Patchogue Garden Club's Garden Gazette Blog

30th Annual Spring Gardening School

2012-01-25T10:56:00.000-05:00

The 30th Annual Spring Gardening School of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will be held at The Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood on April 14, 2012 and Riverhead Middle School on April 21, 2012, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. This day includes your choice of classes from four different sessions, with information for every level of gardener from beginner to advanced. Topics include:

· Floral Design for Beginners
· Pruning
· Garden Design
· Low Water Usage Gardens
· Shade Gardening
· Vegetable Gardening
· Growing Roses on Long Island
· And many more!

All classes are taught by Master Gardeners and Extension Educators. Included in your fee are free soil pH testing, plant diagnostic clinic, plant sale from some of the finest nurseries, continental breakfast, delicious boxed lunch, and door prizes. The fee is $55 per person, early bird registration is $50 before March 2, 2012.

The registration form with a full schedule of classes and their descriptions is available for download at www.ccesuffolk.org or contact Caroline Kiang at 631-727-7850, ext. 337 or 345.

Important 2012 Dates to Remember

2012-01-17T11:01:00.001-05:00

Stay Tuned for Details

February 9th – Valentine’s Day Get Together
March 29th – Think Spring Luncheon
April 14th – Open the Gardens
June 9th – Breakfast in the Garden
July 7th – Garden Tour
July 8th – Post-tour Party
October 6th? – Harvest Dinner
November 10th – Close the Garden
November ? – Decorate the Garden for Christmas
December 9th – Christmas House Tour

The 2012 Spring Gardening School.

2012-01-17T10:59:00.000-05:00

The 2012 Spring Gardening School

Brought to you by Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Featuring: Educational Exhibits, Free Soil Testing, a Plant Clinic and Plant
Sale. (Bring plant specimens and soil samples, call for instructions
631-727-7850, x 345 or 337).

Fee: $55 per person, per day. ($50 for early birds that register on or before March 2, 2012).
Includes four sessions, continental breakfast, box lunch, afternoon refreshments, soil tests,
plant diagnosis and exhibits.

Registration at the door — $60.

Classes are taught by Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and Extension Educators.
Pre-registration is required. First-come, first-served. (No full-refund will be rendered after April 2nd.)

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Suffolk County provides equal program and
employment opportunities. Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Suffolk County office if you have any special needs.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is funded in part by Suffolk County through the
office of the County Executive and the County Legislature.

The Academy of St. Joseph, Brentwood
Saturday, April 14, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Riverhead Middle School, Riverhead
Saturday, April 21, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Complete information and registration form at http://www.ccesuffolk.org/.

2012-01-16T20:53:00.001-05:00

Patchogue Garden Club's Annual 'Think Spring'
Luncheon and Chinese Auction

Our Luncheon Committee has been off and running putting together a day of fun for our Annual "Think Spring" Luncheon.

We hope that you will be able to join us and celebrate the day with people from all over Long Island.

Two Vegetarian meals are being offered on the menu, and if you have any other dietary concerns, please feel free to call me, Georgia, and I will try to help...631-289-0867

"Think Spring" Luncheon March 29, 2012
Mediterranean Manor, Patchogue..doors open 10:30am
Guest Speaker: Jody Garrett from Fantastic Gardens of Long Island

Topic: Kitchen Gardening With Herbs Featuring..an Apron Exhibit....We encourage everyone, male and female to come and wear a favorite apron.

Luncheon, Raffles and Door Prizes
Tickets: $35

Checks should be received by March 24. Send check to:

Patchogue Garden Club
270 West Ave. C/O Ferb
Patchogue, NY 11772

Each guest will receive a 3"pot of herbs, compliments of Fantastic Gardens.

Members: Reservations will be taken at the January 24 general meeting.

2011-12-05T13:38:00.001-05:00

Our president for 2012 is June Petruccelli. Congratulations to June and her board! May 2012 be a banner year for the club.

Club Gift to Beautification in Patchogue

2011-12-05T13:26:00.001-05:00

Look how the Knockout roses are in great form at the LIRR station in the Village of Patchogue!
on December 5, no less!

Garden Club President Diane Riviello-Voland presents Chamber of Commerce President Lari Fiala with the club's gift of support for the beautification of the Village of Patchogue.

September Newsletter

2011-10-01T17:50:00.002-04:00

Greetings from the President

Hello everyone,

It's September.......where did the summer go? As I watch everything turn to brown, I do get a little sad. I'm a summer lover, and I miss the brilliant greens, yellows, reds and all the glorious colors that a summer garden
brings. When all the trees begin to shed their leaves, I think my heart sinks a little too, and once they're totally naked, I just want to "get away.” But, autumn weather brings our harvest dinner. This year we will be
holding that event at the Swan Lake Park Civic Association, 86 Lake Drive,Patchogue. For those of you that remember, it was the small meeting house we used to use for our general meetings a few years back. The time is 4 p.m., unless you want to help us set up the tables, chairs and decorations, then please be there at 3:30 p.m. The club will supply water and soda. Please BYOB if you care to, and a covered dish (of any variety) suitable for about 15 people. We will discuss entertainment at this month’s general meeting which will be held back at the American Legion Hall on Baker Street, Patchogue at 7p.m., Tuesday, September 27th. Hoping for a lovely day on the lake with the swans and ducks and hoping to see you all there.

Diane

[Update: NO Harvest Dinner after all. Venue fell through.]

Mark the Date

Regular Meeting—September 27th-American Legion Hall—7 p.m.

Speaker: Christine from Bayport Flower House: Bulb Lasagna and Fall Planting

Luncheon Committee —First Meeting October 3, 2011, 10 a.m. Same place, different time

Suwassett Garden Club (Port Jefferson) “Fall Fantasy Luncheon”
Wednesday Oct. 5th, 11-3 at the Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills RSVP: Judy Zaino 631-476-1705

September Birthdays

Frank Densing
Barbara Bruce
Joanna Drake
Millie Zimmerman
Lynn Kane
Carolyn Savastano

October Birthdays

Diane Riviello-Voland
Richard Waldman

August Meeting in a Flash— We welcomed new members Rick and Bari Zepernick, below.

Members voted to accept the name, “Members Bulletin Board—This, That and the Other” for a new column in the newsletter.
Jo Miller talked about the Education Workshop to be held on Sept. 10th.
Georgia Dulmovits and Arlene Lamberti are looking for members for the luncheon committee. Group members can be thinking of donations for the baskets. The theme this year is “Aprons,” and the speaker will talk about gardening with herbs.
The group discussed the Harvest Dinner
We were reminded to continue maintenance of our section of the Community Garden.
Lynn Kane received a thank you from the American legion for our donation. Nothing can be done with the plantings until the sprinkler system is in working order.

Here is Babette Bishop’s back yard. It extends into the woods with pleasant, curving pathways that move to different levels. At the southern corner of her home is a small and secluded koi pond (left). Even though it’s tucked away in a little corner, she says herons have discovered it. Hence, the wire mesh cover.
Below, Babette takes a well-deserved rest from all the work of getting ready for club visitors.

What’s In the News?

1. Do earthworms have any sense of place or direction? When they are dug up in the garden and put back down someplace else, do they just return to work, or do they try to get back to their former location? “In any case, yes, once they are put back down, they will get back to work, after first trying just to get away from the very large thing that just picked them up and could have eaten them,” Dr. Siddall said. “But, no, as long as they are put back in a suitable habitat, they don’t try to go back where they were.” Read more in this NY Times article sent in by Richard Waldman: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/science/16qna.html?_r-2&ref=science

2. Here’s another from Richard: “Hydrangeas are one of the most dependable garden plants.They rarely get diseases or are victims of insect pests, and I hardly ever need to water them in my upstate New York yard.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904716604576544410039587734.htmlmod=WSJ_HomeAndGarden_LEFTTopNews

3. “Modern-day pink flamingo? I just don’tknow.” R. Waldman Karen Ferb and Richard Waldman both
sent me an interesting article about how some people are creating garden decorations from colored plastic bottles. Some of these decorations were quite pretty. Here’s one.
4. “What an important news flash—How cant the world still spin without knowing this? Hydrangea lovers of the world unite! I can just see it now—Madonna getting pelted with truckloads of hydrangeas. And who knew Madonna was still around?” What inspired this outburst from Richard Waldman? It was this article: http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/09/07/madonna-hydrangeas-rep/. Madonna’s spokesperson said, “She’s entitled to like any flower she wants and she didn’t want to hurt the feelings of the hydrangea lovers of the world...but she prefers different types of flowers.”
Get to Know A Fellow Gardener—Georgia and John Dulmovits

Where were you born?
John was born in Manhattan. I was born in Patchogue.

Tell us about your family?
John and I met at a party in NYC. We were going to school there at the time. We were married a year after graduation and decided to make our home in Patchogue. We have five children and eight grand-children ranging in age from 2½ to 24 years old. As you can imagine, the house swings on the Holidays.

What gave you your first interest in gardening?
John's grandfather had a farm in Austria. He heard many stories from his dad about the farm which provoked his interest in gardening. My grandmother always had a beautiful veggie and flower garden. I will always remember the warm feeling being with her in that garden. I started one as soon as I had time.

An accomplishment you are proud of?
I think John and I are happy that we were able to raise five children..

Your favorite sport?
We both enjoy Basketball, Baseball, Track and Soccer. " Go Yankees" !!!

Your favorite food?
John and I are both vegetarians. I have been one for 20 years and John for seven. We just love those roasted veggies!! We live an exciting life!

Education, job experience?
John is an Aeronautical Engineer. I am a Registered Nurse. We are both retired.

Timely Tips for the Garden in October

Cut back and remove diseased perennial foliage/
Finish planting bulbs.
Start raking. Shred or compost this fall gold. Turn your compost pile.
Make sure all vacationing houseplants are brought back inside.
Harvest and dry or freeze herbs for winter use.
Dry and save seed
Take cuttings of tender perennials.
Amend your soil with a dressing of compost.
Continue harvesting fall crops like beets, kale and leeks.
Carrots can stay in ground all winter for a sweeter taste.

Though an old man, I am but a young gardener. Thomas Jefferson

August Newsletter

2011-10-01T11:36:00.001-04:00

Greetings from the President

Hello Members,

Well it seems another month has just flown by, and more of the beauty of this season has come and gone. With every day that passes by, I look out on the garden as I walk by to the garage to jump in my car to go "to work,” What I really need to do is go "to work" on cutting back, pulling out, and weeding, weeding, weeding, which never seems to end. I hate seeing the flowers die, and I think a small piece of me goes with them with each variety.

For anyone who missed the announcement at our last meeting, our next outdoor meeting will be held in the spacious garden of our recording secretary, Babette Bishop at 648 Old Medford Road on Tuesday, August
23rd at 6PM. Please bring a chair (and possibly your mosquito repellent), and we can enjoy another beautiful garden in these last few weeks of summer.

Diane

Mark the Date

Tuesday, August 23rd, 6:00, Monthly Meeting at Babette Bishop’s
648 Old Medford Road, Medford

Saturday, September 10th, 9:30-12:00, Garden Workshop
American Legion Hall, Corner of Baker and South Ocean Avenue

Sunday, Sept. 18th, 3:30
Harvest Dinner
Patchogue Beach Club [NB: Postponed due to Irene damage]

PATCHOGUE GARDEN CLUB PRESENTS

A FREE GARDEN WORKSHOP for NEW GARDENERS

Learn how to grow a beautiful, healthy, and low maintenance garden
When: Saturday, September 10, 2011
Where: American Legion Hall, Baker Street & South Ocean Ave, Patchogue (next to Village Hall)
Time: 9:30-12:00
Refreshments will be served.
All participants will receive free daffodil bulbs.
Reservations required: call Josephine at 631-289-5305

August Birthdays

Margaret Atkinson
Betty Baran
Fred Bossert
Pauline Carleton
Georgia Dulmovits
Gladys Heimburger
Angelo Petruccelli
Tom Savastano
Mary Ann Tchinnis

September Birthdays

Frank Densing
Joanna Drake
Lynn Kane
Carolyn Savastano
Millie Zimmerman

[If I'm missing your birthday, please let me know. mma]

August Meeting Hostesses
Jo Miller
Mary Ann Tchinnis
Ronnnie Manfredi
Marita Morello
July Meeting in a Flash—

Held at Carol Tvelia’s home:

• Carolyn Savastano reported on the progress of the sprinkler system.
• Finest Fitness tickets were given to the Dept of Parks and Recreation.
• Members voted on $200 for sponsorship in Patchogue Arts Council.
• Rich Waldman will be running in the NYC Marathon for the Alzheimer’s Foundattiion.
If you’d like to sponsor him, you can do so by going here—
http://www.2011teamr2r.kintera.org/ —clicking on “sponsor participant,” and entering his name..
• The members voted to create a Bulletin Board in the Garden Gazette. This is open to all members
• Members voted to continue sending hard copies of the Garden Gazette to those who want them.
• Plans for the Harvest Dinner, Sept.18th were discussed.
• Jo Miller and Bonnie Bossert discussed the first Garden Club community workshop.
• Marita expressed a wish for more speakers at meetings. This was discussed.
• The group discussed ways to communicate new membership information.

Members relax in Carol's attractive garden

Koi pond with waterfall & rustic gazebo

Koi race to the finish line

Get to Know A Fellow Gardener : Marita Morello

Marita stands in front of her beautiful home with it’s lovely gardens.

Her home sits on a corner lot where it graces two streets

Where were you born, and where have you lived?

I was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to this country with my family in the 60s. I moved to Yaphank to the German Gardens Community. When I got married, we moved to Patchogue.

Tell us about your family.
I have one brother who moved to Nashville, Tennessee with his wife. He’s now living with his wife, daughter and grandson. I have two sons. Jerome is married, with a boy and girl, and John lives at home.
What gave you your first interest in gardening?
I like to surround myself always with beautiful things. Gardening is a way of expressing myself with beauty. I love flowers. That gave me an interest. Living in Patchogue, I went by the Garden Club Garden, and it said, “Come Grow With Us,” and I decided that would be something I would like to do.

Outside of gardening, what are some of your interests?
I’m also the president of a civic group--Focus East Patchogue. I started that group with the goal of being a voice of the East Patchogue corridor which was rapidly deteriorating and becoming a blight to the community. I’m most proud of this, and on the 30th of this month, after 25 years of fighting very hard, the Plaza Theater is coming down. I never gave up! (You can read more about her efforts on the web page:
http://www.focuseastpatchogue.com/.

Tell me about your salon.
I had the only beauty salon in Bellport Village. I recently sold it, and now I just rent a chair. I’m still very busy working in there five days a week. I still try to be available for my grandchildren, and also try to keep my garden attractive.

An interesting place you’ve traveled to or visited?
I’ve mostly visited Germany. I just went back to my class reunion. It was wonderful. In Germany you graduate earlier than you do here. I graduated at age 15. The reunions there are much more simple. Many people came on their bikes. Some walked. Many took public transportation. The food is simple. We had an old tape recorder that played some of the plays that we put on in school. The reunion was held at a small bed and breakfast. A reporter wrote about it for the newspaper. Spouses are not invited.

Your favorite dessert or food?
My favorite food is French cooking.

A talent you have we may not know about?
I love designing hairdos for weddings. I’m doing a lot of that right now.

Favorite sport to play or watch?
Ballroom dancing. I love to watch the competitions, and I like to dance myself.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would do something with the arts. I’m also an animal activist. I would probably do something that would benefit animals—a shelter or something.

Something you keep postponing?
My retirement.

Peter Priolo Redux

Remember Peter, who spoke to us about tagging Monarch butterflies last February? Peter graduated this
spring from SUNY Stony Brook Southampton and had an internship he said was a great opportunity to “do
what he loves in a place that he loves.” He says,“The biological diversity of the East End is incredible.
Of the various communities, my favorites to explore are the sphagnum bogs because of their highly
adapted plants—like the pitcher plant, sundew, and fringed orchids. And, of course, I enjoy a taste of blueberry or cranberry, depending on the season:” Peter is now a research assistant at Cornell Cooperative
Extension of Suffolk County. Here’s a link that will take you to a new, interesting article about Peter:
http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/Amagansett/393794/Rare-Ladybug-Ladybug-At-Quail-Hill-Farm

Rare 9-spot ladybug

Referring to the ladybug in the article, Peter says, “It’s just wonderful to ind something that I thought
was extinct."
What’s in the News?

1. How should a gardener prioritize his or her time? Which plants need the most attention? Has this growing season been more challenging than others? In answer to these questions, Richard Waldman recommends this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/garden/a-professional-gardeneron-shielding-plants-from-heat-qa.html?_r=1&src=dayp. He comments: “Very timely, and good advice too. I especially liked the advice of not watering lawns. The Botanical Gardens looked great two weeks ago when I went to see the new exhibit.”

2. Rice Art: “Stunning crop art has sprung up across rice fields in Japan. But this is no alien creation—the designs have been cleverly planted. Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink or dye. Instead, different colors of rice plants have been precisely and strategically arranged and grown in the paddy fields. As summer progresses and the plants shoot up, the detailed artwork begins to emerge.” For more photos,
go here: http://snopes.com/photos/arts/ricefield.asp.

Japanese Rice Art: Sengoku Warrior

3. “How can people be truly ‘green’ when they haven’t changed any of their fundamental behaviors?” asks Margie Ruddick, a finalist in this year’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award. She’s defending herself against a fine by the town for a violation of the property maintenance code for growing weeds over 10 inches tall. Read more of this interesting article Richard Waldman recommended:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/garden/in-philadelphia-a-garden-growswild%20htmlpagewanted=1&_r=2&hpw.

4. The following article discusses a lawsuit charged against organic farmers by Monsanto.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110330/04055413695/monsanto-suedorganic-farmers-who-dont-want-to-be-accused-patent-infringement.shtml. “This case asks whether Monsanto has the right to sue organic

farmers for patent infringement if Monsanto’s transgenic seed should land on their property. ‘It seems quite perverse that an organic farmer contaminated by transgenic seed could be accused of patent infringement,’ says Ravicher, ‘but Monsanto has made such accusations before and is notorious for having sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringement, so we had to act to protect the interests of our clients.’”

5. Many of you probably noticed the front second-page spread in Newsday this week, featuring front yard vegetable gardens. “...A growing movement of front-yard vegetable gardeners on Long Island and elsewhere is showing even staunch ornamentalists—those who snub vegetables because they aren’t ‘sexy’
enough—that the lowly edible canbe quite va-vavoom! Ripe red or yellow tomatoes dangling from
their vines can compete with a rose almost any time, especially in August when most roses aren’t blooming. Peppers are available in red, orange, purple and green varieties. And looseleaf lettuces like ‘Red Fire’ and ‘Freckles’ are quite the lookers. And have you seen rainbow chard? Its stem and leaf veins are stunningly yellow, red, purple or bright orange.”You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle.

Northport couple harvests their front yard vegetables-Newsday photo

6. Commander John Matuszak, from the Patchogue American Legion Post 269, presented a certificate of appreciation to the Patchogue Garden Club. Lynn Kane, an advisory board representative for the Veteran’s Memorial Park Landscaping Fund, received this certificate for the Garden Club as thanks for its donation to the fund. The park is on the corner of Baker Street and South Ocean near the American Legion Hall.

Commander John Matuszak and Lynne Kane

Miranda Kass accepts a check from Carolyn Savastano, scholarship committee member

Places of interest to visit this summer

Old Westbury Gardens: http://www.oldwestburygardens.org/cal_07.htm#02

Vanderbilt Museum (open all but July 4th): http://www.vanderbiltmuseum.org/home.php?section=hours&sub=admission

Wertheim Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=52561

Shop, Swap, Trade, Repair, Donate

I don’t know what to call this column because I’m not sure what it is. Last month the group decided we could post member information in the newsletter. The following are some samples.:

I’m thinning out my Black-eyed Susans, Anise Hyssop and Butterfly Weed. Anyone want some?

I’d like some hollyhocks? How do I get them togrow?

Anyone have a post hole digger? Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to buy one if you only need it once?

Can I advertise that I give piano lessons?

How about Marita’s (pg. 3) hair styling?

How about if I need a good electrician?

If I want a picnic table, can I ask here?

What if someone is selling their home?

What if they are selling vegetables from their garden? What if they are giving them away?

You can see that I have many questions about this. Maybe we can discuss it a bit more

thoroughly in the next meeting. mma

Greetings from the Peconic River Herb Farm
to Karen Ferb

Did you know that our beautiful riverfront glass greenhouse, various patio areas and shady waterside picnic tables, are available to use for your next gathering? These days, everyone’s looking for low cost event sites
with a special ambiance to make any occasion meaningful. Our facilities are available free of charge for small groups during our regular business hours of 9-4 daily. Larger groups, or those wishing to extend the event into evening, call Cris at 631-873-9201 to make arrangements. Think of the Peconic River Herb Farm gardens and nursery when planning your next family get together, birthday party or shower, or if you’re looking for just a simple, peaceful place for a business meeting. Cold drinks are available at OUTSIDE IN-our unique garden shop, and you are welcome to bring a picnic or BBQ or have the licensed caterer of your choice. Stop by or call the nursery at 631- 369-0058 to reserve your date now. The weather is perfect for outdoor activities and the garden and grounds are lush and gorgeous.Hope to see you soon!

Sincerely, Cris Spindler and Staff
Peconic River Herb Farm
2749 River Rd.
Calverton, NY 11933
http://www.prherbfarm.com/
prherbfarm@yahoo.com
Timely Tips for the Garden in September

• Stop pruning and fertilizing
• Bring summer vacationing houseplants indoors while windows are still open. Check for hitchhiking pests.
• Start fall clean-up in the flower beds, cutting back anything that has finished blooming or is diseased
• Take cuttings to overwinter indoors
• Watch for frost warning and cover tender plants
• Divide and move perennials
• Dig and store dahlias, caladiums, cannas and tuberous begonias.
• Start planting spring flowering bulbs
• Prune summer flowering shrubs.

The seed is hope; the flower is joy

Photos of July Meeting at the Densing's Garden

2011-07-21T17:28:00.000-04:00

Peg Densing & Lynn Kane

Members enjoy a light moment during the meeting

L to R: Carolyn Savastano, Babette Bishop, & Carolyn Young admire Frank's garden train.

Good friends Barbara Bestafka & Annie Rubbo share the fun.

Choo Choo Duck Stop

July Newsletter

2011-07-21T15:51:00.008-04:00

Greetings from the President

Hello Members,

It is already July, and the weather has been everything from unbearable to just plain magnificent. Colors in the gardens are flourishing, and it seems it's already time to begin cutting some species back for the season. How the beauty of the warm season just seems to fly by. Our next monthly meeting will be a treat for anyone who has never been to the home and
garden of our treasurer, Carol Tvelia. The garden is just beautiful, and she has some very large koi to relax with. Please try not to miss it. I have comets and goldfish in my pond, and although I watch them lovingly just the same, they pale in comparison. Keep cool, relax, and enjoy your summer.
See you all soon, Diane

Mark the Date

Tuesday, July 26—Monthly Meeting, 6:00 Our July meeting will be at the home of Carol Tvelia in her garden. 25 Stephani Ave., Patchogue 475-3445

Sunday, September 18—Harvest Dinner, 3:30 p.m. at the Patchogue Beach Club

Get to Know A Fellow Gardener—Carolyn Young

Where were you born?
I was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up there. I had a younger brother and sister. Each summer our family would spend a couple of weeks in a cottage in Northern Michigan.
Tell us about your family?The family of my husband, Larry, also spent summers in a cottage in Northern Michigan. That’s where I met him. You could say that I ended up marrying the boy next door. I went to graduate school (seven different schools for graduate work) getting a Masters in other types of special education from Eastern Michigan University. I took post graduate work as well. Larry had worked in Yellowstone for the summer and was a special education teacher also, so we had the summers to travel to various National and State Parks with our two daughters. His work
in Yellowstone was where he got his feeling that everyone should see Yellowstone.
Where did you teach?
I graduated with a Bachelors in Elementary and Special Ed from Ohio University. Just after I was married, I taught in Michigan. I then took a job in Euclid Ohio which is northeast of
Cleveland, and taught there for a year and a half. We then moved to Kings Park in 1964 where we raised the girls. It was here that we started our interest in daylilies. Later, I worked with BOCES 3 in the Huntington Babylon area and then taught at Half Hollow Hills until I retired in 1992. After that we moved to Warwick, NY.
What gave you your first interest in gardening?
I think it was learning to identify wildflowers and trees when I was a camper only 8-12 years old. We lived on a ravine within the city of Columbus, Ohio, and I just always loved watching the birds, the trees, etc. Larry and I got into daylilies in about 1981, thinking we’d get something that would survive during the summers when we were traveling around the country. I became a nationalgarden judge, a national exhibition judge, and have maintained a national display garden
from the early ‘90s on. We moved, in pieces, from Warwick in 1997 to our present home. We had to have some of the trees cleared for the lilies, but
kept the woods for a perimeter.
What are some of your other interests?
I like crafts and sewing and decorating the house. But mostly we’ve spent out spare time camping.
A book you’d recommend?
Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza. I have a signed copy of that because I’ve been up to her place. Also A Garden of Wildflowers that tells about wildflowers and how to propagate them.
An accomplishment you are proud of?
My years teaching kids with different disabilities. I knew from sixth grade on that I was going to do that.
An interesting place you’ve traveled to or visited?
When we started camping, we began with just a tent. Then a VW camper with a pop-up top. Finally, we built our own motor home from a used Bond Bread truck. This took a couple of years. I designed the inside, and we both built and repaired it. It was a 90- horse power-18 foot truck. We took it over the Rockies two or three times, traveling to state and national parks. We didn’t hook up to anything. We had extra battery to run our lights and cooked outside the camper.
Your favorite dessert or food?
All the foods I can’t eat any more because of my milk allergy.
Something you keep postponing?
Sorting through old school materials and papers
Future plans?
I’m going back to Warwick, in a 55-and-older community. I’ll be able to walk to the village, shops, and parks. I’ll be close to my daughter, an attorney and hiker. She likes living close to the
Appalachian Trail. Gets a watermelon and cuts it up and leaves it in a cooler on the trail for other hikers to enjoy. I’ll leave my other daughter’s family (with my two grandchildren) in Smithtown.

Daylilies!

Hundreds of registered hybrids are in bloom now in Carolyn Young's garden. She needs to downsize her nationally renowned collection and is selling clumps/divisions for $5.00 each. Some plants are available now; others will be dug as they finish blooming.Call Carolyn at 345-6194
to arrange a day and time to purchase. She’ll give you directions if you need them.

June Meeting in a Flash

• Rolling Rock will clean up the garden prior to the Garden
Tour. They will install the game table and benches.
• The Harvest Dinner will take place on September 18th,
at 3:30 at the Patchogue Beach Club. Bring a covered
dish.
• Jo Miller discussed plans for the new garden workshop
tentatively planned for September 10th. Flyers will be
handed out at the Garden Tour. Carolyn Young offered
free daylilies for the workshop, but she needs help preparing
them for the event.
• There has been a poor response to our Plant and Yard
sale. After much discussion members agreed unanimously
to skip the sale next year.
• Members discussed the possibility of allowing Art
Space artists to sell items in the Garden area. This is a
Village decision.
• Paula asked for volunteers to sit at gardens for the upcoming
tour, and Georgia asked members to make sure
the garden is presentable.

Timely Tips for the Garden in August

Pick herbs for fresh use and for drying. Harvesting will keep them growing longer.
• Order spring bulbs for planting
• Spread a mid-season layer of compost or manure.
• Keep deadheading and harvesting
• Leave some annual seeds to self-sow.
• Start saving seeds and taking cuttings.
• Remove any diseased foliage now, so it doesn’t get lost in the fall leaves.
• Cut back foliage of early bloomers to revitalize the plants
• Prune summer flowering shrubs as the flowers fade.
• Begin dividing perennials. Start with the bearded iris.

Thanks for A Successful Tour

2011-07-16T09:50:00.002-04:00

Our 11th annual garden tour sold over 150 tickets--special thanks to our salespeople, the Tiffords of Fantastic Gardens, Mindy of Remember Yesteryears, Sis of Country Junque, and the staff of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as our members. The weather was perfect, and the tour was a great success. None of this would be possible without the efforts of the our volunteers and Tour Committee and all the gardeners and interested people who attended.

2011 Garden Tour Volunteers

Barbara Bestafka
Laura Calarco
Pauline Carleton
Rosalie Coleman
Georgia Dulmovits
John Dulmovits
Karen Ferb
Mark Jeffers
Arlene Lamberti
Marie Magnano
Jo Miller
Ann Rubbo
Carla Steward
Ruth Szuminskyj
Mary Ann Tchinnis
Carol Tvelia

2011 Tour Committee

Paula Murphy, Chair
Barbara Bestafka
Karen Ferb
Arlene Lamberti
Jo Miller
Ann Rubbo
Ruth Szuminskyj
Mary Ann Tchinnis
Susan Toplitz
Judy Zuck

2011-07-13T08:03:00.004-04:00

PatchoguePatch

ARTS
Patchogue Gardens Displayed in Annual Tour
Garden Club hosts 11th annual Patchogue Garden Tour

12 July 2011 by Krystle DiNicola

The self-guided tour began at the Community Garden on Terry Street in Patchogue Village. Each participant received a fresh sprig of lavender from the garden to enjoy. This year's tour also featured five private homes within the greater Patchogue area in addition to the tour of the Community Gardens.

Northport residents Chris DeAngelo and Fran Rudloff travelled out to Patchogue specifically for the tour after seeing it advertised. "I've been with a friend for other tours. We've done the North Shore more - Smithtown, Saint James, etc," Rudloff said. "I've also done other tours in Sea Cliff and Northport but I've never been to this area before. This is beautiful," DeAngelo said.

DeAngelo liked the McGrath Garden best. "The same thing that appeals to me in the house, appeals to me in the garden. It's artistic - the scale, the color...everything just looks like it was done by an artist. It blends together beautifully," DeAngelo said.

Rudloff preferred the Belzak Garden. "The garden had different structures in it. There were statues as well as antique bistro tables and chairs. It was very whimsical. There were surprise touches everywhere. I also liked that she had vegetables growing nearby," Rudloff said.

See photographs at
http://patchogue.patch.com/articles/photos-patchogue-garden-tour-2011#photo-6943386

11th ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR

2011-06-23T06:10:00.003-04:00

Sponsored by

PATCHOGUE GARDEN CLUB

Saturday, July 9th
Gardens open at 10 AM & close at 3 PM

“How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.”
~Benjamin Disraeli

Tickets: $20.00 per person at
The Community Garden, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
Corner of South Ocean Ave and Terry St., Patchogue NY

Pre-purchase tickets for $15
by sending your check to:

Patchogue Garden Club
P.O. Box 3030
Patchogue, NY 11772-0887

Tickets are also available at:

Fantastic Gardens of Long Island, 67 Avery Avenue, Patchogue

Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, 15 North Ocean Avenue, Patchogue

Remember Yesteryears, 146 Main Street, Patchogue

Country Junque, 1595 Middle Road, Bayport

For more information, call Paula (631) 553-2928

Proceeds to benefit community beautification

Plant and Yard Sale

2011-05-18T08:56:00.012-04:00

Club member Paula Murphy chats with her sister, Quentin Helke, and JR Russo & best pal Benjamin

Arlene Lamberti, Barbara Edsall, and Jo Miller bring merchandise and price it for sale

Carol Tvelia and Joanna Drake price items

Karen Ferb, Bonnie Bossert, and scholarship winner Miranda Kass help out in the gazebo

Lynn Kane & Mark Jeffers--

Are they buying or bringing?

Rosalie Coleman and Georgia Dulmovits—are they the treasures, or are they looking at the treasures? You decide. :)

May Newsletter

2011-05-18T06:46:00.015-04:00

Greetings from the President

Hello Members,

It's May - already...and the trees are fiercely blooming! How are your patios, decks, ponds, homes, cars, and most of all, your noses? Everything is coated in that lovely yellow pollen, except our noses which are probably bright red by now! I hope your allergy season is almost over, and you will all be breathing easier soon.The home improvement stores are filled with deck and patio furniture and ideas; the garden departments are overflowing with annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs, and that related garden "stuff" that we all crave. I guess I'm just a warm weather baby because I can't get enough of spring and summer. It's all gone too quickly. I want to live somewhere where it is eternally summer, so I can enjoy the garden, and the warmth of the sun on my skin every day of the year. I feel pretty certain that many of my fellow nature lovers feel the same way, and I know you're all outdoors every chance you get, getting the soil under your fingernails and making your own little piece of paradise even more spectacular. Hope to see all of you at our next monthly meeting. Diane

Mark the Date

May 24—Monthly Meeting, Our May meeting will be held at Fantastic Gardens at 6:00 (Note time change). Dave will once again offer a 15% discount for any purchases. He will explain the succulent garden and you can also revisit the cactus collection.
June 11—Breakfast in the Garden, 9 a.m.
Bring a breakfast item for several people.
June 28—Monthly Meeting Location TBD
July 9-We are looking forward to our 11th Annual Garden Tour from 10-3. This year's quote is: “How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.” Benjamin Disraeli Ticket cost: $15 presale, $20 day of tour Post-Tour Dinner: July 10, 2011, details TBA

Get to Know a Fellow Gardener, PAULINE CARLETON

Where were you born, and where have you lived?
I was born in Patchogue, lived in Patchogue all my life.
Tell us about your family?
My husband passed away a couple of years ago. My daughter, Barbara, lives in Ohio, but is in the process of moving to SC where her son lives. I have one grandson. I also have a son, Kevin, who lives in the Patchogue Area.
What gave you your first interest in gardening?
When I was a little girl I always liked to have a garden. I had the radishes and the usual. My father dug up the soil for me. I always enjoyed it. I never did great things.
Do you have a favorite gardening style?
Whatever will grow. My husband always had a good-sized vegetable garden. My son carries it on and still works with my garden. I do the herbs. The usual—oregano, basil, mints, sage, dill.
Outside of gardening, what are some of your interests?
I belong to the greater Patchogue Historical Society. I enjoy the local history. I play bridge.
A television show you like?
Anything funny. I don’t like police or hospital shows. I like "Antiques Roadshow". I enjoy musicals.
A book you’d recommend?I like historical novels. I enjoyed "Jonathan Livingston Seagull".
An accomplishment you are proud of?My husband and I built our own house. I’ve lived here 60 years now, so it’s held together pretty good. His brother helped him. I was pregnant with Barbara and I remember hammering floorboards down. I did most of the interior. My first Mother’s Day, my husband bought me an electric sander. He was a very practical man.
An interesting place you’ve traveled to or visited?
I was brought up on the bay out here. We bought a big old Matthews boat. Every weekend for 30 years we’d pack up and go on the boat. I don’t know how manytimes I painted it. It was 38 feet long—built in 1929. It didn’t go very fast, but we had a good time. We’d go
over to Fire Island on the beach. We didn’t really get off the boat. We just swam off the boat and clammed. The kids grew up. We got a sailboat, and the kids learned to sail. We’d go to Connecticut in it. In later years we drove to Florida for two weeks each year.
Your favorite dessert or food?
I love clams, mussels—seafood. I also love salads.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
As I say to the girl when I buy a ticket, I only need a million dollars. I’d probably help out people—friends, relatives. I don’t think I’d change my lifestyle. I might buy a new car.
Something you keep postponing?
I’d organize my boxes of pictures. I’ve cleaned out a total of about four or five houses and brought most of the stuff home. (One was my husband’s family homestead in Riverhead, one was an aunt in Cutchogue—etc.) I’ve reached the attitude—let them clean out my house and have the fun.
An interesting job you’ve had?
My claim to fame was that I was the first woman teller in Patchogue---Union Savings Bank in 1943—the height of World War II. I worked there seven years.

April Meeting in a Flash

Business:
• Membership voted to have the gazebo and arbors powerwashed.
• Membership voted to include Patchogue Garden Club logo on the new Patchogue Village signs.
• Scholarship recipient, Miranda Kass, will do community work in the garden as well as at the yard sale.
• Tom and Carolyn Savastano put up six birdhouses in the village garden. These were made by Dennis Sitler’s Boy Scout troop #44.
• New membership booklets are in the works.
• The Community Outreach Committee will be co-chaired by Bonnie Bossert and Jo Miller. Contact them if you’d like to work on the committee.
• Breakfast in the Garden will be held June 11th. No rain date. Bring a dish to share and a chair.
• If you’d like to host a summer meeting in your yard, contact Diane.
Speaker: Bill Paauwe—African Violets. Who knew there was so much to learn about the humble African Violet? Mr. Paauwe (President, Officer and/or member of seven African Violet Societies, and author of several articles on African Violets) dug into some of our overgrown and neglected plants, showing us how to use a wicking system, telling us that the pot should be 1/3 the size of the plant, and using his unique soil mix (including vermiculite, pearlite, diatoma-ceous earth). You must water with a fer-tilizer. While taking off older leaves and scraping the stem while repotting, he reminded us that grooming is very important. He suggested using a soft blush brush for dusting the leaves. Bill’s dry humor made his informative presentation very entertaining.

What’s in the News?

1. Find out why Bleeding Heart’s botanical name has changed:
http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/columnists/jessicadamiano/garden-detective-botanical-name-system-1.2749883. Some of our favorite flowers have been reclassified and find themselves with different botanical names.

2. Hugh Raffles defends non-native species in this "NY Times" article. He says, “It’s true that some non-native species have brought with them expensive and well-publicized problems; zebra mussels, nutria and kudzu are prime examples. But even these notorious villains have ecological or economic benefits. Zebra mussels, for example, significantly improve water quality, which increases populations of small fish, invertebrates and seaweeds — and that, in turn, has helped expand the number of larger fish and birds.” Read more of his article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/opinion/03Raffles.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=mother%20natures%20melting%20pot&st=cse

3. In this art piece, “When New York City Bloomed,” by Mariellé Anzelone and Wendy Hollender, you can see some of the flowers found in Central Park in earlier decades. “When you stand in the middle of Times Square, it is easy to forget that the colonists settled in New York City because of its bounty of natural resources. Before there were skyscrapers and restaurants, the city’s wealth was measured in flora and fauna. Early Dutch sailors were disoriented by the scent of wildflowers wafting out to sea from Manhattan. Even today, forests, marshes and meadows cover nearly one-eighth of the city. But it is not a safe haven for flowers. Of 1,357 native plant species documented in New York City’s history, only 778 remain here. There are various reasons for their disappearance, but always the causal factor is human — a pest we accidentally introduced, a habitat we made unwelcoming or destroyed altogether. Our urban lives are impoverished in their absence. Here is a selection of plants that have vanished from the city. Some thrive elsewhere;
others are barely hanging on. And one has recently reappeared in New York City, a signal of hope in a concrete landscape.” To see some of our vanishing plants, look here:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/25/opinion/20110326-opart.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1#1.

Timely Tips for the Garden in June

• Plant out pots of basil and other tender herbs.
• Keep sowing seed outside to provide continuity of supply.
• Thin seedlings that have been sown directly in the garden.
• Encourage runner beans to climb up their supports.
• Remove side shoots from your tomato plants.
• Plant out beans, pumpkins and other tender crops.
• Harvest beetroot, spring onions, radishes and salad leaves. Don’t forget to sow more for a later crop.
• Harvest asparagus until the end of the month—then allow the shoots to grow to feed the roots for next year’s crop.
• Harden off young plants that have been raised indoors,leave them in a shady place for a couple of days, then overnight for a couple more before planting.

“In June as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day.No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them.” ~ Aldo Leopold

ST. PADDY'S DAY PARADE!

2011-04-23T08:53:00.009-04:00

Here’s the float heading down Main Street.

Frank Lerantini takes his 1930 Model A Ford out for a spin.

Babette Bishop, Arlene Lamberti, Carolyn Savastano & Frank Lerantini

Joan and Dave Tifford furnished the plants for the float.
ART@jsignsinc.com made the signs.

April Newsletter

2011-04-23T08:00:00.008-04:00

Greetings from the President

Hello Members,

Can you believe it's April already? Where do the days go? I think we can safely say that it IS spring at last! The cardinals are back; the fish are swimming; and I witnessed a great white egret in my back yard, staring at my tiny fish yesterday. The fish may be tiny, but the egret was soooo majestic! What a breathtaking sight! A portion of my fence on the easterly side of my yard didn't fare very well through this past winter. It was, however,15 or more years old, and just fell apart under the cold snow that I thought we would still be looking at in May. New cedar sections six feet tall have been constructed by the husband and erected today by one in the same and my #1 and only son. Thank goodness all the snow is gone, and the daffodils, crocuses and dwarf purple iris are blooming, along with a multitude of other trees and plants. Aaahhhhhhh............the air is warmer, the sky is fairer, and the winter coats have been put away. Hope to see you all at this month’s meeting. Diane

Mark the Date

April 26—Monthly Meeting, 7:00 PM, American Legion Hall
May 14—Plant and Yard Sale (Rain date, May 15)
May 24—Monthly Meeting, 7:00 PM, location TBD
June 11—Breakfast in the Garden, 9 PM (Rain date, June 12) Please
bring a breakfast item for several people to share.
June 28—Monthly Meeting, 6:00 PM, location TBD

It might interest you to see where our Web site has been
read. Out of 2,441 page views: United States 1,307; Latvia 47; Germany 299; United Kingdom 46; Russia 132; China 28; Netherlands 89; France 27; Slovenia 85; Italy 26

April Hostesses: Joanna Drake and Diane Voland

April/May Happy Birthdays
April: Paula Murphy, Mark Jeffers, Carolyn Young
May: Carla Buchanan-Steward

BIG Luncheon Thank Yous!

On behalf of my co-chair, Arlene Lamberti,
many thanks to the Luncheon Committee 2011
for helping make this a very successful year.
Georgia
Margaret Atkinson
Barbara Bestafka
Babette Bishop
Pauline Carleton
Karen Ferb
Gladys Heinburger
Janet Heyer
Marie Magnano
Jo Miller
Marita Morello
June Petruccelli
Anne Rubbo
Carolyn Savastano
Carla Steward
Ruth Szuminskyj
Joan Tifford
Carolyn Young
Millie Zimmerman
Barbara Edsall

Co-Chairs—Arlene Lamberti and Georgia Dulmovits
Also a big thanks to Tom Savastano, Tony
Wenderoth , John Dulmovits, Bert Voland, Art
Coleman, Don Rubbo, Frank Densing

Those Who Made Donations to the 2011 Luncheon
Bert Voland
Diane Voland
Artie Coleman
Rosalie Coleman
Barbara Bruce
Janet Heyer
June Petruccelli
Joan Tifford
Marita Morello
Carolyn Young
Carolyn Savastano
Carla Buchanan
Anne Rubbo
Barbara Deal
Frank and Margaret Densing
Jo Miller
Karen Ferb
Mildred Zimmerman
Margaret Atkinson
Fred and Bonnie Bossert
Babette Bishop
Paula Murphy
Joanna Drake
Pauline Carleton
Barbara Bestafka
Gladys Heimburger
Ruth Szuminskyji
Anne Marie Coakley
Carol Tvelia
Richard Waldman

This year we have 18 members who
volunteered to work in the Garden:
Margaret Atkinson, Babette Bishop, Angelo
and June Petruccelli, Mike Burns, Michael
Mearkle, Arlene Lamberti, Carol Tvelia,
Loretta Filippelli-Kirby, Barbara Edsall,
Karen Ferb, Bonnie and Fred Bossert, Jo
Miller, Frank and Peg Densing, Joanna
Drake, and Lynn Kane

When I go into the garden with a spade, and dig a bed, I feel
such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been
defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I
should have done with my own hands. -Ralph Waldo Emerson,
writer and philosopher (1803-1882) Submitted by Karen Ferb

March Meeting in a Flash
• Georgia said this is the best year for luncheon attendance so
far with 181 reservations.
• Opening of the garden will take place on April 9th. With the
completion of Art Space, there is now a handicap accessible
path in the back parking area. The parking spaces along the
garden are reserved for Garden Club members.
• More walkers are needed for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
• We discussed purchasing a projection screen for use at the
American Legion Hall. This is tabled for the time being.
• We discussed ways to increase our community outreach as a
club. One was to advertise our website with a question/
answer column for the public. The second was a study day or
workshop with speakers from within the club. This wouldn’t
be a money-maker, but it would be a free educational opportunity
for the public.

In Bloom Free Exhibit—April 6 through May 29
Islip Art Museum, 50 Irish Lane East Islip, NY 11730
Curated by Karen Shaw, this exhibit features imaginary
and real flowers and plants as envisioned by contemporary
artists. Show includes a garden tour and related lectures.

“Orchids in Bloom”—Tea, Talk, and Exhibit, $10.00
Special tea with talk by Bill Bianchi, Long Island orchid grower
May 5 from 1-3 p.m.
Islip Art Museum, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip
There will be orchids for sale.
Karen Ferb says that the woman who puts on the teas and
talks is Kathy Curran, formerly a curator at the Suffolk
County Historic Museum in Riverhead. Karen and several
other club members have gone to many of her teas and
have always had a nice time.

Carolyn Young
—is moving her daylily garden and selling all but 6-10 fans from 200-250 of her plants. Most will be $5.00. Size of division will vary. Most will be
dug when you come, so call her for a date and time at (631)345-6194. Earlier dates give you better selection and better chance of bloom this year.
Carolyn asks, “If you leave a number, say it slowly and clearly, so I can
call you back. I'll gladly reuse extra large shallow plastic pots.”

Earth Day serves as a reminder to show our care and appreciation for the planet's natural environment. It was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson, and first held on April 22, 1970. To commemorate what in 2009 the United Nations designated International Mother Earth Day, here are some local events in need of volunteers to help better our surroundings and nurture the Earth. The Great Brookhaven Plant-In will be held at Shorefront Park in Patchogue on Saturday, June 4 at noon. The deck booth, pool, bandshell, bridges and playground will be beautified, and lots of fun is sure to be had by all. Join the Great South Bay Audubon Society for their Annual Spring Brookside CountyPark Cleanup on Sunday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Brookside County Park located at 59
Brook Street in Sayville (rain date Sunday, May 29). A hearty and delicious continental breakfastwill be provided to jumpstart volunteers' energy.
Feel free to stay for an hour, or the entire day. Any amount of time will be appreciated,and everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity for students to log in community servicehours. Please bring work gloves and gardening tools (rakes, clippers, etc.) if possible. For more information please contact Brookside director, Kathy Kozakiewicz at raykozak@rcn.com or call 631-567-2637.

Paula reminds us that we are Chamber members! Please try to attend.
Greater Patchogue Foundation
37th Annual Beautification Fundraiser
April 27, 2011, Pine Grove Inn, Lunch and dinner seatings
Call 207-1000 for more information.

Free Dahlia Workshop
Learn how to grow dahlias
May 15th, noon to 4 p.m., Islip Art Museum, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip, NY
For more info 224-5420 or visit islipartscouncil.org

What’s in the News?
1. Richard Waldman calls our attention to the following NPR
report about the history of the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C.
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/27/134882943/how-d-c-s-cherry-blossomsalmost-didnt-bloom
“The first group of trees arrived in Washington early in 1910.
They were inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
found to be infested with “several kinds of pests, big bugs, little bugs,
and fungi, some of them unknown to this country and therefore extremely
dangerous.”
Japan sent 3,020 replacement trees, and… over the next few
years, more than 3,000 trees of 12 different varieties were added
along the Tidal Basin, around East Potomac Park, and on the
grounds of the White House.
As the second batch of trees traveled to D.C. from Seattle via
insulated freight cars, The Christian Science Monitor waxed poetic:
‘In the April sunshine, better still by moonlight, and best of all by the poet’s pale, pure light of dawn—the blooming cherry tree is the most ideally,
wonderfully beautiful tree that nature has to show, and its short-lived glory makes the enjoyment the keener and more poignant.’”
2. National Geographic questions why civilization veered toward
using annual grains, and suggests perennials might be the better
choice because of their longer root systems. Read about it here:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/big-idea/perennial-grains-text
3. Here’s an article, “Garden As If Your Life Depended On It,
Because It Does.” “There are at least five reasons why more of us
should take up the spade, make some compost, and start gardening
with a vengeance.”
http://www.alternet.org/story/150428/garden_as_if_your_life_depended_on_it %2C_because_it_does?akid=6755.114783.ECA3xJ&rd=1&t=5
5. Some beautiful photographs Paula found of the Netherlands in May
“At first glance, it looks like a giant child armed with a box of crayons has been set loose upon the landscape. Vivid stripes of [colors] make up a glorious patchwork. Yet far from being a child’s sketchbook, this is,
in fact, the northern Netherlands in the middle of tulip season.”
To see these beautiful photos and learn more about tulip season in the Netherlands,go here:http://cafezambeze3.multiply.com/photos/album/77#
6. Go to this CBS News site to read this
story on Brussels’ begonia carpet:
http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-501843_162-
4353128.html?tag=page

Get to Know A Fellow Gardener—Joanna Drake
Where were you born, and where have you lived?
Da Bronx. We moved out to Smithtown when I was two. It was the first
good night’s sleep I’d seen since I was in the womb!
Tell us about your family?
My husband, Russ, is the most patient man in the world—and I try his patience a lot! My 15-year-old Yogi is the bestest dog in the world! (Arf!)
What gave you your first interest in gardening?
I love to work with my hands and get into the dirt—it’s another creative
outlet.
Outside of gardening, what are some of your interests?
I enjoy playing guitar and piano, but mostly I love to sing. I’ve been with
BAFFA, a local amateur classical group, since 2001, but tunes from the 40s
through the 70s are fun to sing. I enjoy hosting music parties ‘cause lots of
my friends love to sing! I love to laugh. I’ve been collecting Comic Strips since the early 70s, and I am forever cutting out comics from the newspaper. My favorites include the extinct Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, and, more recently, Rhymes with Orange, Stone Soup, and, of course, Pickles! The best ones make me laughso hard I can’t breathe, and tears come to my eyes I’m laughing so hard. (Ha, ha, ho, chuckle..snort)
A television show you like?
Medical dramas! Grey’s Anatomy, Off the Map, House...Why? The drama,
the passion, and the unbelievable situations!
A book you’d recommend?
“Loves to Read” should be my moniker. Of the most recent books, "Eat,
Pray, Love"; "The Last Lecture"; "Greatest Generation"; and "The Bible"..always.
Your favorite dessert or food?
Anything chocolate :) mmmmm...good!
Something you keep postponing?
Organizing my photos—oh, there are just too many! I have dozens of full
albums that need “weeding,” and blank albums that need filing. I have finally learned how to download the digital photos to the computer, but I have yet to understand how to find them easily. (Is there a Bermuda Triangle forphotos?)
Anything else you’d like us to know about you?
My faith in God is very close to my heart. The Bible, the book of Truth, has
timeless wisdom. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. You
are the branches. If a man remains in me, he will bear much fruit. This is my command—to love one another.” John 15: 1-17
Below, Joanna picking her summer strawberries:

Information from Karen Ferb
Grow Weeds on Purpose? Are You for Real?
Lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album), aka wild spinach,
has nourished many cultures over the centuries and is
richer in protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and some
B vitamins than spinach or cabbage. Its seeds are higher in
protein than wheat and produce a buckwheat-like flour.
Grown in good soil and pinched to promote branching, it
produces young leaves all season. These can be eaten raw
or cooked like spinach. Dandelion, purslane, chickweed,
chicory, plantain, burdock, wild onion, and stinging nettle,
are all wild foods with excellent culinary and health benefits.
Who knew Japanese knotweed was edible? It is said that it
tastes similar to rhubarb, only better, and heaven knows
Long Island is infested with enough of this invasive alien to
keep us all in pie for years to come. Seeds of select weed varieties are becoming available in catalogs. Also check out John Kallas’ Wild Food Adventures
at http://www.wildfoodadventures.com/johnkallas.html
and New York’s own Wildman, Steve Brill, at http://
www.wildmanstevebrill.com/ for ideas on wild foraging.

Timely Tips for May
• Prepare the soil in the vegetable garden and annual beds
• Sow seeds of garden peas, sweet peas and radishes.
• Fertilize fruit trees
• Examine houseplants-trim to reshape and repot as necessary.
• Prune early-flowering shrubs immediately after flowering.
• Control lawn weeds now through late May before temperatures get
too high.
• Continue planting herbaceous perennials until May and divide established
ones before growth is too far advanced
• Sow hardy annual seeds outdoors—cornflowers, larkspur, annual
poppies, etc.
• Plant new roses. Remove what is remaining of earth mounds and
prune established roses.

"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit." --Greek proverb

March Newsletter

2011-03-16T19:43:00.028-04:00

Greetings from the President

Hello members and welcome to March,

I think it's safe to say that we all have our outdoors back at this point. The snowdrops are blooming, the daffodils and tulips are starting to poke their heads through the matted winter soil, and the "swallows" are coming back from Capistrano. Much to my surprise, the pumps and filters in the ponds fared well through this oh-so-cold winter, and the fish seem to be happy to see some sunlight that isn't being filtered through ice. I recently returned from a short excursion this past weekend to the Philadelphia Convention Center for the annual flower show. This year’s theme was “Paris In Springtime,” and it certainly was! So majestically beautiful..everything in bloom!! That's when I realized what was wrong with this picture. We don't ever get to see everything in bloom at the same time in our own backyards, so it did look a bit unnatural, but gorgeous just the same. My favorite part of the show? If it's possible to choose, I'd have to say the orchids were spectacular!!! If anyone got the chance to visit the exhibit, I'm sure you thoroughly enjoyed yourself, as did I. See you at this month's general meeting, Diane

Mark the Date

Tuesday, March 22, 2011--Monthly Meeting, 7:00 PM at the American Legion Hall
Sunday, March 27, 2011--St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Check with Arlene Lamberti if you’d like to participate.
Thursday, March 31, 2011—Eighth Annual “Think Spring” Luncheon at the Mediterranean Manor, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue. Tickets are $35. You can make a reservation with a check or cash at the meeting. (All checks are due by March 28th.)

The Luncheon Committee has been off and running since late August, putting together a Vintage Hat Exhibit and small scented straw hat magnets for each person attending. Our guest speaker, Marianne Annunziato Fulfaro, will present us with her Vintage Hat Collection, topic, "Hats Through the Ages." So, catch our spirit and join us with a friend. We encourage you to come and wear your favorite hat. Below, some of the committee members meeting at Georgia's.

Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise.
~Michael P. Garafalo, gardendigest.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JANET, FRANK, AND DON!

[Here's a new feature, "Get to Know a Fellow Gardener". I’m placing all members’names in a hat (really...I’m going to use a hat!) and choosing one each month. If you don’t want to participate, feel free to decline. Thanks to Diane who starts us off in this issue. mma]

Get to Know a Fellow Gardener

Diane Riviello Voland

Where were you born, and where have you lived?
Brooklyn, New York, and lived for 10 years west of Pittsburgh PA......
lots of dairy farms and corn fields....very peaceful, and for me, just a little too small (the town)
Have you had a job you really enjoyed?
About 35 years ago, I worked as a title examiner at the county center in Riverhead. That had to be, by far the most interesting and fun job I ever had. It was like being a detective and I got to look at county record books that dated back to when the pilgrims came over, examine peoples' last wills and testaments, and check in the courthouse records for tax liens and judgments or law suits against the purchasers and sellers, and create a chain of title to suit the individual township’s needs.
What is your family like?
I have one sister 7 1/2 years my junior...but one look, and a stranger can tell we're sisters...other than that a very small family that is scattered across the US.
What gave you your first interest in gardening?
I've always loved flowers and plants and knew from a young age that I wanted to live someplace where I could have a little piece of my own great outdoors.
Outside of gardening, what are some of your interests?
At about 36 years old I got my degree in interior decorating, something I always had a passion for. I enjoy crafting and sewing or any activity that is creative in any way.
A television show you like?
You'll usually find me watching 'Criminal Minds' after 8 PM, and a personal favorite has always been, and will always be, 'I Love Lucy'.
An accomplishment you are proud of?
I would have to say that my greatest accomplishment,the one I am most proud of, is my son.
An interesting place you’ve traveled to or visited?
Of all the places I've traveled to by plane car or boat, I would have to say that Washington DC was the most interesting and inspiring. What a beautiful city, filled with history and fabulous museums.
Favorite sport (to play or watch?
A sport??? I am guilty of not being an avid participant in any sportslike activity, but I love to watch ice dancing.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
If I won the lottery big time?? I guess, like everyone else I would pay all that I owe to anyone, then move someplace warm and tropical— and I don't mean Florida.

February Meeting in a Flash

• Mary Ann Tchinnis stepped down as Parliamentarian, and Carla Buchanan-Steward accepted the position.
• In a general consensus, club members agreed that community service should be a part of the club scholarship. This service should take place at local gardens in the community and schools.
• Rolling Rock will continue doing maintenance on the garden.
• It was decided, with majority vote, that $2000 would be donated to a project for Patchogue Village's Veterans Memorial Park.
• The Garden Club will participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Patchogue.

Opportunities for Gardeners and Wannabes

1. The 29th Annual Spring Gardening School of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will be held at The Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood on April 2, 2011, Bellport High School on April 19, 2011, and Riverhead Middle School on April 16 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This day includes your choice of classes from four different sessions, with information for every level of gardener from beginner to advanced. Topics include:
· Fundamentals of gardening
· Pruning
· Floral design
· Home Composting
· Water-wise gardening
· Rain Gardens
· Growing your own food
· Houseplants, roses, hydrangeas, bulbs, figs, and more!

All classes are taught by Master Gardeners and Extension Educators. Included in your fee are free soil pH testing, plant diagnostic clinic, plant sale from some of the finest nurseries, continental breakfast, delicious boxed lunch, and door prizes. The fee is $55 per person, early bird registration is $50 before March 4, 2011. The registration form with a full schedule of classes and their descriptions is available for download at www.ccesuffolk.org or contact Caroline Kiang at 631-727-7850, ext. 337 or 345.

2. Check out the Bayport Flower House online news to see if you are interested in
taking any of their classes. http://www.bayportflower.com/newsletterhol04.pdf

Make Your Own Peat Pots

You can save money by recycling newspapers into seed-starting pots. It’s easy, it’s free, and planting the entire bio-degradable pot will virtually eliminate chances of transplant shock. (Newsprint ink is generally nontoxic.) Here’s how:

1. Fold a newspaper sheet in half lengthwise. Fold it again.

2. Place a tomato paste can along one edge of the newspaper, a couple of inches from the bottom. Roll the newspaper tightly around the can. I put a piece of tape here and take it off before planting.

3. Fold the excess newspaper at the bottom of
the can to the center. Turn can onto newspaper,
and push down, shaping the bottom.

4. Put a piece of tape across the bottom, and
carefully remove can.

You can make about one every two minutes—thirty during an hour-long TV program. A week before transplanting into the garden, begin to “harden
off” plants by placing them outdoors each day. Pick a shady spot, protected from wind, and
start with a half-hour, adding an hour of exposure each day until they’re getting eight
hours of outdoor exposure daily. Continue watering. Margaret

What’s in the News?

1. Here’s an article on winter gardening with Dutch landscape artist, Piet Oudolf
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/garden/10garden.html?scp=2&sq=gardening&st=cse
Mr. Oudolf’ believes that a garden should be designed to have a life throughout the year, not just in the spring and summer. “The garden in winter is an emotional experience,” he said. “You think in terms of decay and disappearing and coming back. You feel the life cycle of nature. A lot of gardening is focused on flowers. People don’t realize plants can be beautiful after flowering, and they cut them down before they can even see it. I look outside now and see the clematis that flowered in the summer but is more interesting now that it is showing seed heads. If you make a four-season garden you have to learn to accept decay and see the beauty of it. It’s about the texture and shape, the seed heads and the skeletons. So instead of using the scissors you use your eyes.”

2. Do you have a hankering for one of those tasty apples you had as a kid and can’t find any more? Well, here’s a fellow who’s keeping them alive:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/garden/03garden.html?ref=inthegarden. [Note: A revolutionary war era ancestor of mine in New Canaan NY developed the Hawley apple, also known as the Douse or Dowse and harvests in September. It is large and has a smooth, yet waxy skin. It is greenish yellow with a brown blush. Plenty of russet dots all over. Read about it in the 1856 'Magazine of Horticulture' at http://books.google.com/books?id=I2EDAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA39&lpg=RA1-PA39&dq=%22Hawley+apple%22&source=bl&ots=TvYd4OKfGe&sig=6XJ2j0aeSOkqV6Ltlw36sv49-vs&hl=en&ei=0q6ETYS0JMiRgQf7uqG9CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=%22Hawley%20apple%22&f=false. Karen]

3. Have you ever wondered what
you could grow from your own
kitchen cabinets? Here’s an interesting
article from someone who has experimented.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/garden/24seed.html?
scp=4&sq=gardening&st=cse

4. Have you heard about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/lmd/campain/svalbard-global-seed-vault.html The Svalbard Global Seed
Vault, which is established in the permafrost in the mountains of
Svalbard, is designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections
around the globe. Many of these collections are in developing
countries. If seeds are lost, e.g. as a result of natural disasters,
war or simply a lack of resources, the seed collections may be
reestablished using seeds from Svalbard.

Here’s more information about the Svalbard Vault, from Seed Savers in Iowa:
http://www.seedsavers.org/Content.aspx?src=w hatsnew.htm#svalbard3
“Even though Seed Savers' share represents only a small portion of the total deposits at Svalbard, the organization's contribution is unique because the heirloom varieties are mostly seeds conserved by home gardeners. Here is a small sampling of the varieties in the most recent deposit: Bean-Blue Boy, Cucumber-Spring of Water, Cowpea-Tight Red, Ground Cherry-New Hanover, Melon-Plum Granny, Pepper-Jimmy's Little White Hots, Pumpkin-Algonquian, Tomato-German Pink, and Watermelon-Arikara.”

Each Svalbardshipment/storage box contains the list of accessions with minimum germplasm data (Institute code, Accessions number, Scientific and common name, Number of seeds per pack, Year of regeneration, Country of origin).

All-America Selections 2011
submitted by Karen Ferb

First prize went to Rudbeckia ‘Denver Daisy’, with 4-6” gold flowers sporting maroon and chocolate centers. The second prize went to Echinacea ‘Prairie Splendor’ with amethyst flowers. Coming in third was the 12” ornamental pepper ‘Purple Flash’, with purple leaves and black fruits. Noteworthy introductions among perennials included Shasta daisy ‘Amelia’, a single white 5” flower with gold center. Anemone ‘Margarete’ produces abundant, large, glowing rose flowers with orange centers on 24” stems. I personally hope to find the ‘Red Racer’ hellebore from the ‘Winter Thriller’ series, said to produce up to 75 3 ½” deep velvet red flowers on one plant! Also look for Bergenia ‘Lunar Glow’ with its deep pink flowers and creamy yellow foliage in spring, finishing brilliant scarlet in the fall.

New Baptisias of the ‘Prairieblues’ series are 3-5’ tall with yellow-orange (‘Solar Flare’), soft blue (‘Starlite’), and deep purple (‘Twilite’) flowers. Praiseworthy annual introductions: Celosia ‘Cramer’s Burgundy’ and ‘Ruby Parfait’ are drama queens with huge, elegant flowers and unusual forms. Look at the size! These plants are grown for the cut flower trade with stems up to 30” tall and long-lasting flowers cut flowers also suitable for drying.

Timely Tips for April

• Prepare the soil in the vegetable garden and annual beds
• Sow seeds of garden peas, sweet peas and radishes.
• Fertilize fruit trees
• Examine houseplants-trim to reshape and repot as necessary.
• Prune early-flowering shrubs immediately after flowering.
• Control lawn weeds now through late May before temperatures get
too high.
• Continue planting herbaceous perennials until May and divide established
ones before growth is too far advanced
• Sow hardy annual seeds outdoors—cornflowers, larkspur, annual
poppies, etc.
• Plant new roses. Remove what is remaining of earth mounds and
prune established roses.

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

New Board of Directors

2011-02-21T12:00:00.003-05:00

Right to left: Diane Riviello-Voland, June Petruccelli, Babette Bishop, Carol Tvelia, Arlene Lamberti, and Carolyn Savastano

February Newsletter

2011-02-21T11:28:00.010-05:00

Greetings from the President

Hello Members,

Welcome to February, and the snow is still on the ground from the Christmas blizzard. Yes, it has been melting. I am finally seeing a circle of water in my pond, and below the ice, the fish are swimming! I'm so excited that they made it through the arctic month we've had. It seems as if spring is really trying to shove her way into our world. Let's all have a moment of silence and prayer that it doesn't snow again before she gets here. I've started some spring bulbs and seedlings in the shed. I'm very bad at getting little tasks done in a timely fashion, and this became necessary because I neglected to get them in the ground last fall before it became frigid, and the ground was not a hospitable environment. I trust that most all of you are more timely gardeners than I, and you are just waiting for that first tiny crocus to rear its head. May it become warmer sooner than later. My bones are aching for some sunshine, without the six layers of wool and scarves to shield me from the cold. Hope to see you all at the next general meeting......maybe without the scarves and hats?? We can dream, can't we? Diane

Mark the Date

Tuesday, February 22, 2011—Monthly Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall, corner of Baker Street and South Ocean Avenue,
Patchogue. Please use the Baker Street entrance and park in the Village
Hall lot on the side of the hall, or across the street in the Old Brookhaven
Town Hall lot.

Thursday, March 31, 2011—Eighth Annual “Think Spring” Luncheon at the
Mediterranean Manor, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue. Tickets are $35.
You can make a reservation with a check at the meeting. (All checks are
due by March 28th.)

The Luncheon Committee has been off and running since
late August, putting together a Vintage Hat Exhibit and small
scented straw hat magnets for each person attending. Our guest
speaker, Marianne Annunziato Fulfaro, will present us with her
Vintage Hat Collection, topic, "Hats Through the Ages." So, catch
our spirit and join us with a friend. We encourage you to come
and wear your favorite hat.

All promised baskets and donations for the Luncheon will gladly be accepted at the February meeting. As you know, we need time to wrap and record all baskets, donations and gift certificates, so please have them in no later than March 21st. If you are a member who is participating in the Club Vintage Hat Exhibit, please bring your hats and hat boxes to the Mediterranean Manor, Wednesday, March 30 at 10 a.m.
Hope to see you at the luncheon. Your support is always appreciated. Georgia

March Birthdays

Janet Heyer, Frank Lerantini, Don Rubbo

Quote submitted by Mary Ann Tchinnis:

"I have grown a vegetable garden my whole life--heck, that was the only way we'd all eat. I remember folks thought that was so country! Now it's in style."
~ Loretta Lynn

January Meeting in a Flash

The Calendar of Events was presented. New member, Mike Burns, was introduced. We discussed participation in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Suggestions included pulling a wagon instead of making a float. The president expressed her wish to reach
out to the community, not just the Patchogue Village. A club donation to Veterans Memorial Park was discussed and tabled for a future meeting. Anyone interested
in helping with cleaning up the Shore Front Park Garden should contact Diane.

Patchogue Garden Club Calendar of Events—2011

February 22—Monthly Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall, corner of Baker Street and South Ocean Avenue, Patchogue.
March 22— Monthly Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall
March 27—St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 31—Spring Luncheon, 10:30 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
Mediterranean Manor, 303 E. Main Street, Patchogue
April 9—Opening of the Garden (Rain date, April 10)
April 26—Monthly Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
American Legion Hall
May 14—Plant and Yard Sale (Rain date, May 15)
May 24—Monthly Meeting, 7:00
American Legion Hall
June 11—Breakfast in the Garden, 9 a.m. (Rain date, June 12)
Bring a breakfast item for several people
June 28—Monthly Meeting
July 9th—Garden Tour
July 26—Monthly Meeting
August 23—Monthly Meeting
September 27—Monthly Meeting
October 25—Monthly Meeting
Harvest Dinner (still undecided)
November 12—Closing of the Garden (Rain date, Nov 13)
November 22—Monthly Meeting
Decoration of the gazebo—still under discussion
Holiday party—still under discussion

Hostesses for the March Meeting

Lynn Kane, Carol Tvelia, Arlene Lamberti

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE
Lettuce be cheerful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be patient
Lettuce appreciate one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS
Turnip for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnip to help one another

MAINTENANCE REQUIRES THYME
Thyme for each other
Thyme for family
Thyme for friends
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love,
for there is much fruit in your garden.

Submitted by Arlene Lamberti

Guy Vitale sent this article:

Gardeners Can Help Safeguard Imperiled Plants

Plants are pulling a vanishing act, and gardeners may have to play a larger role on the world stage if vulnerable species are to be preserved and restored. Imperiled animals and birds generally get top billing, says James Wandersee, a botanist and educator at Louisiana State University, who calls the appreciation gap between flora and fauna "plant blindness." But many plants also are threatened by extinction, he says. Overlooking the value of plants is costing us a bundle - some $384 million a year for the genetic contributions that disappearing strains of wild native sun- flowers make to cultivated varieties alone, federal officials say. And that doesn't include plants' inestimable aesthetic appeal or medical uses. At least 25 percent of all prescription drugs contain ingredients derived from plant compounds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.

Habitat loss due to urbanization, the introduction of invasive species and climate change are causing most of the plant declines, said Kathryn Kennedy, president and executive director of the Center for Plant Conservation in St. Louis. "Breaking up habitat so that it's fragmented causes pollination problems, less genetic diversity and forces changes in temperature regimes," Kennedy said. "Non-native plants become so numerous that they repress native plants and alter the landscape. Global warming speeds the process. "The present threat of extinction is 30 percent of our plants by 2070," she said. The situation isn't all gloom and doom, however. The Maguire Daisy, a perennial herb with dime-size pink or white blooms, was removed from the list of threatened and endangered species on Jan. 18. That came after a 25-year conservation effort. "The population of the daisy was known to number seven plants when it was listed as endangered in 1985 but now numbers 163,000 plants within 10 populations," the Fish and Wildlife Service said. It was the 21st species to be delisted due to
recovery. Individuals can make a difference.

Here's how:
- Leave rare plants alone when you come across them in the wild. Take pictures rather than specimens. "They have more to offer us for the future in the wild and can more effectively be conserved there than by `nurturing' them in a backyard," Kennedy said.

- "Plant your property for diversity," said Mincy Moffett, a botanist and plant ecologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. "Try to have a wide variety of plants that produce a wide variety of food for wildlife."

- Work with your neighbors. "Figure out what kind of habitat was in your area before the heavy hand of man," he said. "Plant the species that should be there."

- Get involved in conservation activities. "Build more knowledge about plants," Kennedy said. "Develop more skill sets which can be brought to bear in the workplace. That could mean anything from data entry to planting plants in the wild or teaching people how to grow and protect them.
"There's a lot of work to be done but there also are a lot of opportunities."

Online:
http://www.centerforplantconservation.org.
http://www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation

Bellport Garden Club asked us to list their activities for 2011:

TUESDAY, March 8th
Bellport Village Community Center
Bell Street, Bellport
PUBLIC MEETING - 7:00 p.m.
Green Lawns/Blue Bay Program
Panel Discussion on how to fertilize our lawns without chemicals.
Guest panel includes: Tom Williams, Beth Fiteni, Tamson Yeh and
Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz

TUESDAY, September 13th
SMALL STANDARD FLOWER SHOW
Open to the public, 1 p.m.
Saint James Episcopal Church Parish Hall
Bay Road, Brookhaven

SUNDAY, December 11th
CHRISTMAS HOUSE
Bellport Village Location TBA

Question and Answer:

In the Horticulture Magazine, Feb/Mar 2011, a reader asks, “I love flowering bulbs,
but I hate their ratty-looking foliage after they bloom. Is there anything I can to do make it look better?"

For an answer, Paula Murphy directs us to this site:
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/combos/

Go to the site to see the MANY suggested combinations. Here are just a few:
Narcissus “February Gold” with Potentilla “Miss Wilmot”
Tulip “Don Quichotte” with Geranium pratense “Splish Splash”
Hyacinth “Jan Bos” with Penstemon “Husker Red”

Timely Tips for March

• Now is a good time to air-layer such houseplants as dracaena, dieffenbachia,
fatsia, and rubber plant, especially if they have grown too tall
and leggy.
• Gradually uncover, prune, and feed established roses.
• Now that the soil has started to warm up, begin moving or transplanting
trees and shrubs. Do not fertilize at planting.
• Apply fertilizer and lime (if not done last fall) to the vegetable garden
and incorporate.
• Sow radish and lettuce seed outdoors as soon as the ground can
be worked.
• Apply horticultural oil sprays to trees and shrubs any time after the
danger of freezing nights has passed, but before the buds begin to open.

Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint and the soil and sky as canvas. ~ Elizabeth Murray

8th Annual 'Think Spring' Luncheon

2011-01-25T17:26:00.000-05:00

8th Annual 'Think Spring' Luncheon
March 31, 2011
Doors Open at 10:30 AM

Mediterranean Manor, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue NY 11772

Luncheon and Hat Exhibit with a talk on "Hats Through the Ages" by Marianne Annunziato Fulfaro, Designer and Facilitator of the Peace Labyrinth at Common Ground, Sayville.

You are encouraged to come and wear a favorite hat.

Raffles and Door Prizes
Tickets: $35
Payment should be received by March 28, 2011
Please send checks payable to the Patchogue Garden Club to Patchogue Garden Club, c/o Karen Ferb, 270 West Avenue, Patchogue NY 11772
For more information call Arlene (730-7572) or Georgia (289-0867)

2011-01-25T17:18:00.003-05:00

Greetings from the President

Happy New Year to all, and welcome to another cold, wet January winter. Looking out my windows at my garden, I ponder the poor fish in the pond below mountains of snow and ice in hopes that they may all be hibernating safely and that I'll be watching them swimming someday soon. I long for the warmth of the sun, leaves on the trees, and all the flora the warm weather brings. I'm looking forward to the new year with anticipation and asking Mother Nature to bless us with a colorful gardening season, a bountiful harvest, and successful tours and events. I hope to see you all at our first meeting. May we all work together toward a fun and profitable year for our club and for each of us individually. Diane

Mark the Date

 Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 7:00 PM, general meeting at our new location, the American Legion Hall, Baker Street and South Ocean Avenue, Patchogue. Please use the Baker Street entrance and park in the Village Hall lot, in front of the hall, or across the street in the Old Brookhaven Town Hall lot. Please pay dues at the meeting, $15 individual, $20 family, cash or check. If you can’t attend the meeting, please send a check to the PO Box.

 Thursday, March 31, 2011, 8th Annual ‘Think Spring’ Luncheon at the Mediterranean Manor, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue. Tickets are $35. The committee has been off and running since late August, putting together a Vintage Hat Exhibit and small scented straw hat magnets for each person attending. Guest speaker Marianne Annunziato Fulfaro’s presentation will be "Hats Through the Ages." Catch our spirit and join us with a friend or two or three. We encourage everyone to wear a favorite hat.

If anyone has any hat boxes that we can use to display the hats or any hats around 1930 or older, please email Georgia or call her at 289-0867.

October Meeting in a Flash

Elections were held for the 2011 board. Labyrinth facilitator Linda Mikell spoke to us about the beauty and serenity of labyrinths and showed a lovely visual presentation accompanied by calming music. Also on hand was Marianne Ferraro from the Sayville labyrinth, Common Ground.

3rd House Tour, “Homes for the Holidays”

Though no meetings were held in November or December because of the holidays, the house tour committee was hard at work preparing for “Homes for the Holidays” on December 12. The photo shows committee members making centerpieces for each of the homes participating in the tour.

By all accounts, the tour was splendid. If you were unable to attend, you can pick up a tour booklet at the January meeting to see what you missed. We are grateful to the homeowners who shared their holiday joy with us: Michael and Mike, Heather and Billy, Paula, Mary Ann and John, Jessica and Darryl, Jo and Tony. Special thanks go to the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, Country Junque and Remember Yesteryears for their help selling tickets. Club members who gave their all planning, making centerpieces and favors (attendees could choose a packet of mulling spices, bay leaves, or macadamia nut brittle), baking cookies, and house sitting deserve our appreciation: Margaret Atkinson, Barbara Bestafka, Babette Bishop, Bonnie and Fred Bossert, Carla Buchanan Steward, Peg and Frank Densing, Joanna Drake and the BAFFA carolers, Georgia Dulmovits, Mark Jeffers, Karen Ferb, Laura Feitner, Barbara and John Gustafson, Gladys Heimburger, Janet Heyer, Arlene Lamberti, Marie Magnano, Kathy McMahon, Jo Miller, Marita Morello, Paula Murphy, June Petruccelli, Ann Rubbo, Carolyn Savastano, Mary Ann Tchinnis, Guy Vitale, and Richard Waldman. If I’ve omitted anyone, it was inadvertent; please accept my apologies.

Happy Birthday wishes to our December babies: Arlene Lamberti, Jo Miller, Bert Voland, and Carl Unger.
And to our January babies: Barbara Aragon, Ann Marie Coakley, John Dulmovits, Marie Magnano, Annie Rubbo, Ruth Szuminskyj, and Susan Toplitz. And to our February babies: Peg Densing and Jack Heyer.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
By Charlotte Moss, Wall Street Journal, 2 December 2010

Planning a trip to France this year?

Why would a successful Parisian architect move 200 miles south to a small village, restore a 12th-century priory and plan a garden that would take years to resemble sketches and dreams? Because, says Patrice Taravella, “what happens if you never have a client that knows what he wants? This is what makes a beautiful project. I did not know when that would happen, so I had to become my own client, and I wanted a ruin.” What can an idea, two decades and an unrelenting passion accomplish? Take a gander at Patrice Taravella’s garden.

When Taravella and his partner, Sonia Lesot, acquired a property near Maisonnais, in the Loire Valley, in 1991, it was just that: several derelict buildings surrounded by barren land. They saw the architectural possibilities, but “we needed to smell the air first,” says Taravella, so they lived there for a year before the idea came to make a garden. With the help of local gardener Gilles Guillot, they brought the site to life. Open to the public since 1993, Le Prieuré d’Orsan is now Relais & Châteaux–approved with eight guest rooms and a restaurant, and has become a sought-after destination for serious gardeners. Le Prieuré d’Orsan offers guided tours by appointment; avid gardeners can attend three-day workshops focused on themes like maintaining rosebushes. Entrance to the garden $13; rooms from $415; three-day gardening workshop $169. www.prieured’orsan.com.

Gardeners, Beware!

By Jessica Damiano, newsday.com

Ever see those signs offering "clean fill" for free? Did your mother ever tell you there's no such thing as a free lunch? The fill is assumed by most homeowners to be soil excavated from nearby lots to make way for new construction foundations, and lots of homeowners jump at the opportunity to save money and use the fill to grade or level their own lots. Well, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has just issued a warning to Long Island residents to beware of the companies putting up those signs or otherwise offering freebees. Six local homeowners have reported that the "clean fill" they received actually was illegal solid waste, the agency said. Six. And that's just the ones who noticed. What's worse is that once that fill is on your property, you have to pay big time to remove the contamination. The takeaway lesson? Either buy the fill you need from a reputable dealer or ask a lot of questions, especially where the fill came from -- and then follow up with a little investigation of your own.

Hot Tips

LIPA Line Clearance Program
By Gigi Berman Aharoni, Special to Newsday 17 November 2010
Photo Credit: James Carbone
If there are trees on your property with limbs overhanging primary electric wires, the Long Island Power Authority may want to trim them. "LIPA's Line Clearance Program trims tree branches away from electric wires, helps ensure public safety, minimizes electrical interruptions and outages and limits damage from severe storms," says Vanessa Baird-Streeter, LIPA's executive director of communications. "It also provides a zone of safety so that our line workers can do their jobs."

The Line Clearance Program focuses on trimming trees along an entire electrical circuit, which can be several miles long. Circuits that experience the most tree-caused outages are handled first. Line clearance work is performed all year long. LIPA won't trim all trees, but they will clear tree limbs that threaten electric wires. LIPA also tries to do something called "directional" trimming, Baird-Streeter says. That means they can trim the tree to grow away from and around the wires. These trimming practices were developed by the U.S. Forestry Service and are endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture.

Responses to an individual homeowner's line clearance request is first limited to emergencies - if a broken tree limb is actually leaning heavily on a LIPA wire or has caused a wire to come down. However, nonemergency requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Call 800-490-0075 for more information. "If you have a tree that you know you want to take down completely, but it has limbs that threaten primary LIPA wires, call LIPA before you call the tree company," says Francis Hefferin of Hefferin Tree & Landscape Contracting in Port Washington. "LIPA is extremely responsive and proactive to a homeowner's request for an inspection. Be aware that not all tree companies are certified to work around electrical wires, and even when they are, they may play it safe and call LIPA first."

While limbs threatening electric wires don't require town permission to remove, any further trimming or tree removal may require a permit. Tree removal rules vary from village to village. Failure to obtain a permit for tree removal or substantial alteration can result in a summons leading to a fine or requirement to replace the tree.

Paula refers us to http://landscapedesignbylee.blogspot.com/, the blog of a Long Island landscape designer that is a guide to gardening in the northeast. She tells us to look for upcoming articles and TODAY'S TIP and to visit her newly added PLANT GALLERIES, LANDSCAPE DESIGN PHOTOS, and GARDENING TIPS. Is there a topic dealing with landscape design or gardening that you would like to know more about? Send her a request and she will try to include it in a future post. As you read through her posts, remember that she welcomes any comments or contributions you may wish to add.

Arlene is amazed by the Jabuticaba (also called Brazilian Grape Tree, Jaboticaba, Jabotica, Guaperu, Guapuru, Hivapuru, Sabará and Ybapuru), a fruit-bearing tree native to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. The fruit is purplish black, with a white pulp; it can be eaten raw or be used to make jellies and drinks (plain juice or wine). is a small tree native to southeastern Brazil grown for the purple, grape-like fruits it produces. Traditionally, an astringent decoction of the sun-dried skins has been used as a treatment for hemoptysis, asthma, diarrhea, and gargled for chronic inflammation of the tonsils. The fruit is 3-4 cm in diameter with one to four large seeds, borne directly on the main trunks and branches of the plant, lending a distinctive appearance to the fruiting tree. It has a thick, purple, astringent skin that covers a sweet, white, or rosy pink gelatinous flesh. Common in Brazilian markets, jaboticabas are largely eaten fresh; their popularity has been likened to that of grapes in the US. Fresh fruit may begin to ferment 3 to 4 days after harvest, so they are often used to make jams, tarts, strong wines, and liqueurs.
Several potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory anti-cancer compounds have been isolated from the fruit.[ One that is unique to the fruit is jaboticabin. Jaboticaba has become a widely used species in the art of bonsai, particularly in Taiwan and parts of the Caribbean. [Ed. note: I saw this tree and sampled the fruit in South Africa last year—delicious!]

Timely Tips for February

Begin forcing early flowering trees and shrubs. Place cut branches in containers of water in a cool, dimly lit spot. Move to a brighter area as buds begin to swell.
Stay off frozen turf as much as possible.
All kinds of cuttings root easily now and make attractive plants for setting out in May—coleus, fuschia, begonia, lantana and the like.
Prune flowering shrubs, especially old, overgrown ones and those that bloom on new wood. However, wait to prune “bleeder” trees until they are in full leaf—maple, beech, dogwood, elm, and sycamore.

Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas. - Elizabeth Murray

8th Annual 'Think Spring' Luncheon

2011-01-25T16:06:00.004-05:00

March 31, 2011
Doors Open at 10:30 AM

Mediterranean Manor, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue NY 11772

Luncheon and Hat Exhibit with a talk on "Hats Through the Ages" by Marianne Annunziato Fulfaro, Designer and Facilitator of the Peace Labyrinth at Common Ground, Sayville.

You are encouraged to come and wear a favorite hat.

Raffles and Door Prizes
Tickets: $35
Payment should be received by March 28, 2011
Please send checks payable to the Patchogue Garden Club to Patchogue Garden Club, c/o Karen Ferb, 270 West Avenue, Patchogue NY 11772

For more information call Arlene (730-7572) or Georgia (289-0867)

Oh, By Gosh, By Golly

2010-12-14T07:05:00.005-05:00

...It was mistletoe and holly! The 'Homes for the Holidays' Christmas House Tour was stupendous! If you missed it, you have my sincere sympathy, but visit our Picasa photo album for a taste of the tour--just click on the title of this blog entry.

It began with a quartet caroling to the strains of a guitar in an old carriage house renovated and modernized to accommodate a family comfortably. The owner is a gardener, and her style of decorating for Christmas is a very natural one, "just in from the garden", so to speak, with an abundance of natural materials to grace,among other objects, the mantel with its warming fire and the entry to the home.

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things--not the great occasions--give off the greatest glow of happiness" ~Bob Hope

From there it progressed to an 1890 home enlarged and brought up-to-date by a family that homeschools the children and keeps sheep and a mini-goat who keep the grass trimmed and provide wool for crafting. Of course, the whole operation has to be organic for the little lawn mowers to stay healthy! The decorating style here is basically "leave no object untouched by Christmas! Here our guests were treated to eggnog.

"Christmas is the keeping place for the memories of our innocence." ~Joan Mills

Third was a lovely Craftsman-style home, cozy and warm with a roaring fire and a table so seductively set for Christmas dinner that you almost expected to sit down to roast goose with all the trimmings. The decor was festive, but elegantly restrained, leaving the period furnishings to shine on their own.

"God Bless us, every one." ~Tiny Tim (Charles Dickens)

The entrancing circa 1927 home up next captures the heart of all who see it. While not a very large house, it boasts not one, but two, sun porches and is flooded with light from sunrise to sunset all year 'round. The tree, cut by the owners, has the place of honor right inside the front door. With their decorating, they try to evoke Christmas in a simpler time, but with no shortage of simpler decor!

"Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree." ~Charlotte Carpenter

At the fifth home the joyful abundance of multicolored lights belied the tininess of the cottage belonging to a young couple. The wife is an artist, so our guests enjoyed an art show along with favors created by some members of the tour committee. Guests could choose either macadamia nut brittle, a ball of mulling spices, or a packet of bay leaves. We do appreciate our guests!

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." ~Peg Bracken

Last, but certainly not least, the 1917 Arts and Crafts Tudor-style home offered a glimpse of Christmas past with its old-fashioned lit village-in-the-snow scene and a toy box filled with antique toys among the greens and numerous candles. The aroma of cookies and cider beckoned guests into the kitchen. Garden club volunteers had baked I don't know how many. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say a couple thousand.

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

2010-11-22T14:26:00.002-05:00

We are very excited to announce our Christmas House Tour, "Homes for the Holidays". This year's tour features six Patchogue Village homes decked out in yuletide finery.

The homes you'll see include:

-- a century-old converted carriage house;
-- an enlarged and updated century-old home with much original detail;
-- two 1920's Craftsman-style bungalows;
-- an early 20th century cottage; and
-- a 1917 Arts and Crafts Tudor.

We hope to see you on Sunday, December 12, between 1:00 and 5:00 PM. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at:

-- Remember Yesteryears, 46 East Main Street, Patchogue
-- Country Junque, 595 Middle Road, Bayport
-- Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, 15 North Ocean Avenue, Patchogue

Or:

Call Karen (758-2671) or Mary Ann (289-8122)

Please, no children under 12. Sorry, no refunds once tickets are purchased.

October Newsletter

2010-10-19T14:13:00.003-04:00

Tomb It May Concern: Happy Halloween

Guy’s Greetings

As I sit bundled up on this cold fall morning, I'm reminded of how much gardening I have left to do. I'm also reminded that election season is in full swing. Our Federal government is run by either the left or the right. In a governing body like our club board, one always hopes for center. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as president of the Patchogue Garden Club for the past two years, and I want to thank all members of the board, past and present, for their contributions. I also want to thank each and every chair for the hard work in planning our events. And last, but certainly not least, each and every member of our club, because your contributions are the reason that the Patchogue Garden Club exists at all. Thank you for your trust, Guy

Mark the Date

 Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 7:00 PM, meeting at the Hagerman Fire House, located in East Patchogue. Traveling east on Montauk Highway, turn right onto N. Dunton Ave., then a quick left onto Ralph T. Perry Blvd. Park and enter in the rear of the building. Please join us for this exciting presentation and a discussion of plans to build a labyrinth. Our speaker, Linda Mikell is certified by Veriditas, The Voice of the Labyrinth Movement.

 Saturday, November 13, 2010, 9:00 AM ‘til done, put the Community Garden to bed and decorate the Gazebo for Christmas, rain date Sunday, same time. Please bring tools, gloves, and energy, and, remember, many hands make light work.

 Sunday, December 12, 2010, 1:00-5:00 PM, our Christmas house tour, “Homes for the Holidays”. Interested in joining the committee? We will need at least 24 hostesses/hosts, "crafty" people to help with favors, people to make centerpieces, and cookie bakers. The difference between our house tour and others is the warmth of our hostesses and hosts and the other personal touches we give our tour. Please join us in making this tour the success that the others have been. Call/email Mary Ann (matchinnis@optonline.net) or Karen (karenferb@hotmail.com), or sign up at the October 26 meeting.

September Meeting in a Flash: We were reminded that the Community Garden needs to be cleaned up and any garbage picked up and bagged in anticipation of the Patchogue Arts Council-Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts Walking Arts Tour and Fall Festival on Sunday, October 24th. And please remember to protect the lattice work in the shed. It needs to remain covered when not in use. Please keep the shed clean and user-friendly.

Mary Ann said six houses for the “Homes for the Holidays” tour. Sign up sheets are out for cookie bakers and house sitters. The committee will also need fresh evergreens and berries for centerpieces for each house on the tour. These can be dropped off at Karen Ferb’s house where the centerpieces will be put together on Wednesday, December 8.

Exercise your vote! The candidates for the upcoming election Tuesday, October 26, 2010, are:

President – Diane Voland
1st Vice President –June Petruccelli
2nd Vice President –Carolyn Savastano or Sandra Franco
Corresponding Secretary –Arlene Lamberti
Recording Secretary – Babette Bishop
Treasurer – Carol Tvelia or Jack Heyer
Parliamentarian – Mary Ann Tchinnis
Thanks to Jo Miller for spearheading the slate of nominees!

To Our November/December Babies: Barbara Edsall, Karen Ferb, Sandra Franco/ Arlene Lamberti, Jo Miller, Bert Voland, Carl Unger May all your birthday wishes come true!

Hostesses for the October Meeting

Isn’t it fantastic that there are always members ready to volunteer each meeting to be hosts/hostesses? Many thanks to all those who serve us every month. Marita will continue to chair this committee. Hostesses for the next meeting: Ronnie Manfredi, June Petruccelli, Carolyn Savastano, Ruth Szuminskyj, Mary Ann Tchinnis, and Guy Vitale. [A little bat told me they’re bringing Worms in Dirt, Ghosts in the Graveyard, Pus Pockets, Strained Eyeballs, Boo Bites, and Monster Munch—Ed.]

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

Seeking Tranquility?

The San people, better known as South African Bushmen, have for centuries chewed a plant they say reduces stress, relieves hunger and thirst, sedates, and elevates moods. The plant, sceletium tortuosum (locally known as Kanna, Channa, or Kougoed), which grows wild in Namaqualand in the arid Northern Cape, has potential as a dietary supplement called Zembrin, aka San Prozac, licensed to be produced in the U.S. But will the FDA approve it for U.S. consumers? That remains to be seen. Ben-Erik Van Wyk, a professor of botany and plant biotechnology at the University of Johannesburg, said he's extensively researched the plant and found no ill effects or evidence of dependency. He first read about the plant in 1985, then visited San people to research doses and side effects. [This just in: http://www.amazon.com/African-Red-Tea-Sceletium-1-76-Ounce/dp/B0019ZZEL0/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_6.
Be prepared to pay a lot for your tranquility—Ed.]

Single Farmers in Vermont Give Weed Dating a Whack
By Melissa Pasanen and Adam Silverman, Burlington Free Press (Excerpts)

Weed dating, a variation on speed dating, is going on in Tunbridge VT, said to be the first such event in the nation.
Participants in the weed-dating series pay $10 for the privilege of meeting and weeding. Those in the inaugural event ranged in age from early 20’s to 50. Each wore a name tag with his or her first name and the name of a favorite fruit or vegetable, which became a weed-dating surname. At intervals of about seven minutes, a small goat bell rang, and everyone got up, shook muddy hands, and moved a row over to a new weeding companion. Quipped one weed dater, “Speed dating is too blatant. This is practical.” So far, though, much weeding, no weddings. [If I were single, I’d be setting up my own weed dating event in my own back yard—Ed.]

It's a Scary Time to Be a Weed
By ANNE MARIE CHAKER WSJ Life and Style, 29 September 2010

They come to hiking trails and abandoned lots armed with shovels, chain saws and souped-up farm equipment—all in the name of wrestling weeds.
Volunteers are reclaiming public parks and carving out nature trails in spaces overrun by innocent-sounding plants like Tree of Heaven. Weed-obsessed volunteers band together to pull out invasive, mostly non-native plants wreaking havoc in parks, gardens and other spaces, taking weed whacking to a new level. Read the whole story at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499604575512333943058138.html. [I think it would be terrific to have a brigade of whackers working on eliminating invasives in the Village. A good place to start would be next to the Winona in the area planned for the labyrinth and habitat restoration.—Ed.]

Susan Toplitz Shares “As the Twig is Bent, So Grows the Tree”

Pooktre tree shaping is a unique eco-art form perfected by Peter Cook and Becky Northey in South East Queensland, Australia. Pooktre is a dream made into a reality through inspiration, love of nature, tree finesse (see the photos), persistence, and understanding trees and how they grow. An early master of tree shaping, Axel N. Erlandson (1884-1964), put himself on the map, literally and figuratively, by creating a roadside horticulture attraction he dubbed The Tree Circus in Scotts Valley, California back in 1947. Erlandson had a vision of a horticulture theme park and charged admission but it was never a commercial success. Property owners came and went over the years. Finally, in 1985, the owner of a tree nursery bought 24 of the trees from the previous owner and transplanted them to his horticulture theme park, Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, CA, and they are on display today. Some of the other trees were sold and ended up at The Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz, CA and in Baltimore at the American Visionary Art Museum. Want to read and see more? Just Google “Pooktre”.
Joanna Drake Writes “Ah! Well away! Seasons flower and fade.” ~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Timely Tips for November

 From now until the ground freezes is one of the best times to fertilize trees and shrubs. Food taken up will be available in spring.
 Transplant deciduous trees through November. It’s an ideal time.
 Clean up and compost annuals, perennial tops, vegetable plants, and fallen leaves.
 Remove dead, diseased, and broken branches from trees & shrubs.
 After mowing the lawn for the last time, winterize your mower.

In October I’ll be host to witches, goblins, and a ghost—I’ll serve them chicken soup with toast!
Whoopee once, Whoopee twice, Whoopee chicken soup with rice!
~Maurice Sendak, “Chicken Soup with Rice”

Club Archive Photos

2010-08-25T15:38:00.001-04:00

Click on the title to see a selection of 45 photos of club members and activities from 1997-2004.

Road Trip to Bridge Gardens

2010-08-22T15:45:00.003-04:00

A group of garden club members traveled to Bridgehampton on Friday, a picture-perfect day. Well worth the trip, definitely recommend. Click on the title above to view our photos of the trip.

The Uncommon Ground Exhibition is a sculpture exhibition that runs until September 12featuring John Van Alstine, Kevin Barrett, Jim Henderson, Win Knowlton, Joel Perlman, Carol Ross, John Ruppert, Isobel Folb Sokolow, and Naomi Teppich.
For more information on the Uncommon Ground Exhibition, go to www.peconiclandtrust.org/BG_UC

If you haven't visited the gardens yet, make sure you do, for they're really quite something at this time of the year--or for that matter, any time of year. And don't let the heat deter you - many parts of the garden are covered by treetops or shaded by the undulating hedges. For more information on the Bridge Gardens and upcoming events, go to www.peconiclandtrust.org/bridge_gardens.

About The Peconic Land Trust: Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island's working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities now and in the future. For more information on the Peconic Land Trust go to www.peconiclandtrust.org

August Newsletter

2010-08-19T07:11:00.003-04:00

Guy’s Greetings
Is it every going to rain again? I, like most of you, can't water fast enough. Nor can I decide what part of the yard needs water today even though I water every day. And let's not even talk about the vegetable garden; last year it was the monsoons, this year it is a drought. Can we just find a happy medium???? Guy

Mark the Date
 Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 6:00 PM, general meeting at the Community Garden. There will be a plant exchange; bring plants from your garden to exchange with others. Please bring a chair if you want to be assured of a seat and your beverage of choice.

 Sunday, September 12, 2010, 4:00 PM, Annual Harvest Dinner at the Patchogue Beach Club. Please bring a dish serving 8 to share. Arlene Lamberti will head the committee. Contact her if you wish to help with setup and/or cleanup.

 September 18-26, Fall Festival and Harvest Show at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Our theme this year will be a wine tasting room. Members, please save your empty wine bottles! Anyone wishing to join the committee should contact Mary Ann Tchinnis. The arboretum is located at 440 Montauk Highway, Great River, NY 11739. Phone 581-1002.

July Meeting in a Flash
Our July gathering was held at the garden of Bert and Diane Voland. It was a perfect evening for outdoor socializing among the flowers, trees, and shrubs. Announcements at the meeting included that the club had received a $25 donation from a lady who lives in the apartments overlooking the Community Garden [isn’t it nice to be appreciated?—Ed.] and that our $750 scholarship was given to Steven Lerman.

We will finish out this year meeting at Hagerman Firehouse and in January begin having meetings at the American Legion Hall. Richard Waldman will draw up a simple plan for plantings; Carolyn Savastano will head up the committee for plantings. This is our way of saying thanks to our veterans.

Mary Ann Tchinnis reminded everyone that the Christmas House Tour is scheduled for December 12, 2010 from 1PM to 5PM. There will be six homes on the tour. Janet Heyer is head of a subcommittee to make favors for each of the visitors. Mary Ann needs house sitters and cookie bakers. The committee makes evergreen centerpieces for each house, so, as the date approaches, greens and berries you can cut and donate will be much appreciated.

Jo Miller presented ideas for trips, including one to Peconic Land Trust - Bridge Gardens on August 20. Others are Planting Fields Arboretum, New York Botanical Garden, Long House Reserve, Madoo Conservancy, and the Japanese Stroll Gardens.

Happy Birthday to Our September Babies: Frank Densing, Joanna Drake, Lynn Kane, Carolyn Savastano, and Millie Zimmerman. May all your birthday wishes come true!

Hostesses for the August Meeting
Isn’t it fantastic that there are always members ready to volunteer each meeting to be hosts/hostesses? Many thanks to all those who serve us every month. This August, our special thanks go to to Marita and
Ronnie for honchoing and to Ruth Szuminskyj, Joanna Drake, Annie Rubbo, and Jo Miller for goodies.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
Serious Question: Are there groundcover plants that don't require much water?
Serious Answer:

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is an evergreen plant that forms a dense mat 6 to 12 inches tall and 15 inches wide. Prefers full sun or light shade. Doesn't need fertilizer or clipping once it is established, but it is a slow grower and can be hard to transplant. Hardy to USDA Zone 3.
10.

Violets (Viola spp.) can form an effective groundcover in partial shade. Foliage dies down to the ground over the winter. Forms colonies by self-sowing. [Sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses….covered all over from head to toe, covered all over with sweet violets. [They, too, can be quite invasive and difficult to get rid of.—Ed.]

Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) is a perennial for sunny sites. Grows under a foot tall. Spreads by underground stems and by seed if the spent flowers are not removed in summer. Spreads most quickly in cooler climates. Does not tolerate humidity or very hot summers well. Zones 3 to 7.

Creeping lily-turf (Liriope spicata) is a grasslike plant with evergreen foliage that turns bronze in the winter. Plants grow 8 to 12 inches high and wide. Prefers part or full shade. A tough plant that spreads by underground stems and can be very aggressive/invasive. However, there are places for it, such as all by itself in a contained area like the right-of-way between the street and the sidewalk. Another might be a steep embankment where there’s room to remove each year’s unwanted spread without damaging any nearby plants. Or in full shade, where its spread is less aggressive. Zone 4 to 10.

But wait! There is a well-behaved liriope, Liriope muscari, the clumping kind that does not spread by runners and basically stays where you put it. It blooms purple, not white like spicata, but it shares all the good qualities of the spreading kind—incredible toughness and adaptability—without the invasive behavior. And there’s an especially attractive green-and-white variegated variety of this plant, which brightens up any shady spot.

Well, budget gardeners, the bad news about clumping liriope is that you’ll have to buy many more of them to accomplish the same coverage you’d get quickly and cheaply with the spreaders. And clumpers usually aren’t available free from your neighbors like spreaders are. So it’s easy to understand why so many homeowners use the spreading type where they shouldn’t, even after being warned.

http://www.hortmag.com/article/lowwatergroundcovers/

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on."
~Robert Finch

More Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman: Adapt or Die!
Adapted from July 26, 2010 New York Times Botanical Gardens Look for New Lures By JUDITH H. DOBRZYNSKI

For the last quarter century, the Cleveland Botanical Garden went all out for its biennial Flower Show, the largest outdoor garden show in North America. With themed gardens harking back to the Roman Empire or an 18th-century English estate, the event would draw 25,000 to 30,000 visitors.

But in 2009, the Flower Show was postponed and then abandoned when the botanical garden could not find sponsors. This year, the garden has different plans. From Sept. 24 to 26, it is inaugurating the “RIPE! Food & Garden Festival,” which celebrates the trend of locally grown food — and is supported in part by the Cleveland Clinic and Heinen’s, a supermarket chain…

…So it is across the country. Botanical gardens are experiencing an identity crisis, with chrysanthemum contests, horticultural lectures and garden-club ladies, once their main constituency, going the way of manual lawn mowers. Among the long-term factors diminishing their traditional appeal are fewer women at home and less interest in flower-gardening among younger fickle, multitasking generations.

Forced to rethink and rebrand, gardens are appealing to visitors’ interests in nature, sustainability, cooking, health, family and the arts. Some are emphasizing their social role, erecting model green buildings, promoting wellness and staying open at night so people can mingle over cocktails like the Pollinator (green tea liqueur, soda water and Sprite). A few are even inviting in dogs (and their walkers) free or, as in Cleveland, with a canine admission charge ($2).,,

In May, the Atlanta [Botanical G]arden opened an attraction that would fit right in at a jungle park: a “canopy walk” that twists and turns for 600 feet at a height of up to 45 feet, allowing visitors to trek through the treetops. Not far away, food enthusiasts can stop in at a new edible garden, with an outdoor kitchen frequently staffed by guest chefs creating dishes with fresh, healthy ingredients. Edible gardens are the fastest-growing trend at botanical gardens, consistently increasing attendance, experts say, along with cooking classes. Attendance in Atlanta since May is double what it was for the same period last year….

Trends that could increase garden attendance include:

 Concern for the environment
 Interest in locally grown food
 Efforts to reduce childhood obesity
 Demand for family activities and mania for interactive entertainment
 Economic pressures could help botanical gardens, as more people try to grow their own food.

Some tactics designed to entice nongardeners are not new, of course —sculpture and concerts have been around for years—but their popularity is growing. The New York Botanical Garden drew big crowds with a tribute to the poet Emily Dickinson, who was also a gardener.

The new exhibition at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington features “the spectacular spud family,” with potato-related artifacts, music and bits of pop culture, especially the endurance of Mr. Potato Head.

And children’s gardens are growing more whimsical and interactive, says Sharilyn Ingram, a former president of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Canada who is now a culture professor at Brock University in Ontario. “You get to have a little more fun now,” she said.

Food festivals are becoming a large part of the year-round programming that gardens view as important to winning repeat visitors. In January, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Fla., drew some 12,000 people to its fourth International Chocolate Festival with Coffee and Tea. It was followed in April with a local food festival, and this month with a mango festival. In November comes its annual Ramble, a garden party featuring antiques and music.

Read full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/us/27botanical.html

Mark Jeffers Want to Dispel Some Gardening Myths for You
I learned that you shouldn’t believe every bit of gardening advice you hear in graduate school, thanks to my statistics professor, Walter Stroup, who loved to wear his “Walter Beer” hat during class. This weird-looking derby made from yarn and beer cans was a gift from one of his former students. During the first class, Stroup explained he always wore his Walter Beer hat when he fertilized his plants and wearing it was what caused them to grow so well. The purpose of his anecdote, I realized, was to impress upon his students the importance of questioning every claim and bit of advice. We have all followed someone’s gardening advice without knowing if it was based on sound information. As you maintain your garden, consider if your techniques are simply ideas passed down through the ages or smart practices based on solid science. Here are a few of my favorite myths and the truths we should all embrace.
Myth: If a plant is under stress, it should be fed. Truth: Fertilizing plants that are not nutrient deficient can lead to additional stress. Fertilizer is added to plants growing in poor soils and to plants that show symptoms of lacking a particular nutrient. Generally, when a plant is stressed, it’s not from lack of food. Compacted soil, heat, salt spray, faulty planting, and improper placement are usually the culprits that stress plants. It is important to rule out other environmental conditions before deciding a plant is underfertilized. When fed, stressed plants use up energy that is better spent on growing roots, walling off decay organisms, or defending against insects.
Myth: Cover newly pruned areas with varnish, tar, or paint. Truth: There really isn’t a way to keep fungal organisms out of a new cut. In about half of the situations where these wound dressings are used, the tree’s heartwood decays faster than it would have without the topical application. The paint or tar holds moisture near the new wound, which, unfortunately, helps the various fungal decay organisms grow. Instead, simply make a clean cut just outside the branch collar and leave it alone. If pruned properly, trees can take advantage of natural defense mechanisms to ward off most decay problems.
Myth: Organic pesticides are less toxic than synthetic ones. Truth: Misused pesticides can be harmful, regardless of whether they are considered natural or synthetic. Pyrethrum, for example, is made from chrysanthemums but is still toxic to people and pets when handled improperly. Whenever possible, it’s best to select the least toxic control option available because, even if not lethal, many of these pesticides can cause serious health complications. Safe storage of these products can help prevent any harmful accidents. Read and follow all label directions, and remember that these products are tools, not miracle workers or silver bullets. Pesticides cannot correct mistakes made in plant selection, installation, or maintenance.
Myth: Newly planted trees need to be staked and guy-wired. Truth: Staking a tree can hinder its proper development. This practice was once a landscape industry standard, driven by a gardener’s inner desire to do something good for the plant to help it grow. It’s best to avoid staking unless the new tree is located in a windy or on a sloped site. Allowing the tree to sway in the wind encourages the development of stronger stabilizing roots. If staked, the tree may become dependent on this support, preventing the root system from becoming strong and healthy. If it is truly necessary, tie the trunk loosely to the stake using fabrics such as T-shirts or bicycle inner tubes to avoid damaging the bark, and remove the support after one growing season.
Myth: Sunshine focused through water droplets will burn leaves. Truth: The diffused rays of the sun are not powerful enough to cause burning. If it were the case that water droplets burned leaves, farmers would encounter huge losses after each daytime rainstorm. In fact, lawn care professionals often cool turf by spritzing water over the foliage during the hottest part of the day. In general, the best time to water most garden plants is early in the morning because of higher municipal water pressure, a lower evaporation rate, and the potential to reduce foliar diseases that often occur in overly moist situations. But if you are left with no other choice, watering midday will not harm your plants.
Read more by John C. Fech at http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/demystifying-garden-myths.aspx

Timely Tips for September
Plant or transplant evergreens, soak and mulch.
Now is the time to fertilize your lawn; continue watering.
Dry summers=early leaf drop; water trees well before dormancy.
Divide and plant early-blooming perennials.
If soil hasn’t been tested for three years, do it now.
Pot up herbs for winter use indoors.

Try to remember the kind of September when life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September when grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September when you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,then follow.
~Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics: Tom Jones 1960

July Newsletter

2010-07-22T16:51:00.014-04:00

Many thanks to Diane and Bert Voland and the Patchogue Fire Department for our new flag in the Community Garden! Long may it wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Guy’s Greetings

"We're having a heat wave, A tropical heat wave.
The temperature's rising, It isn't surprising,she certainly can can-can."
Webster defines a "heat wave" as a prolonged period of excessively hot weather which may be accompanied by high humidity. Well, ain’t that the truth! I don't remember it being so damn "Hot, Hot, Hot". That reminds me of another song but I’ll save that for another time. To all my gardening friends, please be careful in this heat; and if you can dance, try dancing to the Guess Who's "Rain Dance" to break this oppressive weather were having! Guy

Mark the Date

 Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 6:00 PM, general meeting the garden of Diane and Bert Voland, 34 James Street, Patchogue, east on Rte. 112. As always, garden seating s limited, so please bring a chair if you want to be assured of a seat.

 Monday, July 26, 2010, 10:00AM, our first Christmas House Tour meeting 7 Oakland Drive, Patchogue. Directions from North Ocean Ave: Right on Montauk Hwy, left on River Avenue, cross the RR tracks, pass the Bayview Apartments, next right turn, Oakland Drive. Last house on the right. We probably won't have another meeting until the end of October so I hope to see a lot of you!

June Meeting in a Flash

Our June gathering was held at the garden of Karen and Tom Ferb. It was a perfect evening for outdoor socializing among the flowers, trees, and shrubs. Marita reported that she has been in touch with Grammas Garden Center in Brookhaven. They would be happy to give members of the Garden Club a 10% discount. They also have statuary and bird baths and molds obtained from the old statuary store that closed on Sunrise Highway.

Paula Murphy,a member of the Patchogue Arts Council, is planning a labyrinth at space the Village has made available on Bay Avenue. The club voted to become part of the labyrinth project. Anyone interested in participating should contact Paula.

Our new membership booklets were distributed. If you have not received a copy, ask Guy for one.

Several members reported on a carpool trip to Old Westbury Gardens the day before the meeting. The docent tours of the Dita and Jay Phipp’s family home and gardens were outstanding. Photos are at http://picasaweb.google.com/karenferb/OldWestburyGardens# Web: www.oldwestburygardens.org/

Happy Birthday to You!

Our new membership booklet has birthday month listed for most members. If you didn’t include your month on the membership portrait and change your mind, let Karen know. The booklet also includes members’ interests. Be sure to see if there are other members that share your special interests.

Many happy returns to our July Babies: Ronnie Manfredi, Marita Morello, Judy Zuck and to our
August Babies: Betty Baran, Fred Bossert, Pauline Carleton, Georgia Dulmovits, Gladys Heimburger, Angelo Petruccelli, Tom Savastano, Mary Ann Tchinnis.

Hostesses for the July Meeting

Where would we be without our hosts and hostesses? Hungry and thirsty is the answer. Many thanks to all those who serve us every month. This July, our special thanks go to Diane and Bert for their garden, to Marita and Ronnie for honchoing everything, and to Barbara Bestafka, Babette Bishop, and Janet Heyer for the goodies.

A Big Thank You to the Garden Tour Committee and Volunteers! Well Done!

Paula Murphy, Garden Tour Chair; Karen Ferb & Mary Ann Tchinnis, Art in the Garden Chairs. Committee: Barbara Bestafka, Georgia Dulmovits, Arlene Lamberti, Josephine Miller, Ann Rubbo, Ruth Szuminskyj, Susan Toplitz, Judy Zuck. Volunteers in the Gardens: Bonnie and Fred Bossert, Pauline Carleton, Rosalie Coleman, John Dulmovits, Barbara Edsall, Barbara and John Gustafson, Mark Jeffers, Ronnie Manfredi, Violeta Mulligan, Diane Rivello-Voland, and Millie Zimmerman. Again, thanks to the gardeners: Babette & Richard Bishop, Jamie & Cliff Dochtermann, Heather & Billy Georgiou, Patti Kelly, and Betsy Marino & Mike Wisniewski.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman: PETS
June 16, 2010 By MARC MORRONE petxperts2@aol.com

As I walk my dogs around my neighborhood, I see most of the lawns have little yellow signs on them placed by landscaping services that warn that chemicals were just placed on the grass and you should keep children and pets off the lawn. This is notice enough for those of us who can read, but, unfortunately, the wildlife in the neighborhood cannot and thus suffers the consequences of the relentless passion for the perfect lawn. The chemical granules that are scattered over the grass to kill insects and weeds look just like bird seed to the songbirds, and they do eat these bits. Those are the wild birds you see laying dead on your lawn or worse yet, just twitching on the ground, suffering from the nerve damage the ingestion of such chemicals causes. Rabbits and squirrels that walk across the lawn will lick the chemicals off their feet and suffer similar fates. Plus, the runoff of these chemicals into ponds and streams can alter the water chemistry with disastrous results for the native fish and aquatic plants that live there.

All this for a green lawn. It does not take much to go organic on your lawn. I use no insecticides or herbicides on my grass, just organic fertilizer and lots of water, and my lawn is as green and as nice as any of my neighbors' that are adorned with those little yellow signs that cause so many problems with our natural world.(OK, a stray dandelion sprouts up, but I just mow it away.) Can't you do that?

Want to Know About Tough Love, Garden Style?

Bart Ziegler, writing for the Wall Street Journal, writes of plants that flourish in his garden even though he is a lazy weekend gardener. He grows KnockOut roses, forsythia, doublefile viburnum, dwarf Alberta spruce (which he likes for its natural conehead appearance), Sambucus cultivars, the paniculata hydrangeas, and purple smokebush. All of these are dependable and easy to care for while providing long-lasting color for the garden, either in flower, leaf, berry or a combination. [I have always liked forsythia, though many consider it a springtime cliché. There is a big mound on the Grand Central Parkway exit; when I lived in Forest Hills, it 'announced' that I was getting close to home on my way from work.—Richard]

Internet Road Trip

www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/Hampton-Court-Palace-Flower-Show/2010
is the link to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in Surrey. The Web site has oodles of pictures, videos and ideas. [I especially like the Like the 'Take the Hampton Court home' part - I wish I could.—Richard]

Quote of the Month

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

In Heather's Garden by Sharon Henson

2010-07-12T08:50:00.002-04:00

Breathtaking

Japanese Iris

More on the Tour

2010-07-12T08:49:00.000-04:00

Link to the Patchogue Patch article about the tour:

http://patchogue.patch.com/articles/locals-participate-in-garden-tour

Link to 10th Annual Garden Tour Photo Album

2010-07-11T11:39:00.002-04:00

Click the link above!

May

2010-05-20T10:08:00.006-04:00

Guy’s Greetings

As we dry out from the recent deluge, we are reminded how quickly things grow after a rain, especially fungus, mold and diseases. For those of you with a vegetable garden, I hope these will not be an issue this year. I did not have issues with tomato blight last year, perhaps because my garden is a mass of raised beds. Four simple boards arranged in a square and filled with good draining soil--never mind it is 20 x 20, it still is raised. Now that we are past May 15th, traditionally the last frost date on Long Island, we can plant our gardens. I hope your corn is sweet, your beans are crisp, and your tomatoes are plump. Guy

Mark the Date

 Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 6:30 PM, general meeting at Fantastic Gardens, 67 Avery Avenue, Patchogue NY, (631) 475-7118. Avery Avenue is east of Rte. 112 and north of Montauk Highway. Take a tour of Dave and Joan Tifford’s nursery with 10 greenhouses on 3 acres. Come prepared to marvel at the private cactus collection in bloom and the amazing unique succulent garden. Special Notes: No hostesses required and no chairs available. You can purchase plants after the meeting and get a 15% discount.

 Saturday, June 12, 2010, 9:00 AM, Annual Breakfast in the Garden at South Ocean Avenue and Terry Street. Bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. The club provides bagels, coffee, tea, and fixin’s.

 Monday, June 21, 2010, group carpooling to Old Westbury Gardens (tours on the hour and ½ hour), leaving from Terry Street at 9:45 AM. If you don’t have a ride, call Jo Miller, and she will try to arrange it for you. There is an outdoor café that doesn’t operate in inclement weather and a picnic area for brown baggers. Large bags and backpacks are not permitted. Admission is $10, $8 seniors, and $5 children 7-12. Directions: Take the LIE (I-495) to Exit 39. Turn left onto Glen Cove Road (Garden City) at the end of the exit ramp, cross over the expressway and immediately turn left onto the service road. Follow the service road east for approximately 1.1 miles, turn right onto Old Westbury Road and continue 0.4 miles. The Gardens' gate is on the left. For more information, please visit http://www.oldwestburygardens.org/.

 Saturday, July 10, 2010, Patchogue Garden Club’s 10th annual garden tour featuring art in the gardens. Pre-purchase tickets at $13 ($15 on the day of the tour). Gardens open at 10 AM and close at 3:00 PM. For more information, call Paula at 289-0234. The post-tour dinner will be at 6:00 PM the following day, Sunday, July 11, at the home of Paula Murphy, 6:00 PM, 125 Smith Street, Patchogue, NY.

April Meeting in a Flash

We started the evening with a delightfully entertaining speaker, Mr. Ray Lackey “Master Bee Keeper”. He spoke very knowledgeably for about 1 ½ hours and gladly answered all our questions. He brought different kinds of his excellent honey to sell. If you missed the meeting or if you want to buy more honey or other products, there is a self-serve sales stand on the porch at 1260 Walnut Avenue, Bohemia NY.

Thank you to Carol Tvelia and her crew for a great job putting on the Annual Plant and Yard Sale. The proceeds benefit our scholarship fund for a Patchogue-Medford High School senior planning to study horticulture, botany, or a related subject.

Road Trip: The New York Botanical Garden

Emily Dickinson’s Garden: The Poetry of Flowers
Co-presented with The Poetry Society of America
Friday, April 30–Sunday, June 13, 2010

Discover the gardener who became the poet.
Experience the life and works of one of America’s most treasured poets as never before.
•Her Garden: Tour her Victorian Homestead re-created in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with tulips, lilacs, lilies, and more.
•Her Poetry: Stroll along garden paths and read some of Dickinson’s most famous works near the flowers that inspired them.
•Her Life: Be immersed in an interactive perspective through photographs, watercolors and books in a Gallery exhibition.
Special Celebrations
Enjoy poetry readings, live theater, gardening demonstrations, and more.
For more information, visit http://www.nybg.org/.

Did you know?...
Excerpted from “The Poet as Gardener and Tiger Lily”
By HOLLAND COTTER
Emily Dickinson once called herself a “a Lunatic on Bulbs,” referring to her passion for daffodils, hyacinth and other spring perennials, which she raised indoors in winter in her family home in Amherst, Mass. And a lunatic she probably seemed to neighbors who spied her gardening by moonlight on summer evenings in the flower beds behind the house.

We now suspect that one reason Dickinson preferred night gardening was because of vision problems: for several years in her early middle age, sunlight stung her eyes. But no such explanations are needed to justify the indoor-outdoor format of “Emily Dickinson’s Garden: The Poetry of Flowers,” an ambitious, multipart show, opening Friday at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, that considers Dickinson equally as a horticulturalist and a poet, and forges links between the two….

…Dickinson the recluse might have found its public location disconcertingly exposed, but the lunatic in her would have liked it just fine.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
“As We Ache and Age”
April 29, 2010 by JESSICA DAMIANO / jessica.damiano@newsday.com

Anyone can plant a vegetable garden, lay out a perennial border and harvest herbs from the bed by the kitchen door,right? Not exactly. Enthusiasm, dedication and spare time notwithstanding, there are many among us who yearn to garden but simply can't. Or simply can't like we used to.
It starts with a sore back after hours of weeding, which can afflict even the most fit among us. But when arthritis, endurance and strength issues - common among our more experienced gardeners - devolve to the point where the once-enjoyable pastime becomes an insurmountable chore, many simply hang up their hoes for good. Before resorting to such drastic measures, it would serve you well to consider your options: There are plenty of specialized gardening methods, ergonomic tools and creative approaches that can help keep your inner gardener working.
Paint tool handles a bright color to make them easy to find if dropped among plants. Be sure to wear well-fitting clothing, comfortable shoes and a straw hat, and avoid gardening between noon and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. Wear sunscreen and gloves. Keep a water bottle with you and drink more frequently than you think necessary, avoiding alcoholic beverages.
Before doing any gardening, it's prudent to take a few minutes to stretch. Gardening is exercise, after all, and even minimal digging and lifting can strain muscles. Always keep your feet shoulder width apart to maximize balance, and check with your doctor before trying any new stretches or exercises.
The Arthritis Foundation recommends standing with your arms extended in front of you and reaching as far forward as you are able. Then, if you can, grab your right wrist with your left hand. Holding the position, slowly elevate your arms over your head and then gently pull your right arm over your head with your left hand. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat on the other side, stretching your left arm.
Depend on your strongest assets. For instance, instead of carrying a filled container in your hands, wrap your arms around it and hold it close to your body. Lift objects with the palms of your hands instead of your fingers, and keep your back straight whenever possible, always taking care to bend at the knees, not at the waist.
Planting and harvesting herbs and vegetables needn't require any bending if you use containers. Set window boxes or planters between waist and knee height, either on sawhorses, tables or makeshift stands. Be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom of containers and set them into place while they're empty and lightweight. Then fill with potting mix and any amendments necessary for what you'll be growing. If you have room for such a setup outside your kitchen door, all the better. And if you have difficulty lifting a filled watering can, use a garden hose or, if logistics permit, a hose that attaches to your kitchen faucet. If neither is easily accessible, keep a filled water bucket nearby and use it to fill smaller containers that you can use to water plants. A chair or bench placed in a shady spot will be welcomed both as a timeout while working and as a place from which to admire your handiwork at the end of the day.
Herbs like basil, parsley and chives lend themselves very nicely to shallow, 8-inch deep containers, as do lettuces, spinach and chards. If you want to plant broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, peppers or eggplants, go with a container that's 12-14 inches deep. Beans, cucumbers, squashes and potatoes require a depth of about 18 inches. You can even plant cherry tomatoes in window boxes. Annuals and perennials can be grown in raised beds, too. But remember: Container-grown plants will need more frequent watering and fertilizing than their in-ground counterparts, so plan accordingly.
If you're going to plant in garden beds and borders, consider investing in perennials instead of annuals. They cost a bit more at the outset, but once they're in the ground, you won't have to replace them annually; they just keep coming back. Be sure to mulch all garden areas to retain soil moisture, which cuts down on watering, and to choke out weeds.

Above all, keep the pace leisurely; home wasn't built in a day.

Special Request for the 10th Anniversary of the Annual Garden Tour

The committee plans to hang lattice on the chain link construction fence in the Community Garden to display art work. Members, friends, relatives, and complete strangers are invited to submit work.

Call to Artists
The Patchogue Garden Club
10th Annual Garden Tour
“Art in the Gardens”
10 July 2010

We invite you to submit works of art to be displayed
In the Community Garden at South Ocean Avenue
And Terry Street, Patchogue Village

Submit any medium that can be hung, subjects
to include flowers, trees, gardens, nature, etc.
Work must be framed and wired ready to hang on lattice.

Drop off at Community Garden: 8:30 AM
Pick up at Community Garden: 2:00 PM

Yes, there will be security for the day
Yes, you can drop off early:
Yes, we will have provisions to protect from rain
No, there is no fee to submit work
No, we will not sell your work
No, there is no commission to us if you do

We will provide a list of work available for sale
to patrons of the tour. To be included on the list,
please provide us with your name and contact information
and the title, medium, and price of the work by July 1, 2010

Other concerns, questions? Please RSVP your participation to
Karen 758-2671 or Mary Ann 289-8122

GOD AND ST. FRANCIS DISCUSSING LAWNS [Thanks, Mary Ann!]

GOD: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there? What
happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance
garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar
from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a
vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers
"weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees, only grubs
and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that
grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin
each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the
Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut
it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up
the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag
out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do
say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the
autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect
the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle
of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the
leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist
and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch.
They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts.
What movie have they scheduled for us tonight?"
ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber", Lord. It's a really stupid movie about.....
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

Timely Tips for June
 Remove old flowers, but not foliage from spring-flowering bulbs.
 Prune shrubs that have just finished flowering, including weigela, philadelphus, and deutzia.
 Propagate many shrubs from softwood cutting taken mid-June through early July.
 Last chance to fertilize trees and shrubs.
 If tomato blossom-end rot was a problem last year, try watering on a regular schedule to avoid wet-dry fluctuations.
 Bring houseplants and most greenhouse plants outdoors and set in a shady area.

Many gardeners will agree that hand-weeding is not the terrible drudgery that it is often made out to be. Some people find in it a kind of soothing monotony. It leaves their minds free to develop the plot for their next novel or to perfect the brilliant repartee with which they should have encountered a relative's latest example of unreasonableness. ~Christopher Lloyd, The Well-Tempered Garden, 1973

April

2010-05-05T07:08:00.005-04:00

Guy’s Greetings
The calendar says spring, but my garden says summer. What happened, and where did it go, did I miss “April Showers”? I don’t know about you, but I feel one morning I could see the daffodils poking out of the ground and the next day they were in full bloom. I hope your flowers are giving you there best show this spring; mine surely are...Guy

Mark the Date
 Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 7:00 PM, general meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department, off Montauk Highway on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. We’ve rescheduled our speaker, Master Beekeeper Raymond J. Lackey of Sweet Pines Apiary. He will have honey for sale for $10 per pound. For more information about him and beekeeping on Long Island, please visit the Web site at http://www.tianca.com/tianca2.html. We have invited the Bellport and Bayport Blue Point Garden Clubs to be our guests for the evening.

 Friday, April 30, 2010, 11:00 AM, Tree dedication ceremony for our Hometown Hero honorees on Baker Street and South Ocean Avenue sponsored by the Greater Patchogue Foundation Beautification Committee.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ~Anne Frank

 Tuesday, May 11th, 2010, 7:00 PM, Bellport Garden Club Public Meeting at the South Country Library. Joan Smith is the guest speaker demonstrating "Artistic Floral Designs"; we will raffle 6-7 of her arrangements. Please do come! Praise from the president of the BGC: “First let me congratulate you all on a really wonderful luncheon. It was beautifully organized and great fun.”

 Saturday, May 15, 2010, 9:00 AM—4 PM, Annual Plant and Yard Sale in the community garden at South Ocean Avenue and Terry Street. Bring all your (as well as your friends' and relatives' great, fantastic junk and potted labeled plants to sell to benefit our scholarship fund. We need workers too, so please sign up at your earliest convenience.

 Sunday, May 16, 9:00 AM—4 PM, 2010, Rain date for Annual Plant and Yard Sale.

 Monday, May 17, 2010, 10:00 AM, Sayville Garden Club Luncheon at Lands End Restaurant, 80 Browns River Road, Sayvillle. The speaker is Irene Virag. $40.00 check payable to the Sayville Garden Club should be mailed to 144 Handsome Avenue, Sayville NY, 11782, by May 3. Additional info: Kay Porter, 567-3567; Pat Osarchuk, 567-2203.

Did You Know?
Butterflies need trace minerals which they can't get from flower nectar, so they gather in areas where there are puddles of water with dissolved minerals and drink the water. This is called "puddling". At the muddy or sandy puddle (often located near animal dung), the butterfly sips water rich in mineral salts and other essential nutrients (mostly sodium chloride and nitrogen-rich solutions) that have leached from the surrounding soil and rocks. Male butterflies do more puddling than females. The dissolved salts and minerals may be used to make pheromones (that the male uses to attract females) and sperm.
If you’re thinking about growing a butterfly garden or just want to know more about butterflies, check out http://www.thebutterflysite.com/. Explore 12 butterfly topics with over 125 pages packed full of butterfly information at this family-friendly site. The butterfly pages contain articles written by entomologist Randi Jones, MSc, as well as butterfly links to sites all over the web for even more information on butterflies. All information is updated frequently.
http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionBackyardHabitat/CreateaGarden.aspx has a wealth of information to get you started if the idea of attracting butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds to your garden sounds even more appealing. [Ed.: One of my favorite visitors is the hummingbird moth, below. First time I saw it, it took my breath away.]

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
A woman gardening wearing only a yellow thong and pink gloves has brought neighborhood complaints and new rules. Boulder Housing Partners plans to amend its rules so that tenants cover up when they're outside. Several passers-by told Boulder police earlier this week that 52-year-old Catharine Pierce was topless while tending to her yard. Last year, she was threatened with eviction for gardening wearing only pasties and a thong. Police responding to Wednesday's reports decided Pierce wasn't breaking any laws. What do YOU think, innocent or guilty? Cast your vote to karenferb@hotmail.com. Read the full AP story at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35960364/ns/us_news-life/.

Spring Gardening Gadgets: When Technology Kills Instinct by Eyder Peralta
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125126277&sc=emaf

Spring Gardening Gadgets: When Technology Kills Instinct by Eyder Peralta
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125126277&sc=emaf

I didn't quite get into gardening until I moved to Washington, D.C. The house we bought came with a luscious garden that felt too precious to ignore. So, I pruned and fed and watered. I also asked around to see if anyone could figure out what that plant was with the delicate white flowers that smelled like spring. The more I got into it, the more little tools I bought. Last spring, I bought a soil tester that told me my Gardenias were yellowing because my soil wasn't acidic enough. Then, as I started planning for this spring, the techie in me got rolling. I looked into the EasyBloom Plant Sensor and the Fertile Earth WaterStiK and the Hydrofarm Germination Station. One of them you stick in the ground, let sit for 24 hours, then plug it into your computer and it brings up plants that will love that space. The Germination Station comes with a heated mat so your seedlings will grow up in the most hospitable of environments. And WaterStik? There's no more looking at the leaves to find out if your plant is parched. No, you just press a button and a light tells you whether to water. At some point, I had every intent to buy all these things. Then I thought: At what point is reliance on technology cheating? You know like saying you baked a carrot cake, when you really made it from a box.

Here's the thing: In world that's increasingly virtual, gardening is one of those few things in life whose basics still remain. Sun. Soil. Water. It's one of the few things that gives you tangible fruits from manual labor. It's also one of those things that's driven by experience, because no matter how much you read up on the net, the conditions in your backyard will inevitably be different. So the more I thought about those gardening gadgets, the more I was reminded of the lady I buy my flowers from. She's tall with long, white hair and always wears a straw gardening hat. She has to be in her '70s and knows with a certainty I've rarely encountered which plant is best suited for each person and each garden. Last year, just at the beginning of winter, I saw her at the monastery near my house. She was wearing a sun hat and no jacket. I saw her deadheading roses, twisting the top of thorny, dead flowers with her bare hands.
I use gloves; I use garden shears; I was impressed. But more than anything, it was that scene that made me walk away from those gardening gadgets. Sometimes, I thought, technology complicates. Sometimes technology takes instinct out of the equation. Sometimes, it's just better to dig in and get dirty.

An unusual technique: http://strawbalegardens.com/ [Thanks, Paula! Ed.]
For the ultimate in quick and easy productive gardening, growing plants in straw bales would have to be the outright winner. No soil. No garden edging. No digging. Just a bale of hay. When we think of growing plants, we tend to assume that soil is the only medium that we can plant into. It's just not the case. Most organic materials provide a great growing medium for plants. So, how do you do it? Here's a 10 day preparation schedule from North Carolina gardener Kent Rogers:
• Days 1–3 Water the bales thoroughly and keep them wet.
• Days 4–6 Sprinkle the bales with 1/2 cup of ammonium nitrate (32-0-0) per bale per day, and water it well into the bales. I didn’t have any trouble finding ammonium nitrate from my local ag-supply store. They sold it in 40-pound bags. I have heard, however, that some people have had difficulty finding it in more urban settings. Ask around.
• Days 7–9 Cut back to 1/4 cup of ammonium nitrate per bale per day and continue to water it in well.
• Day 10 No more ammonium nitrate, but do add 1 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bale and water it in well.
• Day 11 Transplant your plants into the bales. I used a spatula to make a crack in the bale for each plant. Place the plant down to its first leaf and close the crack back together as best you can.
If you go buying ammonium nitrate in bulk you're probably going to raise some security alarm bells, especially if you live in the US, UK or Australia. Plus, ammonium nitrate is expensive and hard to find. There are some alternatives however, with urea being the next best option (46-0-0), and an organic substitute is poultry manure. If you want to use the chicken manure then you will need to prepare it in a bucket by just covering it with water and leaving for 2-3 days to rot. This will remain as a liquid that can be poured over the straw bales at the same rate as the ammonium nitrate.
Once your plants are in the straw bale it's just a matter of maintaining them as you would in the soil. The only proviso to this is that because a straw bale has a greater surface area (the top plus 4 sides) it will have more chance of drying out. I would advise that you grow two bales together with their long sides butting up against each other and then continuing a row with more straw bales end to end. This will significantly reduce the surface area and evaporation won't occur so readily.
This method of growing plants is mainly successful with vegetable crops and predominantly those that grow above the surface. The only vegetables that won't grow well in straw bales are your umbellifera (potatoes, swedes, carrots etc) and your alliums (garlic, leeks, onions etc). You will need to continue adding your chosen fertilizer, ammonium nitrate, urea or poultry manure every 3-4 weeks. Plus, you might want to use a liquid fertilizer as well.
More at www.nicholsgardennursery.com/strawbales.htm, www.county.ces.uga.edu/chatham/hay_bales.htm,
www.co.clay.mn.us/Depts/Extensio/ExAPHydr.htm

RIP Ralph Snodsmith
With the tragically premature loss of gardening guru Ralph Snodsmith last week, where can people turn now to have the garden dilemmas solved? One possibility would be The English Lady Landscape & Home, Organically Improving Our Lives One Project At A Time.

Maureen Haseley-Jones, aka Mo, The English Lady, and her son Ian J. Sveilich are members of a family of renowned horticultural artisans whose landscaping heritage dates back to the seventeenth century.
She is the founder of the well-known and established company The English Lady Landscape and Home that works throughout the Northeast. Today Maureen is a much credited and sought after designer and expert in all matters green and garden. Her “cheeky, self-effacing style as the “garden guru” on WRCH Lite100.5 FM radio has earned her a wide fan base.
Maureen lectures throughout Connecticut on a broad range of landscape design and environmentally holistic topics. She also writes timely articles for various newspapers and magazines throughout the state, in addition to having her own weekly gardening columns in “The Shoreline News” and “The Valley Press” and begins a three part series about vegetable gardens, in the spring of 2009 in “Nutmeg Magazine”.
Beginning in 1648 their family were tenants at Powys Castle in Wales and worked the landscape for the Herbert family who were in residence. In 1680 they refined their craft under the auspice of renowned architect William Winde who designed the terrace gardens in the style of Renaissance Italy’s landscapes. Powys Castle is still considered by many landscape experts to be the best example of seventeenth century gardens in Britain today.
Maureen learned her creative design skills and horticultural acumen from her mother and grandmother and was “speaking garden” from the time she could talk. She honed her construction skills while working in the family business in the U.K. Her formal horticultural training was at the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in Surrey.
The New York Sunday Times said of Maureen that “one of life’s unexpected experiences was discussing manure with an English Baroness,” and Connecticut magazine found Maureen “anything but tweedy.”
Baroness Maureen Haseley-Jones, who also has an honors degree from the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, once understudied on the English stage the famed actress Angela Lansbury of “Murder She Wrote.” She also qualified to race on a Formula One team in Europe, raced a Lotus in the Monte Carlo rally as well as Mini-Coopers in road rallies in Northwest England.

Visit at http://theenglishlady.com/blog/. Or

WHC-TV Channel 5 West Hartford Cable Television Maureen is the featured guest on "Life and Style with Sara". You can watch it online: http://www.whctv.org/.

WRCH Lite100.5FM Maureen is the ‘all things garden and green guru’ on "In Your Garden With The English Lady". Call in with questions every third Thursday of the month from 8:00-9:00 AM or you can listen online: http://player.play.it/player/player.html?v=4.4.35&id=159&onestat=wrch

Timely Tips for May
 Apply summer mulch to perennial beds and borders.
 Fertilize roses every 2-3 weeks and spray weekly.
 All annual flowers can be safely planted out after mid-May.
 Prune spring-flowering shrubs immediately after flowering.
 Prune halfway back new growth on needle evergreens if desired.
 Plant dahlias, cannas, and daylilies ‘til the end of the month. Plant glads now through late June. Plant tuberous begonias and caladiums out in shady protected areas.
 Fertilize annuals and vegetables and stake tall perennials that could be damaged by wind or rain.

"Sweet April showers / Do spring May flowers."
Thomas Tusser, A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry, 1557

March Newsletter

2010-03-23T06:38:00.002-04:00

Guy’s Greetings

As our terrible, horrible winter morphs into spring, I find myself again in a state of wonder over the resilience of life. Crocus and other minor bulbs suddenly graced us with bright, welcoming colors, daffodil buds are swelling in sheltered spots, witch hazels delight with their sassy fragrant flowers, leaf buds on trees and shrubs are emerging, and perennials are poking up fresh green shoots everywhere. And then there are the weeds, already out of control!
Our “Think Spring” luncheon was a great success with a record number of raffles, a stunning quilt exhibition, and even a home-grown poetry reading. Congratulations to Georgia, Arlene, and their committee on a job superbly done.

Mark the Date

 Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 7:00 PM, general meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department, off Montauk Highway on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. Our speaker will be Master Beekeeper Raymond J. Lackey of Sweet Pines Apiary. He will have honey for sale for $10 per pound. For more information about him and beekeeping on Long Island, please visit the Web site at http://www.tianca.com/tianca2.html.

 Dues are being accepted now until March 31, 2010. The board has voted on a late fee of $5 after that date, which means a single membership will be $20 and a couple $25.

 This just in! The Public is invited to share ideas about local Victory Gardens. Bring your ideas! Each speaker gets 3 minutes. Two of the four meetings are left: March 24, 2010, Brookhaven Town Hall, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon, and March 31, 2010, Farmingdale State University Little Theater, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. For more information or to be placed on the Task Force's mailing list, contact Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher's office at 631-854-1650 or contact hobbsfarmfriends@aol.com.

February Meeting in a Flash

 Paula and June still need information from members to complete the membership booklet. Please complete a membership form.
 Peter Priola, a student at LIU, gave a very interesting talk about tagging Monarch butterflies and their migration habits.
 Guy spoke with Lori about the many problems with the Winona Cottage and suggested the Carnegie Library when it is moved or the Patchogue Beach Club as possible alternate meeting sites. The possibility of using one of the local churches came up.
 We now have a brand new trifold brochure. These need to be placed in public places and at our various events.

John H. Rouse, Brookhaven Supt. Of Highways, Presents

Learn A-Z about plants. Floral arranging, plant propagation, etc. at the Harold Malkmes Wildlife Education and Ecology Center, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville NY 11742. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Call 758-9664 Extension 10

Adult Horticulture Classes, Wednesdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon on April 14, 21, 28; and May 5, 12, & 19. The suggested donation for supplies for the full session is $30.00. Please make your donation payable to "Brookhaven Wildlife Center, Inc." and include name, address, phone, and emergency contact.

Garden Photography Contest

Great gardening goes hand in hand with great photography—that's why Horticulture is pleased to introduce the new Garden Photography Awards to celebrate the best in garden photography. One grand-prize winner will be selected by renowned garden photographer Rob Cardillo; the winner will receive $1000 and the winner's name and winning photograph will appear in the January 2011 issue of Horticulture. Note that entries are $20.00 each. http://hortmag.com/gardenphotoawards.

“The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World”

Didn’t we all read the best seller by Michael Pollan? It is now a PBS program available on DVD via the library. The documentary begins in Pollan’s own garden and proceeds around the world from potato fields in Peru to tulip markets in Amsterdam with stops for apples in New England and a medical marijuana greenhouse (they didn’t say where, but there is only one in the United States, the legendary Ole Miss Pot Farm at the University of Mississippi, bringing pot to people since 1968). The DVD special features include over 15 minutes of scenes deleted from the original program, a panel discussion about the interdisciplinary importance of the book, and additional interview footage with Michael Pollan. Go behind the scenes, and more at http://www.pbs.org/thebotanyofdesire/.

“…our sense of plants as passive objects is a failure of imagination, rooted in the fact that plants occupy what amounts to a different dimension.”
~ Michael Pollan, “The Botany of Desire”

Serious Dirt From Richard Waldman

Join good people doing great things…and help us fight dirty!!!
3rd Annual Great Brookhaven Cleanup and Plant-In
KEEP BROOKHAVEN BEAUTIFUL and Keep America Beautiful, Inc., in cooperation with the Town of Brookhaven, invite you to join the Great American Cleanup™. Every spring, individuals and groups join the Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest organized cleanup, beautification and community improvement program. The volunteers know that they really make a difference, and the results are dramatic! The communities look clean and beautiful, and there is a sense of hometown pride and accomplishment.
Last year, 4,000 Brookhaven residents joined over 2.3 million volunteers in more than 15,000 communities across America to pick up millions of tons of litter, renew parks, plant community gardens, beautify miles of roadway, and clean up rivers, lakes, and seashores in their communities.
Join thousands of Brookhaven residents to help make Brookhaven a cleaner, greener, more beautiful Town!
Cleanup - April 17
• Identify a specific site that you would like to improve. Visit the site to plan your event and get permission from the property owner if necessary.
• Possible activities: • Litter cleanups on streets, parks, playgrounds • River, lake and seashore cleanups • Woodland trail and field cleanups • Park renewals • Nature trail and woodland cleanups • School cleanups • Commercial Site / Shopping Center cleanups • Graffiti paintovers / removals • Beautification / community improvement projects
• Recruit family members, friends or neighbors to help
• Register your individual or group’s participation
• Pick up your gloves, tee shirts and bags. Pick-up times and locations will be emailed to you upon registration.
Plant-In - May 15
Groups and individuals are invited to join the Great Brookhaven Plant-In to help identify and remediate areas that need a makeover. Choose a spot and make it pretty. Compost, wood chips, and a limited number of plants will be provided.
• Identify a specific site that you would like to improve. Visit the site to plan your event and get permission from the property owner if necessary.
• Areas that can benefit from decorative plants and landscaping include: • Parks • Vacant corners • Shopping centers / Commercial sites • Schools, Churches, Nursing Homes • Memorials • Medians / Buffers
• Register your individual or group’s participation
• Pick up your plants on the day of event (compost and wood chips will be delivered) ...and make it pretty!

Details: http://www.brookhaven.org/DesktopModules/Bring2mind/DMX/Download.aspx?TabId=134&Command=Core_Download&EntryId=2664&PortalId=0&TabId=134

Tree Damage from the Latest Nor’easter?

http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/home-and-garden/garden-detective-1.8120
29/what-to-do-about-storm-damage-to-trees-1.1812050

We wish to thank the following businesses, friends, members &
organizations for donations to our 2010 “Think Spring” luncheon

Advance Auto Parts
Associates Gourmet Market
Astoria Federal Savings
Margaret Atkinson*
Bayport Flower Houses Inc.
Babette Bishop*
Barbara Bestafka*
Blums
Bobbique
Bonnie & Fred Bossert
Brick House Brewery
Barbara Bruce
Carla Buchanan-Steward*
Pauline Carleton*
Carvel
Casino Clam Company
Anne Marie Coakley
Rosalie Coleman
The Colony Shop
Country Kitchen Restaurant
Creative Hair Replacement
Curves
Peg & Frank Densing
Joanna Drake
Georgia Dulmovits, Co-chair*
John Dulmovits
Fantastic Gardens
KarenFerb* Finest Fitness Health & Sports Club
The Fish Store
Sandra Franco
Friends of the Patchogue-Medford Library
Forever Young
Linda Gugliuzzo
Barbara & John Gustafson
Gladys Heimburger*
Janet Heyer*
Mark Jeffers
J&R Steak House
Lynn Kane
King Kullen
Arlene Lamberti, Co-chair*
Marie Magnano*
Marita’s Hair Studio
Marita Morello*
Phyllis Mendelson
Jo Miller*
Paula Murphy
New York New Wave
Painters’
Panera
PatchogueFloralDesign Patchogue Picture Frame Inc.
Patchworks
PeraBell Food Bar
Petite Pets
June Petruccelli*
The Pilates Studio of Bayport
Quench Wine & Spirits
Diane Riviello-Voland
Marjorie Roe
Annie Rubbo*
Salon Bellport
Carolyn* & Tom Savastano
Sue Scala
Ellen Scammon
Signs & Advertising
Starbucks Coffee Company
Summer Salt Beach House
SwanBakery Swan Cleaners
Swiftway Wine & Liquor
Ruth Szuminskyj*
Tall Tree Flower Shoppe
Mary Ann Tchinnis*
Theatre 3 Productions, Inc.
Joan Tifford*
Time On My Hands
SusanToplitz Town of Brookhaven
Tricia’s Hair Galleria
Carol Tvelia
Village Fish Market
Guy Vitale
Phyllis Voegeli
Bert Voland
Waitress-To-Go
Tony Wenderoth
Carolyn Young*
Millie Zimmerman*
Colleen Zollobb
Creative Hair Replacement

*Denotes members of the committee
Our supporters, the best!

Timely Tips for April

 Plant new trees and shrubs now.
 Prepare soil in the vegetable garden and annual beds; sow early crops of peas, radishes, lettuce, and hardy annuals such as cornflowers, larkspur, and annual poppies.
 Remove earth mounds from roses and prune established ones.
 Now is a good time to control grubs on lawns.
 Trim and repot houseplants as necessary.
 Plant herbaceous perennials through May. For perennials already up a few inches, spread a ring of fertilizer around them and water in. If they are summer or fall blooming, divide them now.

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks."
~The Writings of John Muir, Volume 8

February Newsletter

2010-02-20T07:04:00.003-05:00

Guy’s Greetings
As I relax in my seat at a cruising speed of 560mph and 34,110 ft above the eastern coast of the United States I am reminded how cold it has been in Florida this winter. With lows in the low 20s and highs no higher than 60 for the past few weeks, even sunny South Florida was not immune to old man winter this year. As I traveled the state I could see the damage to Florida’s tropical and subtropical plants, not to mention her majestic palms. Everywhere I went I saw the full effect of weeks of unseasonable weather. I look forward to coming home and seeing my garden, knowing all this snow is covering, insulating, and protecting my tender spring bulbs, perennials, and even my cold tolerant grasses. In a few short weeks we will be enjoying the rebirth of spring while Floridians are thawing out and starting over.
Guy

Mark the Date

 Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 7:00 PM, general meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department, off Montauk Highway on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. Our speaker will be Peter Priolo on tagging Monarch butterflies.
Dues will be accepted now until March 31, 2010. The board has voted on
a late fee of $5 after that date, which means a single membership will
be $20 and a couple will be $25.

 Thursday, March 11, 2010, 7th Annual “Think Spring” luncheon and quilt exhibit, Mediterranean Manor, 303 E. Main Street, Patchogue. Guest speaker: Doug Steigerwald of Long Island Flower Garden and Florist. Raffles and door prizes. Doors open at 10:30 AM.

The luncheon Committee has been off and running since October. We have gathered 21 large quilts and several smaller quilts to be exhibited. Under the direction of Margaret Atkinson we have put together Scented Spice Mats for each person attending, and, by the way, Phyllis Mendelson has made a small quilt to be raffled. Catch our spirit and join us! Tickets are $35.00 per person. Reservations for the luncheon can be made at the February 23 meeting or by sending a check to Patchogue Garden Club, PO Box 3030, Patchogue NY 11772-0887.

For more information call Georgia at 631- 289-0867 or Arlene at 631-730-7572.

January Meeting in a Flash

Thursday, March 11th – Luncheon
Saturday, March 27 – St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday, April 10th – Open the Garden; rain date Sunday, April 11th
Saturday, May 15th – Plant and Yard Sale; rain date Sunday, May 16th
Saturday, June 12th – Breakfast in the Garden
Saturday, July 10th – Garden Tour and Club dinner
TBA – Harvest Dinner
Saturday, November 13th – Close the Garden, possibly combined with decorating the gazebo for Christmas.
Sunday, December 12th – Christmas House Tour

 Paula has several speakers for future meetings. If you have suggestions for speakers, get in touch with Paula.
 Paperwork for the scholarship is being submitted. The amount is increased to $750.
 Paula and June need information from members to complete the membership booklet.
 Jo Miller is looking into trips that we could take as a club.
 Carol T. has expense forms to be filled out for reimbursement; you must provide receipts along with the forms.

The Garden Conservancy 2010 New York Open Days

Bronx: June 13
Columbia County: May 23, June 12, July 11 & 18, September 11
Dutchess County: May 8 & 15, June 12, July 17, August 22, October 2
Suffolk County: May 1 & 15, June 26, July 10, September 11
Nassau County: May 16
Putnam County: May 23, September 26
Tompkins County: May 8, June 12, July 31
Ulster County: May 23, June 12, July 10
Westchester County: April 25, May 2, 8, 23, & 29, June 5, 6, &20, July 25, September 12, October 30

Check back for specific locations, date changes, and for other parts of the country at http://sn105w.snt105.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0

The Conservancy also presents:
President's Forum: An Evening with Henriette Suhr
6 p.m. Wednesday, March 10 The New School New York City
New School President Bob Kerrey will engage in an informal discussion with Henriette Suhr, renowned interior designer and creator of Rocky Hills (a leading private garden and a Conservancy Preservation Projects in Mt. Kisco NY).
Gardening on Earth: One Couple’s 46 Years on 7 Acres
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10 the Central Park Arsenal, New York City
A MetroHort lecture with Dr. Richard Lighty, founding director of the Mt. Cuba Center and a member of the Board of the Garden Conservancy.

Guy would like everyone to know that the warning not to throw rice at weddings because it will cause
the little birdies to blow up is nothing more than an urban legend, probably started by churches who were sick
of cleaning up the mess. On the subject of rice, he has contributed the following article for publication.
Thanks, Guy! This is fab—Ed.

Edible Art

Stunning crop art has sprung up across rice fields in Japan. But this is no alien creation - the designs have
been cleverly planted. Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink or dye. Instead, different colors of
rice plants have been precisely and strategically arranged and grown in the paddy fields. As summer progresses and the plants shoot up, the detailed artwork begins to emerge.

The largest and finest work is grown in the Aomori village of Inakadate, 600 miles north of Toyko. The village has now earned a reputation for its agricultural artistry and this year the enormous pictures of Napoleon and a Sengoku-period warrior, both on horseback, are visible in a pair of fields adjacent to the town hall.

More than 150,000 visitors come to Inakadate, where just 8,700 people live, every summer to see the extraordinary murals. Each year hundreds of volunteers and villagers plant four different varieties of rice in late May across huge swathes of paddy fields.

According to an August 2009 article published on Telegraph.co.uk, the rice field art tradition began in the Japanese village of Inakadate in 1993 but has now spread to other areas of Japan. Villagers and volunteers help plant four varieties of rice that grow in different colors. The farmers use computers to plan their art
before planting so that they know exactly where to place the different colored rice plants in order to create the giant images. Planting generally takes place in May and the images look their best by September. The
article notes: Each year a different design is on show, and more than 15,000 visitors travel to see the creation. Images that have adorned the village fields include a giant frog and a butterfly. Another famous paddy art venue is Yonezawa in northern Japan; this year's design shows fictional 16th-century samurai
warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife Osen.

The farmers create the murals by planting purple and yellow-leafed kodaimai rice along with their local green-leafed tsugaru roman variety.

Watch a time-lapse video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztF8xQpjQgA
More video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEr3FLAxmHU&feature=fvw
Our own Master Gardener Betty Baran announces that the 28th Annual Spring Gardening School of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will be held at The Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood on April 10, 2010, Bellport High School on April 17, 2010, and Riverhead Middle School on April 24, 2010, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This day includes your choice of classes from four different sessions, with information for every level of gardener from beginner to advanced. Topics include:

• Fundamentals of gardening
• Pruning
• Floral design
• Home Composting
• Water-wise gardening
• Gardening with children
• Vegetable gardening
• Houseplants, dahlias, hydrangeas, bulbs, roses, and many more!

All classes are taught by Master Gardeners and Extension Educators. Included in your fee are free soil pH testing, plant diagnostic clinic, plant sale from some of the finest nurseries, continental breakfast, delicious boxed lunch, and door prizes. The fee is $55 per person, early bird registration is $50 before March 5, 2010.

The registration form with a full schedule of classes and their descriptions is available for download at www.ccesuffolk.org or contact Caroline Kiang at 631-727-7850, ext. 337 or 345.

Ed. Note: To avoid disappointment, please be sure to consult the catalog of sessions since not all sessions are offered at each location. Pre-registration is required.

What's In A Name? Author Tells Stories Behind Trees
NPR: “All Things Considered” January 7, 2010

Listen to broadcast at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=122294877&m=122325777

Author Diana Wells says one of her favorite trees is the Stewartia, a 20-foot-tall tree in her garden that has "lovely white flowers" and a flaky bark. In her book Lives of the Trees: An Uncommon History [available at PM Library—Ed.], author Diana Wells explores people's relationship with about 100 trees and the stories behind their names. They're arranged in alphabetical order from acacia to Wollemi Pine. "They're so much part of our lives, both in ways we know and ways we don't know," Wells tells NPR's Michele Norris. "Whether it be a cup of coffee or a Kleenex or your rubber tires on your automobile, they are very much bound in our life, and these days, of course, we know that they're essential to our planet."

Wells says one of her favorites is the Stewartia, which comes from Japan but was named for the 18th century Scottish Earl of Bute John Stuart. Wells likes the juxtaposition of cultures in the tree's history, she says. The 20-foot-tall tree that is in Wells' garden has "lovely white flowers" and a flaky bark, and she looked at it as she wrote the book. The Japanese cedar speaks to Wells because of a tradition that surrounds it — called forest bathing. "You go into the forest and soak yourself in the trees," she says. "I live where there are woods and I will [do that] quite often and let the trees feel as if I'm part of the forest. It's very, very soothing — it's beautiful."

Wells says she hopes the book will inspire readers to discover the trees around them. "It would help us if we were more familiar with trees," she says. "I think if we did that, it would cement the bond, and it would help all of us. We need the trees and they need us."

Timely Tips for March

 If you haven’t cleaned, repaired, oiled, and sharpened your tools and machines yet, do it now.
 Get cold frames ready, turn over soil, and spade in a balanced fertilizer.
 Apply horticultural oil sprays to trees and shrubs any time after the danger of freezing nights has passed but before buds begin to open
 Sow radish and lettuce seeds as early as the ground can be worked.
 Begin moving/transplanting trees and shrubs; do not fertilize at planting.
 For perennials already up a few inches, spread a ring of fertilizer around them and water in. If they are summer or fall blooming, divide them now. Gradually uncover, prune, and feed established roses.

Did you know? The leaves of Beautyberry (Callicarpa) contain two compounds that repel mosquitoes as effectively as DEET. The USDA also reports these extracts repel ticks and fire ants for one to several hours.

January Newsletter

2010-01-21T09:13:00.003-05:00

GUY'S GREETINGS

I trust everyone had joyous and safe holidays filled with family and friends. It’s hard to think of gardening in the middle of January with the bone-chilling weather we’ve had the past few weeks, but it’s time. Our gardening season will be in full swing before we know it. I look forward to seeing everyone at our meeting on January 26. Guy

MARK THE DATE

 Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 7:00 PM, general meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department, off Montauk Highway on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. Dues will be accepted now until March 31, 2010. The board has voted on a late fee of $5 after that date, which means a single membership will be $20 and a couple will be $25.

 Thursday, March 11, 2010, 7th Annual “Think Spring” luncheon and quilt exhibit, Mediterranean Manor, 303 E. Main Street, Patchogue. Guest speaker: Doug Steigerwald of LI Flower Garden and Florist. Raffles and door prizes. Doors open at 10:30 AM.

The luncheon Committee has been off and running since October. We have gathered 21 large quilts and several smaller quilts to be exhibited. Under the direction of Margaret Atkinson we have put together Scented Spice Mats for each person attending and, by the way, Phyllis Mendelson has made a small quilt to be raffled. Catch our spirit and join us! Tickets are $35.00 per person. Reservations for the luncheon can be made at the January 26 meeting or by sending a check to Patchogue Garden Club, PO Box 3030, Patchogue NY 11772-0887.

For more information call Georgia at 631- 289-0867 or Arlene at 631-730-7572

OCTOBER MEETING IN A FLASH

Jody Banaszak of BOCES gave a very interesting and entertaining presentation on autumn displays and flower arranging. Her various arrangements were raffled off. Congratulations to the winners and thank you Jody for a terrific evening.

If you haven’t already signed on to help out, see Georgia and Arlene about volunteering for the ”Think Spring Luncheon”. They are looking for raffle baskets as well as gift certificates from local businesses. The committee meets meet every Monday at 1:00 PM beginning in January.

Important Notice: We need new Refreshment Committee volunteers for 2010. Nobody volunteered. It was decided that if people want something to drink or eat they need to bring their own until further notice. Any takers? Please contact Karen Ferb, and she’ll put you in touch with each other.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY--AND EVERY DAY

When I go into the garden with a spade and dig a bed I feel such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I should have done with my own hands. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

FENCELESS IN SEATTLE

Thursday December 10, 2009 Vanessa Richins’ Blog
It's not shaping up to be a very Merry Christmas for the folks at the Washington Park Arboretum. A brazen thief cut down one of their two Keteleeria (Keteleeria evelyniana) trees, presumably for use as a Christmas tree. This conifer, a member of the Pinaceae family, is quite rare.
I feel so sorry for Randall Hitchin, the manager of living collections for the University of Washington Botanical Gardens. The Seattle Times quotes him as saying "It makes me want to cry" and "It was a wonderful, wonderful tree." He has watched over the tree since 1998, the year that the seedling came to the arboretum. In 11 years it had grown to be just 7 feet tall.
This particular Keteleeria came from the mountainous Yunnan province in China. They can also be found in Laos and Vietnam. It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to find another tree with the same genetics as the stolen one. For example, the World Wildlife Fund notes that there are only 8 fully grown specimens found in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve in Vietnam. Other areas have similarly low numbers.
I am puzzled that someone would even begin to think of cutting down trees in an arboretum or garden. It's a public place that is meant for community enjoyment and education. I see a similar sort of problem in community gardens. People see the word "community" and think it means the harvest is available to anyone.

“Beware Green Thumbs With Sticky Fingers”

SERIOUS DIRT FROM RICHARD WALDMAN

While Blizzards Rage
By Pam Baggett, Horticulture, December 03, 2009

Winter’s tough on gardeners. We may be longing to be outside, but we’re stuck indoors while blizzards rage. Or in my less-poetic southern climate, while a thirty-seven degree drizzle drenches the garden for days on end. While Cicero left out a few essentials (music, anyone?), garden books make it much easier to survive dreary weather. We could grab the latest and greatest for inspiration, but why neglect fine classic books available for cheap from the internet or local used book stores? To help you stock your library, here’s a review of some of my favorites:

The Fragrant Year by Helen Van Pelt Wilson and Leonie Bell (1967): Books on fragrant plants often fall short, settling for pallid phrases like “sweet” to describe scent. Not this one—Wilson and Bell’s beautifully written, in-depth descriptions cover both woody and herbaceous plants. Of flowering tobacco, Nicotiana alata, they write: “Some have it honeyed or sugar-sweet, but to us it is a heavy emanation of auratum lily. During the three weeks reign of the gold band lily, the comparison is easy to make, and together lily and flowering tobacco dominate the August dark.”

Annuals for Connoisseurs by Wayne Winterrowd (1992): Winterrowd’s distinctive voice has graced the pages of Horticulture for many years. His 1992 book on uncommon annuals includes both practical information and lively personal recollections. Of his grandmother’s love for Gomphrena globosa, he writes: “She called gomphrena “life-in-death’, a name perhaps of her own invention, born of her fondness for Baptist revivals…”

Crockett’s Victory Garden by James Crockett (1977): The late James Crockett, the original gardener of the PBS television series “The Victory Garden”, had a humble yet eloquent writing style informed by a deep knowledge and love of plants. His 12-month guide to growing everything from leeks and lettuce to tomatoes, melons and basil will have you eating well year-round. Planting schedules are geared to Crockett’s New England weather, but even if you garden in another climate, don’t miss this treat of a book. [And check out the companion classic “Victory Garden Cookbook” by Marian Morash of the same show.—Ed.]

The Collector’s Garden by Ken Druse (1996): Druse has written and photographed some of the best gardening books available, but The Collector’s Garden remains one of my favorites. Replete with photographs, it features gardens of plant fanatics across the country. Some are specialists, like noted salvia expert Betsy Clebsch and rose rustler Mike Shoup, while others find satisfaction in anything with roots. Warning: Druse’s book can cause desperate on-line searching and fits of frantic spending for gotta-have plants.

Thirty-seven degrees and raining out? No problem—I’ll be in the library!

Me too!—Ed.

TIMELY TIPS FOR JANUARY

 Devour luscious books about gardens and gardening.
 Send for seed and nursery catalogs and do advance planning.
 Save fireplace and wood ashes. They add potash and trace elements to the soil, but do spread them thinly.
 Buy cheery houseplants such as cyclamen, forced bulbs, and primrose to get you through the dreariness of winter.
 Trim dead, broken, and diseased, branches from trees and shrubs.
 Clean and sharpen tools so you’ll be off to a great start.
 Take walks through your garden as weather permits and marvel at the things that have already commenced to grow! Winter hazels are abloom!

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
~Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BCE, Roman statesman and philosopher

Christmas "Homes for the Holidays" Postponed

2009-11-19T10:22:00.002-05:00

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to postpone the annual "Homes for the Holidays" tour to December of 2010. Thanks to everyone for your interest and encouragement.

May your holidays bring you much joy, The Patchogue Garden Club

October Newsletter

2009-10-27T14:47:00.011-04:00

Pix from the 2009 Harvest Dinner at the Patchogue Beach Club

Guy’s Greetings

Happy autumn everyone!

As we prepare to end our gardening season, it’s time to clean the perennial gardens and mulch. Mother Nature has been mulching the world each and every year since the beginning of time. We on the other hand have been removing this free mulch in favor of expensive store bought mulch that does no better. The free mulch also stops the unnecessary killing of trees to beautify our gardens and landscaping. Shredding, mowing, and composting leaves and our spent flowers and plants will keep your garden happy, healthy, and more nutrient rich for years to come. Better than that, it will keep you fit and energized and in touch with our planet, knowing you are gardening the way Mother Nature intended our gardens to winter over.
Don’t forget to search your gardens for that house plant you hid in the garden to protect from the sun; you will be upset when it dies from frost before you remember that it’s still outside. Hopefully it didn’t drown this week. Guy

Mark the Date

Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 7:00 PM, general meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department, off Montauk Highway on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. Jody Banaszak will demonstrate fall flower arranging. Reminder: Election night.

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9:00 AM-Until We’re Done, is the date for putting the Terry Street garden to bed. Bring your essential tools, gloves, and lots of enthusiasm. Come for as much time as you can spare because many hands make light work.

Sunday, November 8, 2009, 9:00 AM-Until We’re Done, is the rain date for putting the garden to bed.

Important note: We will not meet again until January 26, 2010.

September Meeting in a Flash

We’re back at the Hagerman fire house after a lovely summer of meeting in gardens. Our first speaker of the season was “The Garden Lady”, Lynn Thompson, gave a talk and slide presentation illustrating some of the basic design principles such as shape, texture, and focal points. She says many of us dream of a beautiful garden but don’t know where to begin, so she aimed to show us how.

Reminder: Dues are to be paid by 31 March 2010 (Really, 2010? Scarier than a bat!). The board has voted on a late fee of $5 after that date, which means a single membership would be $20 and a couple would be $25.

If you haven’t already signed on to help out, see Georgia and Arlene volunteering for the Think Spring Luncheon. They are looking for raffle baskets as well as gift certificates from local businesses. The committee will meet every Monday at 1:00 PM beginning in January.

A Tropical Invitation

In response to Frank Lerantini’s generous invitation to the Garden Club, several members visited his Mastic garden. Although we initially had some difficulty finding it, when we spotted the big banana tree in the front yard, we knew we had come to the right place. And the banana tree (only five years old) was just the beginning. The garden seemed to go on forever, crammed with tropical and non-tropical specimens. Frank’s pleasure in gardening and loving attention to his plants was clearly evident. Thank you to Frank for a lovely tour.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
A Guy’s Guide to Gardening by Kate Elizabeth Queram

Last weekend, I went to a party and watched a guy and girl engaged in
conversation across from me. They were smiling, heads together, and when I got up to refill my drink and caught a snippet of their talk, I was surprised to hear that they were talking tomatoes. Specifically, her troubles growing them in her garden. “I’m having trouble with the wiring,” she said. “And I’m never sure how much to water them.” “Well, it’s not too complicated,” replied the guy, who had mentioned earlier that he’d been growing his own veggies for several years. “I could come over and show you, if you want.” They exchanged numbers. I looked around to see if anyone else found this surprising, but no one batted an eye. Maybe that’s because vegetable gardens, with their inherent healthy, green and money-saving qualities, are incredibly popular right now. It makes sense, then, that the male gardener would wear his healthy, thrifty green thumb as a badge of honor; I just hadn’t considered the idea until right then. It seems I was in the minority. For some guys, assuming the traditionally masculine role of provider contributes to the appeal of gardening. Dan Link, a manager at my gym, began his garden three years ago with potted tomatoes and herbs, a venture that’s now blossomed into a 60 x40-footplot, growing everything from corn and cauliflower to jalapenos and sweet basil. Initially, he said, he was attracted to the challenge of gardening, but now the draw lies in knowing he’s capable of providing for himself without anyone else's help. “It gives you a level of confidence that you can be independent,” Dan said. “You don’t have to rely on someone else to provide you with food. And I just find enjoyment in being able to see something develop from a seed to a harvestable asset.” Growing his own food also means he doesn’t have to head to the store as often, which Dan estimated saves him several hundred dollars per month. “A $200 investment can yield $1,800 in crops,” he said. In fact, 54% of new gardeners say they’re primarily interested in saving money, according to the NGA. While the tangible benefits of gardening are inarguable), perhaps one of its greatest assets is an intangible —the effect that the male gardener has on women. I’ll admit that I hadn’t really considered this before seeing it in front of me at last week’s party. According to Molly Merrick, a 25-year-old clinical social worker from Massachusetts, the idea of dating a gardener is immensely appealing. “I like what a garden represents: nurturing and commitment,” she said. “Gardeners make something from nothing. I like that. I also like the idea of a guy who’s dirty from working the soil. You want to give him a bath and then make him dirty again in a whole new way.” The only time Molly’s ever gardened was when her mother made her, she added, but she’s infatuated with the idea of having a gardener boyfriend and everything it implies. “He can grow me things! He can go nurture the little seeds. Meanwhile, I will sit in the grass nearby and read, and when things grow, I will cook the veggies for us to eat. By the way,” she added, “I’m single and I have a backyard.” [Richard wants you to know these days you can find info on gardening most everywhere, even at www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=78281.

New York Times, September 3, 2009
IN THE GARDEN: Restoring Manhattan as It Once Was
By Anne Raver

IN 1609, when the English explorer Henry Hudson sailed the river that would be named after him, he looked out on an island of hilly forest and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Four hundred years later, that paradise has been crushed by steel and concrete, with pockets of green made up mostly of exotic plants like Norway maples and English ivy But a patch of that lost landscape, so eloquently described by the Mannahatta Project (themannahattaproject.org), is evoked by a 2,200-square-foot native woodland garden being planted at Schwartz Plaza next to the Bobst Library on the New York University campus, just south of Washington Square. There, beneath the lindens and Japanese pagoda trees, are sweeps of native ferns, columbine and wild ginger. Young beech seedlings are barely taller than the mayapples. “We’re not trying to recreate a woodland, it’s a stylized version of a woodland,” said George Reis, N.Y.U.’s supervisor of sustainable landscapes, who became a gardener at the university in 1995. He knew nothing about gardening, but the job included free tuition. “I couldn’t identify English ivy,” he said. “I came to study Portuguese literature.” Nevertheless, he took a few classes at the New York Botanical Garden. And one day he heard Darrel Morrison, a landscape architect renowned for his use of native plants, speak at Columbia University. “It was all about making a design suited for a specific place,” said Mr. Reis, 42. “How can we evoke the natural history and even the social history of that place through design?” He started changing a few areas around campus, replacing the English ivy and leggy boxwoods in front of the admissions building with native azaleas that bloomed at graduation, and filling the sunny expanse around the sports center with swamp mallows and sea oats.

The Mannahatta Project also inspired him to imagine Manhattan before the rest of the world landed here with its seeds and its culture. And when the class of 2008 put out a call for a worthy project for its $25,000 legacy gift, Mr. Reis submitted a proposal — for a native woodland garden designed by Mr. Morrison. The idea won hands down over a proposal for plasma TV’s for the gym.

So this spring, Mr. Reis and Mr. Morrison, with the help of a small student crew, began planting 2,000 plants that were all thriving on Manhattan in the 17th century. Beneath the lindens and a Japanese maple, sweeps of hay-scented ferns undulate against waves of New York ferns, interrupted ferns and Christmas ferns, each species planted en masse to accentuate subtle differences in shape, texture and color. Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), a shrub that once turned the Eastern woods white with its blossoms in early spring, signaling that it was safe to journey into the mountains to hold services for those who had died in the winter, will bloom next spring over wild columbine and bloodroot. A handful of American beech seedlings, grown from local seed by the Greenbelt Native Plant Center, on Staten Island, were only a foot tall. But those little trees are a sign that this urban native landscape is already taking hold.

Why not put a little Mannahatta in your own shady backyard, terrace or tiny front yard that faces the street? Columbine, wood phlox and wild geranium would do well in a small yard, in light to full shade, Mr. Morrison said, and would also work in large pots. Bearberry, a low, rambling evergreen with pink or white flowers in the spring and red berries in summer, is a good ground cover for a sunny, sandy space. Partridge berry, another low-growing evergreen with red berries, prefers fertile soil and shade. Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

And since so many of you asked for it:

Paula’s Cheddar Cheese and Onion Pie

Buy or make according to you favorite recipe a 9” pie crust.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 Granny Smith or other tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into very thin slices
2 1/2 cups strong farmhouse cheddar, coarsely grated
2 large eggs;
1/4 cup heavy cream
Leaves from 1 sprig thyme, finely chopped
Sea salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until softened. Add the apples and cook for a few minutes; they should not lose their texture. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature, then add the grated cheese, 2 eggs, cream, thyme and salt and peppers to taste, mixing well. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a 9” pie pan and line with dough.
Add the cheese and onion filling. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool 15 minutes before serving. Serves 6-8

Timely Tips for November

This is the best time to fertilize trees and shrubs.
Take advantage of fall sales and plant deciduous trees and shrubs throughout November.
Mulch perennials with evergreen boughs or straw to keep temp constant.
Clean out old annual and vegetable plants, fallen leaves, and perennial tops and compost them.
Winterize your mower or take it to the shop for cleaning and a tune-up.

September Newsletter

2009-09-18T08:05:00.004-04:00

Guy’s Greetings

Pumpkins, gourds, and mums, oh my! All the makings for fall. Even though we lost a month of our summer to the rains, we now have a chance to enjoy some beautiful weather, the bounty of our gardens, and, hopefully, a few more days of Indian summer.
I am so looking forward to seeing each and every one of you at the Harvest Dinner on the new date, September 27th. It will be wonderful, as always, to close out the season on Great South Bay, breeze blowing, and the sinking sun glinting on the water. Guy

Mark the Date

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 7:00 PM, the autumnal solstice, general meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department, off Montauk Highway on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. Our speaker will be The Garden Lady, Lynn Thompson, on basic landscape design.

Many of us dream of a beautiful garden, but don’t know where to begin. We thumb through catalogs and read books, but are confused by the myriad of choices. We have questions galore. Should I move that shrub? How can I camouflage the chain link fence? Maybe I should put an island bed in the lawn, but where and how big should it be? Well, help is on the way. Lynn Thomson, “The Garden Lady”, will give a talk and slide presentation to show you some of the basic design principles such as shape, texture and focal points. You can make your garden an interesting personal space. Come and see how.

Sunday, September 27, 2009, 4:00 PM, our Harvest Dinner at the Patchogue Beach Club on Maiden Lane just west of South Ocean Avenue. Please bring a dish to share, your choice of appetizer, main course, or dessert. Wine and soda will be provided again by the club. If you are attending, please RSVP to Diane Voland by email, ddjr5418@aol.com, or phone, 758-7350. Please leave a message no later than September 25.

August Meeting in a Flash

We met at Guy’s garden and had a lovely time looking at the pond, flower and vegetable gardens, and the beautiful chickens.

Everyone was given a reminder that dues are to be paid by March 31, 2010. The Board has voted on a late fee of $5 after that date, which means a single membership would be $20 and a couple would be $25.

Arlene will make the arrangements for the Harvest Dinner; please contact her to help out with setup and decorating. Carla will get info on a guitarist to play.

Georgia and Arlene are asking for basket donations or something that can be used in a basket for the Think Spring Luncheon. They are also looking for gift certificates from local businesses. The committee will meet every Monday at 1:00 PM beginning in January. A preliminary meeting will be held in September or October. A quilt show is planned for the luncheon.

Mary Ann said we have four definite houses and are looking for two more for the Christmas House Tour on December 13, 1:00-5:00 PM.

Paula reported the Garden Tour Committee has seen eight gardens thus far as possible candidates for next year’s tour.

Carolyn gave a detailed presentation about club T-shirts. We can order tees, crew-neck sweatshirts, or zip hoodies in many different colors with our logo. Your name is optional. See Carolyn to order.

One wonderful offshoot of inflation's erosion of the weekly paycheck has been a remarkable revival of backyard vegetable gardens. Suburbanites are off calla lilies and into cauliflower, and even city pueblo inhabitants are buying pots and kits to grow their own sprouts. It reminds me of the delight my father took in every meal that featured vegetables from our own garden. We boys found them considerably less so, because their care was one of several jobs that earned us our inconsiderable allowances. His inspection of our efforts every Sunday made the day almost as dismal as did our required church attendance. It took us years to develop a fondness for vegetables.
~ Malcolm Forbes (1975)

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

Trees take on Toxins: BNL researches plants to fight pollutants
By Jennifer Smith jennifer.smith@newsday.com

Inside a greenhouse at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a potential remedy for pollution from Long Island's industrial and military past grows in orderly rows.
Slender hybrid poplars planted earlier this year by Lee Newman, an associate biochemist at the lab, now stand at eye level. Bred to grow fast and thirsty, they can suck up groundwater fouled with industrial solvents and then break the toxins down inside the plant tissue.

The approach is called phytoremediation: using plants to contain, remove or destroy toxins. It's been used to help clean sites tainted by dry-cleaning fluid, heavy metals and gasoline - all common pollutants across Long Island.

From trees to vegetables and even ferns, different plants are used to address different environmental pollutants. And they do it "naturally," Newman said, "without having to resort to excavation and incineration of the contaminated material."

In Suffolk, county officials are considering using plants to detoxify soil at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, contaminated about an acre at the southeast corner of the property, where electrical transformers were buried decades earlier during the site's use by the military. Following manual removal of the worst "hot spots," Newman and a colleague have proposed sowing zucchini and pumpkin plants. Their roots can extract PCBs from soil and take them up into plant tissue.

"It's a green alternative," said Carrie Meek Gallagher, Suffolk commissioner for environment and energy. "I think it would be a great pilot project."

Still an emerging technology, phytoremediation has been used with some success over the past decade at dozens of military, agricultural and industrial sites across the country. In some cases, phytoremediation can be two to three times cheaper than traditional treatments. That’s part of the appeal for Suffolk County, which has allocated $361,000 to clean up PCB’s at Gabreski Airport. It is less invasive and helps control erosion and dust emission. So why isn’t the practice more widespread on Long Island?

Plants are not the answer for every hazardous waste headache, particularly when pollution is severe or poses an imminent risk to human health. Plants have to be able to access the pollution. The water table is 50 to 100 feet below the surface in parts of Long Island—far too deep for plant roots to reach, said Jim Harrington of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Still, the DEC has not ruled out phytoremediation as a tool for future cleanups across the state. “We’re still looking at it, and we will pick it when we have the right fit.”

Mark Jeffers Shares No-Dig Secrets for a Carefree Garden

Something magical happens when compost kisses your garden soil.
It energizes your soil with fertility-boosting nutrients. It fluffs up your soil, making it easier to work in. It vaccinates your soil against disease. It preserves life-giving moisture. And it actually invigorates the soil with thousands of beneficial life forms to enrich and protect your garden.
And that's just for starters!

• Imagine a no-work "comforter" composting system that works IN your garden! No more back-breaking wheelbarrowing…no more turning or mixing…no more wasted effort. Instead, you have compost exactly where you need it to be for the most powerful results.
• Imagine Grow Heaps you prepare in just minutes in the fall, and magically, some of the healthiest, most disease-resistant tomatoes, squash, watermelons, and more automatically leap from your garden bed the following spring.
• Imagine a hot-burning "banner batch" that yields black, fluffy, almost velvety compost that's perfect for potting soil or for your prized flower beds – in just a few weeks time.
Well, imagine no more. With the all new, full color step-by-step guide, you’ll discover astonishingly innovative techniques that take traditional composting methods to dramatic new levels that are easier to use and more practical to apply in your garden. For example...

• Turn that idle garbage heap in the back of your yard into a vibrant tool to create new growing space…solve garden problems…host beneficial insects…and invigorate soil all year!

• Trade in all the laborious work of old composting methods for much simpler ways that take little or no effort and guarantee garden-boosting results every time.
• Solve the puzzle of what you can and can't compost when you know about surprising compostable ingredients – and how they can make an amazingly powerful difference in your garden.

These simple composting secrets mean less digging…less mulching…less weeding…and less watering. You'll actually work less and enjoy your garden more! Amazing new uses for compost with step-by-step advice to help you fight weeds…attract beneficial insects…start up new plants…and more. See how simple it is to use compost to loosen up hard, clay soil…plant a bed on a sloping site…fill in erosion-washed ditches…and perk up tired flowers, trees, and shrubs.
Pleasant, Barbara. “The complete compost gardening guide: banner batches, grow heaps, comforter compost, and other amazing techniques for saving time and money, and producing the most flavorful, nutritious vegetables ever”, Barbara Pleasant & Deborah L. Martin. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, c2008. Available new and used from Amazon or by Suffolk County Library Interlibrary Loan.

Timely Tips for October

Now is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs until the ground freezes.
Water evergreens well, especially the broadleaf ones, to prevent winter injury.
Plant bulbs for indoor forcing this month. Dig up and store tender bulbs.
Plant/transplant deciduous trees and shrubs; water and mulch well.
Plant garlic and shallots for harvest next August.
Trim dead, broken, diseased branches from trees and shrubs.
Cut back plants that have grown onto walks, drives, or patios.

When you get right down to it, as sooner of later you must, gardening is a long-drawn-out war of attrition against the elements, a tripartite agreement involving the animal, insect and bird worlds and the occasional sheer perversity of Nature.
~ Alan Melville

August Newsletter

2009-08-19T15:14:00.003-04:00

Guy’s Greetings

We’ve been enjoying the bounty of our fruit and vegetable gardens, and I hope those of you who also grow food are having a great harvest. For those of you who don’t, I hope you have good friends who do and are sharing with you.
Much is going on at 36 Grove. Up to my armpits in mulch, can’t wait to see all of you at the meeting in our garden next week and show you the results of our labors!
Guy

Mark the Date

Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 6:00 PM, general meeting at the sensational garden of Guy Vitale and Mark Jeffers, 36 Grove Avenue, East Patchogue. Bring a chair to be assured of a place to sit.

Thursday, September 9, 2009, Bayard Cutting Arboretum Sunflower Contest; Tom Stemler, Daisy Garden, will be there to judge entries. There will be 8 winners: First, Second & Third Prizes for Large and Small entries and Most Unusual/Whimsical - Large & Small. Entries can be live flowers or photos (please try to include a ruler to estimate flower size).

Jessica Damiano, Newsday’s Garden Detective, at 7:30 PM.

Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13, 2009, Fall Festival at Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River, NY 11739. 631.581.1002. The club will have a display at the event.

July Meeting in a Flash

The September project for the Fall Festival at Bayard Cutting Arboretum was discussed. Mary Ann Tchinnis is chairing the committee . Volunteers are still welcome. The theme selected is “ A Magical Autumn Dinner in the Garden “. Carol Reitz briefly discussed plans for the project. The show is open on September 12 and 13, 2009.

Carol Tvelia handed out copies of the latest financial report. A second CD for the Winona is on hold at present and the money is sitting in our savings account. The club is considering two scholarships next year.

Arlene Lamberti said that the Parks and Recreation Department has seaweed available down by the Village pool behind the Crab Shack.

Plants of the Month

Now is the time to buy and plant a small group of fall blooming bulbs.
Colchicums: C. 'Waterlily', C. 'Lilac Wonder', C. 'Giant
Fall Blooming Crocus: C. sativus, C. speciosus, C. speciousus 'Albus'

Did You Know?

You can force rhubarb early in the year by placing an open-ended box with a glass or plastic cover over a sprouting clump. For winter production inside, cut off a piece of root with a couple of buds, then plant in an 8- or 10-inch pot. Leave it outdoors for a few freezes, then move it into the basement or garage. In two- to three months, you can harvest it. Then replant into the garden in spring. Green-stemmed varieties such as ‘Victoria’ are the most sweet and tender, but the red are more decorative (‘Canada Red’, ‘McDonald’, ‘Valentine’). Look also for non-edible species with brilliant leaf colors.

Serious Dirt From Richard Waldman

The Times Online (UK) 18 August '09 Carnivorous Nepenthes by Chris Smyth

Nepenthes attenboroughii is so big that small rodents could be trapped inside and dissolved by flesh-eating enzymes. He may be best known for his mellifluous tones and gentle manner, but for one group of botanists Sir David Attenborough clearly conjures up different associations. Explorers who discovered a new species of giant rodent-eating carnivorous plant have named it after the TV naturalist. A previously unknown variety of pitcher plant discovered on a remote mountain in the Philippines, it is so big that small rodents could be trapped inside and slowly dissolved by flesh-eating enzymes. It is thought that only a few hundred of the plants exist, growing only on one mountain on the island of Palawan. The species was discovered by a team of scientists who had heard reports from missionaries who got lost in the dense jungle.

Stewart McPherson, Alastair Robinson and Volker Heinrich decided to name the plant after Sir David as an “expression of gratitude” for his decades of work celebrating the natural world. He has inspired a generation into protecting the world and developing greater understanding diversity of the planet,” Mr McPherson said. “We really wanted to name this particular plant after him as an expression of gratitude. This is a very special one because its so big, there’s really been nothing found like it for a long time.” Sir David told The Times that it was a great honour to have the species named after him. He said that the members of the nepenthes family were “very dramatic plants. I’ve always thought they are remarkable things, very elegant and charming.”

Mr McPherson said it was likely that the new species occasionally digested rats and mice. “It is without a shadow of a doubt big enough,” he said. “I found a species in Borneo with pitchers half the size with dead mice in it.” Nepenthes rajah, the only species of pitcher plant bigger than N. attenboroughii, has been known to digest rodents since the British naturalist Spencer St John was astonished to discover a drowned rat in a specimen in Borneo in 1862. Sir David featured that species in his early TV series Zoo Quest and also The Private Life of Plants in 1995. “I’ve seen them in the wild a bit, mostly in Borneo. They’re lovely things,” he said. The naturalist already has several species named after him, including a spiny anteater in New Guinea, a rare tree in Ecuador and a marine reptile, the Attenborosaurus, that lived during the Jurassic period. But he downplayed the scientific significance of such names. “You have to have names for things and you run out after a bit,” he said. “It’s just a compliment, but it’s very nice to receive compliments." Mr McPherson has spent the past three years cataloguing the 120 known nepenthes species. N. attenboroughii was discovered in 2007 but formally described only this year. Mr McPherson mounted an expedition after hearing about missionaries who tried to climb the mountain on Palawan in 2000 to install a radio relay station. They got lost in the uncharted jungle and had to be flown out after 13 days without food. They reported seeing giant pitcher plants on the mountain and Mr McPherson said he was trying to follow up on that lead. He believes that the expedition discovered about 30 new species, only a few of which have been published.

Paula’s Road Trip: Pat and Don’s Pumpkin Patch Farm Stand, 142 LI Avenue, Yaphank

Oh, YUMMY! … Finally! We now have LOCAL CORN!!

As a rule, we don't procrastinate. How could we? We run a seasonal farm stand. But if you do procrastinate and you've neglected to plant or the deer have eaten everything, don't fret..it's not too late. Stop in and we'll help you pick out something.

The blueberries are in bloom, good thing! Now is the time for plums, peaches and nectarines too. These are the real McCoy...supermarket imitations don't come close,don't bother.(Did we just say "imitation"? We sincerely apologize for our bad attitude. From now on, we pledge to keep our opinions to ourselves.)

Now is also the time for local grown lettuce and veggies. We’ve got radishes, carrots, scallions, broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard, beans and rhubarb, just to name a few. Don’t know what to do with rhubarb? Don’t worry, we’ve got some recipes for you here at the farm stand. And not just for rhubarb. Ask us how to make something!

We’ve also got fresh herbs including basil, parsley, arugula, dill and cilantro. Our resident potter, Jill Fine of glazedOver, has handmade some very charming herb garden stakes that you can purchase to add extra rustic charm to your garden. See you all soon! 631-924-7444 http://pumpkinpatchfarmstand.com/

We Accept Special Orders.
This Is A List Of What We Carry Through Out The Season:
Flowers
Bedding Plants: May To July
Annuals (Over 100 Varieties)
Vegetables (Over 100 Varieties)
Hanging Baskets
Potted Plants (4 ½ “ To 16”)
Local Home Grown Vegetables
Strawberries: May To June
Lettuce: Up To 8 Varieties May To November
Corn: July To October
Tomatoes: August To October
Plum Tomatoes: August To September
Apples: August To November
Peaches: July To October
Fresh Herbs: June To November
Beans: June To October
Summer Squash: June To October
Winter Squash: August To November
Many Other Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Too
Numerous To Mention Are Available From May-Nov
Perennials
A Large Selection Of Full Sun To Shade Plants, Grasses (From May To August) And Mums In The Fall
Potted Herbs
A Full Line Of Medicinal, Ornamental, and Cooking Herbs In Various Size Pots
Local Made Cheeses
Del Fiore’s Fresh Home Made Mozzarella
Catapano’s Fresh Home Made Chevre Goat Cheese
Pies
Harvest Apple, Apple Caramel Walnut, Apple Cranberry, Peach, Peach Blueberry, Peach Praline, Peach Melba, Blueberry, Lemon Blueberry, Very Berry, Blackberry, Red Raspberry, Cherry, Cherry Vanilla, Black Cherry, Apricot Orange Glaze and Strawberry Rhubarb
Condiments To Enhance Food Flavor
Barbecue And Steak Sauce, Chipotle, Salsas,
Pumpkin Patch Salad Dressings, Hot Sauces,
Jams And Jellies And New York State Local Honey. Holey Moses Cheesecakes
Original, Oreo Cookie, Heathbar Crunch, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Marble, Bailey's Irish Cream, Amaretto, White Russian, Blueberry, Key Lime, Pineapple, Raspberry Almond, Strawberry, Cherry, Lemon, and Chocolate and Vanilla Sugar Free
Rocky Point Bread
Delivered Fresh Daily
Yard And Garden Accessories
Statues, Shepherd Hooks, Bird Houses, Planters
Wide Selection Of Frogs And Gnomes, And Painted Slates
Large Selection Of Fall And Halloween Merchandise

Members' Page

Joanna Drake has dig-your-own strawberry plants. Make arrangements with her at 375-8433.

Thanks to Mary Ann Tchinnis: God’s Thoughts on Lawns

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colours by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colourful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANK: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANK: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it -sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANK: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANK: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANK: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANK: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANK: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANK: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST FRANK: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: 'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a movie about....
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

Richard Waldman thinks you should check out the Home Made Simple site that brings you tips, recipes, expert advice, and other solutions for easy living! http://www.homemadesimple.com/en_US/nbrcontent.do?contentType=op&articleId=ar085&subscriber=1

Timely Tips for September

Plant or move broad & narrow-leaved evergreens; soak after planting & mulch.

Now is a good time for fertilize your lawn (see page 5 for more on this subject)

Divide and plant early-blooming perennials, especially overgrown ones.

If your soil hasn’t been tested for pH for 3 years, do it now.

Pot up parsley and chives for fresh herbs throughout the winter.

Compost leaves as they start falling.

Prevent disease next year by cleaning up any infected leaves, twigs, flowers,fruits.

Autumnal Solstice, September 22, 2009, 5:18 PM EDT

"Equal dark, equal light
Flow in Circle, deep insight
Blessed Be, Blessed Be
The transformation of energy!
So it flows, out it goes
Three-fold back it shall be
Blessed Be, Blessed Be
The transformation of energy!"

- Night An'Fey, Transformation of Energy

July Newsletter

2009-07-24T11:29:00.002-04:00

“All the dirt you need to know . . . and a whole lot more!

Guy’s Greetings

And summer at last! We’ve waited a long time for fine weather, and we got it in spades for the 9th Annual Garden Tour. The gardens and their gardeners were terrific and much appreciated by the visitors. The party following the tour was also a great success with plenty of camaraderie, yummy food and drink. And the music was even free.

Many thanks for a job well done to Paula Murphy and her committee: Karen Ferb, Jo Miller, Judy Zuck, Ann Rubbo, Mary Ann Tchinnis, Georgia Dulmovits, Arlene Lamberti, and Susan Toplitz. Thanks also to the garden sitters: Pauline Carleton, Rosalie Coleman, Georgia and John Dulmovits, Arlene Lamberti, Ruth Szuminskyj, Jo Miller, Carol Tvelia, Ann Rubbo, John and Barbara Gustafson, Millie Zimmerman, Barbara Bestafka, and Mark Jeffers. And last but not least, our crew of generous gardeners: Brian and Stephanie Anderson, Gail and Chris Hohwald, Frank Quatrale, and our own Angelo and June Petruccelli and Rocco and Camille Ida.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the meeting at Sandra’s.

Enjoy your summer, Guy

Mark the Date

Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 6:00 PM, general meeting at the home and garden of club member Sandra Franco, 42 Bailey Avenue, Patchogue. Guy Vitale will be hosting the August meeting.

Garden Gazette Page 2

June Meeting in a Flash

Jo Miller introduced our host, Doug Steigerwald, proprietor of Long Island Flower Garden and Designscapes Landscaping on South Country Road, and a co-founder of our club. Doug helped to get the community garden started. Both he and Jo gave us a brief history of its beginnings. Another part of the reason for holding the meeting at this location was so that members could see the evergreen plantings, the remains of an old glass house entwined with wisteria, and the model conservatory room that are at the far end of the property that most people don’t know are there. http://www.liflowergarden.com/

The Plant and Yard Sale proceeds went to this year’s scholarship recipient Cady Bilski . She responded quickly with a nice thank you note.

We were all looking forward to the 9th Annual Garden Tour and party.

Garden Gazette Page 3

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

Irish famine disease hits N.Y. gardens
Bill Cary: wcary@lohud.com

Home gardeners need to be on the lookout for a highly destructive and infectious fungal disease, late blight, that's destroying tomato and potato plants across the state and much of the Northeast--the same disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s….Farmers are blaming the cool, wet June weather.

"This particular bout of late blight is definitely the worst I've ever seen," Algiere said. "And all the other farmers I've talked to are saying the same thing."

The fungus, Phytophthora infestans, is highly contagious because it spreads on airborne spores that can travel for miles.

"It's everywhere," said Dianne Olsen, horticultural educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam, which has a plot in the community garden run by the county parks department. "All of our tomatoes have been lost: totally, completely gone. They die in a week - it's just horrible. Once the leaves turn yellow, they're goners.

"I've heard that those folks who bought tomato seedlings in big-box stores and those giant nurseries are having the biggest problems," she said yesterday. Earlier this month, Bonnie Plants, a plant wholesaler based in Alabama, recalled about $1 million worth of possibly infected tomato plants from the stores it supplies, which include Wal-Mart, Lowe's and The Home Depot. People who grew tomatoes from seed seem to have escaped late blight problems so far, Olsen said.

"Not every variety has been affected in the same way," Algiere said. Some of the older heirloom varieties have shown surprisingly strong resistance to late blight, while newer varieties that he expected to be tougher have gone under.

Late blight symptoms on tomato leaves, stems or fruits are fairly dramatic and easy to spot. Look for nickel- to quarter-sized lesions that are olive-green or brown and look wet. Leaf or lesion edges may appear yellowish. When the lesions dry out, they may appear lime green or beige. The edge of the water-soaked lesion will be covered with white fungal growth that contains the contagious spores.

In potatoes, the disease destroys both the leaves and the edible roots, or tubers, of the potato plant. The Irish Potato Famine was the worst in Europe in the 19th century. About 1 million people died of related diseases and up to 1.5 million more left Ireland.

Petunias are closely related to tomatoes and potatoes and may be infected, too, with similar symptoms. It's important for homeowners with infected plants to destroy them quickly to avoid affecting commercial growers. The best way to stop the spread of late blight would be two weeks of dry weather with temperatures above 80 degrees, Algiere said. "Every time it rains or we have humidity above 50 percent, the incubation process happens quickly."

Those with infected plants can take steps in August to avoid problems next year, Olsen said.
"Cover the area with black plastic and let it bake in the August sun," she said. "This will help kill some of the organisms in the soil that were left over from the tomato plant roots.

"Next year, plant something else other than tomatoes or potatoes in the spot where you grew this year," she said.

Garden Gazette Page 4

Member’s Page

The Evolution of the Garden Gnome
By: Kelly Laffey [Thanks to Susan Toplitz via aol.com]

While gnomes have long adorned the lawns of avid gardeners, their reputation is more kitschy than cool. Can they have a resurgence? The traditional garden gnome is depicted as a tiny, bearded man who dons a colorful hat. According to folklore, gnomes come alive to tend to the gardens when no one is watching. For people who lack a green thumb, gnomes ensure the fertility of the land and vitality of the vegetation. Various sources attribute the first crafted garden gnomes, made by hand from terracotta clay, to ceramicists in Gräfenroda, Germany in the early-1800s. Gnomes spread quickly through Europe. Sir Charles Isham first brought the figurines to Great Britain in the 1840s. One of his original 21, affectionately called Lampy, still guards the gardens of the Isham estate in Northamptonshire. In 1997, Lampy was insured for 1 million pounds (about $1.6 million). Supply shortages during World War II briefly halted gnome production. When manufacturing resumed after the war, gnomes were more frequently made from plastic and resin than the traditional terracotta. More recently, some garden enthusiasts have snubbed the kitschy plastic creatures. The Royal Horticultural Society banned them years ago from the elite Chelsea Garden Show, though one high-profile RHS member managed to sneak her gnome in earlier this year. Although gnomes are still welcome in some gardens, their presence is further compromised by tongue-in-cheek organizations that pledge to free the gnomes from their punishing fates. According to the "Chief Liberator" of one such group, Free the Gnomes, who answered questions by email, "We find that peaceful negotiation is not always effective when facing pure unadulterated belligerent oppression... Many times citizens simply overlook the mistakes of their ways because they have been duped by a society that systemically tolerates and promoted gnome captivity." Uhhh, okay. Another organization, the Gnome Liberation Front, periodically carries out "mass liberations." The police, however, are quick to correct the movement’s choice of words and have arrested many "liberators" on counts of robbery.

"Gnoming," or the traveling gnome prank, involves removing a gnome from its leafy lair, bringing it on a trip, and photographing it in front of various landmarks. The pictures are then sent to the unfortunate gardener, whose prized floral arrangements have undoubtedly suffered in the gnome’s absence. Despite its origins as a garden laborer, today's gnome is also used as a symbol for carefree vacationing. Traveling gnomes have gained international attention as the commercial mascot [photo above left] of Travelocity and the underlying story in the Oscar-nominated film Amélie. With a more cosmopolitan view of the world, gnomes have updated their conventional hobbies of fishing and napping. Today they are commonly depicted pursuing a variety of activities, from sight-seeing to dancing.

Timely Tips for August

Don’t prune or fertilize trees or shrubs now; new growth will not be winter hardy
Continue watering lawns thoroughly once a week during dry spells
Cut out berry canes that have just fruited
Begin planting fall crops: Beans, peas, beets, lettuce, spinach, chard
Perennials that have finished flowering shouldn’t be cut back all the way
Transplant and divide peonies, phlox, and daylilies
Cut and dry flowers that are suitable for winter bouquets
If you have bare lawn spots, spot seed between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15

"In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees, gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down and broke their tender limbs."- Henry David Thoreau

June Newsletter

2009-06-19T06:43:00.006-04:00

See Page 4 for Web site information

“All the dirt you need to know . . . and a whole lot more!

Guy’s Greetings

In the doom and gloom of the weather these past few weeks, Mother Nature, in conjunction with the weatherman, managed to give us a beautiful morning for our “Breakfast in the Garden” last weekend. I want to thank all who attended and brought something to nibble on. We had some very tasty treats to savor, and I don’t think anyone who attended left wanting anything we didn’t have. I also want to thank our historian, Jo Miller, for bringing some club memorabilia to share. It really shows how the Patchogue Garden Club, our garden, our members, and our community have grown over the years. I look forward to seeing everyone at the meeting and at the 9th Annual Garden Tour coming up in July. Guy

Mark the Date

Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 6:00 PM, general meeting at the Long Island Flower Garden (courtesy of Doug Steigerwald, one of the original Patchogue Garden Club members) on South Country Road between Hedges and Orchard Streets. Bring your own chairs. Sandra Franco is hosting the July meeting, and Guy Vitale is hosting the August meeting.
Saturday, July 11, 2009, Patchogue Garden Club’s 9th annual garden tour. Pre-purchase tickets at $13 ($15 on the day of the tour). Gardens open at 10 AM and close at 3:00 PM. For more information, call Paula at 289-0234. The post-tour dinner will be on the same day as the tour at the home of Paula Murphy, 6:00 PM, 125 Smith Street, Patchogue, NY. Sorry, no fireworks this year. Bring your own bottle and an appetizer or dessert (the club provides the protein) and a seat if you want to be assured of having one. There is a performance at the band shell, so parking will be at a premium. It is best to arrive from the east.

Garden Gazette Page 2

May Meeting in a Flash

Carol Tvelia reported that we made $850 at the Plant and Yard Sale to support the Scholarship Fund. Josephine Miller had donated time to the Boys and Girls Club raffle for 2½ years resulting in a $200 donation.
Josephine asked members if anyone was having trouble with their boxwoods. There have been quite a few reports of them suddenly turning brown and dying.
Mary Ann said she has four houses for the Christmas tour on December 13, but would like two additional houses. The houses do not have to be members’ houses, just interesting ones, nicely decorated for the season.
The Memorial Plaque will be moved to the other side of the new barberry shrubs after they are planted. The plaque was loose, so Guy has it for safe keeping.
Caretakers of sections of the Community Garden should discuss what they want to change/plant with Diane from the Design Committee.
Georgia spoke with an elderly gentleman in the Community Garden requesting more benches in the shade. It will be looked into.
Millie Zimmerman opened up her yard to the Garden Club Members to visit on Sunday May 31st between 1PM and 5PM. [Ed. note: It was a lovely day for a change. Millie put out a nice variety of food and drink. Many members came and enjoyed the history of her place and the company.

What? A Paper Birch Resistant to Bronze Birch Borer?

And not only that, but with great stress tolerance too. Introduced by North Dakota State University in Fargo ND, Betula papyrifera ‘Prairie Dream” has been tested for 30 years. With snow-white exfoliating bark it is Zone 3 hardy.

Always wanted a smoketree, but didn’t have enough room?

Now available from Holland is the dwarf smoketree, Cotinus coggygria ‘Young Lady”. It grows only 4-6’ tall and can be ordered from RareFind Nursery, 957 Patterson Rd., Jackson, NJ 08527.

How about a double-flowered gaillardia?
‘Dakota’ stands 15” tall by 18” wide at maturity. Its blooms are yellow with a red throat, and it has the usual gaillardia virtues of long bloom and great drought tolerance. Shown here, Gaillardia grandiflora Dakota ‘Reveille’ is a double-flowering type with trumpet-shaped petals throughout. The tight center buds are lime green with red tips before opening. The trumpets flare out larger as the plant ages. Removing the spent blooms will fuel the flowering performance to continue into early fall. Outstanding cut flower.

Garden Gazette Page 3

Serious Dirt from Paula Murphy [Richard is on leave this month]

Maple-seeded Madness

By Kendra Meinert at greenbaypressgazette.com

Someday I'd like to start a support group for homeowners with old maple trees. I say someday, because as the owner of three of the towering, helicopter-spewing beasts, who has time for support groups? Not this week anyway. But if I did …I'd call it MOA: Maple Owners Anonymous. The fact that you can put an "n'' on the end of MOA and get "moan'' is just a happy coincidence because that's exactly what we do when they start littering the yard with seeds this time of year. Our meetings could be held under the shade of — what else? — a maple tree. But not one of those silver maples that seemingly every homeowner on every street in our neighborhoods planted in the 1950s. No, no — much too messy, not to mention counterproductive. We'd commiserate instead beneath a nice, new, well-behaved variety of maple, perhaps a lovely "Autumn Blaze.' We would be identifiable by the stray helicopter hiding in our hair or sticking out from the hood of our sweatshirt. Fellow members would know better than to laugh, because they've all experienced the embarrassment of being caught out in public with their seeds showing. Sessions would start something like this, "Hi, I'm Kendra. I have three maple trees. I've been cleaning up after them for seven years now.'' Applause.
Rookies would find strength in the resilience of the veterans, like a neighbor who has been raking up seeds for more than a half-century from trees he planted himself for $1.50 each. Members like that would earn a Golden Helicopter Badge, akin to the 10-gallon pins the American Red Cross gives to its blood donors. Mostly what we would do at meetings is openly complain — without apology or guilt — about how something as simple as little yellow seeds the size of our pinky make us hate our yards for about two weeks every year in early June. How they find their way absolutely everywhere — in between the slats in the deck, the cracks in the sidewalk, the shingles of the roof and the rocks of garden borders. How they congregate in the center of hosta leaves and on top of Asiatic lilies. How they plant themselves in pots. How they turn perfectly nice spring garden beds into chaos. How they make a freshly mowed lawn look like somebody shot a confetti cannon over it. How they clog gutters — and then add insult to injury by starting to sprout if we don't get to them soon enough. How they have an uncanny knack for transforming an otherwise clean birdbath into a disgusting bowl of helicopter booyah. Knowing it was a futile effort, we would then engage in a lively exchange of the best ways to clean them up. Don't bother with a broom unless it's a push one. Those suckers are so streamlined that they don't sweep worth a darn. Blowers? Good luck corralling them into something that resembles a pile without blowing your garden beds clean of mulch in the process. Rake? Sure, so long as you've got hours to kill. Shop-Vac? Don't laugh. If we haven't tried it ourselves, we've seen a neighbor do it. At the end of the session, we would open it up for parting thoughts. Things like who could top whom with how many bags of seeds they've hauled so far to the yard waste site, or how we could dream up a way to turn helicopters into an alternative source of energy. Then we'd pat each other on the back as a sign of fellowship, politely point out that stray seed in our fellow MOA member's hair and recite a little prayer that next year is "a good year'' — a relative term in the world of us maple tree owners.

Garden Gazette

Page 4

ROAD TRIP

For more details, see
http://www.nybg.org/edible_garden/?xsc=eml_soe_2008_06_15_evt

GardenGazette Page 5

Timely Tips for July

Young crucifers should be transplanted from the seed bed by mid-month.
Put a summer mulch on roses to conserve soil moisture and control weeds.
Deadhead spent blossoms to promote continuous flowering.
Prune climbing roses after flowering to promote new growth.
Divide and transplant Oriental poppies if necessary.
Mulch shrub and flower borders and beds if not done already.
Sow seeds of English daisy, forget-me-not, and pansy now.
Don’t use lawn weed killer in 75+ heat or damage to ornamentals will result.

May Newsletter

2009-05-26T08:45:00.003-04:00

Guy’s Greetings

I want to thank those members who gave their time to help “Open the Garden”. On Saturday, April 25, 2009, we raked, hoed, clipped, trimmed, swept, dug up, threw out, transplanted, ate, and drank, but most of all we admired the beauty of an awakening garden after its long winters nap. Thank you to Arlene Lamberti for the arrangements for help from Kristyn Poopert and Shannon Epsky of Girl Scout Troop 1232.
A thank you is owed to Carol Tvelia, who once again chaired the plant and yard sale this year, and all the members who donated there time and “stuff”. We made $815.00 this year. Remember, the proceeds from this event go to our Scholarship for a graduating Patchogue-Medford High School senior.
As we prepare for Memorial Day, please take a moment and remember those who gave their all, so we can enjoy the freedoms we have.
It’s finally time to plant, plant, plant!!!

Mark the Date

Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 7:00 PM, general meeting at Hagerman Fire Department, on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale.
Saturday, June 6, 2009, 9:00 AM, Breakfast in the garden. Bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. The club provides bagels, coffee, tea, and fixin’s.
Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, 2009, Neighbors and Gardeners of Bayport and Blue Point will be having a garden tour on the 6th, 1:00-5:00 PM, and a plant sale on the 6th and 7th, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM at 63 Gillette Avenue, Bayport. For more information: P.O. Box 525, Bayport, NY 11705. Get tickets at 472-1898; more info: Maureen at 363-8913 or 806-7640.
Saturday, July 11, 2009, Patchogue Garden Club’s 9th annual garden tour. Pre-purchase tickets at $13 ($15 on the day of the tour). Gardens open at 10 AM and close at 3:00 PM. For more information, call Paula at 289-0234. The post-tour dinner will be on the same day as the tour at the home of Paula Murphy, 6:00 PM, 125 Smith Street, Patchogue, NY. Sorry, no fireworks this year.

April Meeting in a Flash

Lee Ann Sealy representing Natural Gardening the Organic way through Neudorff gave a very informative talk. She also had a variety of products for the members to look at and information to take home. There was a lively question and answer session. The information was much appreciated.

Guy spoke about meeting with Village representatives regarding the feasibility of renovating the Winona Cottage. We still don’t know the answer to if and how the cottage can be utilized.

The Design Committee reported on adding and replacing plants in the Community Garden and on working on getting it named a National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ (see below).

Bring Life to Your Backyard

Invite delightful songbirds and colorful butterflies to your backyard by providing the things that animals need the most -- food, water, shelter and places to raise their families.
Join more than 118,000 folks who have already created havens for wildlife through National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program. You'll get great benefits, too! Get started at http://www.nwf.org/index.cfm
When you certify with your application fee of $20, you'll receive all these great benefits: a personalized certificate that recognizes your NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat™; a free NWF membership which includes a full year's subscription to the award-winning National Wildlife® magazine and 10% off all NWF catalog purchases; a free subscription to the quarterly e-newsletter, Habitats, full of insightful tips and information on gardening and attracting wildlife year after year; and your name listed in NWF's National registry of certified habitats...to recognize all you've done for wildlife. And, once you complete your application, you'll be eligible to purchase the "wildly" popular Certified Wildlife Habitat™ yard sign that shows your commitment to conserving wildlife. All you need to do is provide elements from each of the following areas: food and water sources, places for cover, places to raise young, and sustainable gardening.
Long Island Natives
The use of native plants in landscaping and restoration activities on Long Island are being increasingly encouraged by local government, environmental organizations, and scientists, as the impacts of invasive species and development on biodiversity are understood. The all-volunteer Long Island Native Grass Initiative (LINGI) is one of the efforts to provide native plant material to the public. Species currently available at LINGI’s first annual sale are Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Little Bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium), Big Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardii), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Purple Top (Tridens flavus) and various forbs. The sale is June 12, 13, 26, and 27 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Suffolk Community College Eastern Campus Greenhouse. For more details contact Polly L. Weigand, 757-2315 Ext. 3, or polly.weigand@suffolkcounty.ny.gov .

Soil District Technician & LINGI Coordinator
Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District
423 Griffing Ave. Suite 110
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 727-2315x3
(631) 727-3160 (fax)

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

So You Think YOU Have a Bug Problem?
24 April 2009, Wall Street Journal by JIM CARLTON
TUSCARORA, Nev. -- The residents of this tiny town, anticipating an imminent attack, will be ready with a perimeter defense. They'll position their best weapons at regular intervals, faced out toward the desert to repel the assault. Then they'll turn up the volume. Rock music blaring from boom boxes has proved one of the best defenses against an annual invasion of Mormon crickets. The huge flightless insects are a fearsome sight as they advance across the desert in armies of millions that march over, under or into anything in their way. The 2-inch-long blooded, ravenous insects often carpet the arid landscape in the spring and summer, devouring vegetation and driving residents to distraction.
But the crickets don't much fancy Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones, the townspeople figured out three years ago. So next month, Tuscarorans are preparing once again to get out their extension cords, array their stereos in a quarter-circle and tune them to rock station KHIX, full blast, from dawn to dusk. "It is part of our arsenal," says Laura Moore, an unemployed college professor and one of the town's 13 residents.
They march in columns that in peak years can be two miles long and a mile across, swarms move across the badlands in search of food. Starting in about May, they march through August or so, before stopping to lay eggs for next year and die. In between, they make an awful mess. They destroy crops and lots of the other leafy vegetation. They crawl all over houses, and some get inside. "You'll wake up and there'll be one sitting on your forehead, looking at you," says Ms. Moore. They swarm on roads, where cars turn them into slicks that can cause accidents. So many dead ones piled up on a highway last year that Elko County, Nev., called in snowplows to scrape them off. Squashed and dying crickets give off a sickening smell. "For us, it's mostly the yuck factor," says Ron Arthaud, a painter here.
Many springs, the infestation is negligible. But every few years, far bigger swarms hatch. From 2003 to 2006, armies of crickets went forth. They smothered the county seat, Elko, causing pandemonium as residents fled indoors. Realtor Jim Winer couldn't, because he had to show homes. "I carried a little broom in my car," he says, "and when I got out, I would sweep a path through the bugs to the house."
Every half-century or so, plague like numbers hatch. The critters got their name in the 19th century after a throng of them ravaged the crops of a Mormon settlement. But "I don't think they care about Mormons or Baptists," says Lynn Forsberg, who runs Elko County's public-works program. "I don't think they care about anything."

Including one another. Mormon crickets are programmed to march. Any cricket that falls by the wayside is eaten by others, ensuring that at least some cross the hot, barren stretches well-fed.

Charm to Cricket Menace"Taking the gong and a club, she faced the army of crickets and beat hard." Read the 1934 article from the Elko Free Press.
.
Following an unseasonably warm winter, some in Elko County fear a big crop this year of Mormon crickets, known more precisely as shield-backed katydids, or Anabrus simplex. State entomologist Jeff Knight is using computer models to document when the crickets will hatch, and "once they have hatched, we will start going in and mapping where all the crickets are," he says.

Towns in their path aren't waiting to find out. Elko County officials have stored tons of poison bait, which they'll soon start handing out. Placed properly, it can help. In 2003, which was a bad year, residents organized a bucket brigade to lay poison bait in the countryside, luring many bugs to their doom.

But last year Diana Bunitsky sprinkled the bait too close -- right outside the rural diner she runs, Lone Mountain Station -- and crickets swarmed onto her property to gobble it. Ms. Bunitsky ran outside and sprayed them with a garden hose, "but when I looked back, they had gone around and were all over my walls," she says.

Some people use chalk dust to try to smother crickets. Lori Roa, a job counselor in Elko, swears by Lemon Joy. She sprinkles the detergent over her shrubbery. In Jarbidge, Nev., Rey Nystrom, proprietor of the Jarbidge Trading Post, says a neighbor uses a squirt bottle loaded with soapy water. "But you're squirting one at a time, so it's spitting against the wind, so to speak," he says.

Here in Tuscarora, signs are worrisome this spring. Numerous cricket nymphs in the sandy soil are beginning to wiggle, says Elaine Parks, a local artist.

Tuscarora began as a gold-mining town in the late 19th century, and by 1878 had a population of 5,000. But the ore mostly petered out by 1900, and the town has been dwindling ever since, to its current size of just over a dozen. ("But in summer we get up to 20," says postmaster Julie Parks.)

What to do with all that Rhubarb: Rhubarb Almond Bars

These simple tangy rhubarb bars with an almond shortbread crust have all the sweet-tart flavors of rhubarb pie without the fussiness of pie crust—and you can still serve them topped with ice cream and/or whipped cream. The bars can be made through step 2 up to a day ahead of time.

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 minutes. Makes: 24 bars.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds rhubarb stalks cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
2 cups granulated sugar
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks (8 ounces) frozen unsalted butter
2 large egg yolks
2/3 cup whole unsalted almonds, toasted

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine rhubarb and 1 cup of the sugar in a medium nonreactive saucepan over medium heat, stir to combine, and cook until rhubarb releases some juices, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is soft and just starting to fall apart, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove to a bowl and let cool.
2. Combine flour, remaining 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Grate butter on the large holes of a box grater, add to flour mixture, and rub between your fingertips until ingredients just hold together when squeezed, about 3 minutes. Add yolks and combine until dough forms large, fist-size chunks when squeezed, about 1 minute (the dough will be crumbly). Shape dough into a flat disk, cover in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Heat the oven to 375°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coarsely chop the almonds and set aside.
4. Evenly crumble chilled dough over the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish, then firmly press it into the dish using your fingers or the bottom of a measuring cup. Sprinkle almonds over top and press lightly into the dough. Using a slotted spoon, evenly spread cooled rhubarb over the base. If you have any remaining syrup, pour up to 1/3 cup over the top. Bake until dough is brown and rhubarb mixture is bubbly around the edges, about 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting. –Ed.

“Come Hither, Bumblebee, and Pollinate”

In the New York Times, April 30, Anne Raver wrote about research showing that native species are more attractive to pollinators than non-native species. A thousand different plants were surveyed, only 50 of which were native, but 80% of them attracted pollinators. Of the 950 non-native species, only 10% were. While the European honeybee population has dwindled, there are many other pollinators to take its place, e.g., native bumblebees, large and tiny wasps and flies, beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds, and solitary native bees. Many of our native bees are better than the European honeybee at pollinating because they can vibrate the flower, causing the pollen to fall from the stamens to the stigma where it fertilizes the ovules. The more habitat we provide and desirable species we plant, the more we will attract pollinators and increase their numbers. No one suggests giving up your lavender, catmint, oregano or rosemary; just pack in more natives, perennials such as black-eyed Susans, coneflower, giant hyssop, coreopsis, larkspur, Joe-pye weed, blanketflower, sunflower, lupine, evening primrose, poppy, penstemon, salvia, goldenrod, asters, and sedum. Annuals and biennials to plant include milkweed, cosmos, poppy, mullein, daisy, and verbena. Attractive shrubs include wild roses, blueberries, berry brambles, elderberry, and sumac. –Thanks to Paula Murphy

Timely Tips for June

Remove old flowers, not foliage, from spring-flowering bulbs & perennials.
Prune shrubs that just flowered—weigela, philadelphus, deutzia, etc.
Many shrubs can be propagated from softwood cuttings thru early July.
Sow seeds of fast-growing annuals for late bloom—marigolds, zinnia, cosmos.
Last chance to fertilize trees and shrubs!
Remove faded flowers from rhodies and azaleas.
Establish regular watering schedule for tomatoes to avert blossom-end rot.
Give house and greenhouse plants a vacation outdoors in a shady area.

Thought for Memorial Day

Our battle-fields, safe in the keeping
Of Nature's kind, fostering care,
Are blooming, - our heroes are sleeping, -
And peace broods perennial there.
~John H. Jewett

Our battle-fields, safe in the keeping
Of Nature's kind, fostering care,
Are blooming, - our heroes are sleeping, -
And peace broods perennial there.
~John H. Jewett

April 2009

2009-04-21T05:42:00.011-04:00

The St. Pat's Parade Float

President Guy R. Vitale, Babette Bishop, Charlie & Carol Reitz-Butler

Guy’s Greetings

“April showers bring May flowers”, so the saying goes.
If this is true, don’t be blue: The showers will subside,
The flowers will arrive, and May will take away your blues….By Guy R. Vitale

I‘d like to thank Richard & Babette Bishop, Charlie & Carol Reitz-Butler, Paula Murphy, and Mark Jeffers for their participation in building and marching with our float last Sunday in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It was truly the first beautiful spring day this season. Thanks to Kelleen Guyer and June Petruccelli for cheering us on from the side lines.
I hope to see everyone at our spring garden clean up. Remember, the more the merrier and we’ll get done that much faster.

Mark the Date

Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 7:00 PM, general meeting at Hagerman Fire Department, on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale. Our speaker will be LeeAnn Seeley. She will talk about organic gardening and products.
Saturday, April 25, 2009, opening of the Terry Street garden; rain date Sunday, April 26. Both days begin at 9:00 AM. Bring gloves, tools, and plenty of energy. The club will provide bagels, tea, and coffee to keep you going.
Saturday, May 16, 2009, 9 AM-4 PM, Annual Plant & Yard Sale. Clean out your attic and garage, pot up extra plants, and bring them to the garden with prices attached (Carol has stickers) at 8:00 AM. Workers needed; please contact Carol Tvelia. Rain date is Sunday, May 17, same time, same place.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 10:00 AM, Sayville Garden Club Luncheon and Raffle Boutique. Lands End, 80 Browns River Road, Sayville. Reserve by May 5, $40, payable to the Sayville Garden Club. Send to Pat Osarchuk, 144 Handsome Avenue, Sayville, NY 11782. Speaker: Floral designer Joan Smith.

March Meeting in a Flash

Joy Kaminski, self-proclaimed tree-hugger and proud of it, gave a very interesting and informative talk and slide presentation about the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. The club plans to apply for National Wildlife Habitat Certification from the NWF (nwf.org) for the Community Garden. Sandra Franco talked about HOG, the Hamlet Organic Garden, a Community Supported Agriculture farm located in Brookhaven Hamlet on Beaverdam Road. There are still shares available at the farm for pickup on Monday or Friday and in Bayshore. Visit http://hamletorganicgarden.org/ for details. Members Kathy McMahon, Ellen and Mike Scammon, and Arlene Lamberti all won tickets to the Patchogue Theatre that the club received through its membership in the Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to all the club members who have signed on to care for the Community Garden this season: Fred & Bonnie Bossert, Peg & Frank Densing, Margaret Atkinson, June & Angelo Petruccelli, Babette Bishop, Carol & Charlie Butler, Carla Steward, Bert Voland, Lynn Kane, Sandra Franco, Carol Tvelia, Guy Vitale, Carolyn Savastano, Arlene Lamberti, Jo Miller, Karen Ferb, and John & Georgia Dulmovits.

Danger to Dogs of Cocoa Bean Mulch

If you’ve heard "Don't give your dog, chocolate it will kill him", you're probably wondering if it’s true. Yes, chocolate contains theobromine, toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. Cocoa bean mulch is pretty and smells great, but may have toxic concentrations of theobromine. Home Depot only sells a "cleaned" version of cocoa mulch (look for "pet safe" on any brand you buy; 2 are Mirana and Cocoa Mulch). If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate contact your Vet immediately! They can help you determine the proper treatment for your pet. (Thanks, Guy)

Where’s the Beet?

Is there anyone out there who hasn’t heard the brou-ha-ha over the beet-free White House Garden? First it was Bush and broccoli, now Obama and beets. Our own Sandra Franco disliked beets until she had fresh ones prepared properly from Hamlet Organic Garden last year. Could Sandra be our emissary to the White House to show the prez the tasty nutritional powerhouse he’s missing?

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

Pinching Pennies?

Have you turned over the sofa cushions to look for loose change? As gardeners we know how to stretch a dollar by dividing perennials, but now the Wall Street Journal’s 'Cheapskate' column (April 16, 2009) agrees that growing a vegetable garden could help stretch the family food budget. A study sponsored by Scotts Miracle-Gro found that an average family could spend $70 yearly on seeds and supplies and reap about $600 worth of vegetables. Now that is an impressive return on investment! Of course, missing from the $70 tab is the initial outlay of any fencing, irrigation, soil amendments, etc., and nowhere is there any accounting for labor - how well we know about that! Weeding, insect control, and staying off the lounge chair with a cool drink in the hot summer sun until the garden is tended to are things we know all too well. But once we taste the difference in the vegetables grown in our own back yard compared to some of the wax coated supermarket replicas, we know that growing a garden is more than just a way to save money.

Anne Frank Saplings May be Planted in 10 US Cities

NEW YORK — Saplings from the tree Anne Frank used to measure the seasons while hiding from the Nazis could be planted in 10 cities around the United States. The Anne Frank Center USA wants to plant the trees in 10 U.S. cities to symbolize the growth of tolerance. The saplings would come from an ailing horse chestnut tree in Amsterdam. (New York Times, April 17, 2009)
Amsterdam had to cut down the 170-year-old chestnut tree that Anne Frank mentioned in her diary while she was in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Holland because it was attacked by an aggressive fungus and a leaf miner.

In “The Diary of Anne Frank”, the teenager looks at the tree through an attic window of the apartment, concealed in her father's factory, where she and her family hid from the Germans for more than two years. The factory and apartment where they hid, on the Prinsengracht canal, is preserved as a tribute to Anne Frank and to her book, which has been read by 25 million people worldwide.

"Nearly every morning I go to the attic to blow the stuffy air out of my lungs," Anne wrote on Feb. 23, 1944. "From my favourite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind..."As long as this exists, I thought, and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts I cannot be unhappy."

The tree was in an inner courtyard and one of the few green living things visible at a time when windows had to be blacked out to prevent neighbours seeing people moving through the apartment.

Anne died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, spring, 1945.

Members Pages

Submit your pictures, stories, recipes, or other items of interest. Swap or sell. Whatever.

Peanut Butter Pie from the kitchen of June Petruccelli
15 minutes prep time, serves 8

4 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 package whipped topping mix
½ cup milk (skim or 2%)
1 graham cracker crust (9”)
¼ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Whip cream cheese until light and fluffy, beat in sugar and peanut butter. Prepare whipped topping with milk according to package instructions. Fold topping into peanut butter mixture, taking care not to break down topping. Pour into pie shell, top with chopped nuts. Chill until firm.

(Ed. note: If you are a diehard peanut butter cup fan—okay, I confess—decorate the top of this with chocolate sauce or chocolate curls. You could even chop up peanut butter cups and sprinkle on the top.)

thanks for sending the PGC site......if there is a spot for "old member news", I can report that I have joined the local Saturday New Baltimore Farmers' Market (www.newbaltimorefarmersmarket.com) & the Thursday Selkirk / New Bethlehem Farmers' Market & happily grow & sell herbicide- & pesticide-free veggies, berries, & fresh herbs up here near Albany from spring to fall...was always looking to have a road-side stand, even in Patchogue, but didn't have enough property to grow for sale.....here, all I have to do is remove all the rocks on these mineral-rich 3 acres, incorporate with truck-loads of compost & manure, mulch with hay/straw & I can plant what I want....picked my 1st 105 Red Haven & Belle of Georgia peaches last year & expect more this year, along with assorted plums & pears....specialty varieties are my aim so as to minimize competition at the markets....I miss my friends in Patchogue, but I now have exactly what I have been looking for....Love to all, Lynn G.

See the astonishing work of Frances Pelzman Liscio at http://www.punksandroses.com/. Originally a photographer of punk and country musicians, she has turned her lens towards no less romantic (but much prettier) subjects, photographing carefully-arranged and brilliantly-colored botanical collages. “I photographed the punks as if they were rare botanicals, and I photograph my botanicals as if they were vulnerable icons. What I attempt to underscore in both treatments is the fragile beauty that transcends our mortality—and the mortality that makes such beauty even more precious.” (Thanks to Carol Reitz-Butler)

Timely Tips for May

Plant dahlias, glads, cannas, and daylilies through the end of the month.
All annual flowers can be safely planted outdoors after mid-May.
Fertilize roses every 2-3 weeks and spray weekly with an all-purpose spray.
Stake perennial plants that may be damaged by wind before they’re too tall.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs immediately after blooming.
Apply summer mulches to perennial borders and beds.
Plant tuberous begonias and caladiums out in a shady protected area.
Sow beans, corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cukes, and squash outdoors.

My Mother's Garden
By Alice E. Allen
(Thanks to June Petruccelli)

Her heart is like her garden,
old-fashioned, quaint and sweet,
with here a wreath of blossoms,
and there a still retreat.

Forget-Me-Nots there linger,
to full perfection brought,
and there bloom purple Pansies,
in many a tender thought.

And in the quiet garden-
the garden of her heart-
song birds are always singing
their songs of cheer apart.

And from it floats forever,
o'ercoming sin and strife,
sweet as the breath of roses blown,
the fragrance of her life.

March 2009

2009-03-24T13:54:00.004-04:00

Guy’s Greetings

Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! The Patchogue Garden Club hosted our 6th successful “Think Spring” luncheon. Congratulations and thank you to Georgia Dulmovits, Arlene Lamberti, and all the wonderful members on the committee for your tireless dedication to the luncheon’s success. In our shaky economy you managed make the luncheon grow in both attendees and the beautifully crafted baskets. Again, the accolades have been many, but the success is all yours.
St. Patrick’s Day was Tuesday, March 17th, and Patchogue’s parade is Sunday, March 29th at 1:00 pm. We start on Rider Avenue and finish with corned beef, cabbage, and a beer or two at the BrickHouse Brewery. Let’s show the village what makes the Patchogue Garden Club such a great service organization: our community involvement.
Historically, the average spring temperature in late March is in the mid 50’s, perfect weather for a Sunday stroll down Main Street and to get the blood flowing for another gardening season.

Mark the Date

Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 7:00 PM, general meeting at Hagerman Fire Department, on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale Avenue. The speaker will be Joy Kaminsky from Bayard Cutting Arboretum. The topic will be the history of arboretums, including cemetery arboretums, which will tie in with the idea of creating an arboretum cemetery on West Main Street where the cemetery restoration project is taking place. THIS IS NOT A GARDEN CLUB PROJECT!!!! Some members of the club are advisors.
Sunday, March 29, 1:00 PM, Patchogue St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Rider Ave.
Final dues closing date is March 31.
If anyone is interested in having a summer club meeting in your garden, please contact Paula. This invitation is offered to members' friends as well and does not have to be in Patchogue. Gardens are needed for June, July, and August.
April 4, 3:00-8:00 PM, Hagerman Fire House Spaghetti Supper fundraiser for Michael Vignato. See www.HagermanFD.com for details or call 654-2790 Ext. 200.
Saturday, April 25, 2009, opening of the Terry Street garden; rain date Sunday, April 26. Both days begin at 9:00 AM.

February Meeting in a Flash

Erik Meneses, Asian garden specialist, of Blue Monkey Asian Design and President of Eastern Suffolk Bonsai, made a presentation about bonsai which included a slide show and raffling off of the maple bonsai specimen he demonstrated. Marie Magnano was the happy winner. Eric also brought a beautiful specimen of azalea in flower. For further information about Eastern Suffolk Bonsai, email www.EasternSuffolkBonsai.org or call 363-6490.

Garden Conservancy Open Days: Plan Ahead!
More than 300 gardens participating in the Conservancy’s Open Days program will be open in 2009. You are invited to explore first-hand examples of outstanding design and horticultural practice that are growing in America’s gardens. The 2009 Open Days Directory is now available. The Suffolk County Open Days for May 2 are listed here. For details and directions, other dates, or if you happen to be traveling during the garden season, checks out the other gardens on the schedule at http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/events.pl. For general information about the Conservancy, visit http://www.gardenconservancy.org/.
Abby Jane Brody. 44 Glade Road, East Hampton This is primarily a woodland garden in which the native oaks are the upper story. I am an inveterate plant collector with a special interest in rare or unusual flowering trees and shrubs as well as herbaceous plants. The half-acre site has something in flower, preferably fragrant, almost every day of the year. In early May, the last of the camellias and hellebores may be in bloom, as well as daphne, epimediums, and hundreds of other woodland plants.
Biercuk/Luckey Garden 18 Sayres Path, Wainscott. Our four-season woodland garden under a high oak canopy shelters a collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmia, pieris, understory trees, perennials, bulbs, and tropicals in season. A mostly sunny rear corner contains a pool designed as a pond with a waterfall and is surrounded with plantings which peak mid-July through October. Winding paths and stone walls enhance a sense of depth and elevation change on a mostly flat acre. There is something in bloom every season.
Margaret Kerr. The garden, designed by Kerr, surrounds the house and studios on two acres that extend down to the wetlands of Accabonack Harbor. Kerr’s brick rug sculptures, inspired by tribal Middle Eastern carpets, are placed throughout the garden. One, a brick prayer rug, lies in a contemplative glade below her studio. Kerr collects plants grown in the Middle Ages in a courtyard around a fountain and lily pool highlighted with espaliered pear trees. In the spring, drifts of thousands of daffodils bloom in the fields around the house and are left unmown until late fall. Native grasses and wildflowers make islands of meadow during the summer.
Mrs. Donald J. Bruckmann. This seaside location emphasizes traditional and informal plantings of herbaceous borders, woodland, meadow, and rose gardens. Two ponds are surrounded by iris, asters, and other sun-loving plants. An ocean terrace and adjacent dune combine beach vegetation with bright annuals for an interesting contrast of the cultivated and naturalistic.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

Roberto Burle Marx
At the New York Botanical Garden until April 12th is the Orchid Show featuring an exhibit designed by the landscape designer Raymond Jungles. He has used influences the well-known Brazilian landscape architect, painter, ecologist and naturalist Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994). Jungles met Marx when attending a lecture while a student at the University of Florida; he subsequently made many trips to Brazil to view Marx’ design work. Landscape architects have been influenced by Marx through his many lectures and writings.
Marx was born in Sao Paulo, but it was in Germany as a student of painting that he became interested in Brazil’s native flora while visiting a local botanical garden. When he returned to Brazil in 1930 he began his extensive collection of native plants and two years later had his first commission for a landscape at a private residence. Years later his collection of native plants grew to be housed in a large estate outside of Rio de Janeiro that had been donated to the Brazilian government in 1985. The use of native species within his designs was very important in order to show off each plant’s characteristics. The use of water and pavements is also something that can be found in many of his designs such as in the Copacabana promenade.
If Roberto Burle Marx found influences in his work at a trip to a botanical garden, isn’t it time you venture out to the New York Botanical Garden yourself?

Economics 101
This is the garden club newsletter, not the Wall Street Journal, so I am not about to write about the current state of the economy. But I am reminded of Econ 10, reading about the cost of tulips and the havoc caused in the Netherlands back in the 1600's. A book written in 1841, “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds”, claims that investors in tulip bulbs were ruined in the dramatic rise and fall of bulb prices, with tulip contracts selling for more than ten times the annual income of a skilled craftsman at that time. Historians now disagree with author using with the term 'tulipomania' as it refers to an economic bubble. Tulips were introduced to the Netherlands from the Ottoman Empire in the mid-16th century. Within a short time tulips became status symbols. Previous thinking had the entire population speculating, causing the cost of tulip bulbs to rise. People felt this could last forever and had visions of wealth for all. In 1637 the traders weren’t able to get new buyers willing and able to pay the highly inflated prices, so the demand for tulips fell along with the price, and the bubble burst. Tulip speculators were now asking for aid from the government in declaring that contracts could now be voided by paying a 10% fee. According to the author, those who now held the tulip bulbs were left without any enforcement of their contracts since the judicial courts considered this gambling. Now it is thought that the tulipomaniacs were really just a small group of people, not the entire Netherlands as originally believed. Recent findings show trading in tulips was only by merchants and wealthy craftsmen, making the bubble very limited. During 1636-1637 there was a dramatic rise and fall in the cost of tulip bulbs, but not as dramatic a bubble as originally thought. Since the original book was highly popular and widely cited by other writers and economists (even up till the 1980's) the use of the term 'tulipomania' has remained. What will they say about today’s economic climate years from now? I just hope they keep the plant world out of it!

The 6th Annual “Think Spring” luncheon was a grand success, and a good time was had by all who attended. The Mediterranean Manor, as always, did not disappoint, and in fact was better than ever.

Many club members made donations for the raffle baskets. Those marked with an * were members of the committee who gave generously of their time as well. Those marked with & also participated in the Members’ Art Show, a first for the luncheon and a big hit. Let’s have a round of applause for all of these members!

Special thanks to co-chairs Georgia Dulmovits and Arlene Lamberti for a bang-up job yet again! In no particular order: Margaret Atkinson*, Babette Bishop*, Barbara Bruce*&, Rosalie Coleman&, Sandra Franco, June Petruccelli*, Carolyn Savastano*&, Diane and Bert Voland, Judy Zuck, Jo Miller, Fred and Bonnie Bossert, Peg and Frank Densing, Jim Tooher, Barbara Aragon*, Guy R. Vitale and Mark Jeffers, Joan Delaney, Ann Rubbo*, Marie Magnano*, Carolyn Young*, Ruth Szuminskyj*, Paula Murphy, Millie Zimmerman*, Donna Mujic&, Karen Ferb*&, Violet Mulligan*, Janet Heyer*, Carol Tvelia, Gladys Heimburger*, Joanna Drake, Marita Morello*, Joan Kattau, Mary Ann Tchinnis. Other members of the committee were Barbara Bestafka, Pauline Carleton, Carla Steward, Ellen Brandt, and Joan Tifford. Other members in the Art Show were Kathy Barthman, Carol Reitz-Butler, Kathy McMahon, and Tony Wenderoth. If I left anyone out, please let me know and accept my apologies. Ed.

Many businesses and organizations gave their generous support to our 2009 luncheon. We are ever grateful:

Jim Tooher Three Village Music Bayport Flower Houses
Friends of the Patchogue-Medford Library The Fish Store
Trendsetters Hair and Skin Care Blum’s
Town of Brookhaven Highway Dept. Nino’s Pizza
Long Island Statuary J&R Steak House
Waitress to Go Casino Clam
Fantastic Gardens Country Kitchen Restaurant
New York New Wave Hair Salon The Curry Club
Petite Pets Day Care and Boarding Swiftway Wine & Liquor
Finest Fitness Health and Sports Club The Pilates Studio at Bayport
Signs and Advertising Associate Prime Meat Market
Karl Ehmer Pork Store Advance Auto Parts
Time On My Hands Bissett Nursery
Bobbique Swan Cleaners
King Kullen Grocery Gallo Tropical Restaurant
BrickHouse Brewery and Restaurant The Good Steer Restaurant
Pura Vida Burrito Company Carvel
Panera Bread Painter’s
SunWave Liquors Alchemy Design
Tricia’s Hair Galleria Home Depot
Head Cutters Long Island Flower Garden & Florist
Quench Wine & Spirits Forever Young National Display Garden

Timely Tips for April
Prune forsythia soon after it finishes flowering for next year’s flowers.
Plant trees and shrubs. Plant new roses before growth begins.
The months of March, April and May are ideal for pruning evergreens. Remove all dead, diseased, and undesirable wood. However, do not prune back into the bare wood of the plant.
Plant summer flowering bulbs, but take care to wait until last frost for tender ones.
April is a great time to select and plant fruit trees and berry plants. Fruits and berries do best in full sun.
On Arbor Day, attend a ceremony and plant a tree.

If you ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it…
But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.
~Frank Lloyd Wright
Thanks to Diane Riviello-Voland for the quote.

February 2009

2009-02-19T15:22:00.002-05:00

Guy’s Greetings
It’s February, and the holidays are over! Christmas, the New Year, and Groundhog Day, yes, Groundhog Day! On February 2nd the groundhogs told us we have six more weeks of winter. How can this be? We have seed packets in the stores, our daylight hours are growing longer, and the daffodils have broken ground. Mother Nature has even given us a peek (just a peek) of things to come with 60 degree weather. But the calendar is never wrong; it is still February. For me, when I see robins, I know winter is coming to an end and spring is around the corner.

As we look forward to the renewal of our gardens, our adventures, and our lives, we have to keep in mind how we got here and where we are going. The Patchogue Garden Club has grown over the years and evolved into an organization we can all be proud of. The accolades are many, but the success is yours. Remember our motto, “Come grow with us”. I invite everyone to join a committee, pull a weed, or share a story. But most of all, become involved, and we will become a stronger service organization
Thanks, Guy

Please Note: The policy of the Patchogue Garden Club is to use member contact information only for club business.

Mark the Date
Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 7 PM, general meeting at Hagerman Fire Department. Guest speaker: Erik Meneses of the Eastern Bonsai Society on "The Art of Bonsai". Please bring your luncheon baskets and other contributions to this meeting if you haven’t already done so. You may also drop them at Georgia’s house, 168 E. Lakewood, Patchogue. Reservations will also be taken; bring check for $32 payable to Patchogue Garden Club or cash. Karen Ferb is collecting payment. Please also pay your dues, $15 for an individual, $20 for a family.

Thursday, March 12, 2009, 10:30 AM, annual “Think Spring” speaker, luncheon and raffle. Mediterranean Manor, tickets $32.00 For more information, call Georgia Dulmovits (289-0867) or Arlene Lamberti (289-3667). If you have a dietary problem, please let me know so I can talk with the Manor and get back to you. I wish to thank you all for your help in donating baskets, other prizes, and gift certificates. This year we have 24 members on our committee, and they have been working really hard. Great group! To all our members, thank you for your continued support. I hope to see you at the luncheon and the meeting.
Georgia

January Meeting in a Flash
Our new president, Guy R. Vitale, thanked the outgoing officers for all the hard work during the past year. He is pleased and proud to have been elected to serve.

Club members voted with great community spirit to again participate in the March 29 Patchogue St. Patrick’s Day Parade for which we have won trophies in the past. So far, the members who have signed up are Guy R. Vitale, Mark Jeffers, Diane Riviello-Voland, Sandra Franco, Bonnie and Fred Bossert, JoMiller, Georgia Dulmovits, Carla Steward, Arlene Lamberti, Mary Ann Tchinnis, and Karen Ferb. Join the ranks and end the parade with the corned beef and cabbage at the BrickHouse Brewery and Restaurant on Main Street!

Calendar of Events for 2009:
Annual Think Spring Luncheon, Thursday, March 12, 2009,Opening of the Terry Street garden, 9 AM Saturday, April 25, 2009; rain date Sunday, April 26, 2009 Annual Plant and Yard sale, 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, May 16; rain date, Sunday, May 17, 2009 Breakfast in the Garden, 9 AM, Saturday, June 6, 2009 Annual Garden Tour, Saturday, July 11, 2009, Harvest dinner, 3 PM, Sunday, October 18, 2009, Closing of the Terry Street garden, 9 AM Saturday, November 7, 2009; rain date Sunday, November 8, 2009, Annual Christmas House Tour, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009

Who’s on first? Want to join a committee?
Contact the chairman.Newsletter, Karen Ferb; Web site, Kelleen Guyer & Karen Ferb; Design Committee for the Terry Street garden, Diane Riviello-Voland; Maintenance for the Terry Street Garden, Georgia Dulmovits; History and PR, Josephine Miller; Host/Hostess Committee, Arlene Lamberti; Nominating Committee, rotates yearly; Scholarship Committee, Guy R. Vitale; Membership, June Petruccelli; ‘Think Spring’ Luncheon Committee, co-chairmen Georgia Dulmovits and Arlene Lamberti; Plant and Yard Sale, Carol Tvelia; Breakfast in the Garden, Diane Riviello-Voland; Annual Garden Tour, Paula Murphy; Harvest Dinner, Guy R. Vitale; Christmas House Tour: Mary Ann Tchinnis; Summer Meetings in members’ or their friends’ gardens, please volunteer in advance for June, July, and August to Guy. Sign up at meetings or see the club membership list for contact info.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
Saving ForestsHere on the northeast coast of the United States we have in the last few decades witnessed the disappearance of various tree species (e.g., Eastern Hemlock forests were wiped out by the wooly adelgid insect). Currently U.S. and Canadian researchers have noted trees in the western United States and Canada are dying quicker than in the past 30 years due to the rise in the average temperature in these areas. With an increase of little more than one degree, warmer temperatures are causing forests to be susceptible to attacks by pine beetles and other destructive organisms. Thinner and weaker forests are more vulnerable to wild fires and are stressed with prolonged droughts that hasten their demise. Various tree species at different elevations are dying faster than ever before.

Rather than just reporting on these new discoveries, scientists are now in the process of coming up with land use policies and are suggesting regulations to help forests survive. Reducing development in or near wild forest areas that are prone to fire risk will help these forests survive.

Are You Bats!?!
Ugh! I can't stand 'em. BATS! See? You too! There is something about them that makes you shiver and put your hands on your head and duck for cover. No love lost here. And what do they have to do with gardening, you ask? Just consider how many mosquitoes and other insects swarming in your backyard would increase to if it wasn’t for the bat’s voracious appetite. Along with bees and other beneficial insects, bats aid in the pollination of many plants. But now scientists are discovering that there is a deadly white nose syndrome that has spread in six northeast states (New York included) that has affected the bat population. The fungus that causes this syndrome makes the bat go through its body fat storage before spring while in hibernation, with the result that it leaves to search for food when the insect population is too low. A count of the dead bat population has been estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Researchers are considering a fungicide or a fungus killing bacteria that could spread from bat to bat to counteract this deadly problem. And who would have thought that you might feel sorry for a bat?!?

Right in Our Own Back Yard!
Following six months of research, nominations, and extensive voting by readers of the Long Island Press, Old Westbury Gardens has been named the winner in the Best Public Garden category in the Best of Long Island 2009 program. The garden was also named one of the world’s most beautiful by ForbesTraveler.com, “incredibly beautifully maintained and impeccably manicured”. Plan a visit after the April opening to celebrate their 50th anniversary. See more at http://www.oldwestburygardens.org. Take note too of the astoundingly gorgeous interior.

Members Page. Contribute anything you feel of interest. Want to swap? Want to buy? Want to sell? Share? Giveaway? Carpool? Here’s your soapbox, fire away!
From Betty Baran: The 27th Annual Spring Gardening School of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will be held at Riverhead Middle School on April 4, 2009, Ward Melville High School on April 18, 2009, and Bellport High School on April 25, 2009, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. This day includes your choice of classes from four different sessions, with information for every level of gardener from beginner to advanced. Topics include:• Fundamentals of gardening• Low maintenance shade gardening• Floral design• Home composting• Low-water gardening• Gardening with children• Vegetable gardening• Herbs, dahlias, hydrangeas, bulbs, roses, and many more!

All classes are taught by Master Gardeners and Extension Educators. Included in your fee are free soil pH testing, plant diagnostic clinic, plant sale from some of the finest nurseries, continental breakfast, delicious boxed lunch, and door prizes. The fee is $55 per person; early bird registration is $50 before March 6, 2009. The registration form with a full schedule of classes and their descriptions is available for download at www.cce.cornell.edu/suffolk or contact Caroline Kiang at 631-727-7850, ext. 337 or 345.From Ellen Scammon: Is anyone was interested in playing Mah Jong during the day? Call me at 447-9027 or as emailescammon@yahoo.com.

From Josephine Miller and Paula Murphy, by popular demand, the recipe for the Pine Nut Cookies with Rosemary they baked for the Christmas House Tour Hospitality spread two years running:
Ingredients
• 3 1/2 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted, plus more for topping cookies
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 large egg
• Fine sanding sugar, for sprinkling

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Finely chop rosemary in a food processor. Add pine nuts; pulse until coarsely ground. Transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in 2 cups flour, the baking soda, ginger, and salt; set aside.
2. Put butter and granulated sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in oil. Reduce speed to low. Mix in flour mixture. Add cream; mix until well combined, about 2 minutes. Mix in egg, then remaining 1/4 cup flour.
3. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls, and space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Flatten slightly with fingers, and top each with a pine nut. Sprinkle with sanding sugar.
4. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are golden, about 13 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on sheets on wire racks. Transfer cookies to racks to cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers up to 3 days. They freeze well too.

From Guy R. Vitale:
Two free websites that have great gardening information along with email only coupons are www.homedepot.com/gardenclub and www.learn2grow.com from Lowes. I think this is information worth sharing to get free gardening coupons. We all can all use some help saving money!

Timely Tip
Do you know that February is National Wild Bird Feeding Month? Celebrate by offering up tasty options for your feathered friends. If you're not sure which types of birds will be visiting your yard, your best bets are black-oil sunflower seed and suet, high-calorie energy sources for a variety of species. Cheaperversions contain large percentages of milo and rape seeds that most backyard birds don't like. Buy a somewhat pricier mix that contains plenty of sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn. Birds won't discard as much, your feeder won't empty as quickly, and you'll save money in the long run.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 24, 7:00 p.m., at the Hagerman Fire Department

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."
- Barbara Winkler

PRESS RELEASE - The 27th Annual Spring Gardening School

2009-02-07T09:26:00.002-05:00

The 27th Annual Spring Gardening School of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will be held at Riverhead Middle School on April 4, 2009, Ward Melville High School on April 18, 2009, and Bellport High School on April 25, 2009, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. This day includes your choice of classes from four different sessions, with information for every level of gardener from beginner to advanced. Topics include:

· Fundamentals of gardening
· Low Maintenance Shade gardening
· Floral design
· Home Composting
· Low-water gardening
· Gardening with children
· Vegetable gardening
· Herbs, dahlias, hydrangeas, bulbs, roses, and many more!

All classes are taught by Master Gardeners and Extension Educators. Included in your fee are free soil pH testing, plant diagnostic clinic, plant sale from some of the finest nurseries, continental breakfast, delicious boxed lunch, and door prizes. The fee is $55 per person, early bird registration is $50 before March 6, 2009.
The registration form with a full schedule of classes and their descriptions is available for download at www.cce.cornell.edu/suffolk or contact Caroline Kiang at 631-727-7850, ext. 337 or 345.

Update Before Jan. 09 General Meeting

2009-01-25T13:05:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

1. If anyone has their luncheon basket completed, please bring it to the general meeting Tuesday evening. We will wrap it for you. You can also drop it off at my home... 168 East Lakewood St. Patchogue. Call for more info 289-08672. If anyone has a donation that we can use to put in our baskets it would be appreciated.

2. Karen will be taking reservations for the luncheon at the meeting.

3. Reminder that dues can be paid at that time.... $15 for one....$20 for family. If you can not attend, please send them to Patchogue Garden Club P.O. Box 3030 Patchogue, NY 11772......Before March 31

Many thanks...Georgia

January 2009

2009-01-15T12:43:00.001-05:00

Guy’s Greetings Happy New Year!
I want to take this time to say thank you for your trust in me to be president of the Patchogue Garden Club and to welcome our new board members. They are Diane Voland, 1st Vice President; June Petruccelli, 2nd Vice President; Carol Tvelia, Treasurer; Babette Bishop, Recording Secretary; Carolyn Savastano, Corresponding Secretary; and Maryann Tchinnis, Parliamentarian.

I would be remiss not to thank Jo Miller for her continuing efforts in collecting, organizing, and maintaining the history of the Patchogue Garden Club and Carol Tvelia and her entire board for their guidance for the past two years.

As we look forward to the beginning of a new gardening season, we also look forward to the renewal of our government and the call of service. We are an organization of gardeners, but also of our community. I ask that we all become involved, no matter how small task. We can not do it alone. I look forward to serving the Patchogue Garden Club, but most of all, to bringing service to our community.

Mark the Date
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 7 PM, general meeting at Hagerman Fire Department, on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale Avenue. Please bring your Chinese Auction baskets and other contributions to this meeting. You may also drop them at Georgia Dulmovits’ house, 168 E. Lakewood, Patchogue. Reservations will also be taken; bring check for $32 payable to Patchogue Garden Club or cash. Karen Ferb is collecting payment.

Thursday, March 12, 2009, 10:30 AM, annual “Think Spring” speaker, luncheon and raffle. Mediterranean Manor, tickets $32.00 For more information, call Georgia Dulmovits (289-0867) or Arlene Lamberti (289-3667). If you have a dietary problem, please let me know so I can talk with the Manor and get back to you. I wish to thank you all for your help in donating baskets, other prizes, and gift certificates. This year we have 24 members on our committee, and they worked really hard. Great group! To all our members, thank you for your continued support. I hope to see you at the luncheon and the meeting. Georgia

October Meeting in a Flash
At the October meeting, Dick Richardson spoke very informatively about his hobby, Purple Martins, one of America’s best known and most desired birds. They are treasured for their graceful flight, social antics, gurgling song, and insect-eating habits. Purple Martins are a unique part of our natural history, managed by humans longer than any other species of songbird. They depend on human-supplied housing for nesting. For further information, see the Web site of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, www.purplemartin.org. We have a Purple Martin house, courtesy of the Rothsteins, to put up at the Winona Cottage when the time comes.
Gardening Accomplishments of 2008The gardening season of 2008 was a busy one for our Terry Street Community Garden. Beginning with the opening of the garden on April 26 and ending with the closing on November 1, our members continued to work on completing the garden extension and on making needed repairs to our lighting, missing bench, and shed as well as on maintaining the existing garden. Work on the extension included mulching, metal edging, sod installation, and replacing the shed door with an exterior version as well as performing ongoing maintenance.

Christmas House Tour 2008 Since the last newsletter we had our second Christmas house tour, which was very successful. The Historical Society participated by opening and decorating the Swan River School House, 150 years old in 2008. We have received a lovely acknowledgement from Anita Timm: “Once again the Garden Club has hit a homerun! The Christmas House Tour was wonderful again. The hosts were all so gracious, and each house beautifully and uniquely decorated. It is very exciting hat Patchogue has so many lovely homes and such nice people willing to share with us. I’m looking forward to the spring luncheon and then the summer garden tour. Congratulations on a job well done again, and best wishes for success in all your coming events. Hope you have your yard sale again.” Thanks, Anita!

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
Krulwich on Science by Robert KrulwichWho knew that NASA, charged with looking deep into space, also looks backward at us? For years, NASA satellites have been snapping photos of our oceans, mountains and forests and sharing them with ecologists and biologists.As a result, says ecology professor Nalini Nadkarni of The Evergreen State College in Washington, "Some of the finest forest ecology studies being carried out today are the result of NASA-funded multidisciplinary collaborations." For example, because of NASA, we can calculate roughly how many trees we have on Earth. Trees, both leafy and otherwise, reflect sunshine in very particular patterns, making it possible for satellites to map and computers to count strips of land where trees are. Biologists can then sample those places, assume a tree density, multiply by acre or hectare, and calculate that in 2005 there were ~ 400,246,300,201 trees on our globe. It's a cool question and easy to calculate. Nadkarni looked up the world'shuman population as of Dec. 31 and found that on that day we numbered 6,456,789,877. She figured that the world supports 61 trees per person. When we talked, she was thrilled. "Hooray!" she said, "I get more than one tree!" Apparently, before she'd done the numbers, she had assumed that with people waxing and trees waning, the count would have been slimmer. "I severely hoped that there was more than one tree [per] person," she says, "but I feared and thought that there would be fewer." But when Nadkarni sat down with her husband, Jack, a microbiologist at Evergreen State, to tell him the good news, he was less impressed with the ratio of trees to people. "He looked at me in his quiet, slow sort of way and said, 'Well, you know, I don't know. We use that much in a couple of seasons in our wood stove and the amount of paper that comes off the printer and the lumber that made our home — so maybe it's not so many." This got Nadkarniwondering: How much of our 61-tree allotment does an American use in a lifetime? All of it? Some of it? More than 61? She didn't know. So she asked her graduate students to make a list of tree-based products — and they came up with a list so long, it almost never stops. Here's some of what they found: baseball bats, barrels, books, blocks, benches, crutches, coffee filters, guitars, grocery bags, pencils, pine oil, beds, billboards, buttons, candy wrappers, buttons, chewing gum, cork, crayons, egg cartons, fruit pie filling, kites, linoleum, luggage, paper, pingpong balls, chopsticks, rubber, tambourines, telephone books, tires, toilet paper, turpentine, xylophones and yo-yos. For the moment it is impossible to figure out how much woody stuff is found in our products. It is obvious that Americans gobble up more wood than Indians or Africans, but how much more is hard to say. Still, Nadkarni cautions that thinking about wood consumption is not like thinking about oil consumption. This is not necessarily a sad story. "I don't want people to feel guilty about their relationships with trees. After all, trees are not like oil. They are renewable. If you think we are using up more than our 61-each allotment (and that is her guess, based on the gradual reduction of forest acreage), you can always plant a few more. We may be falling behind in our tree count, but it's not only possible, it's deeply appealing, to go out with seed and shovel and repair the damage.

Road Trip: NYBG The Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern February 28 – April 12, 2009Thousands of brilliantly colored orchids and the lush tropical setting of a contemporary Brazilian garden await visitors to this year’s Orchid Show in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This year’s exhibition, the 7th annual, is designed by noted Miami-based landscape architect Raymond Jungles. In creating the display he has drawn on his years of work with renowned Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. Fountains, pools, and colorful mosaics are combined with graceful palms, delicate orchids, bromeliads, and other native plants of Brazil, which are also highlighted throughout the Conservatory. Stay tuned to http://www.nybg.org/ for details. See also www.raymondjungles.com/ and www.maria-brazil.org/sitio_roberto_burle_marx.htm.

NYBG EducationSpecial Lecture Series American Gardening 2009 The New York Botanical Garden presents its tenth annual Thursday morning lecture series this winter. A wellrounded garden includes diverse plants: native and exotic, woody and herbaceous, temperate and tropical. In this series, accomplished plant breeders, explorers, and horticulturists introduce you to their favorite plants, providing something for every niche in your garden. www.nybg.org or call 718-817-8747.

BBG Winter Classes for Adults Browse the many classes offered for winter and spring by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden at http://www.bbg.org/edu/adult/. You will be amazed at the breadth of the offerings, from urban garden design to painting and pastels to bird watching, bonsai, and botany.Road Trip: Plan Ahead The 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show, “Bella Italia”, is scheduled for March 1 through March 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. See http://www.theflowershow.com/showinfo/index.html for details, tickets, and reservations.

Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening and even the most experienced gardeners can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them." - Vincent A. Simeone

Timely Tips for January
- Rework your garden design and order from catalogs
- Clean and sharpen your tools
- Review last year's journal and start a new one for this year by recording your seed/plant orders- Check your stored bulbs and veggies and start cool season crops
- Check plants for heaving
- Recycle your Christmas tree as garden mulch or a bird feeder
- Feed the birds and provide them with some unfrozen water

October 25 2008

2008-10-25T13:41:00.000-04:00

Greetings from the President
Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Harvest Dinner such a success. We had over 30 attendees and lots of wonderful entrees, desserts, and libations. It was certainly one of our most successful dinners. The Patchogue Beach Club was a perfect location; as we ate we were treated to a beautiful fall sunset. We will be voting for a new executive board at this month's meeting. Thank you to Georgia and Jo Miller for organizing the nominating and election committee.We have received a request from the Patchogue Historical Society to take over the maintenance of the grounds of the Swan River Schoolhouse on Roe Avenue in East Patchogue. We will discuss this at this month's meeting. The warm temperatures have delayed the turning of the leaves and the falling of the leaves, which means many of us will be raking well into December again this year. As long as the layer is not too deep, and if you run them over first with the lawn mower, leaves make a terrific mulch. Just don't pile on the large maple leaves, as they form a heavy layer when wet, slowing decomposition and in extreme cases causing root rot of perennials.
Carol

Mark the Date

Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 7 PM, membership meeting at the Hagerman Fire Department on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale Avenue in East Patchogue. The speaker will be Dick Richardson on purple martins.

Saturday, November 1, 2008 (rain date November 2), 9 AM-?, putting the community garden at South Ocean Ave. and Terry St to bed. Workers needed! Bring gloves, tools, plastic bags and energy! Any amount of time you can give will help. Many hands make light work, so bring friends too! The club will provide bagels and coffee.

Drop off evergreen and berry cuttings for centerpieces for the Christmas House Tour on Nov. 29 and 30 at Karen’s, 270 West Ave. Wednesday, December 3, 10:00 AM, the tour centerpieces will be made at Karen’s. All who wish to participate are welcome. Let Mary Ann know.

Sunday, December 7, 2008, our 2nd Annual Christmas House Tour from 2:00 PM to 6 PM. Please sign up to house sit at this meeting and sell tickets to your friends. Details are in the enclosed flyer.

Plant of the Month:
An Unsung Jewel, O. arboreumOxydendron arboreum, sourwood, is one of our most unappreciated native trees, a deciduous, medium tall tree that grows to heights of 30-60’. It has a slender pyramid form, often with a curved or leaning trunk. The bark is rustybrown and smooth when young, later becoming rough and furrowed. The leaves are simple oblong, up to 10”long that are rich green and glossy on top and held alternately on the stems and, like the sap, have an acid taste. Sourwood is brilliant in fall when the leaves turn red and scarlet and some-times almost purple. In spring and early summer white blossoms are born on long drooping racemes that are 8-10” in length. The small white flowers are about 1/3” long and shaped like urns held upside down along the length of the raceme. The blossoms are fragrant and resemble those of its cousin, the blueberry, another member of the family Ericaceae. At the tip of each branch, several racemes are held in groups called panicles that droop toward the ground and impart a graceful aspect to this fine little tree. Due to the similarity of the flowers and its fragrance, this tree is also commonly called the lily-of-the-valley tree. Sourwood likes fertile, acidic woodland soils but is adaptable; moist, well drained soil is best. It will grow in part shade, but the best fall color requiresmore sun. It is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. Seeds are sown in autumn. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer, treat with rooting hormone powder for best results.
Book Review: “In Defense of Food”By Michael Pollan, this book is a brilliant and thorough expose of the food processing industry which attempts to add “nutrition” to its denatured products and shows how a return to the organic-local-slow food diet of our ancestors can restore real pleasure to eating as well as counter the current rise in obesity, diabetes and heart disease. At the library, so get growing!

Bayshore Garden Club Luncheon
Thursday, December 11, at Southward Ho. Boutique at 10:00 AM, program at 11:00 AM, luncheon to follow talk. The speaker is Jeffrey Miklos (Floral designer from New Jersey). The cost is $42. Choice of Chicken, Beef, Salmon or Veggie. Send reservations to Betty DeNinno, 81 Adelaide Lane, East Islip 11730-2203.

First Patchogue Christmas House Tour in Newsday Look for photos from our last year’s Christmas House Tour in Newsday the day after Thanksgiving. Members, Please Take Note! There will be a meeting on November 25 ONLY if officers are not elected in October because Thanksgiving is on November 28. There will be no newsletters in November or December. The first meeting of 2009 will be January 27 at Hagerman Fire Department. Please pay your dues early, $15 individual, $20 family, to save time for our treasurer. Thanks!

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
You don’t need your trowel, and put down the spade. All the while, unbeknownst to you, you have been planting seeds by just walking. No digging, no aching sore muscles, just with the mud on your shoes. Scientists in England from the Center for Ecology and Hydrology at Wallingford concluded from research that seeds mixed with the mud on your shoes and hiking boots have been dispersed in distances over 5 kilometers although a majority had dropped off within the first 10 to 20 meters (1 meter = 3' 3"). We all know of the typical dispersal of seeds through wind action (just think of dandelions), but now we can understand why some invasive plant species have been relocated to regions unexpected, all due to the soles of our shoes. Grounds for Knowledge is an engaging and knowledgeable guide to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s buildings both historic and new and to the 150 species of trees that surround them. The superb color photography and detailed maps invite exploration of the newly designated Bungtown Botanical Garden. Buildings. Landscapes of nearby lab campuses in Woodbury, Lloyd Harbor, and Cold Spring Harbor are covered as well. Ms. Watson, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, graduated from Radcliffe College and has earned two master’s degrees, one in Historic Preservation, from the Columbia University School of Architecture and Planning (1983) and another in Library and Information Science from the Palmer School of Long Island University (1997). She also holds honorary doctorates from the College of Charleston and Illinois Wesleyan University, where she has lectured on the preservation of historic landscapes. Author of Houses for Science (a centennial history of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1991), she also drafted the nomination papers that led to placement of the laboratory’s main campus (along Bungtown Road) on the National Register of Historic Places, 1994. In addition, she authored A Limner’s View (asailor’s view of world architecture, with “limner” Faith H. McCurdy, 1993) and contributed to The Mansions of Long Island, 1860-1940 (1997). A devoted trustee of the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA), Ms. Watson has also served on the boards of the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and the Heckscher Museum of Art and as a member of the Huntington Historic Preservation Commission. She was appointed in 2001 to the New York State Board for Historic Preservation and currently serves on the boards of the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation and the Archives of American Art. See also Irene Virag’s story about Ms. Watson in the October 12th Newsday at http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/lilife/nylfvirag125877400oct12,0,3759473.column.

NOVEMBER GARDENING TIPS By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor and Dr. Vern Grubinger, ExtensionAssociate Professor, University of VermontYou don't need to watch the nightly weather forecast on your local television station to know that there is a chill in the air. Plants feel it, too, and like people, need to bundle up for the winter. Mulching is one of the best lines of defense for perennial plants against chilling temperatures. Mulching also can prevent the repeated freezing and thawing of soil that causes plants to "heave" out of the ground. But the trick is not to mulch too soon. Mulching needs to be done after the ground starts to freeze but before the first significant snowfall of the year. If you mulch sooner, mice and other rodents may nest in the mulch, and plants may not be completely dormant. In general, the end of November is a good time to apply mulch in Vermont although if an early snowstorm is predicted, you may want to apply mulch before it hits. You can use pine needles, straw, leaves, or shredded bark. Straw is the best mulch because it is hollow and that provides good insulation. If you use leaves, make sure they are finely chopped to prevent them from matting down. Apply a layer at least three to four inches thick around each plant. After you've laid it down, gently pull it away from the trunks and stems to give plants room to breathe. This helps prevent disease problems. Deeper mulching may benecessary in especially cold or windy sites. To protect evergreens from cold, biting winter winds, build a windbreak. Place posts in the ground on the sides most prone to seasonal winds (usually north and west), and wrap with old feed sacks or burlap. Avoid plastic as this will heat up, causing the plants to burn on sunny days. Winter sun can scald newly planted trees. Protect them by wrapping the trunks with special tree wrapping tape, which you can buy at most garden centers. Add four to six inches of shredded bark, wood chips, or leaves around the base of the tree. After applying, gently pull mulch away from the base. Wrapping also provides some protection against hungry mice. In the garden, there's still time to finish fall clean up, removing stakes, string, and plastic as well as fibrous vines and stems and rotting vegetables. This is also a good time to have your soil tested, so you'll be all set to go next spring. Soil test kits, with complete instructions for sampling soil, are available from the [Cornell Cooperative Extension] The basic test costs $15 for 1-4 samples. See http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:cauxFdNi7ygJ:www.cce.cornell.edu/suffolk/grownet/diagnosticforms/soiltest.pdf+cornell+cooperative+extension+bayard+cutting&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us for details. Late fall is not a good time to add fertilizer to the garden. That's because nutrients would be lost through leaching or erosion before plants can use them next spring. However, you could get your composted manure delivered for next season. Be sure to cover it with plastic to keep nutrients from leaching out over the winter. Like ornamental plants, strawberries benefit from mulch protection, especially when snow cover is shallow or nonexistent during winter. Clean straw is superior to hay as mulch because it doesn't add weed seeds to the garden. Apply three to five inches after a hard frost and the strawberry leaves are lying flat on the ground, usually mid to late November, to protect crowns and roots against cold injury and drying out.

Slate of Candidates for Officers of the Patchogue Garden Club
2009 President: Guy Vitale Unopposed
First Vice President: Diane Voland Unopposed
Second Vice President: Sandra Franco or June Petruccelli
Recording Secretary: Babette Bishop Unopposed
Corresponding Secretary: Carolyn Savastano Unopposed
Treasurer: Carol Tvelia Unopposed
Parliamentarian: Mary Ann Tchinnis Unopposed
Anyone who cannot attend the meeting may designate a proxy.
Please notify Jo Miller of your proxy before the meeting.
Patchogue Garden Club
P.O. Box 3030,
Patchogue, NY 11772-0887
“Come grow with us” Founded 1996

September 2008

2008-09-20T18:14:00.004-04:00

Greetings from the President

Dear Garden Club Members,

I hope your gardens survived last week’s terrible weather; I lost several large black walnut tree branches, but luckily they avoided the house. It will soon be time to plant bulbs for spring color. Mine arrived yesterday, so I will be busy this weekend.

This month’s meeting will be a “roundtable” discussion led by all the members. As discussed at the July meeting, we will share our gardening tips, questions, and stories at this month’s meeting. Bring your questions and your best ideas on the topic of “Putting the garden to bed” or any other question you may have. Who knows Mary Ann, you may finally find out how to prune your hydrangeas! We will sit in a circle, or several, if we have a large turnout, and share the combined wisdom and knowledge of the club. Jo Miller will be the facilitator.

We have been invited to attend the Bellport Garden Club’s meeting on October 14 at 7:30pm at the Bellport Library. The speaker will be Karl Auwaerter from Bayport Flower Houses. He will be speaking on “New Trends in Container Gardening”.

There is also a members’ photography exhibit. Congratulations to Carolyn Savastano, who won two tickets to the Patchogue Theater’s Chamber Concert this Sunday. Thanks to all who entered.

- Carol

Mark the Date

Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 6 PM, at the Hagerman Fire Department, located on the corner of Dunton Avenue and Oakdale Avenue in East Patchogue approximately five traffic lights past the intersection of South Country Road and Montauk Hwy. Directions from the village: Go east on Montauk Hwy. to Dunton Ave., turn right, cross the railroad tracks, and make an immediate left. The fire house is on the right. Enter the first driveway, park in the rear of the building, and enter through the visitor’s entrance in the rear. The meeting room is on the right side of the
hallway.

Tuesday, October 14, 7:30 PM, at the Bellport Library, a special invitation to the Bellport Garden Club’s meeting. The library is located on Station Road in Bellport Village, just north of the intersection of Station Road and South Country Road. It shares the site with the HSBC Bank and the Bellport Post Office

Plant of the Month: Asters
Asters are not immune from taxonimists’ who love to split genera, seeing every difference as an imperative to create a new genus. The “splitters” are relocating practically every species of Aster into unpronounceables like Symphorotrichum, Doellingeria, Ionactis, Oreostemma, and others. This will not diminish our love for asters, a mainstay of the late summer and fall garden.

The numerous cultivars of New York aster, A. Novi-belgii, and New England aster, A. Novi-angliae, include dwarf to 8’ speciments with single to double flowers in red, pink, and white as well as the blue-lavender-purple range.

Uncommon native asters are also available. The prairie aster, A. turbinellis, is a 3’ plant with large violet flowers. The climbing aster, A. carolinianus, sports pinky-lavender flowers with gold centers on 10-12’ stems. The wood aster, A. divaricatus, is a great choice for a shady spot, growing to 18” with star-like white flowers with a gold center that are very attractive to butterflies. One of the latest flowering, hardiest, choicest asters is A. oblongifolia, 2-4’ depending on the cultivar with blue to purple gold-centered flowers. A. ericoides, the heath aster, has small, narrow light green leaves with white or blue flowers depending on the cultivar. A. laevis ‘Bluebird’ presents blue-green foliage and violet-blue flowers on 3’ plants. All of these are hardy here.

Cornell Cure for Mildew
Many rose growers are using a formula developed by Cornell University to control powdery mildew and blackspot. The formula is also effective for a strain of mildew fungus that attacks crape myrtles; it is so effective that it not only kills the mildew outright, it never comes back in the same season. Chances are, this formula would be effective for any plant with powdery mildew, but, as always with an unproven formula, test a small portion of plant before committing to the whole specimen. Here’s the formula:

In one gallon of water, mix 2 tablespoons of light horticultural oil (such as Sunspray), 1 tablespoon of a mild liquid dishwashing detergent (such as Palmolive), 1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda. Mix well and spray with a pump sprayer late in the evening when the sun is not on the foliage. Spray both sides of the leaves and all the wood to the point of runoff.

Warning on Glyphosate Use
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in herbicides such as RoundUp, is often combined with surfactants (wetting agents) that can increase injury to trees and shrubs. The main damage is bark splitting, which is usually blamed on cold weather. Research shows this kind of injury occurs on black gum, crabapple, dogwood, hawthorn maple, mountain ash, magnolia, and numerous speciis of Prunus and Pyrus. Other injuries include stunting, dead branches, witch’s brooms, and chlorisis. It is advisable to leave a 30’ buffer between the weeds you are spraying and woody plants and not to spray too frequently.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing planted more than 40 million potted flowers around Olympic venues and city streets, including special “heat-resistant” strains capable of withstanding the Chinese capital’s baking summer temperatures.

The flowers also graced hotels and the Olympic Village and decorated the vast concrete expanse of Tiananmen Square in the heart of the city, Xinhua news agency said, citing Beijing forestry officials.

“July and August are usually a hard time for flowers,” the agency quoted Wang Sumei, vice-director of the Beijing Landscape Forestation Bureau, as saying. “We picked up over 20 kinds of heat-resistant flowers from more than 500 species of seasonable flowers to decorate the city, including chrysanthemum and salvia,” Mr. Wang said.

Beijing planted millions of plants and rosebushes to cover some 21,943 acres since 2000, as part of its commitment to hold a “green Olympics,” Xinhua said. In the past seven years, Beijing planted 22.7 million trees, 46.5 million square meters of lawn, and expanded the city’s green spaces from 36 percent to 43 percent, Wang said.

While welcomed by residents, Beijing’s planting of thousands of acres of lawn and trees has been criticized by some environmentalists who say the city of more than 16 million people can ill afford to divert scarce water reserves for their upkeep. A report by Canada-based conservation group Probe International warned that Beijing’s Olympic beautification was depleting already strained underground water supplies.

Timely Tips for October

Set out strawberries during fall rains for fruit next June. If planted in spring, plants won't bear well until the following year.

Refrigerate, can, or freeze ripe tomatoes. Wrap green tomatoes or hang the entire plants (with unpicked fruit) upside down. Alternatively these can be stored in a brown paper bag in a cool dark area. By mid-October, or if frost is predicted, pick all tomatoes whether they are ripe or not. Process basil with olive oil and freeze for winter use; freeze in ziplock bags and break off what you need.

October is the best month to transplant perennials. Enrich beds with organic soil amendment.

Be ready to plant when those spring bulbs arrive!

August 2008

2008-08-15T16:29:00.001-04:00

Greetings from the President

August has been relatively nice to us this year. Not too hot, very few hazy, hot, humid days, and lots of sun and rain when we needed it. If you were diligent in cutting back your mums during June and July, you should just be seeing bushes full of buds and maybe even a few peeking open. If you have a vegetable garden, don’t forget to put in a fall crop of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and other winter vegetables.

If your lawn is looking a little scraggly, now is the time to re-seed, patch bare spots, or start all over if it’s really bad. Hold off on the fertilizer until the end of September. If you haven’t put lime down in a while, consider adding some to sweeten your soil. Check out the nursery catalogs for spring bulbs to brighten up your home next April. Don’t overlook the garden centers for bargains on out of bloom perennials which will look terrific next year.

Paula will be presenting a comprehensive budget at this month’s meeting at Guy’s house. This will be our last meeting at a member’s garden. Next month we will return to the Hagerman Fire House at 7:00 PM. We will also be asking for volunteers to serve as a nominating committee for next year’s slate of officers. Nominations will be taken at September’s meeting, and voting will take place in October. Enjoy the fine weather and the waning days of summer.
- Carol

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens

But remember: Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. ~Sicilian Proverb

Mark the Date Tuesday, June 26, 2008, 6 PM, in the wonderful garden of Guy Vitale and Mark Jeffers, 36 Grove Avenue, E. Patchogue, just off Main St., the first house south of the LIRR tracks on the west side of the street.

Flowerpot's Spontaneous Combustion Blamed For Fire!
AP: Fire Chief John Maczko said a fire that destroyed a Mendota Heights home last week was caused by a flowerpot on the home's deck that spontaneously combusted. While rare, spontaneous combustion can happen with the right mixture of soil, moisture, and heat. Investigators said the soil was in a plastic pot that had become hot after several days of high temperatures and humidity. [Thanks, Guy—Beware! Ed.)

Like most gardeners, I am always in search of more effective ways to control weeds in my garden. I've relied on basic gardening practices such as not disturbing the soil and keeping the soil covered with 2-4 inches of mulch (usually free from a local tree service). I've also used seaweed very effectively as a mulch. When weeds do emerge, I hand pull and now suffer from painful thumb joints, a condition which I have named "weeder’s thumb". There are several products now available that claim to control weeds. The two types are pre-emergent (prevents seeds from germinating), and post-emergent (kills actively growing plants). Preen, a pre-emergent synthetic, is familiar to most of us; my use of it has been minimally successful, but I have heard other gardeners swear by it. It did prevent my hollyhock seeds from germinating. Corn gluten is a pre-emergent control that has been touted by organic gardeners. I used it once, found that it attracted flies, and removed most of it. Recently some post-emergent products have been attracting the attention of gardeners, e.g., vinegar, but household vinegar is only 5-6% acetic acid, and mixed results have been reported. Mixing dish soap with the vinegar, clipping the leaves from the weeds, and directing the spray directly into the soil and to the roots may be more effective. Sounds like more work than hand pulling! There are vinegar products on the market which contain 20% acetic acid plus clove oil. However, this concentration of acetic acid may be dangerous to use, causing, for example, skin irritation, burns, and respiratory problems. The Safer brand is marketing a weed and grass killer with the active ingredient
fatty acid salts. I have used this product with mixed results. It seems to be effective on crab grass and some smaller weeds. Whether it kills down to the root or just top growth remains to be seen. I have been able to find it in a ready-to-use spray, but not in concentrated form; thus, it is expensive to use. On line, I have come across a product, "Nature's Avenger Organic Herbicide”, a ready-to-use spray or a concentrate with active ingredient natural citrus oil (17.55 d-limonene) that strips the waxy coating from leaves causing dehydration and death. It is not clear whether it kills root or only top growth. Most of us are familiar Roundup or other glyphosate-based herbicides absorbed through leaves that gum up enzyme (EPSP synthase) production so that plants cannot produce the proteins necessary for growth. Plants die between 7 and 14 days after application, depending on weather. I have found when it is hot and dry weeds disappear more quickly. Monsanto, the manufacturer, claims it remains active in the soil for only a short time and has minimal negative impact on the environment, but several environmental groups are challenging this. [Thanks to Jo Miller for her contribution—Ed.]

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman

Did You Know? Tobacco Can Now Save Lives!
For centuries now, medicines have been found within the plant world. Now through modern science, a genetically modified tobacco plant can help save lives. Surely not by smoking it but by detecting the location of land mines. The tobacco plant will have its leaves turn red when it is in contact with nitrogen oxide that leaks from the land mine (in a 10 week period of time). The United Nations and other organizations engaged in clearing the fields where land mines have been buried are looking into the scientific findings with much interest. They estimate that there are close to 80 million (yes, million) mines buried in locations that cover about 120,000 square miles. Engineers right now are still needed to physically remove the land mines but now the much maligned tobacco plant has a good use for mankind. Listen to the NPR story at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93555918. Upon hearing the name, Bette Midler, you might think of the performer known for her singing, acting, or even her outrageous stage act. But now you might wonder, what does this have to do with gardening? The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) was founded in 1995 by none other than Bette Midler when she made New York her home base and started to notice many parks and open spaces that were neglected, trash strewn about, and clearly forgotten. The NY Restoration Project teams up with other private community-based groups and public agencies to bring parks back to use and to make community gardens green once again. Education is also a key element to this organization’s goals, with over 10,000 children given the recreational opportunities that were not there prior to its involvement. In 2002 Bette Midler was given the Governors Award for Parks and Preservation along with many other honors bestowed upon her since the inception of the NY Restoration Project. Besides having a wonderful singing voice, she has also lent her voice to gardening that we too hold dear. http://www.nyrp.org/.

On my usual drive to work I recently noticed a bare maple tree branch hanging low over the road without any leaves and looking quite heavy. As I kept driving my thoughts went from being glad the branch had not snapped off with dire consequences and then to thoughts of whom I should contact before an accident does occur. And then a few days later by chance, there in the local free weekly paper is an article by Maria Cinque with the headline, 'Reporting Dangerous Trees'. She mentions that it is a homeowner’s responsibility if the tree is on your property but otherwise it is under the jurisdiction of the state or county for the pruning or necessary removal. But it is our responsibility as concerned citizens to report a potential dangerous tree. Keep these phone numbers handy: For State roads: NYS Dept. of Transportation Maintenance: 631-952-6702. For County Roads in Suffolk County: Division of Highway Maintenance: 631-852-4075. If there are trees caught in electric lines, you should contact the Long Island Power Authority at 800-490-0075. In Patchogue Village, call Village Hall directly at 475-4847 and use the new "phone tree" to be connected to the Building & Housing Dept.; hazard trees are under their jurisdiction.

Timely Tips for September
Plants and trees that provide color in the month of September include beautyberry, crape myrtles, cotoneaster, viburnums, hypericum, hydrangeas, potentilla, pyracantha, and burning bush are a few. Look for them at local sales.

Do not prune azaleas, rhododendrons, or other spring flowering shrubs because they have already set their buds for next year's blooms. If you feel these shrubs do need to be pruned, you can prune them now, but be aware you will sacrifice next spring’s flowers.

Time to continue with fall crops. You can still seed beets, radishes, turnips, and leaf lettuce.

July 2008

2008-07-21T14:18:00.004-04:00

Greetings from the President
Dear Garden Club Members,
Congratulations to Paula Murphy and her entire committee for a successful eighth annual garden tour. The selected gardens showcased a variety of gardening “microclimates”beach, shade, sun, and sun/shade. The gardens were as varied as theirowners. It was hard not to come away without coveting yet another plant, ornament,or perhaps a total re-do of a small part of your own garden.Thank you also to Carolyn Young for again having an Open Garden tour for hermagnificent daylilies.Water, water, water seems to be the mantra of the past few weeks. Although therewere many thunderstorms and downpours all around us in the past two weeks,especially to the north and west, our marine climate conditions have keep all rainaway from the Patchogue area. This is very reminiscent of last year’s summerweather. Remember to water early in the day, longer, deeper watering is muchmore efficient and beneficial, than daily short bursts. Three to four inches of mulchwill conserve water, and keep down the weeds. Do not mound your mulch aroundyour tree trunks, as you often see in homes/commercial spaces that are“professionally” maintained. You will eventually smother your trees and they will startto experience dieback. You should keep a large circle around the base of your treemulch free and be sure the dirt does not surround the root collar.
Enjoy your summer,
Carol

Mark the Date
Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 6 PM, in the lovely garden of June and Angelo Petrucelli, 111Monroe Ave., Patchogue, 730-1091. Take North or South OceanAvenue to Roe Blvd. and turn west. Turn north onto Monroe. Jennings is the street before Monroe. Bring a chair if you want a guaranteed place to sit.

Plant of the Month and Book Review:
Viburnum
The viburnums are a versatile, diverse—around 150 species-- and adaptablegenus exhibiting fine forms, sweet scents, and beautiful fruits attractive tobirds. There is scarcely a garden that couldn’t use one or more of thesevaluable pest- and disease resistant shrubs, some of which are native. Dr.Michael Dirr, a distinguished woody plant authority, has written “Viburnums:Flowering Shrubs for Every Season”, Timber Press, 2007, $39.95, but as lowas $23.98 at Amazon, or browse for free via Patchogue-Medford LibraryInterlibrary Loan.Viburnums adapt well to most soil conditions and light exposures, but ideallyprefer well-drained acid soil and full to part sun. They tolerate pruning well.They are versatile in many landscapes, so can be used in formal or informalhedges, screens, and barriers as well as in foundation and mass plantings.These lovely shrubs range in size from about three (the fragrant V. carlesii‘Compacta’, dwarf Korean spicebush) to twenty feet (V. sieboldii, sieboldviburnum).Many have outstanding fall color, all have large, beautiful flowers, and thefruits are dark or brilliant blue, yellow, or red in late summer to early fall.

Recipe of the Month:
Fruit Kebobs
2 bananas
8 strawberries
1 apple
8 pineapple chunks
1 orange
1 cup plain, vanilla, or fruit yogurt
1 cup seedless grapes
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Vary the fruit according to what is best in season—think peaches, nectarines,plums, pears, kiwi, raspberries, etc. Cut the fruit into bite-sized chunks. Mix yogurt with honey and cinnamon. Thread fruit chunks onto eight woodenskewers, alternating with different types of fruit. Enjoy your creations dipped incinnamon-honey yogurt. For an extra sweet treat, brush skewers with yogurtdip and roll in your favorite granola.

Serious Dirt from Richard Waldman
A WAY TO GARDEN (DOT COM) blog and Q&A forum is the latest horticulturalincarnation of Margaret Roach, whose life list also includes stints as gardeneditor at Newsday in New York, one of the country’s largest daily newspapers;and Martha Stewart Living, where she was the magazine’s first garden editorand until 2008 editorial director of all of the company’s content: magazines,books, and Internet. She recently retired (at a very young age, thank you) to her2.3-acre garden in a Zone 5B area of New York State, which was the subject ofher book “A Way to Garden” (named best garden book of the year in 1998 bythe Garden Writers Association of America and now a collector’s item). Thegarden has been open for ten years for tours as part of the national Open Daysvisiting scheme of the Garden Conservancy; check their site for upcomingdates. Want to know more about her and her relationship with both sides of thegardening equation, the hands-on and the touchy-feely? Check outhttp://awaytogarden.com/.

Read what Anne Raver said about Margaret’s country dream and blog in theNew York Times, June 19, 2008 athttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/garden/19garden.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&sq=raver%20roach&st=nyt&scp=1&oref=slogin

8th Annual Garden Tour Volunteers
A BIG THANK YOU FROM PAULA and the CLUB!
Arlene Lamberti, Georgia Dulmovits, John Dulmovits, Pauline Carlton, Carolyn Savastano, Guy Vitale, Karen Ferb, Anne Rubbo, Violet Mulligan, Mark Jeffers, Millie Zimmerman, Marie Magnano, Barbara Aragon, Carol Tvelia, Susan Scala, Jo Miller, Sandra Franco.

THANK YOU, PAULA!

MUCH APPRECIATED FAN MAIL
It was with great pleasure that I received the notice for this year’s Garden Tour. I’m looking forward to it so much.The past tours have been wonderful. There is something to be learned and admired at each one, and the hostswere all so helpful and hospitable.The Garden Club is to be commended for all its fine works. It has added so much to the community (and in such ashort time). Patchogue is very fortunate to have such a wonderful and active Garden Club.The Spring Luncheon is a great way to start off the season. We look forward to it each March. The baskets are so beautifully put together. Your members (and donors) do a fantastic job, which I know involves an enormous amountof work.The Christmas House Tour was another lovely event. Each home had such gracious hosts and festive, warmdecorations. I hope that it will become an annual event.Keep up your great work, please, and thank you for all you contribute to make our environment so much nicer.The gardens at the Terry Street parking area is so very beautiful and should serve as a model for other villages thatare interested in making their public parking areas attractive.Long live the Patchogue Garden Club and its dedicated members!
Sincerely,
Anita Tim

Timely Tips for August Water plants:
take advantage of cool morning hours, use daytime shade, usemulch, water plants deeply and less frequently. Manage cutworms, larva, grasshoppers, mosquitoes and other garden pests. Deadhead, deadhead, deadhead!!! Weed, weed, weed!!! (Same old story)Harvest and preserve extra fruits and vegetables. Read, listen to music, practice your musical instrument, relax, sleep in theshade, or whatever comes naturally during the dog days of August.