WEDDINGS

Love Travels from Connecticut to Vermont

Many, if not most, weddings can be described as ‘family affairs.’ But the wedding of West Hartford natives Caitlin McNally Kearns Scully to Daniel Fitzgerald Scully brought the meaning of ‘family affair’ to a whole new level.

One might say that it all started with Caitlin’s parents, Drew and Maura Kearns, who met while students at Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford.

The bride’s grandfather, Jim McNally, resides at the McAuley in West Hartford. He celebrated his 89th birthday in Vermont with his family two days before the wedding.

The groom’s parents, Jack and Carol Scully, who live in Amston, and his grandfather, Willard Skehan, who lives in Hebron — aren’t without West Hartford ties of their own. Like Kaitlin’s parents, Jack Scully grew up in West Hartford, where he attended Northwest Catholic High School. Dan’s mother, Carol, grew up in East Hartford, and attended East Catholic High School.

And that isn’t where the ties end. Indeed, Dan and Caitlin have lived parallel lives. Dan’s grandparents lived on one side of Rockledge Golf Course — and Caitlin’s grandparents lived on the other side. The families were great friends — with all of their children classmates at St. Brigid School and Northwest Catholic High School.

What’s more, the Kearns and the Scullys took part in a timeshare in Ludlow, Vermont — and Caitlin and Dan grew up vacationing at that very same house…at different times. Although their families remained connected over the years, it wasn’t until Caitlin and Dan spent time at the Vermont timeshare in late 2016 and over New Year’s Eve 2017, that they officially became a couple.

Dan proposed to Caitlin on August 7, 2020, the first day of what would have been her annual family reunion in Vermont. Unfortunately, the trip was postponed due to the pandemic, but Dan would not — could not — wait. And so, the couple drove down to Groton Long Point for a run on the beach, where Dan popped the all-important question.

The couple were married on October 16, 2021, at Church of the Annunciation, Roman Catholic parish in Ludlow, Vermont, with Fr. Joseph Crowley officiating. It was followed by a joyful evening of dinner and dancing, with a stunning view of the New England fall foliage as a backdrop, at The Castle Resort & Spa in Ludlow.

“It was only fitting that [we] went back to where it all began with [our] family and friends to tie the knot,” says Caitlin.

“It was so special having all of our guests stay together right in the hotel or condos on the property of our reception. The Castle staff was also just amazing, helping us every step of the way to ensure our dream day,” says Caitlin, noting that her maternal grandparents traditionally celebrated their anniversary at The Castle each year.

Cailin and Dan Scully

Caitlin’s grandfather, Jim McNally, who resides at the McAuley in West Hartford and celebrated his 89th birthday two days before the wedding, stole the show at the wedding when he danced with his granddaughter to the song “My Wild Irish Rose.”

The wedding party (Back Row From left): Ben Lankton, Jessica Lowe, Katherine Roy, T.J. DiFiore, Nicole DiFiore, Nico DeNovellis, Laura Plourde, Mac Kearns, Michelle Calabro, Nick Rowan, Maura Scully, Dan Scully, Caitlin Kearns Scully, Maeve Kearns, Garrett Hickey, Maura Graham, Shane Kearns, Tasha Nicholson, Scott Kelleher, Alyssa Valente, Michael Jablonski.

Caitlin, who grew up in West Hartford where she attended Northwest Catholic High School — the rival of Dan’s alma mater, East Catholic High School — holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Connecticut. She serves as a pediatric physical therapist at Cheshire Fitness Zone, working in both the school and outpatient settings.

Raised in Hebron, Dan attended Hartford’s Trinity College and then went on to attend Columbia Business School where he earned an MBA. He recently joined the Georgetown Company in New York City as vice president of real estate investments. Prior to this, he had worked for The Hartford financial services group and UBS Realty Investors in Hartford.

The happy couple enjoyed a dream honeymoon that started in Sonoma for a two-day tour of the wine country, then headed off for a week in idyllic Tahiti and Bora Bora (sigh!) The honeymoon wrapped up with a couple of days exploring San Francisco before heading home to Connecticut.

Congratulations, Caitlin and Dan!

(Photos by Jenna Brisson, info@jennabrisson. com)

Spring Refresh in the Garden

By Karla A. Dalley

If the last two years have taught us anything, it is that spring will come whether we are ready or not and that it will bring with it the promise of hope, renewal and rebirth in the garden.

So many people turned to gardening during the last two years as a means to cope with the pandemic. During the first year, when everyone was quarantining at home, growing food was popular. But other forms of gardening thrived as well. Flower gardening increased dramatically. House plant sales nearly doubled. And these trends have not shown signs of abating, even though many more of us are able to be out of the house and even traveling.

Since it seems that we have become a nation of gardeners, what are some of the things we should be thinking about doing (or not doing) in the spring garden this year?

One of the most important things is always take time to enjoy the garden.

Spring is the time when much of the “work” needs to be done in the garden—it needs to be cleared of winter debris and broken branches, and planting and weeding must be done.

Sometimes the “to do” list can feel a bit overwhelming, particularly after a winter of not doing any gardening. That’s why it’s most important to enjoy being outside working in the fresh air again, to enjoy feeling the warm sun on your skin (properly protected, of course, with sunscreen or sun protection clothing), and to listen to the birds singing—because the birds are most vocal this time of year as they search for mates and nest.

Each season in the garden brings its own joys. Don’t work so hard that you miss what spring provides!

If you plan to get rid of weeds consider this: Certain beneficial insects, like bumble bees and early butterflies, rely upon “weeds” like violets and clover. While not everyone wants these flowers all over the lawn, perhaps there is a patch in your backyard where you can leave them alone? There’s even a concept called the “freedom lawn,” where you permit no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or over-irrigation on your lawn—but that’s too much to discuss in just a paragraph or two. But if this sounds appealing, let a little back corner of your lawn go a little free and see if you—and the bees and butterflies—like it.

If you are planting or renovating a new bed, be sure to stagger when you buy the perennials or you will have a perennial bed that blooms for 2-3 weeks in the spring and then you will look at greenery for the rest of the summer. Plan the bed so that it is a mix of perennials and blooming shrubs with a longer bloom time, or leave spaces in the bed for perennials that you will add slowly over the course of the summer and fall. That way, your perennial bed will bloom over a period of months, and not just for 2-3 weeks.

Garden design is a complicated topic. Don’t be dismayed! It’s perfectly natural to buy plants and move them around a few times until you get them where you want them—or where they are happy. It’s perfectly okay to buy a plant—or several— and then change your mind about where you want to put it. Gardeners do this all the time. I have redone garden beds 2 or 3 times until I am happy with them.

If you’re not sure where to put a plant when you get it home, leave it in a container until you know. Just be sure to water it because containers dry out much more quickly than plants in the ground. There are some years that I have whole “container” gardens waiting to be planted. I acquire the plants in the spring and I wait until late summer to plant them. I am not suggesting that this is the best practice—it uses too much water—but it can be done.

Finally, make sure to shop at our local garden centers for the best selection and advice. Over the last 10-15 years, Connecticut has lost several large specialty garden centers and nurseries. There are several reasons for this, but partly it is due to the economic downturn which prevented many from shopping at them. And so, if you are able, please support these independent businesses. Many are family owned and rely upon our support.

Spring is finally here! Whatever you do and however you plan to garden, get out and make the most of it!

Happy gardening! n

Karla Dalley lives in West Hartford where she writes and speaks about gardens. She can be reached at kdalley@comcast.net or visit her website at gardendaze. wordpress.com.

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Crabapple of indeterminate origin

Snow Fountain' weeping cherry

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