These first two mailbag items are especially for those of you who love gardening.
The first is a HUGE garden show hosted by the 7th District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, scheduled for Thursday July 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd.
The show, called “A Floral Century,” is celebrating the Federation’s 100 year, and will feature 27 clubs from 12 counties in and around the Rochester area. Among them are the Town of Ontario Garden Club, and Webster’s own Country Gardeners of Webster and Klemwood Garden Club.
The show will feature entries in six horticulture classes (annuals, hostas, perennials, roses, arborials and combination planters); 11 design classes, many of which adhere to special themes like “Vintage,” “Patriotism” and “Rock & Roll; and divisions for education, youth, botanical arts and botanical photography.
The “Floral Century” garden show is Thursday July 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Webster Golf Club, 440 Salt Rd. Admission and parking are free.
Arboretum Walk and Talk: Herbs
The next program in the Webster Arboretum’s Timely Topics Walk and Talk series is coming up in a few weeks, also on July 18.
On Thursday, July 18 at 1:30 p.m., Janet Robert and Beverly Gibson will show and tell about the Arboretum’s outstanding herb garden. Beverly will discuss the origin of the garden and the variety of herbs in each of the six themed beds.
The Arboretum writes,
The garden was originally developed in 1998 and is organized into five pods surrounding a sacred garden. The garden was designed in the shape of a flower and is maintained by Beverly Gibson, a certified arborist and Master Gardener who spent a year researching the plan and implemented the design with the help of Alana Miller.
The plants are separated into groups based on their uses. The six beds are designated as culinary, medicinal, fragrance, Native American and dyes, with a sacred garden at the center. “Herb” is a loose term; if any part of a plant can be used, it is considered an herb. Generally speaking, herbs come from a plant that dies back in winter and is valued for a use. Generally, we think of using the leaves, but we can also use the flowers, stems and roots. Early cultures relied heavily on herbs for medicines, colors and preservatives. Today, we exploit their fragrances, esthetics and culinary features.
This free, educational and lively herb discussion will be held July 18 at 1:30 p.m. at the Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Rd. Visit the Webster Arboretum website to register for this free talk at the Arboretum.
Here are some reminders of upcoming events I’ve already mentioned once or twice:
Geocaching presentation at the Webster Library
On Tuesday July 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Webster Public Library, avid geocacher Gerry Sander will present a talk called Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching.
Here’s the description from the WPL website:
Embark on a modern-day treasure hunt with Geocaching, the ultimate family-friendly adventure! Imagine setting out on a journey armed with just your GPS-enabled device or smartphone, ready to uncover hidden gems tucked away in both urban jungles and remote wilderness.
The adventure begins with accessing coordinates of hidden caches posted online, each waiting to be discovered by intrepid adventurers like yourself. With coordinates in hand, you embark on a quest to find these cleverly concealed containers, ranging from tiny film canisters to larger, more elaborate boxes. As you navigate your way through diverse landscapes, whether it’s a bustling cityscape, a tranquil forest, or a rocky coastline, you become immersed in the thrill of the hunt. Each step brings you closer to the treasure, requiring keen observation, problem-solving skills, and sometimes a bit of physical prowess, to reach the cache’s
Gerry is a veteran geocacher and his presentation will most definitely be interesting and informative. There’s no charge, but registration is required. Click here to do so.
Vintage and Collectible Books Sale
The Friends of the Webster Public Library will hold a Vintage and Collectible Books Sale on Saturday July 13 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
There will be 178 books for sale in various categories including (but not limited to) poetry, war, history, biography and Rochester and Upstate New York, by authors including Carl Sagan, Marc Chagell and Arch Merrill. The sale will also feature authors Pearl S. Buck and A. A. Milne. Prices for some books are as low as $8 and as high as $80 but many are priced in the teens; all prices are fixed and are not negotiable. The Friends will accept major credit cards, checks and (of course) cash. Money raised during the event will benefit the Webster Public Library.
The library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the rear of Webster Plaza.
Caring Community Concerts begin soon
The United Church of Christ‘s Caring Community Concerts series returns in just a few weeks.
These concerts benefit local nonprofit organizations. The first one, scheduled for Wednesday July 10, will feature 8 Days a Week, and proceeds will benefit the Webster Comfort Care Home. (Click the flier for the whole schedule.)
There’s no admission, but each week the church collects a free-will offering benefiting that week’s chosen non-profit organization. The concerts all begin at 6:30 p.m., and food concessions begin at 6. The concerts are held on the United Church of Christ front lawn, at 570 Klem Rd. (In case of rain it’s moved indoors.)
For more information about the concerts, click here.
Music, music, music in the Village of Webster
And mark your calendars for this summer’s Friday night concert series at the gazebo, which begins on July 19 with a performance by 8 Days a Week, followed by the Red Hot and Blue Band on July 26. Also playing this summer are Escape Terrain on August 2, the Ayers Brothers on August 16 and the Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra on August 23.
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(posted 6/29/2024)







