RAVES

Mary Immaculate Parish Community

Shout out to the Mary Immaculate Parish Community in East Bethany for the delicious chicken BBQ Sunday, 5/21. The service from volunteers there is always so welcoming. It is great to see a supportive community come together. Thank you!

It’s the little things that brighten my day I love when I see people hold a door open for a stranger, pick up something a passerby dropped, or simply smile at each other. This life is hard enough without people ignoring each other and living in their own little worlds. I love seeing humanity shining on each other.

Thanks to the Avon Garden Club

Every year the members of this club do an amazing job planning, planting and weeding the gardens in and around our downtown and Circle Park. Much gratitude to those who give of their time and talents to make our town a more beautiful place.

I am a senior citizen with multiple health concerns and find it difficult to walk great distances. I rarely shop the big box stores because it is too difficult. I purchased a patio chair online with the option for curbside pick up. I checked in upon notification of readiness and was assigned a pick up slot. When I got to the store, the slot was not there and neither was a clerk. I do not text nor do I do apps so I was out of luck in getting help. I ended up having to walk into the store to get help which also was not available. PLEASE…could some consideration be given to us! Many of us still live in our homes and are consumers, but we choose not to text or to have smart phones. Yet we need help in accessing purchases. I told the kind clerk who did finally help me to pass on this message. Will it make a difference? I hope so but doubt it. - A senior who was quite frustrated!

Walking in the Woods

From one dog walker to another… I bet you love taking your dog for walks on trails around town as much as I do. Have you noticed all the lovely trillium, trout lilies, and may apple popping up this spring? Have you also noticed the brightly colored bags of dog poop dropped along our trails? Did you leave one, thinking you’d grab it on your way back? I hope you remember to do that, but even so, I’d rather not see it on my walk in the woods. Please carry it with you. I do and it’s no big deal. Thanks and see you on the trail!

Wasted Water

Our water supply is being threatened, especially in the west. Recently traveling and going through airport security, as usual, I had a half used bottle of water and had to discard it in order to pass through security. What a waste. There must be some way to reclaim this precious resource and not just at airports.

It Pays To Use Crates When Training Puppies

Many dog owners, particularly those who have never before had a dog, may hesitate to employ crates to train their puppies. That’s understandable, as on the surface it can seem cruel or inhumane to confine a living animal to a cage. However, the AKC notes that dogs are den animals that naturally seek out canine caves for security. That’s true whether dog owners provide crates for their puppies or not. So while humans may see crates as cruel, dogs very likely view their crates as secure places where they can go if they get scared or feel skittish. In fact, according to the AKC, dogs’ perception of crates is one reason why dog owners typically find it relatively easy to get their dogs to adjust to crates and ultimately enjoy them.

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Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.

~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

What can I do to guarantee my perennials come back in the spring? For example, my lavender didn’t make it through this past winter. I planted last May and it had good blooms.

When it comes to gardening, guaranteeing anything can be risky business. There are just so many variables to consider. We can, however,doourresearchandincrease ourchancesof success.

When planting perennials, such as lavender, one of the first things to check includes hardiness of the particular variety or cultivar you are planting. Lavender originated in the

Mediterranean regions and prefers fullsun,dryair,andwell-drainedsoil. It does not require a lot of fertilizer. Sandyorgravellysoilwilldojustfine. Therootsneedtobreathe.

There are a number of different cultivars to choose from available from commercial nurseries. French lavender and Spanish varieties are not hardy in most of the Northeast (e.g. French lavender – zone 7-9). There are, however, a few English cultivarsthatcantakethecoldwinters hereinupstateNY(zone5-8).

The less hardy cultivars may grow well and bloom for one summer season but will not survive our winters. Be sure to check the hardiness of any perennial you are considering planting. We are currentlyconsideredtobeinzone5. Have specific questions like the following? Why do my lilacs keep getting uprooted by NY winds?

Why do my butterfly bushes keep dying after 3 or so years? How/ where to plant juniper trees? Why do tulips die after 1 or 3 seasons? Contact CCE to facilitate scheduling a site visit with a Master Gardener to assist with evaluating these issues as itcouldbeasoilissue.