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.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
January Newsletter
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
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
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Christmas "Homes for the Holidays" Postponed
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
May your holidays bring you much joy, The Patchogue Garden Club
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
October Newsletter
Pix from the 2009 Harvest Dinner at the Patchogue Beach ClubGuy’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
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.
Friday, September 18, 2009
September Newsletter
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
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
August Newsletter
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
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
Friday, July 24, 2009
July Newsletter
“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
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
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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
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