Glastonbury, CT May 2023

HEALTH + WELLNESS

TONI STRONG, OF STRONG FAMILY WELLNESS

Happy Mother’s Day!

Welcome to May, the month of flowers and Mother’s Day. In recognition of all the moms out there, May is also the Ladies’ Issue here at Glastonbury Lifestyle Magazine. This month we have several stories that recognize the accomplishments, hard work and inspirational stories of several women in our community.

Our cover subject this month is Toni Strong. Toni and her husband, Earl Strong, live in South Glastonbury and operate a business together, Strong Family Wellness. As the name implies their business is a holistic health, weight loss, and fitness company that focuses on both mental and physical wellness to achieve a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

We also have a story about Marria Pooya, the visionary owner and CEO of Greenwich Medical Spa, which has several medical aesthetics operations around the state, including one here in Glastonbury that opened last year. Marria is a passionate advocate for women and girls and she supports, both financially and with her time, many nonprofits that represent female wellness, independence and education.

In our “Inspired By” feature this month we spoke with Elizabeth and Timothy Emory. Each of them has lived in Glastonbury for many years and in 2021 took on the battle of their lives after Elizabeth got diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer while she was pregnant. Their odyssey led them to become ardent supporters of the American Red Cross and they host an annual blood drive here each June.

If you’re looking for inspiration of the design kind, we have a story about Kathryn Hunt, who operates Kathryn Hunt Studio, a firm that provides comprehensive, whole-home design strategies for those building a new house or renovating an existing one. Check out her photos of a whole-home makeover she completed at a Long Island property recently.

Need help with ideas on what to do for the Mom this year? We have a story this month on memorable ways to celebrate with the Mom or mother figure in your life, including inviting her to a high tea lunch.

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Glastonbury Lifestyle and that you have a Happy Mother’s Day!

GARY PERRELLI, PUBLISHER @GLASTONBURYLIFESTYLE

May 2023

PUBLISHER

Gary Perrelli | gary.perrelli@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Eileen McNamara eileen.mcnamara@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Jill Barry | jill.barry@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian Ambrose, Britt Eddy Photography, Danielle Hunter, Conor Harrigan Photography, David Benthal,Melanie Lust, Jacklyn Greenburg

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

Let’s

• Urgent appointments available for infections and fractures.

• Comprehensive foot and ankle care.

• Conservative management of foot and ankle conditions.

• Surgical management of foot and ankle conditions.

• Minimally invasive surgical management of foot and ankle conditions.

• Minimally invasive Bunionectomy.

Common Issues:

Hammertoe Correction / Warts

Athletes’ Foot + Fungal Toenails

Foot + Ankle Fractures / Heel Pain

Ulcerations + Wounds

Gout / Ingrown Toenails

What makes this procedure better than traditional bunion surgery?

1. Smaller, more cosmetically appealing scar

2. Less pain post operatively

3. Walking recovery

4. No decrease in range of motion of the big toe joint

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

1-7: The CT River Valley Chamber recently held its Business After Hours for First World Mortgage. Photography by Brian Ambrose

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @glastonburylifestyle

8-10: The CT River Valley Chamber held a ribbon cutting for Thread by Thread Boutique. 11-14: Webster Bank recently sponsored the WAVES Women's Networking Event at Rooftop 120.

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Local Design Firm Develops Brand for Eyecare Business

Glastonbury graphic design firm Hunter Design Studio, led by Danielle Hunter, is developing a new brand for TotalVision Eyecare at 63 Hebron Ave. Owner Dr. David Cartwright wanted a brand that paid tribute to his time in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, below the Kibo Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Keep your eye out for Kibo Eyecare’s new signage in the coming months.Visit hunterdesignstudio.co for more information on the company's services.

Junk Bear Wins Industry Leader Award

Junk Bear, the company that provides clean out and hauling services, has won the 2023 Southington Chamber of Commerce's Industry Leader of the Year Award. "We are honored and humbled to be the recipients of this award and for being recognized for our entrepreneurial efforts and dedication to taking Junk Bear from a side hustle to a wholly operating company. The praise should be spread throughout the entire team of BEARS!" Visit Junk-bear.com for information.

Scan to read more.

Baribault Jewelers Hosts Charity Event For Police

Baribault Jewelers of Glastonbury  hosted a daylong charity event that benefitted the Bristol Police Heroes Fund. It featured complimentary coffee and doughnuts, photo opportunities with local police officers and a limited supply of the exclusive, popular “Thin Blue Line” bracelets sold at Baribault, of which 100 percent of proceeds supports the Heroes Fund. The event raised $6,500 for the families of fallen officers. Visit lbcbristol.org/ heroes or Baribaultjewelers.com for information.

Photography Danielle Hunter Photography Provided

Photography Provided

Level Up Automation Holds Ribbon Cutting

The CT River Valley Chamber welcomed Level Up Automation with a ribbon cutting at the company's Vernon showroom. Level Up offers high speed networks, automated lighting, custom home theaters, shades, audio, video, security, smart energy solutions and more. Their state of the art Level Up Automation Experience showroom brings excellence to home automation in design, education, and hands-on demonstration experience. Visit Levelupautomationct.com for information.

Red Fox Steakhouse Joins Local Chamber

The CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Red Fox Prime Steakhouse to our business community with a ribbon cutting and samples of some of their AMAZING food! The restaurant recently opened in the Glen Lochen Mall on New London Turnpike. Owners Zumra and Fico Cecunjanin also operate the Bone In Steakhouse in Cheshire and the Red Fox Restaurant & Bar in Middletown. Redfox-glasstonbury.com for more information.

Greenwich Medical Spa Introduces The Generator

Greenwich Medical Spa, located at 140 Glastonbury Blvd., has introduced a groundbreaking treatment that exponentially reduces healing and increases collagen rejuvenation. The Generator is known as a “supercharger” that patients may add onto many of the most popular skin and laser treatments. It is the most cutting-edge scientific biotech breakthrough for skin rejuvenation and regeneration in years. Greenwichmedicalspa.com for more information.

Photography Brian Ambrose Photography

Photography Brian Ambrose Photography Provided

New Seasons Owner Joins Alzheimer's of CT

Liz Cornish, owner of New Season

In Life attended the Alzheimer’s breakfast and is a new member of the Alzheimer's of CT Walk to End Alzheimer's. Liz is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is passionate about helping people and families with dementia live their best lives. For more information visit Newseasoninlife.com.

Wolfworks Transitions to Worker Cooperative

The design/build architectural firm Wolfworks is now a Worker Cooperative, meaning employees have the opportunity to own a share of the company. Jamie Wolf, Janet Downey, and Kyle Cruz are now the shared owners of Wolfworks. Wolfworks is a mission driven company of architects and builders working together as one to design, build, and remodel environmentally responsible homes powered by the sun. Visit Homesthatfit.com for more information.

Glastonbury Historical Society Seeks Ukraine Stories

The Glastonbury Historical Society has undertaken research to seek out the history of the Ukrainian community here. "We hope you will share photos, stories and objects for an upcoming exhibit in the museum." For information visit HSGCT.org

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Glastonbury

ARTICLE BY EILEEN M. MCNAMARA PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Inspired By: Glastonbury's Elizabeth Emory

DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER WHILE PREGNANT, SHE AND HER HUSBAND NOW HOST AN ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE

Like any first-time mom, Elizabeth Emory wasn’t alarmed when she started feeling ill during her first trimester in early 2021.

“I didn’t really know what to expect, I was very sick with morning sickness and I was just kind of getting over that when I had this onset of strange symptoms, like back pain,” says Elizabeth, a cardiac RN for Middlesex Hospital. “Over a two-week period, I was in an immense amount of pain and I went to the ER a couple of times and they thought maybe it was my sciatica.”

But after a CAT-scan and then an MRI, the tests showed something far worse: a tumor in her abdomen. At a time when she should have been reveling in the joys of her first pregnancy, Elizabeth instead got the devastating diagnosis that she had a Stage 4 rare blood cancer called Burkitt’s Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

The diagnosis meant that Elizabeth would spend the remainder of her pregnancy in and out of hospitals, undergoing intensive chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Every 21 days she underwent weeklong hospital inpatient treatments. Doctors had to design a special chemotherapy mixture that would

“We feel very strongly about getting people to donate at any blood drive, not just our drive.” - Elizabeth Emory

Elizabeth Emory during one of her inpatient chemotherapy treatments.

Tim, Elizabeth and Hannah Emory.

Tim Emory with his daughter, Hannah

A homecoming held for Elizabeth Emory

kill the cancer cells in Elizabeth’s blood, while protecting her baby from the toxic chemicals.

At 36 weeks doctors induced her and her daughter, Hannah, was born, “happy and healthy,” Elizabeth says. “Luckily all of the chemotherapy drugs that I needed don’t pass through the placenta so none of them affected Hannah.”

Shortly after, she had to return to the hospital for two more intense chemotherapy treatments that she couldn’t undergo while she was pregnant.

Because the cancer was in her blood, part of her treatment plan included several blood transfusions.

“This was at some of the worst times of Covid and blood was so scarce you really had to be in a dire situation to even get it,” says Tim Emory, Elizabeth’s husband.

“The American Red Cross was just coming back from Covid and many Covid patients needed transfusions as part of their treatment,” says Elizabeth. “So the national supply of blood was critically low. And it wasn’t just me who needed the blood, it was the baby, too.”

Her medical team was able to qualify Elizabeth to get all of the blood she needed. In June of 2021, doctors declared her cancer-free and she has remained so since then. This June she and Tim will celebrate Elizabeth’s second year of being cancer free.

The life-saving blood Elizabeth got during her treatment, she and Tim say, made them keenly aware of how important it is to donate blood and it’s why the couple now works with the American Red Cross to raise awareness of blood donating.

“I was trying to think of a way to make something good out of an overall terrible thing that had happened so I thought it would be a great opportunity to host a blood drive,” Elizabeth says. “I now know the power of blood donations.”

“Sitting there first hand and seeing her get a blood transfusion, seeing that go into her body and knowing that she needed that blood to live, it put a face to what the impact of blood donating is,” Tim adds. “I know first-hand how impactful that is.”

Tim, a commercial treasury officer for Bank of America,  and Elizabeth have lived here since 2014, and now host an annual blood drive in town each June. During the blood drive the couple hosted last year they collected 54 units of blood.  The next drive will be June 22, at the Irish American Home Society, 132 Commerce St.

There will be 79 donation appointments available, but the couple stresses that there are many other places to donate blood in the region at any given time and anyone wishing to do so can visit RedCross.org.

“We feel very strongly about getting people to donate at any blood drive, not just our drive,” Elizabeth says.

“We want to promote awareness and get people donating,” Tim adds. “There’s plenty of opportunity, even just here in Glastonbury.”

Tim, Elizabeth and Hannah Emory.

Lifesaver gift bag at one of the Emory’s blood drives.

LOOK FORWARD TO LIFE WITH MORE PROMISE.

Embrace a future of friendship, engagement and purpose when you make the move to Covenant Living. Enjoy a beautiful residence and fabulous amenities like gourmet dining, a fitness center, game room and state-of-the-art movie theatre. Look forward to a more secure future and the peace of mind you’ll only find in a continuing care retirement community like ours.

Covenant Living Communities & Services does not discriminate pursuant to the Federal Fair Housing Act.

KATHRYN HUNT STUDIO

The designer specializes in high-end new home construction and renovation

With more than 16 years of experience in the design industry and dozens of turnkey projects under her belt, Kathryn Hunt recently turned her focus to new projects in the Hartford region.

The principal and founder of Kathryn Hunt Studio, the West Hartford-based designer specializes in high-end new home construction and renovation.

Kathryn Hunt

We sat down with Kathryn recently to talk about her services, her design philosophy and how important it is to work with a designer when building a new home or renovating an existing one.

Q. WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE?

A. I’ve always loved art, even as a child, and I was introduced to the world of interior design by my father, who is a custom home builder. I studied history and architecture in Florence, Italy after graduating college and I worked for a few designers in New York City. I then moved on to designing textile showrooms and was selected to design a wedding event space so I launched my own design business in 2015.  Since then the company has expanded and we’ve worked on dozens of residential and boutique commercial projects throughout New England, in NYC,  the Hamptons, Catskills, Nassau County, Fairfield County, and Litchfield. We have the capabilities to work on projects nation wide.

ARTICLE BY EILEEN M. MCNAMARA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONOR HARRIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY, DAVID BENTHAL

“Our philosophy is to deliver the highest quality and functional design to help our clients lead a more effortless lifestyle.”

Kathryn Hunt

Kathryn Hunt recently designed the interior of this home on Long Island's North Shore that was completely renovated.

Q. WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?

A. We provide interior design and project management services, and we specialize in working with clients who are building a new home or undertaking a total renovation of a home. The process of building or renovating an entire home can be overwhelming.  We listen to our client’s needs and provide vision, organization, and facilitation to make the process easier for them.  I work directly with architects, builders, and the homeowner and we generally get involved from the beginning stages.  We want to start to tell the story of the home before the plans are even drafted.  We then help plan the interior details, materials selection, lighting, etc and we also furnish the home. Delivering Turn Key projects is one of our main services that we offer, where we deliver a fully furnished home and the client has hand selected everything inside.  The result is truly a dream for our clients.

Q. WHAT’S A TYPICAL PROJECT PROFILE FOR KATHRYN HUNT STUDIO?

A. Our clients are typically residential homeowners who are looking to redo their interiors or are in the beginning stages of planning their construction projects. Alternatively, we are often referred by the builder or architect because we organize the project and that helps everyone involved, and we also have some experience in boutique commercial spaces and wedding event spaces. We have been doing more work for sustainability and our Litchfield County project is an energy Net Zero home that was built for generational living.  It offers a beautiful home for a young family and a wing for their in-laws to age in place. We worked closely with the architect to make sure the interiors met certain energy and sustainability requirements.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?

A. Our philosophy is to deliver the highest quality and functional design to help our clients lead a more effortless lifestyle.

The study in the Long Island home whose interior was designed by Kathryn Hunt.

We collaborate with our clients and team and provide our organizational processes, beautiful and realistic visuals, and our relationships with our trade vendors to execute our design plan.  We really enjoy what we do, we love creating beautiful spaces that make people happy. Our clients often come to us and say “I don’t even know where to start.’”  Or sometimes people come to us with a very specific look and we take direction from that. We’re very good at knowing how to guide our clients with their designs and decorating projects, regardless of whether they’re looking for input on where to start or they have a specific design in mind and want help in executing it. By the time we complete a project, we have gotten to know the client and their families very well!

Q. WHAT ARE SOME DESIGN/HOME TRENDS THAT YOU’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW?

A. Bringing color into the home is currently trending. More people are asking for colorful kitchens and more sustainable, organic materials than before. As a designer, we appreciate that this offers more variety to design.

Q. WHAT GOES INTO GOOD DESIGN?

A.  Lots of planning. We listen to what our client’s needs are and set realistic plans and goals for the project.  We believe good design can be achieved at any budget with the right amount of planning. We provide a variety of services for both clients and assist other trades.  We can help clients through smaller renovation projects such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, renovations or additions, or delivering a full home from an architectural plan to a “turn key” walk in ready furnished home.  And we can assist the trade (builders, developers, architects) through a variety of services such as project estimating, procurement, specifications, and general project organization.

Kathryn Hunt Studio 631-240-3871

970 Farmington Ave., West Hartford Online: Kathrynhuntstudio.com

Visit her on Facebook or Instagram: @Kathrynhuntstudio

The foyer in the Long Island Home designed by Kathryn Hunt.

The newly designed Long Island home’s living room.

The home’s new kitchen.

Our Philosophy

Marria Pooya

The visionary CEO of Greenwich Medical Spa is Working to Empower Women

ARTICLE BY EILEEN M MCNAMARA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELANIE LUST, JACKLYN GREENBURG

As a young girl, Marria Pooya learned an important life lesson.

“I realized as a teenager that as a woman, being financially independent and educated is empowering and often intertwined. Life can take away a lot from you but not your knowledge. When you’re financially independent, you’re more empowered to do more of what you want to do and you’re in greater control of your outcomes. It also makes you more confident.”

That epiphany, born from her upbringing as a girl in a male-dominated culture in Afghanistan, is what still

guides Marria today, personally and professionally. A former Wall Street analyst, she’s the owner and CEO of Greenwich Medical Spa, one the most successful chains of medical aesthetic spas in the nation, with six locations in Connecticut - including Glastonbury, and West Hartford. GMS also has locations in New York and is opening another in New Jersey this summer.

Marria is a passionate advocate for women and girls and has leveraged her successes to support, both financially and with her time, a myriad of organizations that represent female health, wellness, independence and education.

Marria Pooya

GMS supporting AWARE CT and HER TIME

GMS supporting Sandy Cassanelli and her organization Breast Friends Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness

Marria and Babak Pooya

Some of those include Pink Aid, The Olive Branch, The Breast Friends Fund, Dress for Success, Blossom Hill, Girls With Impact, and the Fund for Women and Girls, to name a few.

“Since launching GMS, she and her company have actively participated in and donated more than $300,000 to various charitable organizations and events with an emphasis on empowering women, youth, and vulnerable populations,” the group Pink Aid said in a statement. “Marria, has been a committed supporter and an active member of Pink Aid since 2018 in various roles, including Board member.”

Marria was born in Afghanistan and came to the U.S. with her mother and other family members when she was nine. During that time civil war broke out in Afghanistan and Marria’s father, who remained in Afghanistan operating the family business, asked his family to remain in the U.S. while he figured out how things would play out at home.

“That turned out to be five years,” Marria says. She returned to Afghanistan as a teenager but, due to increasing violence, within a few years, the entire family moved back to the U.S.

Marria finished school here, graduating from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Business. She lives in Westport with her husband, Babak Pooya, general counsel for a global investment bank. The couple has two children, their daughter Arianna, a student at NYU, and their son Omeed, a senior in high school.

She started Greenwich Med Spa in 2005. She says she’d always been fascinated by the

beauty industry (she previously founded Traffic Jam Cosmetics, a global line) and was looking for a way to make an impact in her community by helping women become more confident in how they look and feel.

GMS’s vision and overall mission, she says, aligns well with her own personal goals of helping and empowering women and minorities.

From its patients to its employees and the broader communities where it operates, GMS provides women (and men) of all ages and ethnicities the tools to improve how they look and feel -  a proven confidence booster that empowers them in many different ways, Marria says.

“For our patients, we impact them by making them feel better every day. They’re more confident and we’re helping to create that wonderful impact. Some people say looks don’t matter or are vanity, but that ignores the idea that how we perceive ourselves, including our appearances, can influence how we feel about ourselves and thus our confidence and mindset. There’s always been a connection there for many people across cultures and geography.”

GMS also seeks to empower its employees, most of whom are women and from many diverse backgrounds, with significant annual investments in them, including through continuing education, training and employment opportunities and advancement.

“My goal is that all of our employees are ultimately financially independent and successful so that they are able to do more of what they want to do, for themselves and their communities.”

For information visit: Greenwichmedicalspa.com

“I realized as a teenager that as a woman, being financially independent and educated is empowering. Life can take a lot from you, but not your knowledge."  Marria Pooya

For

L-R, Arianna, Omeed, Babak and Marria Pooya

Top: Marria Pooya

Bottom Right: GMS supports local women who take part in the Courage is Confidence campaign.

Strong Family Wellness

TONI AND EARL STRONG OPERATE A HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS BUSINESS

ARTICLE BY EILEEN M. MCNAMARA PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITT EDDY PHOTOGRAPHY

At Strong Family Wellness owners Toni and Earl Strong have developed a comprehensive and multi-layered holistic wellness program tailored to each unique individual and they do so with a simple philosophy: “Wellness, mental and physical, is a way of life that allows you to lose weight and remain fit all your life.”

The couple, who have two children, moved their family and business from Boston to South Glastonbury two years ago because they wanted to grow both their family and Strong Family Wellness within a small-town community.

The business provides holistic weight solutions centered around wellness, both physical and mental, Toni says.

“We work with people who want to make permanent and sustainable lifestyle changes that can lead to physical and emotional wellness and permanent weight

loss,” she says. “What sets Strong Family Wellness apart is its holistic approach. We recognize that wellness is not just about physical health but also about mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.”

Toni and Earl, a husband-and-wife team, are both wellness experts in their own right. Earl is a professional weight loss trainer, motivational and mindset coach, and was hired by NBC network’s, “The Biggest Loser” to train Brendan Donovan for the take-home prize of 100k in season 10. Toni, on the other hand, is a life coach, yoga instructor, nutrition advisor, and birth doula. Together, they merged their expertise and businesses to create Strong Family Wellness, a holistic wellness and weight loss practice that promotes physical health and mental well-being.

“We bring our combined expertise in fitness, nutrition, mindset, yoga, and life coaching to create a one-stop-shop for busy parents and others seeking to improve their overall wellness. By prioritizing wellness, busy parents and others can lose weight, get fit, and make it last,” Toni says.

What sets their wellness company apart from others, Toni adds, is its unique and individual approach and its successes. The company has a 90 percent referral rate and most of their clients lose 20 to 30 pounds within the first few months, and keep it off.

“We work with people who lose up to 100 pounds, people who want to make permanent lifestyle changes. Because that’s what weight loss is really all about, making lifestyle changes.

The Strong family.

If you don’t, it won’t be sustainable.  When you start to see that you can trust yourself and start believing in yourself and you’ll see that you can start losing weight and change your life.”

“The company particularly focuses on parents,” she adds.

“Our area of speciality is busy parents, people who put children first, especially mothers, and have gained weight.”

The company’s virtual programs include a proprietary app where clients get meal plans, personal training, life coaching and daily wellness check-ins. There’s also a private Facebook community just for clients.

“When you sign on we do a three-month transformation wellness plan, we give you a customized movement and training plan. You’ll get a customized meal plan and you’ll get customized wellness programming.” In addition to the customized meal plans and personal training plans, Strong Family Wellness also provides clients with a range of wellness programming options, including intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is a popular weight loss approach that involves cycling between periods of fasting and non-fasting. The idea behind intermittent fasting is that it can help individuals reduce their overall caloric intake, which can lead to weight loss over time.

“Some people work on journaling, meditation or personal development. We also do vision boards and we cover goal-setting. We have some people who check in daily with us to talk about their goals and achievements. The reason our clients do so well is because they have access to us every day.”

“The net effect of all that,” Toni adds, “is a strong community of people who share the same goals and support one another.”

“At Strong Family Wellness, the coaching programs are designed to meet the unique needs of each individual or family. Whether it’s losing weight, reducing stress, healing injuries, improving performance, or creating a healthier home environment, we believe that wellness is a journey that should be sustainable and enjoyable. We provide ongoing support and encouragement to our clients, creating a community of like-minded individuals who share the same passion for wellness and personal growth.”

Online: Strongfamilywellness.com

Email: Bewell@strongfamilywellness.com

On Facebook and Instagram: @strongfamilywellness

Phone: 917-676-3276

781-801-8792

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Planting Spring Flowers

Helpful tips for planting spring flowers

Sun-Loving Plants:

Spring is here! We compiled a list of flowers that - depending on your planting zone - can be planted in the season.

Plumbago

Has beautiful dark blue or white flowers on a large shrub of 3 to 5 feet. This tends to freeze down in winter and comes back from roots in the spring.

Hibiscus

The tropical variety will not survive the winters so move those pots inside. The plant can get up to 5 feet tall and there are many different colors and varieties. The perennial varieties will freeze to the ground but come back in the spring. The variety Moy Grande is known as the dinner plate hibiscus. The Texas star hibiscus has beautiful flowers in red or white.

Bougainvillea

These colorful plants can be planted in baskets and pots, not in water-logged or low areas where water might collect. They will grow best when given enough space to spread out, and should be planted in an area that will allow them a minimum of 5-6 hours of sunlight every day. Colors include orange, pink, purple, white, red, tangerine and fuschia to name a few.

Purslane

This is great in baskets for trailing leaves with lots of colors. The bees love it!

Butterfly Weed

This 3 to 4-foot bush is a must for monarch lovers. Monarchs feed on the leaves before making their cocoons. It has beautiful orange and yellow flowers.

Lantana

This is a great hot weather plant that comes in many colors and varieties. Trailing varieties only get about 1 foot tall but can get 3 to 4 feet wide. There are bush varieties that get 4 feet tall and dwarf bushes only get about 2 feet tall. It comes in yellows, purples, reds, oranges, pinks, fuschia, and many others.

Greggs Blue Mist

This fuzzy light blue flower is a butterfly favorite.

Pentas

This is another bee and butterfly favorite that grows about 10 to 12 inches tall. There is a graffiti variety in different colors that works in beds or pots.

Vinca/Periwinkle

This plant comes in upright or trailing varieties. There are many colors to choose from: lavender, white with a red center, peach, white and red pink to strawberry.

Sages

There are many varieties of sage. The Texas sage is a shrub that has beautiful lavender flowers - a favorite for bees. They usually bloom around the time it rains. Henry Duelberg variety is a smaller bush 18 to 20 inches tall with blue stalks of blooms. Russian Sage is a tall silver lacey foliage with light blue flower spikes and grows to 4 feet tall. Deer tend to stay away from most of the sages.

ARTICLE BY LORI HAWKINS

Shade-Loving Plants:

Turk’s Cap

This plant makes a large bush of red or pink flowers. It has low water needs once established and can tolerate drought conditions and hot temperatures. Prune back plant in winter if it gets too leggy.

Impatiens

These need more water than most other plants and come in many colors. They are valued for their vibrant colors, abundant blooms, and tolerance for shade.

Caladiums

With lush multicolored leaves, many larger than the palm of your hand, caladiums have become one of the most popular foliage plants for shady or semi-shady gardens—with many recent introductions being sun tolerant.

CREATING ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS THAT ENHANCE AND COMPLEMENT ORIGINAL DESIGN

Make an Impact for Mom

Memorable ways to celebrate the mother figure in your life

The moms and the mother figures in our lives mean everything to us. They deserve the best every day, of course. But at least one day out of the year, we get to shower them with the same love and thoughtfulness they give to us so selflessly.

This year, we hope you’ll consider some memorable ways to make lasting memories with the mom or mother figure in your life. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Mom feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your mom, wife, sister or maternal figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Take a Flower Arranging Class Mother’s Day arrives just as spring is in full bloom. Take advantage of the season by going to a flower arranging class with mom.

Play a Family Board Game

If Mom likes strategizing, challenge her to a friendly board game competition. (And, no, you don’t have to let her win just because it’s Mother’s Day.)

Pick Your Own Fruit

This activity is especially fun if you have a lot of kids who want to get in on the action. Then, when you all get home, you can whip up a treat for Mom with your selections. (Maybe give her a strawberry in a Champagne glass while she waits.)

Book Her a Weekend Away

There’s no day like Mother’s Day to be impulsive! Book a weekend trip for the two of you at a cute B&B in a city Mom has always wanted to visit.

Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle

Find a puzzle with an image you know your mom will love (or make a custom one using a photo of the two of you) and put it together over wine and snacks. You’ll be amazed at how much chatting you can get done while puzzling.

Get Theater Tickets

Go to a play or a musical — lots of towns even host outdoor theater events.

Invite Her To High Tea

Whether you make the brews and treats yourself or head out to an official tea house, Mom will love sipping her beverage out of fancy china and snacking on tea sandwiches.

As local Comparion Insurance agents, nothing makes us happier than helping our friends and neighbors choose the best insurance coverage to fit their needs.

Whether you need auto, home, life, pet, umbrella, or more, we offer insurance options from many carriers and can match you with the best policies.

MAY 1ST

Meditation for Beginners

WELLES TURNER MEMORIAL

LIBRARY, 2407 MAIN ST. | 6:30 PM Join Ryan Cronin of the Odiyana Center in Glastonbury to learn practical advice about the potential of our mind for developing inner peace and positive qualities. No experience needed. The purpose of meditation is to make the mind peaceful and calm. Visit Wtmlib.info for registration and information.

MAY 5TH

Watkinson School Hosts Information Session

WATKINSON SCHOOL, 180 BLOOMFIELD AVE., HARTFORD | 9:00 AM

Watkinson will host an info session beginning at 9 a.m. with registration and refreshments. Meet with faculty and school leaders, tour our 40acre campus, see classes in session and hear from a panel of current students. For additional information session dates visit the school's admissions page at Watkinson.org/ visit. Info sessions are held monthly.

MAY 5TH

The Laurel Canyon Band: A Tribute to CSNY

THE LITTLE THEATRE OF MANCHESTER, 177 HARTFORD ROAD | 7:00 PM

Laurel Canyon is an acoustic tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, featuring recreations of their seminal works as well as songs from their early bands and solo years. The group consists of Grammy Award winning writer/producer Mark Hudson, Hall of Fame Songwriter Gary

Burr, and singer/songwriter Mark Mirando. Tickets are $25-$42. Visit  Cheneyhall.org/laurel-canyon for tickets and information.

MAY 5TH

Chester First Friday Art Stroll

LEIF NILSSON SPRING STREET

STUDIO AND GALLERY, 1 SPRING ST., CHESTER | 5:00 PM

Join artist Leif Nilsson for a book talk and signing with local author Timothy E. Haut about his book, “A Deep River Year.” BYOB from Chester Package store or Little House Brewing, and a snack from a village restaurant and come enjoy paintings of Leif’s home and travels in the gallery. Visit Nilssonstudio.com for information.

MAY 6TH

Historical Society of Glastonbury Announces May Events

GREEN CEMETERY, 99

HUBBARD ST. | 9:30 AM

HSG will offer tours May 6 and 9 of Green Cemetery's historic section at 9:30 a.m. On May 13, the society will host Tavern Night at the Welles-Chapman Tavern, 2400 Main St. at 5 p.m., featuring a hearth-made meal.  May 20 HSG will host Step Back in Time for kids at the Welles-Shipman-Ward House. Info: email julie.thompson. hsg@gmail.com or visit Hsgct.org.

MAY 10TH

Estate Planning & Probate Courts

ST. JAMES’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 2584 MAIN ST. | 7:00 PM

The Rev. Dr. Donald Hamer, Associate Priest at St. James’ and former Probate Court judge for Glastonbury, will provide basic information and a blueprint for sorting through the complexities of estate planning and the probate process, including wills, trusts, guardianship of minor children, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, etc., and the requirements of the probate process. Email  parishadmin@stjamesgl .org for information.

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MAY 11TH

St. Clements Hosts Denim and Diamonds Fundraiser

ST. CLEMENTS CASTLE 1931

PORTLAND COBALT ROAD, PORTLAND | 5:00 PM

MARC Community Resources is excited to hold its premier annual fundraiser. It will once again be held at the historic Saint Clements Castle. Thanks to Sammy Buy Rite Liquors, the tasting event will feature over 20 wine, beer, and spirit distributors.  More than 300 guests attend the event each year. Email Lori.lodge@marc-cr.org for information.

MAY 12TH

Ballet Hartford Hosts Spring Performances and Events

ECOSPACE, 224 FARMINGTON AVE., HARTFORD | 6:30 PM

Ballet Hartford hosts its spring performance of  Peter and the Wolf on May 12. On Sunday, May 14, the ballet hosts a  Mother's Day Brunch and Ballet at Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth St., Middletown. On Friday, May 19, the company again presents Peter and the Wolf, at the University of St. Joseph, Autorino Center, Hartford, at 6 p.m. Visit  ballethartford.com.

MAY 20TH

Touch a Truck Fundraiser

GIDEON WELLES SCHOOL, 1029 NEIPSIC ROAD | 10:00 AM

The Glastonbury Exchange Club hosts its 10th Annual Touch A Truck fundraiser from at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, kids under 2 get in free. All proceeds go back into the community to fund scholarships, youth programs, and more. Visit Glastexchange.com/touchatruck for information or call 860-833-0095.

EVENTS CONTINUED

MAY 21ST

A Taste of the Farm Fundraiser

KILLAM & BASSETTE

FARMSTEAD, 14 TRYON ST. | 1:00 PM

Join Killam & Bassette Farmstead from 1-4 p.m. for an afternoon of farm fresh flavors, live music, hayrides, live animals and kids’ events. Get a taste of the farm at this free. Farmstead purchases will be 20 percent off and all sales will benefit the Judy Lynch Memorial Scholarship Fund for local students. Call or text 860-833-0095 for more information.

MAY 27TH

The Big Sing

RIVERFRONT COMMUNITY CENTER, 300 WELLES ST. | 12:00 PM

Join Dr. Uke and the band at their in-person performances! Sing along with them as the words are projected on the large screen. The program is free and no registration is required. For questions or information call The Riverfront Community Center at 860-652-7638.

JUNE 5TH

Connecticut River Valley 8th Annual Golf Tournament

GLASTONBURY HILLS

COUNTRY CLUB, 239 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD | 11:00 AM

Join the CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce for its 8th Annual Golf Tournament, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tournament is leisurely outdoor networking at its finest. Join us for a full day of golf complete with lunch, snacks, after event appetizers and beverage holes. Tickets are $200 per person or $725 per foursome. Visit  crvchamber.org/ events , for information.

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