buffalo - ithaca - rochester - syracuse
Maple Sugaring A Love Letter to Cornell 15 Ferns for Every Garden FREE
Volume Eighteen, Issue Two March-April 2012
upstate gardeners’ journal - 3200 east avenue - caledonia, new york 14423
SARA’S GARDEN
Sign Up Now! Container Classes An opportunity to have a whole nursery at your disposal as we teach you the skills and secrets you need to put together the best options for a uniquely designed container. There are 3 dates this spring with a 10 student limit. Porch & Patio Containers 6:00 pm May 16th & 30th, Sessions are $25.00 Hayracks & Window Boxes 6:00 pm May 23rd, Sessions are $30.00 Garden Plots for Rent: 2011 was another sell out season for our vegetable gardens. We add compost, prep the plots and water for you all season — you just come to plant and harvest (oh, and weed too). No easier way to do a veggie garden. Plots are 12 X 16 for $50.00. Stone Wall Follies We will be offering our dry-laid stone wall class and once again we are privileged to have John ShawRimmington and Norman Haddow instructing; Google these guys. This 10 student lim-ited course always sells out; early reservations are recommended. The castle in the garden continues! October 13th & 14th 2 day session, food included, $300.00 For details & reservations on these events, or any other garden related topic call or email Kathy at kkepler@rochester.rr.com or 585-637-4745. 30+ year Mission! It is our greatest desire to provide our customers with top quality, well-grown plant material at a fair and honest price. We will strive to provide an unmatched selection of old favorites and underused, hard-to-find items, along with the newest varieties on the market. We will eagerly share our horticultural knowledge gained from years of education and experience. Lastly, we offer all this in a spirit of fun and lightheartedness.
Sara’s Garden Center | 389 East Ave. | Brockport 14420 | 585-637-4745
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Lockwood’s...Growing Plants of Distinction since 1914 We grow the newest varieties of specialty annuals in our greenhouses in Hamburg, NY. Cutting edge brands such as Proven Winners, Simply Beautiful, Waves and Burpee, just to name a few, will all be available this spring at our garden center as the weather warms up and it’s time to move outside. Experience great quality and selection at Lockwood’s.
NEW FOR 2012 NEW ANNUAL: ‘Cool Wave’ Pansies
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…And that’s just the annuals…Come see our extensive selection of unique houseplants, perennials, trees, shrubs and native plants! Visit the Gift Shop for unusual garden décor and spring gift items. A gift card is always the perfect gift, too.
4484 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY 716.649.4684 WeKnowPlants.com BioBest Biological Systems protect our plants and people in the growing process at Lockwood’s Greenhouses.
Landscapes by
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JIM BUSH
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Botanical Gardens Spring Classes & Trips Sign up today!
David Clark March 10
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Victorian Tea March 11
Paradise Under Glass March 23
Spring Flower Show Includes Farmer Brown’s Petting Zoo and visits from the Easter Bunny!
March 24 - April 15
Easter Egg Hunt April 7
Great Plant Sale
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Contents
Publisher/Editor: Jane F. Milliman Art Direction: Dean S. Milliman Technical Editor: Brian Eshenaur CALENDAR EDITOR: Debbie Eckerson Proofreader: Sarah Koopus Contributing Writers:
Michelle Sutton | Colleen O’Neil Nice | Rich Finzer Andrew Fowler | Mary Ruth Smith | Sally Cunningham Marion Morse | Christina Le Beau Western New York Sales Representative:
Maria Walczak: 716/432-8688
From the Publisher............................................................ 12 Love letter to the mother ship....................................14-17 What to do in the garden in March and April................ 18 Fifteen ethereal ferns for every garden......................22-25 Maple syrup 101...........................................................30-32 Trouble in paradise......................................................36-39
3200 East Avenue, Caledonia NY 14423 phone: 585/538-4980; fax: 585/538-9521 e-mail: info@upstategardenersjournal.com upstategardenersjournal.com The Upstate Gardeners’ Journal is published six times a year. To subscribe, please send $15.00 to the above address. Magazines will be delivered via U.S. mail and or email (in PDF format). We welcome letters, calls and e-mail from our readers. Please tell us what you think! We appreciate your patronage of our advertisers, who enable us to bring you this publication. All contents copyright 2012, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.
The Memory Garden....................................................44-46 Leaping forward–the third National Gardening Festival........................................48-50 Calendar........................................................................52-61 Spring vegetable antipasto salad.................................... 63 You ask... the experts answer........................................... 65 Sweet on maple sugaring................................................. 68 Plantasia Taste of Spring Seminar Schedule.................. 70
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Bee in the Garden • GIFT SHOP •
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From the Publisher This hasn’t been much of a winter (my hellebores bloomed in mid-February, a full two months before I can usually see them). Even so, spring will be as welcome as it always is. For an advance preview, go to one of the great flower shows that the different regions of the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association put together. Even better, for a behind the scenes look, volunteer! It is amazing to see the elaborate exhibits come together. (Help is needed for clean-up, too.) In Syracuse, CNY in Bloom runs March 1- 4, and it has a slightly new name, a new location—Onondaga Community College— and even a modified vision. Instead of strictly gardens and landscaping, the show will feature other displays, vendors and speakers related to leisure and lifestyle. CNYinBloom.com. Next up is GardenScape, Rochester’s long-running extravaganza—20 years! GardenScape takes place at the Dome Center at the fairgrounds in Henrietta. GardenScapePros.com. Last but never least, Plantasia, March 22 - 25, western New York’s turn, has been growing successfully over the past few years and matured into a great show! Also, through a special arrangement we have with our friends there, every person who walks through the door is handed a special Plantasia show program/Upstate Gardeners’ Journal. Assuming that you are reading this in print and not online, you already have one, but go anyway, and tell your friends they can get their UGJ at the show. Plantasia is held at The Event Center, on the fairgrounds in Hamburg.
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Being that I am a trustee there, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Rochester Civic Garden Center’s annual Spring Symposium, Saturday, March 3, featuring headliner Stephanie Cohen, “The Perennial Diva.” Get details at rcgc.org or by calling 585-473-5130. One last note. If you are a green industry professional (or maybe just curious, please check out my newsletter, Ear to the Ground Pro. It’s fun and informative. EarToTheGroundPRO.com. Have a happy spring!
CLASSIFIEDS DAYLILIES. Daylilies are outstanding, carefree perennials. We grow and sell over 225 top-rated award-winning varieties in many colors and sizes in our Rochester garden. We are also an official national daylily society display garden. We welcome visitors to see the flowers in bloom from June to September. Call 585/461-3317. STONE. For sale: field stone, Medina sandstone, landscape boulders. Architectural salvage. Stone $60 per ton. Call 585/478-5970. Business Opportunity. Vendors wanted for selling garden merchandise e.g., plants, flowers, statuary, gardening books & tools, pots, bird feeders. Plantasia, WNY’s premier landscape/ garden show, March 2012 at the Fairgrounds Event Center in Hamburg. Contact 716-741-8047.
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Great Gardens Start at Galley’s! Large Selection of Spring Bedding Plants Annuals • Hanging Baskets • Perennials Herbs • Vegetable Plants 2722 Clinton Street between Harlem & Union (Gardenville) West Seneca, NY 14224 (716) 822-9298 • Open year ‘round
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Open garden
Love letter to the mother ship by Michelle Sutton Photos courtesy Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
A ABOVE: The Minns Garden on the Cornell campus
14 | March-April 2012
fter Hurricanes Irene and Lee caused the Wallkill River to flood our Hudson Valley community garden, submerging the wouldbe fall harvest under as much as 10 feet of water for days at a time, the garden board members had many questions. Was it safe to enter the garden in terms of exposure to bacteria? Was any produce (e.g. root vegetables) that hadn’t rotted safe to eat? How soon would it be safe to plant fall crops, if at all? Could we even plant garlic? We looked to a Cornell Cooperative Extension publication released in the wake of these disasters, Dealing with Flooded Vegetable Fields, by Steve Reiners, for information. It was a lifeline of solid advice that could be passed on to our fellow gardeners. (We also did extensive soil testing, and
found the soil blessedly free of contamination.) Cornell is a beacon for New York gardeners. It’s a source of definitive information for all things horticultural, obtained by trial and patient, frequently tedious research. It’s where the cumulative knowledge for gardening in our state resides. It’s our Mother Ship. It offers beloved “reliables” like Master Gardener programs, plant sales, gardenbased learning, turfgrass short courses, and plant and insect ID. It’s coming up with new offerings all the time, like distance learning courses in botanical illustration, organic gardening, and plant propagation. Here are some of the Cornell Horticulture resources I use most often.
• Gardening.cornell.edu is a site that all New York gardeners should bookmark. Although not all the resources there are Extension publications, this site does what Liberty Hyde Bailey intended New York’s Land Grant Institution to do, to extend its research findings into practical advice for farmers and gardeners. While preparing for this article, I found Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners, a citizen science project. (I looked up ground cherry (Physalis pruinosa), which I got to eat for the first time at a regional Extension open house two years ago and grew for the first time last summer. I had marginal success, so I need to learn some more tricks.) Senior Extension Associate Lori Brewer oversees the site. She says, “The site currently has nearly 6,000 registered users, including 1,000 New York State gardeners, reviewing some of the more than 6,000 vegetable varieties in our online library. If we could surpass 10,000 gardeners from NYS providing reviews of the vegetables they grow, we could create a very informed recommended vegetable variety list for NY that would be valuable to gardeners, plant breeders, and seed suppliers.” If you grow vegetables, consider becoming one of the 10,000 citizen scientists.
You can find a free PDF of this through the Cornell Gardening site, too. I also recommend the Planting Guide by Good and Weir, along with the Transplanting Guide by the Urban Horticulture Institute (UHI). By the way, all of the UHI publications have things to teach homeowners, as so many of us have areas on our properties that are challenging in just the way that “urban” settings are. • The Cornell Woody Plants Database is a fantastic resource. The database came out of a yearlong, joint Horticulture/Landscape Architecture course, “Creating the Urban Eden,” taught by Nina Bassuk and Peter Trowbridge. It offers students and others a chance to match appropriate tree species to challenging urban sites, like the seasonally wet corner of your backyard or the baking hot strip along the driveway. Horticulture Department Communications Specialist Craig Cramer says, “To me, one of the most exciting things that happens around here is when Nina and Peter’s class puts in or rehabilitates a campus garden every spring, using good design and ‘Right Plant, Right Place’ plant selection.”
• In the springtime I teach a shrub pruning class to Lifetime Learners, and I find the very best text for their purposes (a thorough introduction, but not an overwhelming tome) is Pruning: An Illustrated Guide to Pruning Trees and Shrubs by Rakow and Weir. The drawings are excellent.
The database can also be used for woody plant study, as it hosts many images for each species. I’ve used the database to identify selections for clients but also have perused the pictures (click on “Details” when your search results come up) to refresh my memory on what, for instance, abelia leaves look like. There is a Plant Walk Search feature at the bottom, which you can use
“We are simply feeling our way as pioneers.” -Liberty Hyde Bailey, 1893, in a speech before Cornell’s Agricultural Association
Cornell Resources Gardening and Garden-Based Learning www.gardening.cornell.edu
Bulb Labyrinth www.hort.cornell.edu/bglannuals/labyrinth
Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners: A Citizen Science Project vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu
Bulb and Perennial Combinations www.hort.cornell.edu/combos
Cornell Horticulture Department Blog http://blogs.cornell.edu/hort
Annual Flower Trials www.hort.cornell.edu/bglannuals
Horticulture Distance Learning http://hort.cals.cornell.edu/teaching/distance-learning
Art of Horticulture Class http://www.hort.cornell.edu/art
Woody Plants Database http://woodyplants.mannlib.cornell.edu
Living Sculpture www.hort.cornell.edu/livingsculpture
Urban Horticulture Institute www.hort.cornell.edu/uhi
Cornell Plantations www.cornellplantations.org
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 15
16 | March-April 2012
to find a series of plant walks through campus based on different criteria such as species or tolerances. Click on Maps to see the walk route. • Cornell Plantations is a superb place to learn about garden design and plant materials. Visit and visit again until you begin to absorb the ways in which everything works together in such seemingly effortless harmony. There are color-charged higher maintenance gardens, like the Young Flower Garden, and there are more practical but no less beautiful expressions, like the Ground Cover Collection. Among the many arboreta and botanical gardens I’ve visited, I think of Plantations as the pinnacle of skillful, practical, inspired horticulture. There is no admission fee, which is truly gracious given how rich an experience is offered. I asked Plantations Director of Horticulture Mary Hirshfeld what she’d recommend. “Plantations is an exciting place to be now,” she says. “Since the completion of the Nevin Welcome Center, new parking lot, and associated gardens like the Bioswale, new gardens are slated for the open areas, including a very exciting Pan-Asian Garden that Landscape Architect Marc Keane is designing.” Hirshfeld also thinks that new plant evaluation gardens will be of interest to gardener-visitors. For instance, “the North Walk [north of the Robison Herb Garden] is now a place to find new perennials,” she says. Plants have brief labels explaining why they are ‘new and better’ and folks can see for themselves if indeed they are, or if the ‘better’ was more hype than fact. I also plan to add a section to our web page with pictures of these new plants and my assessment of their performance under our site conditions.” I have used the Find a Plant feature on the Plantations website and want to praise this gem. For example, if you want to see what the underutilized, four-season-beauty Korean mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia) looks like on your next visit to Plantations, Find a Plant shows three specimens of Korean mountain ash and provides maps to each. • I also look to other departments and websites from the Cornell Horticulture Department to be delighted, inspired, and surprised. A seven-ring labyrinth composed of 14,000 tulip, daffodil, and grape hyacinth bulbs was planted by Professor Bill Miller’s Herbaceous Plant Materials class in the fall of 2008. You can take a virtual stroll in the labyrinth online.
Miller also recommends a section on the Flower Bulb Research Program site that explores, in pictures, optimum pairings of bulbs and perennials. For instance, Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ looks great alongside Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Papageno’ when they both are in bloom, but then the fresh foliage of the latter very effectively covers the dying foliage of the former. Craig Cramer also recommends the Annual Flower Trials website for Miller’s annuals research, with a huge photo gallery including images of past years’ ten best performers. “You can get a look through the season at hundreds of new and soon-to-bereleased annuals,” Cramer says. I’m also delighted by everything about the Cornell Living Sculpture website, which includes many projects coordinated by Senior Extension Associate Marcia EamesSheavly. Every year, students in her fall Art of Horticulture course create, as a group, a living sculpture. For the past three years, they built sod sofas on campus. Four years ago, they built a living willow dome. The students also produce winsome individual art works that you can see on the Art of Horticulture course website. The Living Sculpture website gives instructions for simple activities you can use to build community and spark creativity and interest in plants. Finally, you must watch this video, shot by Craig Cramer, to see just how those allium seedheads get their phosphorescent colors in the Minns Garden, colors that stop many pedestrians along Tower Road in their tracks. It’s a simple technique, but you must see it in action! Just look on YouTube for “Allium spraypainterri.”
ABOVE: Students in the Art of Horticulture class built this sod sofa on the Ag Quad at Cornell University in fall 2011.
OPPOSITE TOP: Professor Bill Miller’s Herbaceous Plant Materials class planted the bulb labyrinth in the fall of 2008. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: The Plant Science Building on Cornell’s Ag Quad
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 17
Almanac
What to do in the garden in March and April May.
S
pring is perhaps the most exciting time of the year. There is still time to dream about and plan your gardens, order seeds, bulbs and plants, and to be bold. This is an excellent time to evaluate your gardens by taking a few minutes to review last year’s problems and to carefully inspect your plants for damage, egg masses, and broken or crossed branches. Other reasons to get outdoors:
Trees and shrubs are best pruned prior to bud break to correct problems, help maintain the desired shape and to provide for good airflow and sun penetration. Do not prune spring flowering plants (such as lilac which should be pruned immediately after flowering) and species that bleed (such as birch, elm, maple and yellowwood). This is also a good time to shear back ornamental grasses and clear your gardens of last year’s debris. From mid to late April remove mulch from areas you want the soil to warm up for spring planting.
Clean and oil your garden tools. Use a wire brush to clean off loose soil and a metal file to sharpen your shovels, hoes, and trowels. Use a stone to sharpen your pruners. Don’t forget to oil the wooden handles of your tools to prevent splinters later in the year. Now is a good time to be bold. There is still time to order and plant literally thousands of varieties of flowers, herbs and vegetables by starting them from seed. Many plants do not need any special equipment; they can be directly seeded into warm soil from midApril (beets, arugula, carrots, spinach, lettuce) to mid-May (beans, beets, carrots and summer squashes). Other choices will need to be started indoors using heating mats and supplemental lighting (eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, parsley, lavender, sage, Echinacea) since they require special growing conditions and can take 4-8 weeks to grow before being planted outside. Whatever you choose, try something new. Seeds are inexpensive and can be a lot of fun to grow. Many vegetable varieties have superior flavor to what you can purchase because they do not produce as much, pick as easily or ship as well as the commercial varieties. Two long-time favorites of mine that fit into this category are zucchini ‘Romanesco’1 (fewer fruits per plant) and cherry tomato ‘Sun Gold’2. And although it seems silly to grow zucchini when they are so plentiful and inexpensive, I know I cannot purchase the flavor and texture I find in ‘Romanesco’, just as I find it difficult to duplicate the delicate sweet flavor of ‘Sun Gold’ (easily cracks/does not ship well, but is a great snack while working in the garden). In keeping with my annual tradition of trying something new, this year I’m going to try a new zucchini ‘Astia’ that claims it can be grown in a container, scarlet runner beans, lavender, rosemary and three new Asian eggplant varieties. Varieties can be found at (1,2) fedco.com (1),johnnyseeds.com (1,2) reneesgarden.com (1) totallytomato.com
Indoors there is much to do: ABOVE: Zucchini ‘Romanesco’
18 | March-April 2012
Houseplants can be fertilized in March in preparation for repotting the end of April through
–S haron Rosenblum, Master Gardener, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County
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Natural selections
Fifteen ethereal ferns for every garden by Colleen O’Neill Nice
G ABOVE: Hanging from a tree branch, this fern sways above the woodland ground covers. 22 | March-April 2012
ardening has been my passion for over 30 years. In my twenties, vibrant everblooming annuals took center stage in my unpretentious garden. After all, they were inexpensive (ten seed packets for $1) and easy to grow--perfect plants for a busy working mom. New varieties inspired me to experiment with different color combinations and contrasting forms every spring. In my thirties, I discovered perennials. I loved the challenge of arranging textures and orchestrating bloom times, constantly searching for “the” perfect plant. Dividing
and propagating perennials was gratifying. I enjoyed sharing exuberant seedlings with friends, family and even strangers. In my forties, I mastered the art of blending annuals and perennials with a diverse array of self-seeders and bulbs. With a multi-talented lineup, I was always guaranteed a captivating and ever changing vista. It has been in my fifties that I have discovered a need for tranquility in my garden. And although I do keep the public spaces lively with color, it is in my private sanctuary where muted blues and glossy greens
of intriguing foliage surround me. Tall trees create a canopy of dappled shade creating cooler temperatures that beckon on hot, steamy days. It is my oasis where flowers aren’t needed if lush vegetation dances to the sounds of trickling water. It has been in my fifties that I finally discovered the enchanting world of ferns. Oh, I knew they were out there. I had admired their beauty and elegance on many a garden tour, but never really considered using ferns in my own garden. They seemed delicate and hard to grow. It wasn’t until I started propagating ferns that I finally realized the numerous qualities they possess. The sheer number of fern species and diverse cultural requirements offer endless opportunities for every garden setting. Amazingly, deer, rabbits, pests and disease are seldom a problem. What more could a gardener ask for? Need a low maintenance ground cover for dry shade? Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’, better known as the Japanese painted fern, is all that and more. Voted the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year, it energizes my garden continuously with multi-colored fronds brushed in soft shades of purple, pink, silver and pale green. And although it desires moist, well-drained soil, I grow several at the base of a huge maple tree where conditions are very dry. It harmonizes flawlessly with the charming dark pink hearts of Dicentra ‘Luxuriant’. Once established, both thrive with no supplemental water. Growing just 20 inches tall, the Japanese painted fern (zones 3-9) makes a colorful groundcover preferring shade or part shade conditions. Established clumps can be divided in early spring and spores that blanket the underside of the fronds can be propagated in late summer. How about a hardy, evergreen fern useful as a woodland weed suppressant? Let me introduce Dryopteris filix-mas, commonly called the male fern. Upright, lance-shaped fronds reaching 2 to 5 feet tall enhance orangey-brown stalks on this clumping charmer. Rich and cool in mass, it matures into a deep, green carpet that shades out any weed seeds that blow in near the edge of my woodland garden. Since it produces multiple plants at its crown, the male fern can be divided in the spring to increase its quantities and maintain its amazing symmetry. For a focal point in a woodland garden, leave it undivided to mature into an impressive specimen. As an added bonus, the male fern (zones 4-8) remains evergreen during most winters in my zone 5 garden. Propagation is easy from spores gathered from August to November. Need a trilogy of sun-loving, native ferns? No problem. The key to growing sun-loving ferns is to maintain adequate soil moisture with ideal habitats like bogs, ponds, streams or consistently irrigated beds. Adding a lush, tropical appearance,
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern) shimmers with graceful, bright green fronds that turn shades of gold and copper in the fall. A long-lived perennial, it is easily identifiable by its rich, cinnamon brown fronds arching from the center of the crown. The distinct, fertile stalks shed masses of spores by midsummer. Hummingbirds relish the hairy stipes (stems) that provide a soft down used to line their nests. Division of the cinnamon fern can be done in spring or fall. Dig and lift the rhizomes, then slice through the roots with a sharp spade or soil knife. Thelypteris noveboracensis makes an ideal ground cover for sunny, moist areas. Commonly called the New York fern, it develops feathery, apple green foliage just one to two feet tall. An easy to grow native, it produces tapered, upright fronds that spread quickly by underground rhizomes creating lush, bright colonies. I first encountered this beauty in a friend’s Southern Tier garden near her pond. Clusters were thriving in full sun, punctuating pockets of multicolored perennials. Hardy in zones 4-8, the New York fern’s shallow, black, wiry roots can be divided or mature spores can be collected in early to mid-summer. Rounding out the triplet, Athyrium filix-femina, endearingly referred to as the northern lady fern, is one of my favorites. Extremely popular during the Victorian fern craze, it unfurls soft, airy, yellow-green tapered fronds that are the perfect backdrop for spring flowering bulbs. The lady fern’s bright foliage compliments my favorite orange tulips – ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Daydream’. If you love bringing the outdoors in, be sure to include their long lasting, arching fronds in your flower arrangements. A great beginner fern for zones 4-8, it spreads slowly, forming dense clumps. Fresh, new fronds are prolific all summer long, if
ABOVE: Athyrium filixfemina ‘Frizelliae’ (tatting fern) mingles with and colorful impatiens.
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 23
moisture. Hardy in zones 5-9, this deciduous fern grows one to two feet tall. Red sori (spore producing structures) develop on the underside of its leaflets and can be gathered in late summer and fall. Established plants can be divided in spring or fall. A noteworthy fern for moist shade is Osmunda regalis, frequently called the royal fern. It predates the existence of dinosaurs and has flourished on all continents except Australia, for hundreds of millions of years. Growing two to five feet tall, unique fronds with rounded leaflets are variably shaded light green, tan and reddish brown. Black rootstock is curiously elevated above the soil surface about six inches. The royal fern is distinct. It is quite large and imposing, almost shrub-like, resembling no other fern. Hardy in zones 3-10, its huge arching fronds are stunning rising above a mélange of woodland plants. Mature green spores, viable for only two days, are released from large fertile leaflets in mid June. Brown leaflets signal that the spores have been released. Mature plants can be divided in spring, positioning the crown at soil level. One of my favorite natives of the northeastern U.S. is the dainty Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair) with fan-like fronds balancing on thin, black, wiry stipes. It is dependent on consistently moist soil but extremely cold hardy (zones 3-9) despite its very fragile appearance. Using tall, vaseshaped hostas as a backdrop and miniature hostas dancing in the foreground, the Northern Maidenhair makes a stunning focal point. It is easily propagated in early spring by dividing the creeping rhizomes just as they emerge or collecting inconspicuous spores in the fall.
the soil is consistently moist. Ideally, division is recommended in the spring every 4 to 5 years, but I prefer to divide large clumps in the fall. I pot up my divisions, then in the spring, donate mature plants to our local plant auction. I keep all my sun loving ferns looking great by top dressing them with compost and mulch to retain moisture. During their first season, I use soaker hoses to help my newly planted ferns get established.
ABOVE: Ferns spill over the annuals in this window box. BELOW: Coppery-pink new croziers on Dryopteris erythrosa (autumn fern). 24 | March-April 2012
What ferns can be grown in moist shade? Conditions where soil retains moisture yet offers good drainage can support several fascinating ferns. Some grow bigger and faster with constant moisture. The easy to grow, Dryopteris erythrosora (autumn fern) displays coppery-pink to orangey-red new croziers that contrast with its mature glossy, dark green fronds. Native to China and Japan, it spreads slowly by short creeping rhizomes creating mass plantings in shady, moist areas. The autumn fern will tolerate somewhat dry soil with a yearly dressing of compost and peat moss to help supply nutrients and retain
How about ferns for shady window boxes? Dryopteris carthusiana (spinulose wood fern), a native fern hardy in zones 3-7, displays bright yellowgreen, finely divided lacy fronds. It is one of the first ferns to appear in spring, so pair it up with pansies for a colorful early season combo. Then, sizzle through summer by tucking in warm season annuals. The wood fern’s arching fronds grow two to three feet tall and look lush all summer. Propagate by division or collect mature (dark brown) spores in midsummer. Add interest to your window boxes with the unique texture of Cyrtomium fortunei. The hardiest of the holly ferns, it displays a whorl of shiny, tough, leathery fronds that surround an erect crown. The pronounced leaflets are pale green and sickle-shaped. Hardy in zones 6-9, the Japanese holly fern grows one to three feet tall. Mature brown spores can be collected in late summer or check for rooted bulbils at the base of the plant. What ferns grow well in pots and urns? Potted ferns can be used to camouflage areas when bulbs die back or perennials go dormant.
Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) is my go-to-fern when my bleeding hearts hibernate. Tropical looking, the large vase-shaped clumps are easy to grow and very dependable in containers. I overwinter several ostrich ferns outside in pots and they emerge reliably every spring. Dark green fronds reach for the sky, growing three to five feet tall, if kept moist. Hardy in zones 2-10, the ostrich fern produces fiddleheads (tightly wound immature fronds) in the spring that are a woodsy-tasting delicacy and sought after by food junkies everywhere. New crowns are formed by underground rhizomes. These can be dug up and replanted at the soil level in spring or early summer. Chocolate brown, fertile spore producing fronds develop in autumn, remain vertical over the winter, and release spores in early spring. Use several fertile fronds in a clear, coffee bean-filled vase for a simple winter arrangement. For mixed containers, the glossy, wide, leathery fronds of Asplenium scolopendrium (hart’s tongue fern) are a real stand-out. Growing just 12 to 16 inches tall, the hart’s tongue fern (zones 4-9) prefers moist, welldrained alkaline soil. (Adding a little extra lime to your potted specimen is suggested.) In midsummer to late winter, look for cinnamon-colored, centipede-shaped sori on the back of the blades. The sori contain the spores. Mature plants can be divided in late winter or early spring. Need shade-loving ferns for hanging baskets? Break away from the overused Boston fern and try something more creative like Dryopteris undulata ‘Robusta’ (robust male fern). Deeply divided dark green fronds grow two to three feet tall, creating a sturdy, upright habit. Hardy in zones 4-8, the robust male fern can be overwintered in a protected location outside and then reused year after year. It’s semievergreen arching fronds even hold up well during rainy periods. Traditionally, hanging baskets work great on porches, but try a few fern-filled planters on shepherd’s hooks or dangling from long S-shaped hangers suspended from tree branches. Swaying in woodland gardens, the hanging fern adds a unique dimension between the ground cover and the canopy. Every spring, birds find my floating gardens irresistible for nesting and nurturing their young. To help retain moisture, mix water retaining gel into the soil before potting and top dress with decorative mulch. Divide mature plants in spring or summer. How about a few ferns for your fairy garden? The lacy petite, Atrium filix-femina ‘Frizelliae’ commonly called the tatting fern, is the perfect addition to a miniature garden. Its narrow, arching fronds with tiny, fan-shaped leaflets are bright green and add a bit of whimsy and personality to the garden. Growing just 12 inches tall, the distinctive beaded look appears to be the loops and knots of tatted
lace. Hardy to zones 4-8, it prefers rich, moist shady areas, but will adapt to somewhat dry, rocky sites. A yearly spring fertilizing will ensure lush growth throughout the season. ‘Frizelliae’ has been known to produce non-conforming fronds related to its parents. To maintain a consistent appearance, remove the non-conforming fronds as they arise. Divide mature plants in spring. Another cutie, Athyrium filix-femina ‘Minutissimum’, is a dwarf form of the lady fern. Reaching just ten inches tall, delicate, upright, light green fronds form dense clumps. Robust and hardy in zones 4-8, ‘Minutissimum’ naturalizes in moist, well drained soil. Divide mature plants in spring. There is no need to wait until you are 50 to experiment with ferns in your garden, nor is it ever too late to try a few. If propagation interests you, visit the Hardy Fern Foundation (hardyferns.org/ fern-info-propagation.php) or the American Fern Society (amerfernsoc.org/). Both offer spores to their members for a nominal fee, as well as extensive information about ferns. I also invite you to visit my web site (gardensbycolleen.com/) where I host a mini spore exchange and share my observations about ferns. Patience is the key to growing ferns. After six years of experimentation with nearly 100 different species and cultivars, ferns have creatively enhanced my garden in unexpected ways. I am not sure what my sixties will bring, but I do know that my passion for propagating and growing ferns will persist.
ABOVE: Ferns add the perfect backdrop for caladium and impatiens.
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 25
Rochester
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Almanac
Maple syrup 101 by Rich Finzer
I ABOVE: Sugar coated sugar maples
30 | March-April 2012
n Cayuga County during mid January, the winds howl and the mercury routinely plunges into negative territory. But by late February, when Jack Frost’s icy grip loosens and the late winter sun arcs higher, all across Finger Lakes country the woods bustle as sugaring season commences. For it’s only during the ensuing 8 to 10 weeks that maple syrup is produced. I’ve been making maple syrup for over 20 years, and although I’m just a small backyard amateur, before I retired from active competition my syrup won numerous ribbons at the New York State Fair.
Most folks absolutely love maple syrup but surprisingly few are very knowledgeable about it. The broadcast media hasn’t helped much either. A recent TV commercial showed a guy tapping a maple and having syrup run right out of the tree! So to clear up any confusion, here’s a home study course on what syrup makers refer to as the “golden delicious.” Most maple syrup is produced by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, Acer saccharum. In truth, the sap from all maple species contains some amount of sugar, but sap from the sugar maple contains the
highest concentration, with a sugar content averaging 3 percent. If you do the math, it means 97 percent of that sap is merely water, the part that must be boiled away. It also means that on average it takes 35 to 39 gallons of raw sap to produce a single gallon of syrup. The syrup is already there; boiling simply removes everything that isn’t syrup. At tapping time, commercial sugar makers typically employ an interconnected network of tubing to direct the sap to a central location, or they hang old-style nine quart sap buckets on metal spiles (taps). The tubing system works best if a producer is tapping a grove of trees located on a hillside, collectively referred to as a “sugar bush.” A hillside location leverages gravity to help the sap flow downhill to a collection container as sophisticated as a trailermounted stainless steel tank, or as humble as a plastic 55-gallon drum. But regardless of what it’s collected in, it takes a river of sap to produce any appreciable amount of syrup. Over the course of the season, a single tap yields roughly enough sap to produce 1 quart of syrup. Thus, large-scale commercial operations hang thousands of them. My sugaring partner and
I generally drill about 24 holes. We end up with 5 to 6 gallons of syrup, which is more than enough for ourselves and still leaves some to give to our pals. The diameter of a maple determines how many tap holes may be drilled in it. The minimum is about 16 inches and a tree that size will safely accommodate one tap. As it grows larger, additional taps may be added. After the taps are pulled, the tree naturally heals any holes that were bored in its trunk. Regrettably though, a tree that’s been tapped loses most of its timber value. Inside, a black stain forms where the tap hole was located, rendering the wood unfit for use as furniture grade lumber. Firewood yes, but the tree’s potential veneer value has been sacrificed. To accommodate both endeavors, smart sugar makers tap their trees down low; preserving as much of the bole (butt log) as possible for future timber harvesting. After the water is boiled away and the syrup has been tested for sugar content, it’s filtered to remove the “sugar sand”—the various mineral salts dissolved in the water portion of the sap. These salts, common minerals such as calcium chloride, precipitate out as the sugar content of the boiling sap increases. Hard
TOP LEFT: Harry readies syrup for the filtering press TOP RIGHT: Nine Layer Filter Press BOTTOM LEFT: Sugar sand - ick, yuck! BOTTOM RIGHT: Syrup grading kit
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 31
Jack Wax: Spread a layer of finely crushed ice on a frozen cookie sheet. Drizzle warm syrup across the ice. It will immediately congeal into beautiful amber strands or globs of super sweet – super sticky Jack Wax. Delicious and messy, but mostly delicious!
water scale consists of the same identical compounds. As you can see from the residue in the bucket, it’s nasty looking stuff. Filtering out these impurities yields the crystal clear syrup you see in those pretty glass bottles. These chemicals aren’t poisonous or dangerous, but if left in the finished product, impart a bitter aftertaste, robbing the syrup of some of its sweetness. Commercial operators employ a specially designed filtering unit called a “press” to remove the impurities. The one pictured contains nine separate layers of filtering “paper.” In between each is a second filtering medium, food-grade diatomaceous earth. This naturally occurring mineral is chockablock with tiny crevices that trap the mineral crystals as hot syrup is pumped through the unit. The medium works exactly like the activated charcoal bits in a water filtration system. The syrup emerging from the discharge hose is perfectly clear, ready to be bottled or further processed into products like maple rock candy, blocks of maple sugar, or maple cotton candy. And aside from “Jack Wax” (more about that later), my favorite maple treats are “hard ball” maple lollipops. The USDA has established 4 color-based grades of syrup: light amber, medium amber, dark amber and Grade B. But regardless of the grade, all maple syrup must have a sugar content of at least 67%. Any lower, and it’s not syrup yet, any higher and the syrup has begun the slow transition into maple cream. My partner and I usually run our sugar content around 68%, which is jake with us, we are, after all, making it strictly for ourselves. However, to ensure that the public is buying “real” maple syrup, the Department of Agriculture and Markets inspect all maple products sold commercially in New York. As New York is the #2 domestic producer of maple syrup, Empire State producers take tremendous pride in the quality and reputation of their goods, so our instate producers work willingly with Albany to ensure only the highest quality, properly graded maple products are released to the public.
Each of the four grades is progressively darker and more flavorful. Light amber has the lightest color and the most delicate flavor. Before commercially produced cane sugar was widely available, it was frequently used as a sweetening agent and baking ingredient. On the opposite end of the color/flavor spectrum is Grade B. It has an intensely robust maple flavor that some consider a mite too strong. But not to worry, most Grade B syrup is used as an ingredient in upscale barbeque sauces, maple cured bacon or the flavor base in maple-walnut ice cream or prepared frosting. Sugar producers use a grading kit similar to the one in the photo to determine the grade of their syrup. For syrup to rate a certain grade, it must be no darker than the certified color sample. As an example, if it’s darker than light amber, but lighter than medium, it grades as medium and so on. But please, don’t take a swig of the samples; they’re actually a mixture of glycerin and burnt/raw umber (dirt). So where does the color in the syrup come from? As the sap boils, some of the sugar caramelizes as it makes contact with the sides of the evaporator pan. Amino acids present in the maple sap also react to the heat by turning a brownish color. When the weather warms and the tree begins sending up larger quantities of budding hormone, the concentration of these amino acids increases correspondingly. Stated another way, the later in the season sap is boiled, the darker the resulting syrup will usually be. Maple syrup is a product unique to North America and has no equal. Its natural sugars are lower in calories than table sugar and it contains a plethora of essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium and potassium. It’s a 100 percent natural food with no artificial colors or chemical additives. And it’s the best friend a stack of flapjacks ever had! Author’s Note: The Vermont Sugar Makers Association refers to light amber grade as “Fancy.” But aside from the name, the color conforms to the USDA standard.
As I prepared this article, I decided to visit Harry Kumrowski, a local commercial producer, and take advantage of his hospitality. During the height of sugar season, Harry and his wife open their operation to the public and host an open house. Visitors receive an education in the nuances of syrup production while the Kumrowski’s display and market their merchandise to a somewhat captive audience. Everybody wins. Harry’s operation is considered small to medium sized, with about 1000 taps in operation. Many locales in central and western New York hold maple festivals. And like Harry, many commercial producers host open house demonstrations where the public can witness syrup production first hand. For more information on upcoming maple events in 2012, visit the New York State Maple Producers website: http://www.mapleweekend.com/locations.htm ABOVE: Harry Kumrowski’s Sugar House -(just like the sign says)
32 | March-April 2012
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Trouble in paradise by Andrew Fowler
36 | March-April 2012
LEFT: Douglas-fir with Swiss Needlecast
I
n this article I will report on some issues, both old and new, affecting horticulture in the northeast. We are probably all aware of the recent threat from the Emerald Ash Borer, which has finally reached Monroe County, and will be responsible for the death of millions of ash trees all across the Midwest and the northeast. Given the global nature of commerce, the EAB will not be the last threat to be faced. There are a few other nasty little surprises waiting in the wings. Invasive species is another topic that has recently come to the fore. Several states have taken measures to ban certain species, some horticultural mainstays, from the green industry, such as Norway maple, Burning Bush, and Japanese Barberry. However, for these species, it’s too little too late; they are firmly established in the landscapes and wild places of the northeast. There are plenty of other species, which need to be carefully monitored, especially as our climates change and become warmer. This is not just an issue with green industry plants, imported for their ornamental value, which are easily recognized when they show up outside the cultivated areas. More insidious are those undistinguished weedy plants, which can establish themselves readily, because they are virtually invisible until they become a monoculture. We all need to be aware of our environment, and take note of the changes we see. The old adage, Think Globally, Act Locally, is appropriate here. We are all responsible for our actions, passive or active. Douglas-fir Those of you who go out in December each year to pick out a Christmas tree may wonder what happened to an old favorite. Douglas-fir. For the last twenty years or so, Douglas-fir has been the number 1 seller in
the Christmas tree industry, at least in the northeast. Native to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is not a true fir (Abies spp.), but more closely related to hemlock (Tsuga spp.). It proved to be a very good grower in northeastern climates, as long as the soils were not too acid, preferring a pH range of about 6.5 to 7.5. It was faster than most other Christmas tree species and could be easily pruned into the bushy specimens generally preferred around here. In fact, the Rocky Mountain variety (P. menziesii glauca), often called Lincoln strain in the industry was so fast a grower that much of the new growth each year was pruned off. That strain, however, was also the hardiest and offered a bluish tint to the needles, generally a desirable trait. The Lincoln strain quickly became the tree of choice to plant in Christmas tree plantations and took over the number 1 place in sales. However, whenever large scale plantings of a single species (monoculture) occur, problems inevitably follow. With Douglas-fir, the biggest problem for a long time was the Cooley spruce gall adelgid, a sucking insect similar to an aphid. This insect spends much of its time on Colorado spruce, where it makes those little purplish brown galls to hide the eggs. However, it also likes to feed on Douglas-fir needles, causing yellow spots and twisted needles. It can be readily identified as small white fluffy pinheadsized spots on Douglas-fir needles, and by the galls on spruce. Eradication is practically impossible because of the ubiquity of Colorado spruces in landscapes, but it can be controlled by applications of dormant oil in the spring. The other common strain of Douglas-fir, the coastal or BC strain shows good resistance to the adelgid, but it is a slower grower, much brighter green and not nearly as hardy as the Lincoln strain.
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 37
(fruiting bodies) along the stomatic lines. Control of both of these fungi consists of spraying fungicide at bud break for Rhabdocline and slightly later for Swiss needlecast, when new growth is ½� long. Complete coverage is essential to be effective, and one or two repeated sprayings are necessary because the infection continues with shoot extension. Control is possible if the source of spores can be destroyed. Unfortunately, spores on cast needles can be spread by rain splash and the number of infected trees in the area provides a constant supply. I tried for many years to control Swiss needlecast on my trees, but to no avail, and I finally consigned my remaining trees to the burn pile. It seems that I am not the only grower to experience the devastating effects of these needlecasts. So many growers in the northeast report the same problem that I believe the Douglas-fir will gradually all but disappear from Christmas tree farms and lots.
ABOVE: wThe underside of a Douglas fir branch shows that a healthylooking tree may have Swiss needlecast.
38 | March-April 2012
A much more serious threat to Douglas-fir is a fungus, actually two fungi, which cause premature needle drop. Rhabdocline needlecast and Swiss needlecast are both pathogens in the native stands of Douglas-fir in the western states. These two pathogens produce similar results, the loss of all needles older than one or two years . With needle loss, the trees have diminished photosynthetic capabilities leading to poor growth. Needle drop generally starts at the lower branches and slowly works its way up the tree, leaving the lower branches bare . While not usually fatal, the trees are not sellable. Rhabdocline can be identified by brown-purple blisters on the underside of needles seen from the fall through spring. Many of the infected needles drop in the fall through winter. Those that remain are discolored, and contain the spores that will infect the new needles the following year, from May through June. Swiss needlecast is more difficult to identify, because the infected needles remain green for two or three years before dropping. The undersides of these infected needles have visible rows of black dots
Black Walnut I have written in the past about my love-hate relationship with black walnut trees (Juglans nigra). We have a lot of walnuts on the farm, about 12 acres of them, in what used to be an apple orchard before the walnuts took over and killed the trees. Sometime, probably in the 1940s, previous owners of the farm planted 5 black walnuts in a row. Those trees are now massive and have given birth to hundreds more, planted by squirrels. As most gardeners know, black walnuts exude an allelopathic chemical, juglone, mostly through their roots, which tends to inhibit or kill competing species. Planting a garden near walnuts can be a serious challenge. Western New York is about the northern-most limit for black walnuts, and they tend not to produce the highly desirable lumber, such as veneer logs, on the periphery of their range. Nevertheless, some decent lumber can be obtained, particularly when the trees are cultivated and pruned correctly. The nuts are also quite delicious, if they can be successfully cracked open, no mean feat although squirrels seem to have no trouble getting at the kernels. Apart from storm damage, and the frequent shedding of dead branches, not much seems to bother black walnuts. However, there is a new threat on the horizon, called Thousand Canker Disease. This disease was first seen in Colorado in 2003, and later found in many western states. A fungus, Geosmithia morbida, which is vectored by the walnut twig beetle, causes the disease. The beetle feeds on the twigs in the upper canopy in spring and can introduce the fungus at the feeding sites. In summer the beetles move to the lower canopy and the trunk, where they continue to inoculate the fungus. The fungus affects the pholem tissue that results in girdling and the blockage of nutrients. When cankers coalesce from several feeding sites whole branches and stems are affected. Early symptoms are yellowing leaves and branch dieback in the canopy. Once symptoms are visible the trees
usually die within a few years. To date no effective treatments have been identified. All species of Juglans appear to be susceptible, but the disease seems to be particularly lethal to Black walnuts. The disease is thought to be widespread in many western states, and recently in Tennessee. It is likely that all black walnut populations are susceptible, although it is possible that some trees will be resistant. Time will tell. Invasive Species We are all aware of the presence and threats posed by invasive species. The issue is not a new one. There are countless examples from all over the world. The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and American elm (Ulmus americana) are classic examples of species that were almost extirpated by the accidental introduction of pathogens from outside the US. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a more recent example. Walk through almost any woods or park in New York and you will see examples of plant species that were not around 50 or even 20 years ago. In our area of western New York, the woods are becoming a tangled mess of grapevines and oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), which climb the trees and can break them down. The understory is being taken over by garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and swallowwort (Cynanchum rossicum and C. nigrum). Drive along the highways and you will see swallowwort lining the margins, and swaths of the giant reed (Phragmites australis) and Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). Hike the trails in Durand Eastman Park and you will see whole hillsides covered with burning bush (Euonymus alata). Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is one of the most commonly planted shade trees in urban and suburban landscapes, but it is also becoming quite common in our native woods, thanks to the species’ prolific seeding and adaptability. Many of these species were intentionally introduced for their horticultural qualities; their adaptability and ease of propagation make them good candidates for the green industry, but also make them very successful invaders. Others came in as hitchhikers with other products. For many years I have grown ornamental grasses in my nursery and my own gardens. I was particularly enamored of some of the tall Miscanthus varieties, especially the variegated and banded leaf varieties with their late summer/fall flower spikes. Another favorite was fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides). In southern and Mid-Atlantic States Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) has been known to be invasive for many years. However, in western New York the seasons were not long enough for the fall-flowering plants to produce viable seed. Or so we thought. About 3 years ago I found a well-developed Miscanthus growing at the edge of my woods, about 200 yards from the nearest plant in my garden. Close by I also found a Pennisetum growing in the damp meadow by the pond, again about 200 yards from my garden. The closest
source of seed for these plants is my garden. I can only conclude that the seasons are now long enough for these plants to produce viable seed. Since then I have been removing the earliest-flowering varieties from my landscape and have discontinued growing them in my nursery. One of my favorite shrubs is doublefile viburnum (V. plicatum). It is easy to grow, produces a stunning flower display in late May to June, and nice muted red fall color. The fruit is also attractive, turning from red to black, but is quickly consumed by birds. In recent years I have been pulling out seedling viburnum plants from all over my garden, and have also found them growing in the adjacent pastures. A plant’s attractiveness as a source of food for birds is often a good selling point. But the birds then drop the seeds elsewhere, thus propagating the plant. This is, of course, a completely natural means of survival for plants. It is also the reason that my farm, among many others, is being taken over by autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), multiflora rose, and tatarian honeysuckle. It‘s also the means by which burning bush, buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) have managed to escape cultivation. I don’t yet know how far the viburnum is capable of spreading, but I am keeping an eye on it. Most states now have invasive species councils, and there is a branch of the US Department of Agriculture, the National Invasive Species Information Center, devoted to the study and control of these pests. New York has its Department of Environmental Conservation, which has a lot of information about invasives and the various authorities trying to coordinate control efforts. I encourage everyone to become aware of the problems. After all, these are your gardens, parks and woodlands at risk.
ABOVE: Seeds from a black walnut tree (Juglans nigra)
Andrew Fowler operates Holmes Hollow Farm nursery and Christmas trees in Victor, New York.
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 39
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Almanac
The Memory Garden by Mary Ruth Smith
I ABOVE: A Japanese-style tea house in the center of the Garden of Tranquility. 44 | March-April 2012
love finding new gardens to visit, and the Memory Garden in Rochester is my latest discovery. It is truly a hidden gem, unseen by passers-by, behind a high hedge in back of Monroe Community Hospital at the corner of East Henrietta and Westfall Roads. It is a project of the Alzheimer’s Association, which has its offices at the Hospital. I had heard of it, but assumed it was perhaps a small courtyard garden for Alzheimer’s patients at the hospital to enjoy. When I went with my garden club to help maintain it, I was amazed to find a mini-botanic garden that is open for anyone to enjoy – anyone who can find it, that is. The Memory Garden began in 1999, under the inspiration and leadership of Teresa Galbier, then
President of the Alzheimer’s Association. Planning began in 1998, when the American Society of Landscape Architects decided to celebrate their 100th Anniversary by designing 100 parks of all kinds, including some specifically for Alzheimer’s patients. Local Alzheimer’s Associations across the country were invited to submit a proposal. The only requirements were a parcel of land and seed money. Ms. Galbier approached her friend Frank Tripodi, the Executive Director of Monroe Community Hospital, and asked if a garden might be built on the hospital grounds. He arranged with Monroe County to set aside two-anda-half acres in back of the hospital. Seed money came from grants from the T. Franklin Williams Foundation,
the Rochester Area Foundation and the United Way. Rochester was one of only a dozen cities to win the award from the A.S.L.A. Landscape architect James Rathmann of Buffalo designed the original garden. It was developed in stages, with the walkways, courtyards, and the hedge enclosure installed first. Robert Wilcox, a local landscape designer, became the landscape curator after the original design was in place. At first, it was more like a park with lots of green space, but Wilcox redesigned it over the years to make it the lovely garden it is today, including the newest addition, the Japanese Garden. The Memory Garden has received national awards and recognition while remaining little-known to local residents. In 2003, the Mutual of America Foundation gave it a National Award for Community Partnership, and the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association was honored at a ceremony in New York City. In 2004 Wilcox traveled to Kyoto, Japan to present a program on the garden to the International Alzheimer’s Conference The word Memory in the title has two different associations. The garden is in memory of people who have died, originally Alzheimer’s patients at the hospital, but now including many others who are memorialized with plantings. But it is also a calming, soothing place for patients and their families and caregivers to walk or ride and enjoy the lovely setting. It is well known that scents are a powerful memory stimulant, and perhaps the scents of the flowers bring back memories of earlier gardens to some of the residents. The hedge provides a sense of enclosure, the sine qua non of a garden, and promotes a feeling of security. Over the years, many individuals, organizations, and companies have contributed time and money to enlarge and maintain the garden. The area known as the Circle of Hope was given by the Rochester Garden Club. The Richard Schleyer Garden of Valor has a large paved courtyard with a compass design and bricks with favorite sayings of his friends and family. The Garden of Tranquility, featuring a Japanese-style Tea House and a water feature as well as some magnificent specimen trees and shrubs, was added in 2009, made possible by a gift from Sheila and Bill Konar. Other families have given benches as well as plants and a grant enabled the installation of an automatic watering system. Every year on the Day of Caring, a team from Kodak helps in the garden by, among other things, spreading 55 yards of mulch. Both Lifetime Assistance and the Association of Retarded Citizens bring their clients to the garden regularly to rake and plant— garden therapy. The Boy Scouts got involved when some beautiful, ornate iron fencing that was original to the grounds was found in the hospital basement. They cleaned it up, scraped and painted it, and it has been
reinstalled along one edge of the garden. Each summer, some of the area’s Federated Garden Clubs take turns tidying all the flower gardens. The current caretaker of the garden is Beth Pessin. She works for the Alzheimer’s Association and spends about 30 hours a week in the garden during the growing season, but she could use more assistance and welcomes anyone who would like to volunteer. She strives to provide something beautiful and interesting in all four seasons. While the garden is at its peak in summer, spring offers daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, followed by peonies and lilacs. Summer brings roses, astilbes, hydrangeas, lilies, dahlias, and hibiscus. Hostas continue the show into the fall, along with chrysanthemums. Ornamental grasses and evergreens provide winter interest. Many residents visit the garden on a daily basis to see what’s new. The latest addition is two large planter/benches that were overflowing with vegetables when I was there in late summer. If only my tomatoes looked that good! A sign at one entrance of the garden quotes Lady Bird Johnson – “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” Apparently two of the hospital’s residents agreed with that sentiment when they got married in the garden. It would also make a lovely setting for wedding or prom photos. Every great garden is improved by a picturesque setting—think of the castle gardens of England without the castle. The Memory Garden’s “castle” is the historic and architecturally significant Monroe Community Hospital. It was designed by Siegmund Firestone, a noted Rochester architect, who also oversaw its construction from 1931-1933, at the height of the Depression. The beautiful, ornate
ABOVE: This ornate iron fence from the original hospital grounds was found in the basement, restored, and reinstalled in the Memory Garden.
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 45
ABOVE: Monroe Community Hospital, with its interesting gargoyles, overlooks the Memory Garden.
46 | March-April 2012
exterior and interior of the Monroe Community Home and Infirmary, as it was then called, won national recognition and was heralded as a model health care facility. In the mid-20th Century, it provided health care to the indigent, but in 1967, it became a long-termcare and rehabilitation facility for all ages and changed to its present name. Since 1994, it has undergone a massive renovation to better meet the needs of the patients, while retaining the beauty and historical significance of the original building. It’s worth a trip just to admire the building, the ornate brickwork and gargoyles on the exterior, and decorative tiles, marble, and woodwork on the interior. It looked to me more like a lovely old hotel than a health care facility. There is a spacious high-ceilinged cafeteria, open to the public, and one of the nicest gift shops in the area. There are a number of ways that individuals and organizations can become involved with the Memory Garden. Gifts of time and money are always welcome. Memorials for loved ones may take the form of sponsoring a tree or shrub or purchasing a bench or an inscribed brick for the walkway. To volunteer to help in the garden, you can contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 585-760-5400. Pessin is looking for a
garden club to adopt a locked courtyard adjacent to the Memory Garden. You are also welcome to visit the garden at any time, stroll along the paths or sit on a bench and enjoy the beauty and serenity. Pessin says that sometimes she just stands and takes it all in and is in awe of its beauty. “It’s truly a sanctuary.” How to Find the Memory Garden Monroe Community Hospital is located at the corner of East Henrietta and Westfall Roads in Rochester. Parking for the garden is available in a lot that is accessed from the entrance to the Monroe County Health Dept. on Westfall Road. Coming from the east, it’s the second driveway west of East Henrietta Road. Coming from the west, it’s the first driveway east of West Henrietta Rd. The parking lot is on the left and has a sign for the Memory Garden. Additional parking is available behind the Health Dept. building. The entrance to the garden is at the east end of the lot, either through the picnic pavilion or from the sidewalk leading to the hospital. It’s always open. Mary Ruth Smith is a retired landscape designer, passionate gardener, and garden writer from Fairport, NY.
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Event
Leaping forward–the third National Gardening Festival by Sally Cunningham
G
ardeners know the saying about new plants: First year sleep, second year creep, third year leap. Well, we can’t say the National Garden Festival exactly slept or crept during the first two years. Some 80,000 visitors visited nearly 1000 private gardens over a five week period last summer and went away thinking, “Wow, Western New York’s the place to see gardens!” But there’s no doubt there’s some leaping going on as the team enters its third year. Here’s a preview of some new attractions:
ABOVE: A before and after from the Front Yard Competition. Photo by Visit Buffalo Niagara/Jim Bush
48 | March-April 2012
The New Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale— wJune 24 What’s art got to do with it? It turns out that when the writers and bloggers ran hither and yon writing about Buffalo area gardens, one defining feature stood out among the rest: Our gardeners use art—eclectic, classy, original or found art—from copper beetles to architecture remnants, and they use it in unexpected places. As they wrote about these art-filled gardens, they began to repeat the term, “Buffalo-style gardens.”
So National Garden Festival partners from the Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy, the Parkside Garden Walk, and the arts community are getting together to offer the first Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale, where you can find the kinds of art featured in our gardens. It’s not just another arts or crafts show either; the focus is art about and for the garden. Just to mix the art folks with the plant people, an added feature to the day will be a gathering of leading area plant societies offering education and plants for sale. Expect to see leaders from the WNY Hosta Society, including renowned author and raconteur Mike Shadrack, the Buffalo Area Daylily Society, the Carnivorous Plant Society, Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension, and more. In addition, the WNY Hosta Society will offer an AHS accredited, judged hosta show. Watch for more details at www.nationalgardenfestival.com. Visitors should plan for a full day on June 24th, to allow time for the nearby Parkside Garden Tour. It’s an opportunity to see charming traditional gardens with lush, English-style borders, as well as some unusual garden designs with contemporary
and antique garden décor—all in an architecturally interesting neighborhood that includes Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House. The Front Yard Contest with a new twist In 2010, sixteen Western New York landscapers carried off a “first” in the nation: They agreed to a contest in which they renovated an entire block of front yards facing an Olmsted park. Each landscaper adopted one property and did a makeover in one week, with the cameras rolling. During the second week, the public voted on its favorites. It was such a success Country Gardens magazine featured the story in a two-page spread last spring. The first contest took place on North Parade Avenue on Buffalo’s East side, across from Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The 19 houses were mostly grand, historical old beauties with large yards. The second year the focus moved to South Buffalo, on Newmann Place, facing Cazenovia Park. Those 13 houses and front yards were smaller, and the landscapers designed front landscapes that suited the home styles. In both cases, the homeowners were coached on how to water, weed and protect their new landscapes. And just in case they weren’t already motivated, there’s nothing like thousands of people peeking at our front yard all summer to keep
you watering! On February 14, the WNYS Nursery & Landscape Association and Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy announced the location of the 2012 Front Yard Contest :Crowley Avenue, facing Riverside Park in the Blackrock/Riverside neighborhood (Buffalo’s northwest side). Just because a homeowner’s street is selected, however, is not a guarantee that his or her property will be, though—the landscapers have to want to adopt one of the 18 houses, and it will only happen if enough landscapers agree. What’s different about this particular block is that the yards are very small, with nearly no trees, so they are perfect for front yard flower gardens, rock gardens and tiny—or no—lawns. Let’s see what the pros do when small is better! The landscape association also encourages small individual firms to try their hands at this competition. Participating landscapers will make their decisions in March. The Front Yard Contest will take place on July 9 – 13, with public judging from July 15 – 20, 2012. The National Garden Festival Directory and Book of Open Gardens When you’re offering five weeks of gardenthemed programs, including 14 garden walks or
So, what’s in it for a landscaper? For two years we’ve asked them, and most report that they did it (a) to give something back to their communities, (b) to show what a CNLP—Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional—can do that would reflect well on the WNYS Nursery & Landscape Association, (c) because it felt amazingly great to see a neighborhood transformed, or (d) in hopes of attracting new customers. It’s a lot to ask of a landscaper, though… It’s a short season, their paying customers are clamoring for their attention, and it’s never been a get-rich-quick kind of profession! Leaders of the National Garden Festival are working to raise funds and find plant and product donations in the hopes of matching some of the landscapers’ investment. Even if some funds are found, however, the great Front Yard Contest is a labor of love. Western New York has reason to be proud of those fine landscape professionals. The following landscapers participated in the 2011 competition, and they’re encouraging other firms to join during the third year. (First opportunities go to members of the WNYS Nursery & Landscape Association, but within weeks the sign-up opens to other individuals or firms— especially considering the modest sized yards chosen for year three: • Beaver Landscaping, Inc. • Beyond the Basics Property Services, Inc. • Chevalier Outdoor Living • Dore Landscape Associates • Elbers Landscape Service, Inc. • The English Gardener, Ltd • Murray Brothers Nurseries, Inc. • T. O’Donnell Landscaping • Restorff’s Landscape Service ABOVE: Landscapers and homeowners proudly gather to commemorate the completion of a block of front yards on Newmann Place, South Buffalo, 2011
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 49
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50 | March-April 2012
tours (one to four every weekend), 8 bus tours, 70 Open Gardens, educational programs, an art sale and a Front Yard Contest, there’s a lot of explaining to do! For the first time the National Garden Festival will publish the National Garden Festival Directory, with a calendar and all the details to help you find what to do and where to do it. It will be produced back-to-back with The Open Gardens Book, a guide to the 70 private, wonderful gardens that visitors can see on their own, on Thursdays or Fridays, without the crowds. “Open Gardens” proved to be one of the best features of the first two National Garden Festival years, so join the visitors from 24 states, Canada and all over Western New York, and be sure to take the camera. Both books will be available at the Plantasia Garden and Landscape show—at the National Garden Festival booth, at the Visitors Center (617 Main Street, Buffalo), and at some area garden centers. Most information is also online at www. nationalgardenfestival.com. The Upstate Gardeners Journal will also include calendar items to cover the garden walks, tours, classes and events. Sally Cunningham is Executive Director of the National Garden Festival. The Festival operates as a not-for-profit (501c3) through VisitBuffaloNiagara, and is seeking sponsorship to support the Front Yard Competition and other garden tourism components. For more information: www.nationalgardenfestival.com
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Calendar BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS 8th District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State Inc. Adrienne Pasquariello, District Director: 716/681-1047; gardenclubsofwny.com. African Violet and Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Tuesday of each month, September June, at 7:30 pm, LVAC Building, 40 Embry Place, Lancaster. 716/652-8658; avgswny@verizon.net; gesneriadsociety.org/chapters/wny. Buffalo Area Daylily Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora. March 18: Local Hybridizers. 716/ 649-8186; lastingdreams@verizon. net. Garden Club of the Tonawandas meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm, Tonawanda City Hall, Community Room. Garden Friends of Clarence meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, September – June, Town Park Clubhouse, 10405 Main Street, Clarence. gardenfriendsofclarence@hotmail.com. Hamburg Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at noon, summer garden tours, Hamburg Community Center, 107 Prospect Avenue, Hamburg. 716/648-0275; droman13@verizon.net. Niagara Frontier Orchid Society (NFOS) meets the first Tuesday following the first Sunday (dates sometimes vary due to holidays, etc.), September – June, Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo. niagarafrontierorchids.org. Niagara Frontier Pond & Koi Club meets the second Friday of each month at 7 pm, Zion United Church of Christ, 15 Koenig Circle, Tonawanda. nfkpc.org. Orchard Park Garden Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 12 pm, Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park. Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club meets the second Saturday of the month at 2 pm, First Baptist Church, 32 Main Street, Silver Creek. March 10: WNY Iris Society Presentation. April 14: The Herbal Medicine Chest. Sue Duecker, 716/934-7608; duke.sue@ roadrunner.com. South Town Gardeners meets the second Friday of the month (except January) at 10:30 am, Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center, 2001 Union Road, West Seneca. New members welcome. Western New York Carnivorous Plant (CP) Club meets the first Tuesday of the month, 6:30 pm. wnycpclub@aol.com; facebook.com/pages/WNYCarnivorous-Plant-Club. Western New York Herb Study Group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo. Western New York Honey Producers, Inc. First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora. wnyhpa.org. Western New York Hosta Society, contact for meeting dates and location. 716/941-6167; h8staman@aol. com; wnyhosta.com. Western New York Iris Society meets the first Sunday of the month in members’ homes and gardens. Information about growing all types of irises and complementary perennials. Shows. Sale. Guests welcome. Pat Kluczynski: 716/633-9503; patrizia@ roadrunner.com. Western New York Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm, St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. No December meeting. March 21: Un-Winterizing, Pruning & Spraying Your Roses. April 18: Planting Your New Rose Bush.
52 | March-April 2012
wnyrosesociety.org. Wilson Garden Club generally meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm, Community Room, Wilson Free Library, 265 Young Street, Wilson. Meetings open to all, community floral planting, spring plant sale, local garden tours. 716/751-6334; wilsongardenclub@aol.com. Youngstown Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 100 Church Street, Youngstown.
Frequent hosts 8thDIST: 8th District Federated Garden Club, Adrienne Pasquariello, District Director, 716/681-1047; apasquarie@roadrunner.com. BECBG: Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218. 716/827-1584; buffalogardens.com. MENNE: Menne Nursery, 3100 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, NY 14228. 716/693-4444; mennenursery.com. REIN: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew, NY 14043. 716/6835959; dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html. ZTL: Zittel’s Country Market, 4415 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, NY 14075. 716/649-3010; zittels.com.
CLASSES / EVENTS • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families. Ongoing: Artists & Vendors Wanted. Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale, June 24, held in conjunction with National Garden Festival. Original garden art in any medium, garden-related arts & crafts, architectural remnants, found or repurposed art, vintage outdoor signs, etc. Parkside Lodge, Delaware Park, Buffalo. nationalgardenfestival.com. • Ongoing: After-School Escape, Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Different outdoor activity each week. Grades K through 5. Free. REIN • Ongoing: Sunday Kids Programs, fourth Sunday of each month, 11 am – 1 pm. New activity each month. Ages 4 – 10. included with admission. BECBG March 10: Annuals & Vegetables – Starting from Seed, 10 am. Sally Cook will discuss materials necessary for seed starting, when to start, and how to transplant seedlings. Discover some of the best and newest seed selections available. Free. Registration required. MENNE March 10: Ecology and the Interaction of Natural Systems in Home Gardens, 11 am – 12 pm. Horticulturist David Clark will explain the delicate and balanced ecosystems of yards. $8 members; $10 non-members; $5 students. Registration required. BECBG March 17: What Makes a Garden Grand?, 10:30 am – 12 pm. Topics discussed will include architectural and other elements, increasing interest and activity by inviting wildlife desirables, plants with more presence, and more. $52; $47 per person for groups of 3 or more. Registration required. Lana’s The Little House, PO Box 267, Forestville. 716/965-2798; lanasthelittlehouse.com. March 19: Canada Blooms Bus Trip. 8thDIST March 20: The Sharpest Tool in the Shed, 6:30 – 8 pm. From rakes and shovels to pruners and trowels,
learn the best tools for the price and why they save time and money in the long run. Sharpening will be discussed, bring your clippers or scissors. $15 members; $20 non-members. Registration required. Greatbatch Pavilion, Martin House Complex, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo. 716/856-3858; darwinmartinhouse.org. • March 22 – 25: Plantasia. Taste of Spring. Garden displays, seminars, vendors, Children’s Discovery Garden. Fairgrounds Event Center and Expo Hall, 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg. plantasiany. com. March 23: Paradise Under Glass, 6 – 9 pm. Preview spring flower show, raffle, refreshments. $25 members, $28 non-members. $30 after March 18. BECBG March 24: Repotting Houseplants, 2 pm. Hands-on workshop to revive weary, pot-bound houseplants. Bring a pot from home or purchase before class. Limit two plants per person. Free. Registration required by March 17. MENNE March 31: Houseplant How-to, 10 – 11 am. Demonstration will cover lighting and watering requirements, planting techniques, fertilizer application and pest troubleshooting. Registration required. ZTL March 31: How to Make a Terrarium, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Learn what is needed to plant your own terrarium. Registration required. ZTL March 31: Designing the Backyard Landscape, 2 pm. Slide presentation and discussion on creating the perfect space. For those starting from scratch or blending new elements with an existing landscape. Free. Registration required. MENNE April 2 – 4: Horticulture School for Judges and Exhibitors. Elks Club, Lancaster. 8thDIST April 9: Enrich your Home – and You – with the Garden’s Plenty, 10: 30 am – 12 pm. Walking tour will discuss collecting, cutting and drying, wreath making, potpourri, herbs for the kitchen and more. $52; $47 per person for groups of 3 or more. Registration required. Lana’s The Little House, PO Box 267, Forestville. 716/965-2798; lanasthelittlehouse.com. April 14: Waking Up Dormant Roses and Fruits, 10 am. Learn how to plant newly purchased dormant plants along with how to wake up and trim the dormant roses asleep in your garden. Free. Registration required. MENNE April 14: Seed Starting at Home, 10 – 11 am. Learn the best ways to start seeds, when and how to transplant and how to prepare your garden or container. Registration required. ZTL • April 14: Worm Composting, 11 am. Learn how to compost with red wiggler worms. Adults and kids ages 8 and up. $3 members; $6 non-members. Registration required. REIN April 14: Beginner Bonsai Basics, 2 pm. Peter Martin will introduce the basics of Bonsai care and give an overall view of which plants can best be used for Bonsai. He will demonstrate pruning and repotting techniques and share information on basic care. Free. Registration required. MENNE April 21: How to Design & Plant a Vegetable Garden, 10 am. Learn how to choose a location for your garden, prepare the soil, select which vegetables to grow, quantities and space needed. Free. Registration required. MENNE April 21: Rose Care Seminar, 10 – 11 am. Presented by Southtowns Rose and Garden Society. Registration required. ZTL April 21: Garlic Mustard Challenge Kick-Off, 11 am. Scout troops, clubs or other organizations compete with other groups to see who can remove the most garlic mustard from the woods from April through
June. Registration required. REIN April 21: Growing a Container Vegetable Garden, 2 pm. Sally Cook will share information on how to choose a container, select the right soil and which vegetable varieties grow well in containers. Light, proper watering and nutritional needs will also be discussed. Free. Registration required. MENNE April 28: Growing Herbs, 10 am. Lee Schreiner will discuss selecting and growing herbs for kitchen use and container gardens along with their historic relationship with humans. Free. Registration required. MENNE April 28: Vegetable Gardening Tips and Techniques, 10 – 11 am. Bill Zittel will cover seeding and planting, fertilization, pest control, and organic vs. inorganic issues. Registration required. ZTL April 28: Trees along the Trail, 10:30 am. Celebrate Arbor Day by learning how to identify trees. Free. Registration required. REIN April 28: Composting 101, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Learn the dos and don’ts of home composting. Registration required. ZTL May 2: Houseplant Potting/Repotting, 6 – 7 pm. Purchase a new plant and pot, or bring your own. Soil, drainage material and assistance provided. Registration required. ZTL May 4 – 6: Open House, 10 am – 5 pm. Chicken Coop Originals, 13245 Clinton Street, Alden. 716/9377837; chickencooporiginals.com. May 5: Gardening in Containers, 10 – 11 am. Learn the basics of container gardening as well as how to choose and arrange the plants. Registration required. ZTL
May 5: Spring Cleanup, 10 am – 12 pm. Outdoor demonstration on how to cultivate, fertilize and edge beds; tips on getting your lawn in shape after winter; proper planting and pruning of trees and shrubs. Rain or shine. Free. Registration required. MENNE • May 5: Earth Day in May, 10 am – 1 pm. Help clear debris from trails and plant tree seedlings. Refreshments provided. Free. Registration required. REIN May 5: Perennials for Color and Interest, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Discussion will include information about selection, location and maintenance of perennials. Registration required. ZTL • May 5 – 6: Spring Fling, 10 am – 4 pm. Classes, flowers, food, garden art, kids’ activities. ZTL May 5 – 6: African Violet Show & Sale, Saturday 12 – 6 pm; Sunday 10 am – 4 pm. Favorite Songs. Presented by African Violet and Gesneriad Society of WNY. Galleria Mall, Galleria Drive, Cheektowaga. 716/652-8658; pfkroll@roadrunner.com. May 11 – 13: Open House, 10 am – 5 pm. Chicken Coop Originals, 13245 Clinton Street, Alden. 716/937-7837; chickencooporiginals.com. May 12: Orchard Park Garden Club Plant Sale, 8 am – 2 pm. Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, accent plants & hanging baskets. Gift certificates: 716/6625248. Railroad Depot, behind Library, Orchard Park. May 12: Vegetables – Grow Your Own, 8:30 am – 1:10 pm. Presented by NYS Master gardeners. Demonstration gardens, hands-on activities, door prizes, giveaways. Free; donations gratefully accepted. Registration required. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville. 716/5325477; 716/860- 3936.
May 12: English Garden Trough Workshop, 10 am. Make your own hypertufa container. $35 advance; $40 day of. Registration required. Chicken Coop Originals, 13245 Clinton Street, Alden. 716/9377837; chickencooporiginals.com. May 12: Mothers Day Make it for Mom, 10 am – 2 pm. Choose a container & plants from a preselected assortment. Soil, drainage material, topdressing and assistance included. Registration required. ZTL
Save the Date… May 16 – 20: National Garden Club Convention. Adams Mark, Buffalo. 8thDIST May 19: Garden Faire, 9 am – 3 pm. Plant sale, garden books, bird houses, feeders, garden deco. Speakers, informational booths, vendors, kids’ projects, raffle. Presented by Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club. Silver Creek Gazebo and Park, Silver Creek. 716/934-7608; duke.sue@roadrunner.com. May 19: Fun with Herbs, 10 – 11 am. Master Gardener Lee Schreiner will discuss kitchen herbs and how to use them, herb gardens and containers. Registration required. ZTL May 19: Plant for Hope. Fundraiser to benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Bedford’s Greenhouse, 6820 Cedar Street, Akron. 716/542-6110. bedfordsgreenhouse.com. May 19 – 20: The Great Plant Sale, 9 am – 4 pm. BECBG May 19 – 20: Bonsai Show, 10 am – 5 pm. Presented by Buffalo Bonsai Society. BECBG
Plants that Work for You
Amanda’s Garden Native Perennial Nursery
Spring Wildflowers Days Saturday and Sunday, May 5th & 6th 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Celebrate Native Plants: Come tour our gardens, many spring wildflowers will be in bloom. Rare native wildflowers in a garden setting. Large selection of potted native perennial plants available. Open weekends from 9 am to 5 pm beginning April 7, 2012 Amanda’s Garden • 8410 Harpers Ferry Road, Springwater, NY 14560 (585) 750-6288 • amandasgarden@frontiernet.net www.amandagarden.com
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 53
Calendar BUFFALO continued June 2: Odyssey to Ithaca. Upstate Gardeners’ Journal. 585/538-4980; upstategardenersjournal.com. June 22 – July 29: National Buffalo Garden Festival. A five-week celebration of the Greater Buffalo area’s garden walks, talks, tours, and events. nationalgardenfestival.com. June 24: Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale, 10 am – 6 pm. Original garden art from a wide variety of artists & vendors. Garden clubs & societies information booths. Parkside Lodge, Delaware Park, Buffalo. nationalgardenfestival.com. July 7 – 8: Lockport in Bloom, 10 am – 4 pm. Selfguided walking/driving tour featuring more than 40 historic homes and gardens plus city parks containing well maintained flower beds and trees. Rain or shine. Free. lockportinbloom.com July 14 – 15: Hamburg Garden Walk, 10 am – 4 pm. Self-guided. Vendors. Maps: Memorial Park bandstand, Lake & Union Streets. Rain or shine. 716/648-7544; hamburggardenwalk.com. July 28 – 29: Garden Walk Buffalo. Self-guided tour of 370+ urban gardens and historic neighborhoods. Free. Rain or shine. gardenwalkbuffalo.com August 4: Black Rock & Riverside Tour of Gardens, 10 am – 5 pm. Self-guided, features more than 60 gardens. Free. 716/851-5116. brrgardenwalk.com. August 4: Starry Night Garden Tour, 8 – 10pm. Selfguided, features more than 20 gardens. Part of the Black Rock & Riverside Tour of Gardens. Free. 716/851-5116. brrgardenwalk.com. August 25: Hosta & Daylily Sale. Many varieties, featuring many large hosta. Presented by WNY Hosta Society. VFW Post, 965 Center Road, West Seneca. 716/941-6167; h8staman@aol.com; wnyhosta.com.
ITHACA REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS Adirondack Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (AC/NARGS). Free and open to all. March 17: Troughs; seedling exchange. April 21: Container Rock Gardening with Hypertufa. acnargs.blogspot. com. Windsor NY Garden Group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 10 am, members’ homes or Windsor Community House, 107 Main Street, Windsor. windsorgardengroup.suerambo. com.
Frequent hosts BAK: Bakers’ Acres, 1104 Auburn Road (Route 34), Groton, NY. 607/533-4653; bakersacres.net.
CLASSES / EVENTS • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families. March 12 – April 4: Organic Gardening – Distance Learning Course. Broaden your understanding of organic techniques for all kinds of gardens, including vegetables, fruits, flowers and ornamentals, and lawns. $300. Registration required. Cornell University. mw38@cornell.edu; cornell.edu. March 31: Basic Fruit Tree Pruning, 1 – 3 pm. Jim Eve will cover the purpose of pruning and the
54 | March-April 2012
fundamentals of fruit tree growth and production. He will coach participants on how to decide which cuts to make and how much to take off. Indoor and outdoor class. $15. Registration required by March 28. BAK April 13 & 14: Mushroom Cultivation. Beginner/ intermediate hands-on workshop. Participants will be trained in two methods of mushroom cultivation (bolt and totem), laying yard considerations, and assist in a research project. $65; $35 if not staying in cabin bunks. Registration required by March 31. Cornell University. cornell.edu/campmushroom.html. April 14 – May 23: Inside, Outside: The Art of Landscape Painting, 8 Wednesdays, 2 – 4:30 pm. Using mainly watercolors, artist Camille Doucet will lead this hands-on workshop on landscape painting for adults. All ability levels. Presented by Cornell Plantations & Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. $180 members; $200 non-members. Registration required. Cornell Plantations: km274@cornell.edu; 607/255-7430. Johnson Museum: hd78@cornell. edu; 607/254-4616. April 21: Growing Organic Herbs & Using Beneficial Insects, 10 am – 12 pm. Learn which beneficials are the most effective on pests that attack herbs. Tour the herb greenhouse and see insect communities (pest and predators) in action. Participants will take home a small dish garden with a few habitat plants. $20. Registration required by April 18. BAK April 28: Making a Miniature Fairy Container Garden, 10 am – 12 pm. Fairy Gardens often include props, tools and tiny whimsical toys along with favorite flowers, herbs or perennials. Combination lecture and hands-on workshop. Bring a small container and props or purchase on-site. $10. Registration required by April 25. BAK April 29 – May 27: Wildflower Walk, Fridays, 1 pm. Join staff from Cornell Plantations on a guided wildflower walk. Rain or shine. Free. Visitor Center, Sapsucker Woods, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca. 607/255-2400; cornellplantations.org.
Save the Date… May 19: Spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale, 9 am – 2 pm. Over 50 area growers and local garden groups. Specialty rock garden plants, native plants, uncommon shrubs and trees, sturdy and dependable perennials and colorful annuals. NYS Armory, Rt. 13 at Hanshaw Road. 607/272-2292; email pc21@cornell.edu.
ROCHESTER REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet Society of Rochester meets the first Wednesday of each month, September – May, at 7 pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester. All are welcome. Bob or Linda Springer: 585/413-0606; blossoms002@yahoo.com. Bonsai Society of Upstate New York meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Brighton Town Park Lodge, Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester. 585/334-2595; bonsaisocietyofupstateny. org. Fairport Garden Club meets the thirrd Thursday evening of each month (except August and January). Accepting new members. fairportgc@gmail.com; fairportgardenclub.org. Garden Club of Brockport meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 pm, Clarkson Schoolhouse, Ridge Road, east of Route 19. Speakers, hands-on sessions. Kathy Dixon: 585/4310509; kadixon@excite.com.
Garden Path of Penfield meets the third Wednesday of the month from September through May at 7 pm, Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Road, Penfield. Members enjoy all aspects of gardening; new members welcome. gardenpathofpenfield@ gmail.com. Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS) meets every month from September through May at the Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester, on the first Monday following the first Sunday of each month (dates sometimes vary due to holidays, etc.). The GROS is an Affiliate of The American Orchid Society (AOS) and of The Orchid Digest Corporation. geneseeorchid.org. Genesee Valley Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society (GVC NARGS) meets monthly from April through October. Information: jsamolis@ rochester.rr.com; gvnargs.blogspot.com. Newsletter: jhoeffel@aol.com. Genesee Valley Hosta Society meets the second Thursday of January, March, May, September & November at Monroe County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. 585/538-2280; sebuckner@frontiernet.net. Genesee Valley Pond & Koi Club meets the first Friday of the month at 7 pm, Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. bobwheeler58@ gmail.com. Gesneriad Society meets the first Wednesday of each month, September – May, at 6:30 pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester. All are welcome. Bob or Linda Springer: 585/413-0606; blossoms002@yahoo.com. Greater Rochester Iris Society meets Sundays at 2 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. Next meetings: March 11 & April 29. 585/599-3502; eschnell@ rochester.rr.com. Greater Rochester Perennial Society (GRPS) meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 pm, Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester, except in summer when it tours members’ gardens. April 5: Spring into Action with K.C. Fahy-Harvick. laburt@rochester. rr.com; rochesterperennial.com. Greater Rochester Rose Society holds monthly meetings at the Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. Public seminars, June rose show, garden adventures. 585/621-8780; info@ rocrose.org; rocrose.org. Henrietta Garden Club meets the third Wednesday of the month (except July and August) at 6:45 pm, Henrietta Town Hall (lower level, door facing library). Open to all interested in gardens, flowers, and sharing information about plants. March 21: Soil Preparation with George Miller. April 18: Perennials with Laurie Burtner. henriettagardenclub@gmail. com. Holley Garden Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm, Holley Presbyterian Church. 585/638-6973. Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets the third Thursday of each month (except December and February) at 10 am, First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. 585/872-0678; 585/586-0794. Kendall Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, Kendall Town Hall. 585/659-8289; justadesignabove.com. Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of most months at 1 pm, Trinity Reformed Church, 909 Landing Road North, Rochester, except in the summer, when it tours members’ gardens. Visitors welcome. 585/249-0624; 585/865-2291; gwebster@ rochester.rr.com. Rochester Herb Society meets the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January & February) at
12 pm, Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. June-August garden tours. New members welcome. Rochester Permaculture Center, meets monthly to discuss topics such as edible landscapes, gardening, farming, renewable energy, green building, rainwater harvesting, composting, local food, forest gardening, herbalism, green living, etc. Meeting location and details: meetup.com/ rochesterpermaculture. Rochester Water Garden Society meets the third Monday of the month, 7:30 pm, at members’ homes. 585/672-5857; RWGS@rochester.rr.com; sunkissedaquatics.com. Soil, Toil & Thyme Garden Club. 585/589-1640; elfreda. stangland@gmail.com. Valentown Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of each month; time alternates between noon and 7 pm. Victor. Kathleen Houser, president: 585/3016107.
CLASSES / EVENTS • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families. Ongoing: Garden Tours, by appointment. Pre-season tours of seedling beds and daylily gardens. Enchanted Gardens, official AHS display gardens, Region 4. Kathleen Kosel, 585/265-9635; kathleenkosel@hotmail.com. March 3: Wake-up Your Garden, 10 am – 12 pm. Join Master Gardener Beth Warren to learn basic tasks which will help prepare you and your garden for spring. Free. Registration required. TINK March 6: Starting from Seed, 6 – 9 pm. Megan Meyer will cover techniques for sowing annual, perennial and vegetable seeds, the merits of buying seed versus collecting your own, timing for indoor and outdoor plantings, and indoor seed-starting setups. Hands-on. $28 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 7 & 14: Basic Stonework, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. In this two-part class, Pietro Furgiuele will cover the basics of planning a stonework project that is appropriate to your site and properly installed for years of use. $50 members; $60 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 8: Herbaceous Perennials, 6 – 8:30 pm. Marcella Klein will focus on perennials that provide a long season of color in Upstate NY while requiring minimal upkeep, plus those that flourish under difficult conditions like poor soil, steep slopes, deep shade, and deer. $30 members; $40 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 10: Gardening in Containers, 9 – 11 am. Create miniature gardens in your own containers. Learn the basics of soil and plant selection. $10. CCE/MON March 10: Pesticides – Synthetic and Natural, 10 am – 12 pm. Join Master Gardener Beth Warren to learn what defines pesticides and why and how they are used. Examples of both synthetic and natural pesticides available to the homeowner will be given. Free. Registration required. TINK March 10: Beneficial Insects, 2 pm. Instructor: Ruth Schutt, Master Gardener. Free. Registration required. WAY March 10 – 11: Philadelphia Flower Show & Longwood Gardens Tour. Join Michael Warren Thomas on this popular bus trip. Flower Show theme: Hawaii: Islands of Aloha, details at theflowershow.com. $395 per person (double) includes everything except dinner at the Flower Show and lunch at Longwood Gardens; add $55 for a single. 585/703-9237; savourlife.com.
Frequent hosts BRI: Bristol’s Garden Center, 7454 Victor Pittsford Road, Victor, NY. 585/924-2274; bristolsgardencenter.com. CCE/MON: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County, 249 Highland Ave., Rochester, NY 14620. 585/461-1000; counties.cce.cornell. edu/monroe. CCE/WC: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Wayne County, 1581 Route 88 North, Newark, NY 14513. 315/331-8415; counties.cce.cornell.edu/ wayne. GLT: Genesee Land Trust, 46 Prince Street, Suite LL005, Rochester, NY 14607. 585/256-2130; info@geneseelandtrust.org; geneseelandtrust. org. LET: Letchworth State Park Interpretive Program, 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427; 585/493-3625. RCGC: Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620. 585/473-5130; rcgc. org. RPC: Rochester Permaculture Center, PO Box 18212, Rochester, NY 14618. 585/5066505; patty@barefootpermaculture.com; rochesterpermaculturecenter.org. RR: Rochester Roots. Learn step-by-step skills to help make urban gardening efforts successful. Hands-on. 121 N. Fitzhugh Street, Rochester, NY 14614. 585/232-1463; rochesterroots.org. SG: Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. 585/394-4922; sonnenberg.org. TINK: Tinker Nature Park, Hansen Nature Center, 1525 Calkins Road, Henrietta. 585/359-7044; naturecenter@henrietta.org; sites.google.com/ site/hansennaturecenter. WAY: Wayside Garden Center, 124 PittsfordPalmyra Road (Route 31), Macedon, NY 14502. 585/223-1222 x100; trish@waysidegardencenter. com; waysidegardencenter.com.
March 11: DIY Landscape Design, 2 pm. Preliminary workshop will help determine your best design direction for projects large and small. Free. Registration required. WAY March 13: Herbaceous and Softwood Cuttings, 7 – 9 pm. Carolyn VanNess will lead this in-depth session on propagating annuals, perennials, houseplants and shrubs using softwood cuttings. Emphasis will be on selecting proper tools and growing medium, use of rooting hormones and proper timing. $22 members; $28 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 15: GardenScape Preview Party, 5:30 – 8 pm. Proceeds benefit the Epilepsy Foundation. $50, advance sale only. Monroe County Fair & Expo Center, Henrietta. epilepsy-uny.org. March 15: Woody Ornamentals, 6 – 9 pm. Christine Froehlich will share her method of categorizing woodies according to shape, structure, growth habit, color and scale to help simplify the choices and create more effective designs. $36 members; $46 non-members. Registration required. RCGC • March 15 – 18: GardenScape. Recipe for Springtime. Garden displays, Children’s Garden, Early Bird Tours, seminars, entertainment, vendors. Monroe County Fair & Expo Center, Henrietta. rochesterflowershow. com March 17: Soap Making with Herbs, 10 am – 12 pm. Beth Byrne, Hand Crafted Soap Makers Guild, will
demonstrate techniques of soap making using a variety of herbs and oils. Free. Registration required. TINK March 17: Home Composting, 2 pm. Instructor: Gerry Benedict, Master Gardener. Free. Registration required. WAY • March 18: Kids’ Gardening Workshop, 2 pm. Free. Registration required. WAY March 18: Indoor Ed-venture – Overwintering Mushrooms, 2:30 – 4:30 pm. Focus will be on those species that aid in the decay of wood. Specimens available for study. Free. Visitor Center, Conference Room. LET March 19 – April 16: Landscape Design Studio Series, five Mondays, 6 – 8:30 pm. Topics covered will include analyzing your site, the plant palette, principles of landscape design and renovation, hardscaping, and techniques for drawing out your plan. Hands-on course with landscape designer Mike Tanzini. $210 members; $260. Registration required. RCGC March 20: Planning a Beautiful and Productive Kitchen Garden, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Jarmila Haseler will discuss environmentally friendly methods and how thoughtful plant groupings and crop rotation can increase the harvest. Participants will take home a variety of organic vegetable seeds. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 21: Make a Long-Lasting Wreath for All Seasons, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Floral designer Sue Lang will guide participants in creating a large everlasting wreath using a base of salal (lemon leaf) to embellish with a selection of dried, fresh and silk floral materials, included. $65. Registration required. RCGC March 24: Home Vegetable Gardening Basics, 9 am – 12 pm. Learn how to grow your own vegetables from soil prep to seed and plant selection with Master Gardener Sharon Rosenblum. $10. CCE/ MON March 24: Pruning - The Basics, 9 am – 12 pm. Mike Tanzini will cover basic principles of pruning trees and shrubs, including techniques, timing, and proper equipment. Classroom instruction followed by outdoor demonstration. $36 members; $46 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC March 24: Spring Bulb Baskets, 11 am – 12 pm. Make your own basket with miniature bulbs, violas, mosses and spring figurine. Basket sizes and prices vary. $10 - $25. Registration required. BRI March 24: Garden Club Day, 11 am – 3 pm. Meet & greet atmosphere allowing the public to learn about various garden clubs and organizations in the area. All garden clubs welcome to participate. Free. Grossmans Garden & Home, 1801 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road, Penfield. March 24: Strawbale Gardening, 2 pm. Join Mary MossSprague, Master Gardener and author of Stand Up and Garden to learn about growing vegetables in containers and straw-based raised beds. She will also explain how to set up micro-drip irrigation, using weed barrier, composting techniques, and more. Free. Registration required. WAY March 24 – June 16: Pruning Certificate. Threepart program taught by Mike Tanzini will cover the principles and techniques of pruning shrubs and small trees in the home landscape. Classroom instruction supplemented with in-field demonstrations. March 24: Pruning Basics. April 21: Dormant Season Pruning. June 16: Summer Pruning. $94 members; $130 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 27: Propagating Woody Plants, 6 – 9 pm. Ted Hildebrant will describe and demonstrate cuttings, grafting, budding, layering and seed propagation. $28 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 55
Calendar Rochester continued March 28: Designing with Trees and Shrubs, 7 – 9 pm. Using photos and professional landscape plans, garden designer Marcella Klein will illustrate how to use woody plants for maximum impact and beauty. She’ll also recommend the best trees and shrubs for a variety of situations. $22 members; $32 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC March 31: Pond Management Workshop. $12. Registration required. CCE/WC March 31 – April 1: Spring Open House, 10 am – 4 pm. BRI March 31 – April 1: Orchid Show & Sale, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Displays, demonstrations, vendors, raffle. Presented by Genesee Region Orchid Society. RMSC Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Avenue, Rochester. geneseeorchid.org. March 31 – April 1: Ikebana Exhibit, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 will exhibit Japanese flower arrangements in several school styles. In collaboration with Genesee Region Orchid Society Show & Sale, RMSC Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Avenue, Rochester. ikebanarochester.org. March 31, April 7 & 14: Basic Professional Floral Design Certificate, 9:30 am – 3 pm. Instructor Alana Miller has over 30 years experience in the floral industry. This 15-20 hour comprehensive program will guide students through the basic principles and techniques of floral design. Students will create one or two arrangements to take home in each class. Flowers and materials included. $395 members; $495 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC April 1: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. Presented by Community Forester Volunteers. Moderate hills, wooded trails. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665. CCE/MON
a vegetable garden, make healthy snacks, become food detectives and play “Minute to Win it” style games. Ages 8-11. $25. Registration required. 585/641-1000 x257. CCE/MON April 14: Home Vegetable Gardening Basics, 9 am – 12 pm. See description under March 24. $10. CCE/ MON April 14: Turning Waste to Compost, 10 am – 12 pm. Kathleen Rick will discuss how to build an easy, quick and inexpensive compost bin for garden waste. See working bins on-site for examples. Free. Registration required. TINK April 14: Veggies to Go, 11 am – 12 pm. Learn basic vegetable gardening tips on seed starting and transplants. Create a container garden of salad greens or tomatoes. Question & answer session will follow. $20. Registration required. BRI April 15: DIY Landscape Design, 2 pm. See description under march 11. Free. Registration required. WAY April 15: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. See description under April 1. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665. CCE/MON April 16: Monet’s Gardens. Photographer and gardener Elizabeth Murray will show photographs and share her experience working at Monet’s Gardens. Proceeds benefit Palm House Restoration Project. $50 morning lecture; $100 morning lecture & lunch; $25 afternoon lecture on photographing gardens; $125 entire day. Registration required. George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue, Rochester. 585/271-3361 x290; eastmanhouse.org. April 17: Flowering Plant Pollination by Native Bees, 7 – 8 pm. Bob Minckley, U of R Biology Department, will present an overview of the biology of all bees, from solitary to social, and show how this group is ecologically vital to properly functioning ecosystems. He will show that novel insights into pollination are possible if plant-pollinator interactions are viewed from the perspective of bees rather than from that of flowering plants. Free. Registration required. RCGC
April 3: The Why and How of Building an Affordable Rain Barrel, 6:30 – 8 pm. Kimie Romeo will demonstrate how to build a rain barrel and provide detailed instructions on how to build your own from readily available supplies, as well as a list of local suppliers for inexpensive re-purposed 55-gallon barrels. Free. Registration required. RCGC
April 21: Dormant-Season Pruning, 9 am – 12 pm. Mike Tanzini will discuss and demonstrate renovation of overgrown shrubs, pruning of small trees, and corrective pruning. $36 members; $46 non-members. Registration required. RCGC
April 5: Seed Starting, Greenhouse Growing, & Cold Frame Practices, 4 – 6 pm. Participants will learn to make potting soil and get an early start on planting seeds for their gardens. The focus of this workshop will be on starting leafy greens, peppers, and tomatoes. $15. Registration required. RR
April 21 – 22: Edible Forest Garden Installation & Caretake, 9 am – 5 pm. $125 - $175, sliding scale. Registration required. RPC
April 7: Edible Forest Gardening in a Nutshell, 9 am – 1 pm. Introductory course. Learn to transform traditional lawn landscapes into abundant foodproducing perennial forest gardens. $45 - $60, sliding scale. Registration required. RPC April 7: Dividing Perennials, 10 am – 1 pm. Michael Hannen will demonstrate how, when and where to divide various types of perennials. Class will take place at Michael’s nursery. $22 members; $28 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC April 10: Bonsai Workshop, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Learn the basics of caring for bonsai. Participants will receive a starter plant to transplant, trim, and learn how to artistically landscape. Materials included. $60. Registration required. RCGC April 11: Plant an Indoor/Outdoor Dish Garden, 7 – 9 pm. Arranged in a versatile basket, this living garden can be enjoyed inside and planted outside at a later date. Floral designer Alana Miller will share growing and care information. Materials included. $35 members; $40 non-members. Registration required. RCGC • April 12: Grow it, Try it, Like it! – Day Camp for Kids, 9 am – 3 pm. Kids learn how to be localvores, plant 56 | March-April 2012
• April 21: Kids’ Seed Starting Workshop, 2 – 4 pm. Free. Registration required. WAY
April 21 – 22: Ikebana Exhibit, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Floral displays, hourly demonstrations. Presented by Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53. Free. Barnes & Noble @ R.I.T., 100 Park Point Drive, Rochester. ikebanarochester.org. April 21 – 22: African Violet Show & Sale, 12 – 5 pm Saturday; 11 am – 4 pm Sunday. Literary Violets. Presented by African Violet Society of Rochester. Perinton Square Mall, Routes 250 & 31, Fairport. April 22: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. See description under April 1. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665. CCE/MON April 24: Coming Home - Rethinking Foundation Plantings, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Join landscape designer Christine Froehlich for a slide-lecture which explores a variety of approaches to injecting new life into the gardens at the entrance to your home. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC April 25: Spring Perennial Container, 11 am – 12 pm. Create a mixed container of shade or sun loving plants for your porch or patio. A range of container styles will be offered. $25 - $35. Registration required. BRI April 26 & 28: Wildflowers, Thursday 6 – 9 pm; Saturday 10 am – 12:30 pm, field trip, Harris Whalen Park. Naturalist Carol Southby will focus on spring
wildflowers and teach participants to use a field guide for identification. $46 members; $56 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC April 28: Perennial Gardening, 9 – 11 am. Master Gardener John Colagrosso will share his experience in his presentation: Planning, Implementing and Maintaining a Perennial Flower Bed. $10. CCE/MON April 28: Intermediate Professional Floral Design Certificate - Bouquets, 9:30 am – 3 pm. Styles covered will include vegetative, landscape, botanical, Biedermeier, and bouquets. Students will take home all arrangements created during class. Prerequisite: Basic Professional Floral Design (see March 31) or floral shop experience. $150 members; $225 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC April 28: Attracting Birds to the Landscape, 10 am – 2 pm. Presented by ornithologist Dr. Christopher White. $18 members; $20 non-members. Registration required. SG April 28: Soil Testing & Soil Preparation, 1 – 4 pm. Learn how to test and assess your soil for nutrients, heavy metals, pH, and other characteristics. Learn techniques that build healthy soil through sheet mulching, composting, no-till gardening, and permaculture. Includes soil test kit and instruction sheet. $15. Registration required. RR April 28: Early Spring Native Wildflower Identification, 2 pm. Hands-on workshop to learn to identify spring wildflowers. Registration required. Amanda’s Garden, 8410 Harper’s Ferry Road, Springwater. 585/750-6288; amandasgarden@frontiernet.net; amandagarden.com. April 28: Thyme for Herbs, 2 pm. Instructor: Ruth Schutt, Master Gardener. Free. Registration required. WAY April 29: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. See description under April 1. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665. CCE/MON April 29: May Day Celebration, 2 – 6 pm. Join the Peacework farmers and members of the Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture. Explore the trails of the wildflower-filled woods of the Kraai Preserve, tour the farm, dance around the maypole and enjoy a potluck supper. Rain date: May 10. Peacework Farm, Arcadia. gvocsa.org. GLT May 1: Gardens Open. SG May 2: Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest – Natural and Herbal Alternatives, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Alexandra ‘Sandi’ DeWispelaere will discuss natural alternatives to skin, body, and household cleaning products. Practical ideas and applications will be shared along with references and resources. $15 members; $20 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC May 3: Advanced Workshop: Decorating with Colored Aluminum Wire, 7 – 9 pm. Floral Designer Alana Miller will demonstrate numerous ways to use this season’s hottest new material. Participants will create an assortment of items to take home. $30 members; $36 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 5: Plant Sale, 9 – 11 am. Presented by Victor Garden Club. Perennials, ground covers, herbs. Grown by club members or donated by community members. Proceeds benefit civic beautification projects. Victor Free Library, 15 West Main Street, Victor. May 5: Garden Maintenance Skills, 9 am – 12 noon. Christine Froehlich will discuss planting, watering, soil preparation (including composting and mulch), fertilizers, deadheading and basic pruning, pest and disease monitoring, and perennial division. Outdoor class. $32 members, $42 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 5: Spring Wildflowers, 10 am. Led by Carl Herrgesell, Frank Crombe, Rick Iuli. Thousand Acre Swamp, 158l Jackson Road, Penfield. 585/586-6677. facebook.com/thousandacreswamp. May 5: Wildflower Walk, 10 am – 12 pm. Join naturalists Dave and Carol Southby, explore hillside trail to see first flowers of spring. Optional extension into
wetland at bottom of hill, muddy spots and poison ivy, dress appropriately. Meet: Bunker Hill entrance. Garargua Creek Meadow Preserve, Macedon. GLT • May 5: Mother’s Day Container Planting Workshop, 2 – 4 pm. Adults & children welcome. Bring your own container or purchase on-site. Soil & assistance provided. Reservation required. WAY May 5: Garden Blessing and Tour, 4 – 7 pm. Tour edible forest garden, permaculture systems, and perennial vegetables. Potluck dinner to follow. $3 - $33. Registration required. RPC May 5 – 6: Spring Wildflowers Days, 10 am – 4 pm. Rare, native wildflowers in a garden setting. Large selection of potted native perennial plants available for sale. Amanda’s Garden, 8410 Harper’s Ferry Road, Springwater. 585/750-6288; amandasgarden@ frontiernet.net; amandagarden.com. May 5 – 6: Ganondagan Opening Weekend. Ganondagan State Historic Site, 1488 State Route 444, Victor. ganondagan.org. May 6: Plant Walk, 10 am. Ganondagan State Historic Site, 1488 State Route 444, Victor. ganondagan.org. May 6 – June 3: Flower City Days at The Market. Sundays, May 6 – June 3; Friday, May 25; Monday, May 28. Over 250 local nurseries and growers selling plants and garden accessories. Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union Street, Rochester. May 7 – 8: Hypertufa Garden Troughs, Tuesday 7 – 9 pm; Wednesday 7 – 8 pm. Alana Miller will guide participants through the creation of their own hypertufa planter. First class: mix and mold the hypertufa. Second evening: unmold your container, discuss wintering it over, and see how Alana uses these planters in the landscape. Materials included. $65 members; $75 non-members. Registration
required. RCGC
Schlegel Road, Webster. websterarboretum.org.
May 9: Spring Blooms Tour, 6 – 7:30 pm. Visit Michael Hannen’s nursery for a tour highlighting unusual spring-blooming flowers. Arrive early to shop or preview the gardens. $10 members; $15 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC May 10: Soirée – The Nashes’ Glorious Garden in May, 6:30 – 8 pm. Enjoy an informal get-together with a show of primulas, heathers, daffodils, trillium, flowering currant, mertensia, rhododendrons, ‘Herbert’ azaleas, bleeding hearts, the new foliage of Japanese maples, and more. $12. Registration required. RCGC May 11 – 20: Lilac Festival. Highland Park, Rochester. lilacfestival.com. May 11 – 20: Visit Ellwanger Garden, 10 am – 4 pm. Open during Lilac Festival. Historic landscape originally planted in 1867 by nurseryman George Ellwanger. Few blocks from Lilac festivities. $5 suggested donation. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester. Landmark Society of Western NY, 585/546-7029 x15; landmarksociety.org. May 11 – 20: Plant Sale, 10 am – 8 pm. Presented by Master Gardeners of Monroe County. Locally grown annuals, perennials, organic vegetables, herbs, shrubs, trees and lilacs. Master Gardeners available to answer questions. CCE/MON May 12: Plant Sale, 8 – 11:30 am. Presented by Master Gardeners of Wayne County. Plants provided by local nurseries and from Master Gardeners’ private collections. CCE/WC May 12: Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Perennials from standard to uncommon, annuals, lilacs, dwarf conifers, geraniums, dahlias, various garden club offerings and more. Webster Arboretum, 1700
May 12: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Kent Park, Arboretum Plant Sale, Webster. May 12: Mother’s Day Combination, 11 am – 12 pm. Choose a basket or decorative pot as a container to fill with colorful long-blooming annuals. Add a bow and gift tag if desired. $25. Registration required. BRI • May 12: Mother’s Day Combination, 11 am – 12 pm. Children create a gift for Mom. $15; 2 or more siblings $10 each. Registration required. BRI • May 12: Mother’s Day Container Planting Workshop, 11 am – 1 pm. See description under May 5. Reservation required. WAY May 12: Strawbale Gardening, 2 pm. See description under March 24. Free. Registration required. WAY May 13: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 1 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Rochester Public Market. May 13: Edible Mushroom Inoculation for Backyard Growers and Gardeners. Steve Gabriel, Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute, will lead this part science, part art project of edible mushroom growing. $60 - $100, sliding scale. Registration required. RPC
Save the Date… May 16: Spring Tour – Trees of Highland Park, 6 – 8 pm. Join arborphile and local tree expert Jim Atwater for a tour of this living museum of unusual plants from around the globe. Be prepared to walk a moderate distance over hilly terrain. $15 members; $20 non-members. Registration required. RCGC
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Expanded Greentopia festival set With 18,000 attendees, 140 vendors, 24 hours of music and more than a dozen films, Greentopia 2011 was Rochester’s first annual celebration of all things green. Expanding from two days to five, this year’s Greentopia is going to be bigger and better. Greentopia 2012 will take place September 12th-16th featuring everything festival goers loved from last year, plus new attractions: Greentopia|FILM, Greentopia|INNOVATION, Greentopia|MUSIC and making a return, Greentopia|ECOFEST. Last year, Greentopia featured 14 environmentally focused films. This year, film programming will be an integrated, yet distinct “festival within a festival,” running from September 12th-14th. Films presented will focus on sustainable solutions, green business practices, environmental issues, and more. Greentopia|FILM will be a platform where movie producers and directors can meet with the community, organizations, and individuals to present and discuss the future of sustainability through film.
green practices and sustainable culture with up and coming musical acts, this major concert series will feature artists that share Greentopia’s vision and mission: to motivate, educate and inspire people to adopt sustainable practices into their everyday lives.
Formerly the Center for Environmental Initiatives’s Triple Bottom Line, Greentopia|INNOVATION will be a dynamic green business conference on September 14th, connecting professionals with diverse backgrounds, experience and knowledge. This business-to-business event will present opportunities to strengthen professional networks, share business practices, and obtain insight into up and coming sustainable technologies. Also evolving is Greentopia|MUSIC. Working in concert with Water Street Music Hall, Greentopia 2012 will feature a two-day music experience September 14th-15th. Pairing an enthusiasm for
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Greentopia|ECOFEST will be a two-day worlds fair of art, ideas and activism, where attendees can immerse themselves in everything sustainable that the region has to offer. There will be special activities for kids, recycled art installations, an alternative fuel vehicle show, live music, and mouth watering organic local foods and beverages. Greentopia|ECOFEST will take place on September 15th and 16th. Greentopia 2012 will present a unique convergence of film, music, emerging technologies and thought leadership that will foster creativity, professional growth and take individuals, organizations and the Rochester region into a new and greener future.
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Refreshments served-Reservations recommended Saturday, March 24, 2PM Strawbale Gardening Saturday, May 12, 2PM Container Gardening (a perfect Mother’s Day gift and/or outing) Available from Amazon. See our website for specials, more seminars and price lists at: waysidegardencenter.com Come in, call in or contact Trish at trish@waysidegardencenter for a $5.00 OFF coupon for any NEW E-Club sign-ups. Coupon will be e-mailed to you toward your next $15.00+ purchase.
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124 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Macedon, NY 14502 (585) 223-1222 www.waysidegardencenter.com
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6611 Rtes. 5 & 20 Bloomfield (585) 657-7165
Calendar Rochester continued May 19: Native Plant Sale, 8:30 am – 2 pm. Native plants, shrubs, trees and herbs. Brighton Town Hall, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester. GLT May 19: Spring Planting for an Early Harvest, 1 – 4 pm. Get an early start on the growing season through the direct seeding of peas, beans, root crops, and leafy greens which thrive in cool weather. Includes seeds. $15. Registration required. RR May 19 – 20; 26 – 28; June 2 – 3: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers. Historic gardens feature a distinguished collection of Japanese and American tree peonies. Linwood Gardens, 1912 York Road, Linwood. 585/584-3913; linwoodgardens.org. May 20 – 21: Upstate New York Bonsai Exhibition. Monroe Community Hospital. bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org. May 26: Proud Market Plant Sale. Vendors include garden clubs and small independent plant specialists. RCGC June 2: Odyssey to Ithaca. RCGC June 2 – 3: Peony Weekend. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester. Landmark Society of Western NY, 585/546-7029; landmarksociety.org. June 9 – 10: National Bonsai Exhibition. Over 100 different species and cultivars will be displayed, demonstrations, vendor area. Monroe County Fair & Expo Center, Henrietta. internationalbonsai.com. June 20: Garden Tour, 4 – 8 pm. Welcome to Summer. Featuring gardens in the Sodus/Sodus Point area. Presented by Master Gardeners of Wayne County. $10. mgwayne@cornell.edu. CCE/WC June 23: Backyard Habitat Tour. GLT July 14: Summer Garden Tour. RCGC July 29: Iris Rhizome Sale, 10 am – 2 pm. Presented by Greater Rochester Iris Society. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. 585/599-3502; eschnell@rochester.rr.com. August 18 – 19: Arts at the Gardens, 10 am – 5 pm. Fine art & craft show featuring 100 artists from across the US. Rain or shine. SG September 11 – 16: Greentopia Festival. Exhibitors, speakers, vendors, artists. High Falls, Rochester. greentopiafestival.com.
SYRACUSE REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS: African Violet Society of Syracuse meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm, September – May. Membership open to all interested in the culture, care and propagation of African violets. Visitors welcome. Andrews United Methodist Church, 106 Church Street, North Syracuse. 315/492-2562; kgarb@twcny. rr.com; avsofsyracuse.org. Central New York Orchid Society meets the first Sunday of the month, September – May, St. Augustine’s Church, 7333 O’Brien Road, Baldwinsville. Dates may vary due to holidays. 315/633-2437; cnyos.org. Gardeners of Syracuse meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm, Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Avenue. 315/464-0051. Gardeners in Thyme (a women’s herb club) meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm, Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville. 315/635-6481; hbaker@ twcny.rr.com. Habitat Gardening Club of CNY (HGCNY) meets the last Sunday of most months at 2 pm, Liverpool Public Library. HGCNY is a chapter of Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes; for-wild.org. Meetings are free and open to the public. March 25: Natural History of Onondaga Lake. April 29: Bats. 315/487-
5742; hgcny.org. Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York usually meets the third Monday of each month at 7 pm. See web site for meeting locations. 315/4583199; cnykoi.com. Syracuse Rose Society meets the second Thursday of every month (except December and February) at 7 pm. Public welcome. Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Avenue. Club members maintain the E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden, Thornden Park, Syracuse. crbau@aol.com; syracuserosesociety.org. Williamson Garden Club. On-going community projects; free monthly lectures to educate the community about gardening. Open to all. 315/524-4204. grow14589@gmail.com; growthewilliamsongardenclub.blogspot.com.
June 15 – 16: Garden Tour, 10 am – 4 pm. What’s Blooming. Presented by Skaneateles Garden Club. Tour 6 residential gardens in Skaneateles. June 23: Rose Show. Hosted by Syracuse Rose Society. syracuserosesociety.org. June 23: Herb & Flower Festival. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Oneida County, 121 Second Street, Oriskany. 736/3394 x125; counties.cce.cornell.edu/ Oneida. July 14 – 15: Finger Lakes Lavender Festival. Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles. 315/685-5369; lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com.
& BEYOND Classes / Events
Classes / Events • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.
• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families. • March 4: Papermaking, 1 – 2:30 pm. Learn easy steps
Frequent host BWNC: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, NY. 315/673-1350; baltimorewoods.org.
• March 1 – 4: CNY in Bloom. It’s Showtime! Garden displays, displays related to living, leisure and lifestyle in CNY, Children’s Discovery Garden, entertainment, speakers & seminars. SRC Event Center at Onondaga Community College, Syracuse. cnyblooms.com. • March 24: Maples and Music, 1 – 4 pm. Tours of the sugarbush and maple sugaring operation at 1:30 & 2:30 pm. Inside, enjoy music and sweet maple treats. $5 members, $15/family; $8 non-members, $25/ family. BWNC April 14: Jewels of the Garden, 9 am – 12 pm. Seminar featuring Dan Heims on Garden Gems that will work in upstate NY and Don Leopold on Success in the Shade. Sponsored by The Men’s Garden Club of Syracuse and Maple Hill Nursery. $40 members; $45 non-members. Registration required. 315/428-8256; mensgardenclubseminar@gmail.com. May 5: Two Seminars, 9 – 11 am. Rugged Plants for Tough Sites and No-Plant Zones: Landscape alternatives where plants just won’t work. Free. Sollecito Landscaping Nursery, 4094 Howlett Hill Road, Syracuse. 315/468-1142; sollecito.com. May 5 – 6: Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. Caretaker Audrey Loewer will lead this walk through the woodland wildflower garden. Handicap accessible; call ahead if assistance is required. Donations appreciated. BWNC May 8: Signs of Spring, 10:30 – 11:30 am. Join a naturalist for a walk along Baltimore Brook in search of signs of spring. $5 members; $8 nonmembers. BWNC May 12 – 13: Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under May 5 – 6. Donations appreciated. BWNC May 13: Mother’s Day Garden Tour, Fine Art Exhibit & Sale, 11 am – 4 pm. Proceeds benefit Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Tour over 30 acres of gardens with flowering shrubs, trees, and bulbs. Picnicking encouraged. Rain or shine. $5 advance; $10 after May 4. Sycamore Hill Gardens, 2130 Old Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus. BWNC
Save the Date… May 19: Native Plant Sale. Ferns, spring & summer flowering natives, including red & white trillium, herbs, hanging baskets all grown by local growers. Free. BWNC
Frequent host PINE: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. 518/456-0655; albanypinebush.org.
to making beautiful and functional recycled paper. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration required. PINE March 4 – 11: Philadelphia Flower Show. Hawaii: Islands of Aloha. theflowershow.com. • March 11: Discover the Pine Bush, 1 – 2 pm. Journey into the Albany Pine Bush, experts will guide a one mile hike over rolling sand dunes. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring drinking water. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration required. PINE April 13 – 14: Great Gardens and Landscaping Symposium. Six lectures, Gardener’s Marketplace, food, door prizes and gifts. Speakers: William Cullina, C.L. Fornari, Lisa Napolitano, Kerry Ann Mendez. Equinox Resort, Manchester, VT. 518/885-3471; pyours.com/symposium. April 14: Symposium: Planting the Seeds of Knowledge for Home Gardeners. Gain insight from garden experts who live and garden in upstate New York and Vermont. Focus will be on practical, easy-toimplement strategies for expanding and improving your garden or landscape. Registration required. King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga, Route 74E, 100 Fort Ti Rd, Ticonderoga. 518/585-2821; fortticonderoga.org. • April 15: Discover the Pine Bush, 1 – 2 pm. See description under March 11. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration required. PINE April 21: April Showers Bring May Flowers, 11 am – 12 pm. Look for spring flowers in bloom in the Pine Bush. Guided one mile hike, rolling terrain. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration required. PINE • April 28: Arbor Day Tree Program, 1 – 2 pm. Discover the importance of trees and the different species in the Pine Bush. $3 per person; $5 per family. Registration required. PINE May 18: Opening Day, 9:30 am – 5 pm. King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga, Route 74E, 100 Fort Ti Rd, Ticonderoga. 518/585-2821; fortticonderoga.org. Deadline for Calendar Listings for the next issue (May – June) is Friday, April 13, 2012. Please send your submissions to deb@upstategardenersjournal.com.
UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL |
Carved Rocks
Choose from our selection or bring your own design. We will carve it deep into the stone. They are used for doorstops, addresses, garden, pet memorials, and room decor. Smallest $12.50 handsized rocks with one name make excellent gifts.
Bring in your used plastic trays, pots, and hanging baskets for 10¢ per pound in credit to spend on plants!
505 FILLMORE AVENUE TONAWANDA 716-743-8007
We will pay for up to 40 pounds but you’re welcome to bring as much plastic as you would like to recycle.
9855 Heroy Road, Clarence Center NY 14032 716/741-3976 lavocatsnursery.com Visit us on Facebook!
100Birdhouses.com
JEFF KOOPUS Cabinet & Chair Maker
Functional and Handmade by Diane Rivers from recycled lumber; adorned with antiques and unusual items.
The store contains much more than birdhouses. Antiques, Americana, silverware windchimes, many handmade items and LOTS of ANGELS. Ginger’s Corner Gift Shop will also be occupying space with Cross My Heart as of March 1st. 61069 State Route 415 (Bet. Avoca and Cohocton), Wallace, NY
email: crossmyheart@stny.rr.com
Store Hours : Weds & Sun 12 - 5 Thu - Sat 10 - 5 607-566-2219
Cross Point Studio 132 Cross Point Road, Edgecomb ME 04556 jskoopus.com • 207/687-2108
From the garden
Spring vegetable antipasto salad Serves 8 Dressing:
2/3 C. heavy cream 1 ½ C. mayonnaise 2-3 T. capers, drained well ½ C. chopped scallions ½ C. chopped fresh parsley or tarragon 2 T. chopped chives 1. Combine all ingredients in food processor & puree until smooth. 2. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
1 lb. pea pods, cooked crisptender & chilled 2 6 oz. jars marinated artichokes hearts, drained Boston or Butter lettuce 1. Halve avocados, peel and pit, cut in chunks into medium bowl & toss with lemon juice. 2. Line a large shallow platter with lettuce. Arrange asparagus spears, avocado chunks, pea pods and artichokes on top. 3. Pour salad dressing over arranged salad. Variations: May add a few cherry or grape tomatoes or tiny whole beets.
Salad:
2 ripe avocados 2 T. lemon juice 1 lb. fresh asparagus, cooked crisp- tender & chilled
Recipe courtesy Marion Morse, Allyn’s Creek Garden Club
Stop and Smell Buffalo’s Roses This Summer... ...on one of our
Garden Festival motorcoach tours Saturday, June 23 ......Buffalo-style Gardens: Artist’s Gardens of Buffalo Friday, June 29 ..........Buffalo’s Historic Gardens and Architecture Friday, July 6 .............The Outlyers: Superior Gardens of Clarence & Lancaster Friday, July 13............Southtowns Bouquet with the Shadrack Garden Friday, July 20 ...........Preview Tour: Best of Buffalo Gardens Saturday, July 21 .......Grassroots and Community Gardens Thursday, July 26.......Southern Tier Scenic Tour: Wine & Flowers Friday, July 27 ...........Gardens of Gardeners: Plant Lovers’ Tour of Buffalo and Northtowns Gardens
A Division of AAA
Call for rates and information • 1-800-242-4244 www.horizonclubtours.com UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 63
Buffalo’s 8th Annual
Come to the Market for: • Spring plants • Lawn/Garden • Bird Seed • Pet Foods & Supplies • Fresh Produce, Deli, Groceries 47 West Main Street Corfu, NY 14036
Jim, Lori, and Ryan Rupracht
(585) 599-6400
Black Rock & Riverside Tour of Gardens & Starry Night Garden Tour See the Beauty of Our Area!
This free, self-guided tour includes 70 day and 25 night gardens. Saturday, Aug 6th: 10am - 5pm Well-lit gardens: 8pm - 10pm
For maps & info: www.brrgardenwalk.com or Call Councilman Golombek: 716.851.5116 Sponsored by
Forevergreens Evergreens, Dwarf & Unusual Conifers, Maples, Oaks & more 716/560-8004 www.forevergreens.net 11398 Bolton Road Springville, NY 14141
Niagara Aquarium We’re into Ponds!
1345 Military Road, Kenmore, NY 14217 Hours : 11-8 m-f | 10-8 sat | 12-5 sun niagaraaquarium.com • We are on facebook! • Phone: 716-874-1951 Come talk with local pond legend Tom Tower!
Der Rosenmeister HEIRLOOM & MODERN ROSE NURSERY Leon Ginenthal OWNER
190 Seven Mile Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
607-273-8610
www.derrosenmeister.com
d
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EHRMENTRAUT LANDSCAPE CONCEPTS
Creative Landscape Design for Individuals who Seek Quality in Craftsmanship
Jon Ehrmentraut 585-768-4690
7175 West Main Rd. LeRoy, NY
• Theme Gardens • Garden • Stone Walls • Water Gardens Renovation • Accent Lighting • Brick and Paver • Garden • Garden Art • Stone Structures • Flagstone Visit our website at elconcepts.biz
Questions & answers
You ask... the experts answer Q: What is the best way to make a garden bed in an existing lawn area? A: This is often asked, and frequently done poorly, leading to great frustration two years later. The fact is, you have to kill the grass somehow. And I mean kill it. The slow way is to put down opaque (black) plastic over the grass for at least a year. You can accomplish the same thing by building a deep new garden bed on top of the grass, so the grass will die from lack of light. That works if you have a weed-free turf, because true lawn grasses have small root systems and don’t run wildly. But if you have a weedy area, with goosegrass, crabgrass, quackgrass and their ilk, you will be sorry because those weeds either have runners or rhizomes (capable of stretching over 2 feet) and/or their seeds and root pieces can lie dormant for years. So they’ll get you. They will grow up through the soil to take over the bed. I’ve tried this. Don’t do it! The fast way is to get rid of the turfgrass by digging it out or killing it with an herbicide such as Round-Up™. That’s the type that travels through plant leaves (grass blades) to kill the whole plant. A few cautions: heed the waiting period, don’t let spray drift touch plants you want to keep and obey safety warnings on the label. Committed organic gardeners don’t use herbicides, so it’s back to sod-cutting and lifting, or the slow ways. For the latter, plan ahead—a year or more with black plastic. If you’re using the build-on-top method, be thorough about weeding the grassy area, and then slow down any hidden weeds by starting the bed with 5-inch thick layers of cardboard and newspaper. Some weeds will still manage to push through. The term lasagna garden was a brilliant turn of phrase at the right time, especially for garden author Patricia Lanza, author of Lasagna Gardening—A New Layering System for Bountiful Gardens: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding! Ms Lanza explains the why and how-to well, and the lasagna term is a well-explained system and a fresh name for a concept that’s been used, adapted and applied to raised-bed gardening, with many variations, over centuries. Some might call it “sheet-composting plus!” In my book I described it as “in-place composting” and credited the old German technique called the hugel method (hugel the word for hill in German). In this method, by any name, the grass is smothered or killed with cardboard and/or newspaper and then layers of organic materials are piled on top. The new bed may be 12 inches or 4 feet deep, but at either extreme there will be layers of “brown” (grass, manure, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps) and “green” (shredded paper, leaves, straw) materials. Usually six months later, the garden is ready to plant and the material continues to decompose and feel the plant roots; not tilling or turning is required. Example: A new bed, 2 feet tall x 3 feet wide. This bed could be enclosed by boards or rocks, or just piled up. Make it only as wide as you can comfortably reach the center of since you’ll never step on it. Bottom layer: at least 5 inches of cardboard or newspaper Coarse layer: 6 inches of chopped brush (twigs, sticks), unchopped leaves, and coarse garden waste Middle layer: 4 to 6 inches of manure, kitchen scraps, straw, chopped leaves, pine needles, shredded paper. (If you can mix in or layer manure or coarse compost, the other materials will decompose and be productive faster) Top layer: 4 to 6 inches of nearly finished compost, soil, coffee grounds, grass, and finely chopped kitchen scraps. (I include used container mix too.) Let it settle (6 months or more), plant it and water well. The magic of the method: You don’t have to follow an exact formula. Nature’s miraculous workers, microorganisms, millipedes, soil bacteria, fungi, insects and worms will make it happen. Just pile the coarsest material on
the bottom and the finest on top and try to layer “green” and “brown” as you go, alternating things that decompose faster, like manure, with things that break down more slowly such as paper and cardboard. It is really a “plantable” compost pile. The only trick is getting the top layer fine enough, resembling soil and compost, by the time it’s planted. Good luck and happy hill-building, lasagna-making, and in-place composting! It works.
Sally Cunningham is a garden author (Great Garden Companions, Rodale Books), speaker and consultant (Lockwood’s Greenhouses, Hamburg, New York), and TV/ newspaper gardening expert. She is currently Executive Director of the National Garden Festival.
FARM MARKET & NURSERY, INC. 5353 W. Lake Rd. • Burt, NY 14028
716-778-5733
DESIGNER ANNUALS HANGING BASKETS
FLOWERING SHRUBS PERENNIALS Go to zehrsonthelake.com for today’s special! If you would like to schedule a group tour or have an on-site training session on container planting, please contact us.
Check out our incredible web site:
zehrsonthelake.com
Gift certificates available UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 65
Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com
Lana’s The Little House Storybook English Cottage
Tours ~ Gardens ~ Teas Workshops ~ Gifts
The online magazine with tips and hints delivered by email every week.
private, personalized, never commercialized
Subscribe for free!
Teas & Tours Daily PO Box 267 Forestville, NY 14062 716-965-2798 open all year
Online Tea Store world class TEAS, memorable SCONES
www.LanasTheLittleHouse.com Read the Rave Reviews
turnbull GARDEN CENTER
Come Visit Us!
We are a perennial nursery that takes pride in growing healthy, beautiful plants. There is nothing better than taking a little piece of our garden home to your garden!
10036 Versailles Plank Rd., North Collins, NY 14111 (716) 337-2248 • turnbullgardencenter.com
BARN-BUSTER BARE ROOT SALE French Pussy Willow $3.97 Snowflake Mockorange $3.97 Bridalveil Spirea $3.97 Shirobana Spirea $3.97 Honeyrose Honeysuckle $4.97 Dwf. Korean Lilac $4.97
Lynwood Gold Forsythia $4.97 Flowering Almond $4.97 Pink Princess Weigela $4.97 Variegated Weigela $4.97 Weeping Willow Trees $39.97
ONE OF THE MANY WAYS YOU’LL SAVE $$
Much More Than Just Herbs! 1147 Main St., Mumford • zantopiaherbgardens.com One mile north of the Caledonia monument • 585/538-4650
Container Spirea.........................$16.97 Bare Root Barn-Buster Spirea......$ 3.97 YOUR SAVINGS........................$13.00
BARE ROOT BARN OPEN!
March 19-30th: Mon-Fri 9-4 & Sat 9-Noon As of March 31st: Mon-fri 9-6, Sat 9-4 & Sun 11-4
Over 500 varieties In container & in ground
WE SELL THE BEST & SERVICE THE REST
1818 Linwood Rd. Linwood, NY 14486
585-584-3122 fax: 585-584-3700
www.linwoodturf.com
PARTS ~ SALES ~ SERVICE
Japanese maples Topiary Gardens
“A garden for all seasons” Specialists in & growers of Japanese maples & rare & unusual trees, shrubs & perennials topiary-gardens.com • plantmom2@msn.com 315-575-9298
Windy Acres Greenhouse “Unique Plants & Old-Time Favorites”
Annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, hanging baskets, Japanese maples, fruits, fruit trees & water garden plants Water gardening & birding items. 6175 Wagner Road, Springville, NY 14141 716-541-4923
Seneca
Greenhouse... ...Sets the Mood for Spring Beautiful selection of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and garden decor
2250 Transit Rd., near Seneca St. West Seneca, NY 14224 716/677-0681
Imagine walking through fields of daylilies in bloom. Come visit us at
and see all the color and forms of our daylilies—over 3100 cultivars --4540 East Shelby Road Medina, New York 14103 RETAIL & AHS DISPLAY GARDEN Open in July, Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 5 pm Or by appointment email: cglilies@rochester.rr.com Phone 585-798-5441 Web: http://www.daylily.net/gardens/cottagegardens We welcome garden tours • Gift Certificates available
Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden Center Tell Only Your Best Friends About Pudgie’s!
Keep the Local, Family-Owned Businesses Alive & Growing!
Shop at Pudgie’s
3646 West Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 Store: 585/343-8352 Office: 585/948-8100 www.pudgieslawnandgarden.com
Unusual Ornamentals
Landscaping & Excavating by
MILLER’S
Trees, Shrubs, Grasses, Perennials
Holmes Hollow Farm
Commerical • Residential
Amish sheds and lawn furniture PO box 73 East Concord, NY 14055 RON MILLER 716/592-4068 716/432-6767 (cell) Fresh Flower Arrangements Unique Gifts Seasonal Plants
(Delivery Available) Monday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm Saturday 9 am - 3 pm
“Joyfully serving our community”
New location 49 W. Main St., Corfu, NY West side entrance of “The Market” p. 585-599-3340
Jenny Worthington, Owner
2334 Turk Hill Rd, Victor, NY 14564 • (585) 223-0959 tree4u@frontiernet.net • www.holmeshollow.com
Directions: from Turk Hill turn on Whisperwood, go 100 yds, turn R on gravel rd, L past greenhouse and down hill.
perfect storm
Cottage Gardens
Rooted
Sweet on maple sugaring by Christina Le Beau
F
ake maple syrup bums me out. And not only because it rarely contains real maple. (Most brands are a mix of high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives and artificial flavors.) It’s because maple syrup is perfect just the way it is. Naturally sweet, it also retains trace vitamins and minerals, even antioxidants. It’s still a sugar, so let’s not go crazy. But for pancakes or baking, or drizzling over oatmeal or yogurt, it can’t be beat. Great lore, too: Legend has it that a Native American woman brewed up the first batch accidentally. Her husband, heading off to hunt one morning, yanked his tomahawk from the tree where he’d thrown it the night before. Sap ran from the cut and into a container at the base of the tree. The woman found the liquid, thought it was water, cooked in it and got a sweet surprise. Over time the inevitable happened, and someone 68 | March-April 2012
got the bright idea to make an imitation of the real thing. Real syrup’s high cost and limited availability no doubt influenced the shift, and early fake versions did contain a decent amount of actual maple. But, really, messing with maple syrup is just plain wrong. I let my daughter taste the imposter in a restaurant once, because I wanted her to understand the difference, and thankfully she wrinkled her nose and went for the good stuff. (Food nerd alert: Yes, I bring my own maple syrup if we’re going out for breakfast. It’s just what I do.) But even kids who haven’t grown up with real maple syrup can learn to appreciate it. And one way I guarantee you’ll get their interest is at a maple sugaring event. We’re fortunate in western New York to have Genesee Country Village & Museum, a living-history museum in Mumford that also has a nature center. So we get syrup with a side of history. But you can find maple events throughout the northeast (and even elsewhere, in other regions with maple trees and cooperative weather). And now is the time — the season wraps up around the end of March. At past maple sugaring outings, Tess and her best buddy have sampled sap straight from the tree (it tastes like sweetish water), as well as syrup from maple, birch and shagbark hickory trees (the last one is made from boiling down the bark, not the sap). They’ve had maple-glazed walnuts and maple snow cones (syrup over shaved ice). We’ve skipped the maple cotton candy, but we’ve heard such rave reviews that we might taste it on this year’s trek. (And, hey, the cotton candy machine was invented in 1897.) But the best part is the sugaring camp set up to show how early settlers collected, transported and cooked down the sap — techniques that haven’t changed a whole lot in the last few centuries. The equipment is better, operations are bigger, but the end result is pretty much the same. So the girls get a smallscale, up-close view of sap boiled down to syrup, boiled further still to maple cream, and further still to maple sugar. Forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. No wonder real maple syrup is expensive. But so worth it. Christina Le Beau lives in Rochester. She blogs about raising food-literate kids at www.spoonfedblog.net. A version of this essay originally appeared on Spoonfed.
n t a V s alley a e l P Greenhouse and Nursery, Inc.
Come visit us! 2871 Rt. 16 North Olean, NY 14760 www.pleasantvalleygreenhouse.com Phone: 716-373-2929 The Southern Tier’s best localized selection!
Lincoln Park Nursery Investments That Grow family owned & operated since 1951
Lincoln Park Nursery now has two locations to serve you 147 Old Niagara Falls Blvd. Amherst, NY 14228 5705 Shawnee Rd. Cambria, NY 14132
Take 10% Off My Plant Purchase excluding existing sale items or close-outs
p. 716.692.6100 | f. 716.692.2617 e. lpnm@lincolnparknursery.com www.lincolnparknursery.com
Water gardens built/maintained Cattail control experts • Weed/algae problems solved Fountains, Aeration, Waterfalls DEC Certified Aquatic Herbicide Applicators
8011 Olmstead Rd., Bloomfield, NY 14469
585-657-7679 • www.clearlyaquatics.com David A. Young, Aquatic Service Biologist
O
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C A L L O R V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E T O D AY for classes, meetups, & consultations about:
EA R
PL
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A R E. EC RE
Want to grow veggies, fruits and flowers? Do you need a mentor to help you get started?
barefoot
PERMACULTURE
Edible landscaping Ecological gardening Homesteading Edible forest gardening Sustainable living
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Patty Love, MALS, PDC (585)506.6505 Permaculture is a system of ecological design that shows us how we can meet human needs while regenerating the natural environment around us.
patty@barefootpermaculture.com
barefootpermaculture.com
Events
Plantasia Taste of Spring Seminar Schedule Thursday, March 22, 2012
1 PM: Attracting Birds and Butterflies to the Landscape, Tom Mitchell – Horticulture Instructor NCCC & owner of Mitchell Landscaping Inc 2 PM: Edible Landscapes, Daphne Kroll, CNLP – Dore Landscape Associates
1PM: (Small Conference Room): Caring for Your Waterfront Property Workshop, Larry Brooks Watershed Restoration Project Manager Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
3 PM: Gardens of the Garden Walk, Jim Charlier – JCharlier Communication Design
2 PM: Things Gardeners Should Know But Don’t, Ken Brown - Host WBEN Radio (930 AM Dial)
4 PM: Agri-Tourism: What It’s All About, Dan Robillard, Horticulture Instructor, McKinley High School, Buffalo
3 PM: Success with Vegetable Gardening, Tom Mitchell – Horticulture Instructor NCCC & owner of Mitchell Landscaping Inc.
Friday, March 23, 2012
11 AM: Innovative Hardscapes In Outdoor Living Spaces, Mike Frank – Chevalier Outdoor Living Noon: ECO-Logic: How to Use it Naturally in the Landscape , Ken Parker – Lockwood Gardens 1 PM: Do You Know How Waterfront Landscaping Affects Water Quality and Quantity?, Larry Brooks – Watershed Restoration Project Manager Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper 2 PM: Pruning – The How And Why Of Good Pruning Techniques, Lynn Chimera – Lessons from Nature 3 PM: Garden Personalities: Stories Of Local Gardeners and Their Creations, Connie Oswald Stofko - Publisher, Buffalo-Niagara Gardening.com
The letters CNLP after a speaker’s name indicate that he or she is a Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional
70 | March-April 2012
1 PM: Container Gardening, Lynn Chimera – Lessons from Nature
4 PM: Lawn, Landscape and Garden Facts and Fallacies, Terry Ettinger - Greenhouse Manager for SUNY Department of Environmental & Forest Biology, YNN TV Garden Expert 5 PM: The Garden Revolution: A Call To Trowels, Albert Gilewicz - Consultant and speaker 6 PM: Green Roofs and Their Benefits, Gaelle Berges – Vegetal ID Sunday, March 25, 2012
11 AM: Get a Jump Start on the 2012 Growing Season/How to Start Flowers and Vegetables, Dave Clark - Horticulture Speaker and Instructor, Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens
3 PM: (Small Conference Room): Traditional Designs For Flower Shows, Judy Tucholski – 8th District Garden Clubs Judge
Noon: Environmental Landscape Design and Management Strategies, Terry Ettinger Greenhouse Manager for SUNY Department of Environmental & Forest Biology, YNN TV Garden Expert
4 PM: Plants with All Season Interest, Lana Bilger – Menne Nursery Garden Artistry
1 PM: More Bang with Perennials, Sally Cunningham, CNLP & Author – Lockwood Greenhouse
Saturday, March 24, 2012
2 PM: How to Design and Care for Your Indoor House Plants, Kathy O’Donnell – Botanicus Interior Landscaping
11 AM: English Gardens, Mike Shadrick –British Horticulture Speaker &Author (Books available for purchase and signing.) Noon: Put Your Best Look Forward – Design for an Unforgettable Front Yard, Sally Cunningham, CNLP & Author – Lockwood Greenhouse
3 PM: Plant Envy: “Must Have” Annuals and Perennials for Every Garden, Carolyn Stanko, CNLP - Educator, Niagara County Community College
Reserve your spring plantings now.
We’re offering 2010 pricing on all inventory purchased between March 31 and May 1! Great selections of quality perennials, many grown right here at our own nursery. Hundreds of hostas • Colorful creeping phlox 2-gallon bleeding hearts Geranium ‘Rozanne’—sells out quickly! Great buys on evergreen boxwood Several varieties of hydrangeas Ornamental & shade trees SHOP NOW — PLANT LATER! Stop out and visit us at 2755 Penfield Rd., 3 miles east of Route 250. Email inquiries to Joe@MyCountryWay.com
Early blooming brunnera with blue forget-me-not flowers above green and white variegated heart shaped leaves, a great shade plant.
A beautiful lawn and landscaping make all the difference. Start the year off right with Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care Whether it’s your home or your business, let Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care create a first impression that really lasts. New customers – Call today to learn how you can get 1 FREE visit with a 5-visit lawn program. Broccolo Tree & Lawn Care 2059 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Road Rochester, NY 14623 585-424-4476
www.broccologroup.com