slender white petals in spring; an added bonus is blue-black, damson-like fruits appear in summer.

It's not too late to plan for spring! By now, crocus and daffodil bulbs have been rightly planted, but tulips, by contrast, are happy to wait. Their bulbs should be kept dry, but not hot, as heat will shrivel them. They can be planted in late November, or even, in a crisis, a week or two later. Don’t worry if their brown outer jackets fall off, as long as there are no signs of mold. Waiting allows for removing annuals and making room for patches of tulips instead. So, get out to your garden now and plant those bulbs that have been lingering in your shed or garage! You’ll be rewarded with a display of cheery flowers when spring arrives.

In December, we are accustomed to seeing millions of brilliant red poinsettias, as well as pink, magenta, white, and variegated blossoms. Holly and paperwhites play a major role in our holiday decorating as well, but holly berries generally fall off the branches of a wreath or arrangement too soon for our liking and are best left on your shrubs.

A potted plant that appears in the gray days of winter is the cyclamen, often given as a gift at the holidays and blooming for several months. This member of the primrose family speaks of love and tenderness in the language of flowers, its stems bending to the ground symbolizing maternal love and often referencing nativity, with its bowed head, as Mary humbly accepted her role in the life of Jesus, as well as her sorrow.

A Jewish legend says that King Solomon, searching for the perfect design for his crown, accepted this as a symbol of humility before God. He compared its petals to the gazelle’s horns, the symbol of the children of Israel. This plant, along with the columbine (BGC’s club flower) was one of the flowers of choice for Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) who painted its image in the margins of his manuscripts. In Japan, it is the holy flower of love. It was believed to cure earaches during the Renaissance since the leaves have the shape of an ear. Numerous stories, legends, and beliefs about cyclamens have evolved over the centuries, but it is enough that it brings so much pleasure to so many people throughout the world. 

The public is invited to attend all BGC regular meetings, and there is no guest fee. Meetings are held on the 2nd floor of the Barrington Public Library, which is accessible by elevator, and open to the public at 1:00 PM. There will be no regular meeting in December, but a January meeting is set for Tuesday, January 16, when the program topic will be soil regeneration. For more information about attending meetings or becoming a club member, send an email to BarringtonRIGardenClub@gmail.com.