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
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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
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
Thursday, June 23, 2011
11th ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR
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
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Plant and Yard Sale
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
Greetings from the President
Hello Members,
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
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 DateMay 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
Saturday, April 23, 2011
ST. PADDY'S DAY PARADE!
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
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:
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
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