‘Moss Maven’ is guest speaker at Garden Club meeting

Written by Florence Vannoni
Monday, 15 February 2010 01:00

Christine Cook, the “Moss Maven,” is the guest speaker at the Redding Garden Club’s Monday, Feb. 22, meeting at the Redding Community Center.

Ms. Cook is a lecturer and principal in the landscape design company, Mossaics, which specializes in moss garden design and wildlife habitat restoration. Ms. Cook is certified by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and accredited by the Northeast Organic Farming Association. She currently serves as conservation chairperson for the Connecticut Butterfly Association and is a landscape professional associated with the New England Wild Flower Society.

Her knowledge for this “Lilliputian” evergreen will be used to reveal the importance of moss — from nesting materials for birds to substrate for insects, worms and small mammals. Ms. Cook will provide instructions on what steps to take in establishing and maintaining a moss garden. With a wide variety to choose from (more than 1,500 different species alone can be found in North America), moss can grow in an enormous range of conditions from sun or shade, hot to cold. Ms. Cook encourages anyone to include moss in their landscape design and will welcome questions from the attending audience.

The Redding Garden Club meets monthly and always welcomes guests and potential new members to attend ($4 fee). Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. with a light lunch and business meeting, followed by a specific program at 1. Call 268-3577 if you have questions or need further information or visit the club’s Web site: reddinggardenclub.org.