UGJ_May_June_10

BUFFALO - ITHACA - ROCHESTER - SYRACUSE

The greenhouses at SUNY ESF Rochester’s “Doc Lilac” Let it rain FREE

Volume Sixteen, Issue Three May-June 2010

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL - 3200 EAST AVENUE - CALEDONIA, NEW YORK 14423

SARA’S GARDEN

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

Wisteria

What do these pictures call up?

Reliable, Tempting, Persistent, Interesting, Enduring?

Or maybe you’re familiar with the phrase “One of these things is not like the other.”

We’d like you to consider these words when you choose to add to your garden this season and know that all are a part of what Sara’s offers each and every year.

Like the Stone Wall Photo?

Tree peony ‘High Noon’

Iris ensata ‘Caprician Butterfly’

Well, you too can build one.

We invite you to participate in our second season of stone wall building seminars.

This year we’ll be offering three: • June 26 & 27—with Scott George, local stone artisan An intimate, two-day session held off-site with a limit of seven students. Our thought is that a smaller class size will offer a more in-depth option with no nursery interruptions.

• August

14 & 15—a repeat of the class listed above • September 18 & 19—with John ShawRimmington of the CSWA.can We will allow twelve students for this class, offered at the nursery. This was an early sellout event in 2009—don’t delay!

Please call or email for details kkepler@rochester.rr.com or 585/637-4745

30+ Year Mission!

It is our greatest desire to provide our customers with top quality, well-grown plant material at a fair and honest price. We will strive to provide an unmatched selection of old favorites and underused, hard-to-find items, along with the newest varieties on the market. We will eagerly share our horticultural knowledge gained from years of education and experience. Lastly, we offer all this in a spirit of fun and lightheartedness.

Sara’s Garden Center | 389 East Ave. | Brockport 14420 | 585-637-4745

Contents Ear to the Ground................................................................................6

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Jane F. Milliman ART DIRECTION: Dean S. Milliman TECHNICAL EDITOR: Brian Eshenaur CALENDAR EDITOR: Debbie Eckerson PROOFREADER: Sarah Koopus CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Meet him in the lilacs

Rochester’s “Doc Lilac”................................................................................ 12

Michelle Sutton | Ellen Folts | Colleen O’Neil Nice Mary Ruth Smith | Nicole Kelly | Christina Le Beau

You ask...the experts answers!.................................................... 18

WESTERN NEW YORK SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

Maria Walczak: 716/432-8688

In the zone

Understanding a plant’s cold hardiness....................................................... 16

You ask...the experts answer. ...................................................... 18 Almanac

What to do in the garden in May and June. ......................................19

Preserving Corfu’s floral history Rebuilding two area greenhouses. ..................................................20 Calendar................................................................................................. 24 Let it rain.............................................................................42 Why would you plant that?................................................48 Strawberry mousse.............................................................50 (Rain) barrel of fun..............................................................50

3200 East Avenue, Caledonia NY 14423 phone: 585/538-4980; fax: 585/538-9521 e-mail: info@upstategardenersjournal.com upstategardenersjournal.com The Upstate Gardeners’ Journal is published six times a year.

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All contents copyright 2010, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

On the cover: Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell)

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Thank you 3200 East Avenue Caledonia, NY 14423 585/538-4980 UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 3

Ear to the ground Keep up-to-date with all the latest green happenings—visit our companion blog at upstategardener.blogspot.com or find us at facebook.com/gardenersjournal

Photo Contest Winners Announced

CORRECTION In our story “Unexpected History along the Road to Horticultural Hot Spots” (March-April ’10), we incorrectly reported that Palmiter’s Garden Nursery in Avon, New York, is the largest grower of peonies in the country. Merle Palmiter writes, “I never said that. There are many peony growers far larger. Some in the Midwest have acres and acres of peonies.”

What Palmiter’s does have is probably the largest selection of rockii hybrids.

We regret the error.

6 | MAY-JUNE 2010

This winter the UGJ ran our first-ever photo contest, and we received dozens of beautiful entries in three categories. The winners are…

Left to right: Overall Winner (also won Scene category): Angela Hawk, Tonawanda, NY Enhanced: Bo Lipari, Alpine, NY Plant: Barry Biddle, Apalachin, NY People’s choice (based on Facebook voting): Beverly Wojaszczyk, Springville, NY

Each winner receives a one year subscription to the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal, and a gift certificate provided by one of the following: Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, Lockwood’s Greenhouses, The Plantsmen or Cayuga Landscape The overall winner will be the cover shot of the November-December ’11 UGJ, in which we’ll kick off our second photo contest.

A hearty thank you to our judges Michael Parks, Brian Eshenaur, Garry Geer and Dan Meyer.

See all the entries at upstategardenersjournal.com.

Kral, GardenScape Pros Honored The Cornell Cooperative Extension on Monroe County this spring awarded its 2010 Excellence in Horticulture award to Rochester gardener Jerry Kral and the GardenScape Professionals Association.

Jerry Kral has been an active supporter of the Extension, the Rochester Civic Garden Center, the Eastman House and other garden-related

organizations. He also maintains—and freely shares with visitors— extensive gardens in the city that showcase a dizzying array of mostly woody ornamental plants.

Aside from producing GardenScape, Rochester’s long-running garden show, the association’s members are active in numerous civic landscaping projects.

2010 Garden and Landscape Show Awards Congratulations to the following major award winners at the “big three” upstate New York Garden Shows this year.

Plantasia (Buffalo): Best of Show: S&K Landcreations and Degroff Outdoor Structures Best Garden (Large): The Cutting Edge Complete Landscaping, Inc. and Signature Landscapes, LLC Best Garden (Small): Oak Hill Professional Landscaping

You can find a full list of the award winners at plantasiany.com.

GardenScape (Rochester): Best of Show: Blackwood Management Plantsman’s Cup: Oriental Garden Supply CNY Blooms (Syracuse) Best Garden Overall, Large: Sensenig’s Landscaping Best Garden Overall, Small: Michael Grimm Services You can find a full list of the award winners at cnyblooms.com.

At our new festival of 1,000 gardens you’ll ramble among roses, meander past marigolds, roam around rudbeckia, hike near hollyhocks and amble through astilbe. And that’s just for starters.

Join us this summer for some of America’s best garden walks, talks & tours.

A five-week-long garden party

nationalgardenfestival.com

1 - 8 0 0 - B U F FA L O

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PEONIES

Special—Rockii Tree Peonies from our recent trips to China!

Japanese Tree Peonies Fern Leaf Peonies, Herbaceous Peonies Several Species Peonies

s Huge Selection of Glazed Pottery Container Gardens Herbs - Troughs - Alpines Lilacs—over 50 varieties Roses Hostas and Hellebores Perennials - Annuals Flowering Shrubs Over 50 varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes Peppers—Hot and Sweet— over 100 varieties!

PALMITER’S GARDEN NURSERY HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9:00am-6:00pm • Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm

Phone: (585) 226-3073 s 2675 Geneseo Road, Rt. 39 Avon, New York 14414

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Maplewood

Rose Celebration

Lisa’s

GREENHOUSES

316 Stoney Brook Rd. Orchard Park, NY 14127 (716) 655-2232 • Spring Pansies • Spring Combinations • Specialty Annuals • Perennials • Hanging Baskets • Proven Winners • Herbs

June 19–20, Saturday–Sunday Maplewood Rose Garden Driving Park Ave. & Lake Ave.

Stroll through the gardens and enjoy 300 varieties of roses that are part of Rochester’s horticultural heritage.

Participate in tours, demonstrations children’s fun and much more!

Sponsored by Wegmans, MVP, City Newspaper and Maplewood Neighborhood Association

Questions? Call 311 Outside the City Call 428-5990

www.cityofrochester.gov

The closer to the greenhouse, the fresher the plants

Your Full-Service Pond & Water Garden Supply Store Rooted in the Past, Growing for the Future Trolley Bed Greenhouses is open for business under new ownership, and we cordially invite you to come and experience fine gardening with our quality plants!

We offer the best in the NEW, the UNUSUAL, and GARDENING FAVORITES. Please stop by and see our great selection of perennials.

Also offered: Brown and midnight mulches available in bulk Bagged mulch, potting soil and topsoil www.trolleybedgreenhouses.com Phone: (585) 223-9324 127 Pannell Road, Fairport, NY 14450

• Pond and Water Garden Supplies • Installation and Maintenance • Professional Pond Products & Service • Premium Koi and Goldfish • Water Plants www.sunriseaquatics.com 8th Annual Rochester Pond Tour This Summer—Watch for Details!

Phone: (585) 223-2293 127 Pannell Road, Fairport, NY 14450

Find us by following Rt. 250 to Rt. 31 East in Fairport; turn right, 1 mile past Egypt Park; turn right on Pannell Circle, then right on Pannell Road

LOWEST PRICES in NEARLY 10 YEARS Four Seasons is rolling back its prices to what they were nearly a decade ago! Now, everyone can afford a beautiful new Four Seasons Sunroom or Home Product. But this sale WILL NOT LAST! Make an Appointment Today.

SPECIAL SAVINGS COUPON

ECONOMIC STIMULUS SALE - up to 15% OFF! On an Elegant Patio Cover, Pergola, Screen Room, Sunroom or Conservatory if you buy before 6/30/10

CALL TODAY! Call for your FREE Essential Guide to Sunrooms.

(585) 377-3330

fitch.fourseasonssunrooms.com Fitch Construction, Inc. 2233 Penfield Road Penfield NY 14526

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YOUR WATER GARDEN SUPERSTORE

Phone (716)731-5513

• Pond Kits • Pond Liners & Preform Ponds • Pumps & Filters • Fish & Water Plants • Japanese Koi • Large Selection of Flagstone and Boulders • Bagged Stone • Accent Stones COME VISIT OUR NEW DISPLAY POND!

Valid through June 30, 2010

10% OFF entire purchase SALES & SERVICE Not valid with any other offers. In stock only.

One coupon per visit per customer

Store hours: Monday-Friday 10-6; Saturday 9-5; Sunday 10-5 3779 Lower Mountain Rd. (Route 425) Sanborn, NY 14132 hahnsalesservice@roadrunner.com

Seasonal stakeout

Meet him in the lilacs Rochester’s “Doc Lilac”

by Michelle Sutton

My life has been a continuous fulfillment of dreams ... The earth is good. It is a privilege to live thereon. —Liberty Hyde Bailey

M

INSET: Ted Collins.

Photograph by Michelle Sutton

12 | MAY-JUNE 2010

any articles have been written about Ted Collins, a.k.a, Doc Lilac, 82. Most Rochester area gardeners know, for instance, that he founded the Ted Collins Tree and Landscape Company and ran it for 44 years before turning the company over to his protégés ten years ago. But there are many things about Ted that maybe aren t as well known: 1. He is one of ten children, number eight in the birth order.

2. His father worked as superintendent of Rochester’s Riverside Cemetery, and their family grew up there in a 14-room house. His mother grew lilacs in the cemetery and his father managed the trees and landscape.

3. Ted studied horticulture at Charlotte High School for six years, from seventh through twelfth grade. He earned a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from SUNY Farmingdale in Long Island.

4. In the 1960s, Ted worked for six years as the tree supervisor for Rochester’s Oak Hill Country Club.

5. He began his landscape business in an abandoned gas station in Charlotte but after ten years moved to the basement of the red

barn in Pittsford’s Schoen Place. Eventually he bought the barn, coal tower, and some other buildings there, which he still owns.

6. Ted and his wife Janice, a retired schoolteacher, have been together for 60 years.

7. The 15-acre Lilac Hill Nursery in Victor is a family affair: son Matthew and grandsons Andrew and Jason work in the business.

8. When Ted retired from his landscaping business, before opening his lilac nursery, he spent one year hunting, fishing, and identifying wildflowers—all the things he’d wanted to have time to finally do—and quickly got bored. By contrast, when he got into the lilacs, he became “obsessed, captivated, and entranced.”

Having visited with Ted, I’d like to suggest a treasure hunt of sorts, to be undertaken in May. Ted would like this idea because it means you have to go to his 15-acre Victor nursery, Lilac Hill, in person to participate. And once you’re there and engulfed in lilac fragrance and beauty (and Ted’s charm), you will surely want to buy lilac plants, bouquets, and/or perfume.

The first thing you should look for—and this won’t take long to find—is Lilacia, the rearing

fiberglass horse covered in lilacs. This was painted by artists Heather Heffernan and Amy Frank for the Rochester Horses on Parade exhibition for charity in 2001. Lilacia—so named by Ted—had two owners before he acquired her.

As you are cruising around Lilac Hill, find the Rochester Lilac, the first multipetaled lilac ever to be discovered. Syringa vulgaris ‘Rochester’ was a chance seedling that was found in the 1950s by then Rochester Director of Parks Alvan Grant and Superintendent of Parks Richard Fenicchia. In the Highland Park nursery, in the vicinity of a white lilac called ‘Edith Cavell’, they noticed a stout seedling with unusually thick leaves. The story goes that Grant transplanted it to his home nursery and when it flowered years later, he was blown away by the seedling’s properties.

Until then lilacs were only known to flower in four petals—sometimes with two sets of four, in the case of doubles. What came to be called ‘Rochester’ was unique in that it was radially doubled, with up to 25 petals per flower. The new lilac also had the desirable trait of bearing its flowers high up in the canopy, looking very candelabra-like, on ultra-

sturdy stems. The shrub also has a different habit from typical Syringa vulgaris—again, more like a tidy candelabra. ‘Rochester’ went on to become what lilac expert Father John Fiala (Lilacs: The Genus Syringa) called, “… the most outstanding lilac ever produced—both for its intrinsic beauty and also its extraordinary genetic makeup for hybridizing.”

Richard Fenicchia used ‘Rochester’ extensively in his hybridizing work, developing a whole series of “Rochester Strain” lilacs for which he won the International Lilac Society’s highest award. There’s a good chance the compact lilac in your yard has some ‘Rochester’ parentage.

At Lilac Hill you’ll find that Ted has the ‘Rochester’ specimens spread out through the nursery, because when he grew them clustered together, they seemed to become stunted.

Eventually he determined that they were suffering from bacterial infections (presumably from rainsplash-transmitted Pseudomonas) and moved them further apart from one another. This simple adjustment has helped them regain their vigor.

‘Rochester’ is difficult to propagate—Ted gets maybe five “takes” for every hundred tries—so he doesn’t

ABOVE: Syringia ‘Rochester’ Image courtesy Ted Collins

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 13

have as many for sale as he would like. If you do buy one, be patient—it’s a slower grower than most lilacs you might be used to.

Fragrant lilacs are scattered through the Lilac Hill demonstration gardens and mass assembled in the show greenhouse in May. Doc’s favorites for fragrance include ‘Beauty of Moscow’ with rose buds that open to double pink to white flowers, and ‘Silver King’, with silvery white flowers with pink and blue mottling. The flower clusters are so large that one stem makes its own bouquet. (Doc was once asked to extract fragrance for a perfumer and found, with the help of a tip from wife Janice, that the best low-tech way to gather essence was to crush flowers in a garlic press lined with cheese cloth.)

Also look in the gardens for the unusual weeping lilac, Syringa juliana ‘Hers’ with lavender flowers.

As you might expect, Doc has an interest in trees and shrubs generally. You will see seven-son trees (Heptacodium miconioides) in several places in the demo gardens. Seven-son tree blooms in late summer to early fall and the bees and butterflies

LEFT: Syringa ‘Rochester’ buds candelabra-like flowers.

Photograph by Michelle Sutton

14 | MAY-JUNE 2010

adore it. There are numerous paperbark maples (Acer griseum) including some gorgeous large ones around his house. Working against its more loose and open natural growth habit, Doc has tightly pruned an Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) to create a perfectly columnar, full to the ground, long-needled evergreen of seemingly mystifying origin. Finally, look for three arborvitae (Thuja sp.) that have been severely limbed up by browsing deer, but which have ended up as an unintentional homage to formal Italianate gardens; Janice calls them the “Dr. Seuss Trees.”

Michelle Sutton (formerly Buckstrup) is a horticulturist in Rochester, New York.

Lilac Hill Nursery (www.lilachillnursery.com) is located at 2366 Turk Hill Road in Victor, near Casa Larga Vineyards. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1 to Christmas.

RIGHT: Former Rochester Horses on Parade Horse by Aimee Frank and Heather Heffernan Ted calls Lilacia.

Photograph by Michelle Sutton

Eden Valley Greenhouse Outlet You know us for our vegetables.

Come see what we grow for your garden too, and support your local growers!

Each May & June we carry a huge selection of hanging baskets, annual flats, perennials, unique accent plants, vegetables, soils & mulch

Direct from the growers of Eden Valley at a savings to you!

Located at Eden Valley Growers, 7502 Rte 62, Eden NY

Just south of the village of Hamburg | Open Daily 9 - 5; Thurs - Sat 9 - 6

Seasonal stakeout

In the zone

Understanding a plant’s cold hardiness

by Mary Ruth Smith

I

’ve found that many gardeners, whether neophytes or old hands, are puzzled by the whole business of “zones.” Just what do those numbers on plant tags and in catalogs mean, anyway? How do I figure out what zone I’m in? Is global warming affecting zones?

Let me try to shed some light on the subject.

Basically, the zone map and corresponding numbers are a way of rating plants according to their cold hardiness. How much cold can a plant take before it dies? There are factors other than cold that affect a plant’s hardiness – more on that later – but it’s probably the most important factor. The zone maps were first published by the United States Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the National Arboretum and the American Horticultural society in 1960. They have been updated twice since then, in 1965 and 1990. A different zone map is published by the Arbor Day Foundation, whose most recent edition in 2006 dramatically illustrates the effect of climate change.

The Rochester area, and all along the shore of Lake Ontario as far east as Sodus Bay is in zone 6A, which means that our average minimum temperature in the winter is -5 to -10F. The Finger Lakes, the Syracuse area and the Southern Tier, which are farther from the moderating influence of the lake, are in Zone 5, where on average it’s -10 to -20F. You have to go all the way south to the middle of Pennsylvania to get back into Zone 6. Buffalo is also in Zone 6A, but to the southwest of Buffalo, in what we know as the lake effect snow area, it’s back to Zone 5.

Each zone represents ten degrees, and the higher the number the warmer the zone, until you get to South Florida, which is Zone 10, where it never freezes, or at least not often enough to be statistically relevant. The USDA map further divides each zone into A and B segments of five degrees each.

There is also a heat zone map, which shows how much heat a plant can take. This map is more useful to southern gardeners than it is to us. Some plants, like lilacs for example, need a period of cold to set fruit or flowers and would not do well in the deep South.

Plant tags and catalogs typically give a range of

16 | MAY-JUNE 2010

zones. This is probably the most confusing part. The low number represents the coldest zone in which the plant usually survives, and the highest number the warmest zone in which it will still do well before the heat kills it. The range is usually four or five zones.

Can you plant something here that says Zone 4?

Certainly, and it will be very hardy, no matter how cold a winter we have or how exposed your site. Can you plant something that says Zone 7? Sure, but be prepared to protect it in the winter and possibly lose it every few years. Plantaholics, like me, engage in zone denial all the time. I once planted a Southern magnolia tree (Magnolia grandiflora), and it lived a few years. It never bloomed – the cold killed the flower buds – so I finally gave up on it.

That brings me to the matter of microclimates.

Those are little pockets that are colder or warmer than the general area. Every yard has different microclimates, and part of the fun of gardening is discovering the warm ones and trying something unusual there. Close to your house and out of the wind you might plant a perennial that should only be growing in the Carolinas (Zone 7). Conversely, you need to be aware of the places that are raked by the winter wind, places where the snow is blown away and the ground exposed, and go for something from a colder zone there. It’s the roots we’re worrying about here, not the foliage. Some shrubs, for instance, that might remain evergreen down South, may die to the ground here in a hard winter, but come back from the roots in spring.

I put a good layer of shredded leaves on all marginally hardy plants in late fall, a little blanket for them. If you get carried away by zone denial, there’s a little book called “You Can’t Grow Palms Here, and Other Myths” that shows how to grow all sorts of tropical plants in the north. There’s a lot of bubble wrap and burlap involved!

Does following the zone recommendations guarantee that a plant will live? Unfortunately, no. Other factors that affect hardiness are drainage, soil type, and exposure. Good drainage is probably the most important. I can’t think of any plant that likes to have its feet in ice all winter. Heavy clay soil tends to hold

more water, which can drown a plant. The acidity or alkalinity of the soil plays a role, as does the amount of sun a plant requires. Some plants don’t like the sun at all and get sunburned without shade. There’s usually a little sun symbol on a plant tag that shows you if a plant prefers full sun, full shade or something in between.

The other caveat I have for you is that the zone numbers on the tags are not cast in stone. Sometimes they’re a best guess, especially when it’s a new introduction that hasn’t yet been widely tested. A few years ago, there was a new red-flowered coreopsis that was supposed to be hardy here, as most coreopsis varieties are, but this one was decidedly not.

For the old standby plants, however, you can usually count on the tags being accurate.

I mentioned climate change earlier. As the new Arbor Day map shows, the zones have shifted in recent years, indicating a general warming of the country.

Parts of Vermont that were always zone 4 are now Zone 5. Parts of upstate NY that used to be zone 5 and are now 6A. We old - timers can remember winters when temperatures often reached into the teens

below zero – now they hardly ever reach zero.

As a practical matter, if a plant’s zone is listed at 5 or lower, you can plant it here in just about any situation and be confident of its survival. Anything grown in a pot outdoors year-round needs to be a 4 or less, because the roots will be more exposed to the cold. I have a panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), which is a hardy variety, growing in a big sewer tile, and doing just fine, but I wouldn’t try that with one of the more tender hydrangeas. Unless you live on a windy hilltop, most of you will be safe with zone 6 plants, and some of you can experiment with zone 7. My daughter lives on the southeast facing side of a high hill, a very protected spot with great free-draining soil, and I’m convinced her garden is in zone 7. So don’t be intimidated by the zone thing - get into the zone and have fun with it!

To Learn More: The USDA map website is www.usna. usda.gov/Hardzone The Arbor Day map website is www.arborday.org/ media/zones www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 17

Questions & Answers

You ask...

The experts answer Q: Some of the vendors at my local farmers market have “organic” or “grown without chemicals or pesticides” signs for their produce. How is that different from “certified organic” produce? How can I be certain that the produce that I purchase from these vendors is indeed organic or pesticide free? —D. E., via email.

This issue’s guest expert is Deirdre Cunningham, manager of the Trumansburg Farmers Market.

18 | MAY-JUNE 2010

A: Produce labeled as “organic” or “grown without chemicals or pesticides” indicate that growers generally follow the United States Department Agriculture (USDA) “certified organic” standard guidelines and/or have taken NOFA’s (National Organic Farmers Association) “Farmers Pledge”. The primary reasons why growers choose not to take the government route are due to time and money: the piles of paperwork that need to be filled out, site visits, high cost of certified products (e.g. seed, manure, compost, permitted biological and botanical sprays), and the high cost of certification fees which can run into hundreds of dollars. Certified organic farming is not spray-free; integrated pest

management practices utilizing biological and botanical controls are permitted by USDA regulations to control weed and insect populations.

Monika Roth of CCE Tompkins County says that, “there is a public misconception about what materials are permissible to use and people who really care need to educate themselves about various terms and practices. The best way to do that is to shop at a local farmers market, develop a one-to-one relationship with the people who are growing your food and ask a lot of questions.”

Farmers police themselves at market; those who have gone to great expense to become certified organic are known to challenge other farmers about their products. If there is a question about the validity of growing practices, a site visit will be conducted by a market representative with a Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) agriculture agent. Consumers can also call their county CCE to ask about certain farmers because their agents have worked with all of them at some point in time and know them well.

Almanac

What to do in the garden In May and June

MORE INFORMATION

As the garden season approaches “full throttle,” here are some things you can do to keep your garden performing to its fullest potential.

JUNE

MAY

Watch especially for four-lined plant bug, lacebug, leafminer, borers, scale, sawflies, and black vine weevil.

Remove seedpods from your spring bulbs after bloom. Let that foliage ‘ripen’ to send energy back into the bulb for next year.

Watch garden centers for sales on summer bulbs and plant them now.

Plant annuals when once the soil has warmed up – usually by the middle of the month.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast and cover tender annuals if a late frost is predicted.

I use retired ‘glass curtains’ or sheets and hold them above the foliage with croquet hoops.

Start your regular scouting routine – mine is walking around the garden with a cup of coffee every morning. If problems are noticed you can take action before they escalate.

Check for pest problems such as scale on euonymous, gypsy moths, plants bugs, leaf miners, slugs.

If slugs are a problem, start those nighttime beer parties now or use a slug bait.

Check for disease problems such as fire blight, mildew.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs after the blooms are finished.

Plant your beans, corn, salad crops, cukes, melons, squash. Every two weeks, sow additional beans, beets and carrots to extend your harvest season.

Transplant your tomatoes, peppers and eggplant toward the end of the month – they don’t like cold soil.

If you want to give your houseplants a summer vacation outdoors, don’t put them in the full sun, but find a shady spot that’s out of the wind.

Continue scouting for pest problems.

Aphids will be out in force (on rose, lupine, linden trees, and more.).

Keep your mower blades sharp and mulch those grass clippings to return nutrients to the turf.

For information on any of these topics or other garden concern/ questions, call the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden Helpline weekdays from 9:00 a.m. until Noon at 473-5335.

Deadhead your perennials and annuals to keep them blooming and bulbs to keep their energy from going to seed production.

The vegetable garden needs about an inch of water a week. Water at soil level if possible to avoid unnecessarily wetting the foliage which could encourage disease.

Cultivate your vegetable garden and keep on top of that weeding.

Use mulch such as straw or shredded newspaper to keep the soil shaded which will help prevent weed seed germination.

Check the stems of squash plants for borer holes. Stab the borers with a pin instead of reaching for an insecticide.

If watering your turf grass, be sure to water early in the day so the grass blades have a chance to dry. Evening watering might promote fungus problems.

Prune trees now through mid-July.

Take some softwood cuttings from your favorite shrubs and root them in a soil-less mix in an airy, semi-shady spot.

—Karen S. Klingenberger, Cornell Cooperative Extension Monroe County, Consumer Horticulture Educator.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 19

Seasonal stakeout

Preserving Corfu’s floral history Rebuilding two historic greenhouses

by Nicole Kelly

L ABOVE: Scott’s Greenhouses at the beginning of the 20th century 20 | MAY-JUNE 2010

ast July, a tornado with winds of about 100 miles per hour ripped through parts of Corfu and Darien. It damaged numerous homes and nearly destroyed two greenhouses that have been have been in the area since the 19th century: Petals and Plants, formerly Scott’s Greenhouse, and Preisach’s. Last fall, friends Dave Scott and John Preisach began repairs on the damaged greenhouses. Working together, these two men with deep roots in the Corfu floral industry

aim to preserve an important part of the area’s local history, one that threatens to be lost if the greenhouses cannot be rebuilt.

From the late 19th century into the 20th flowers, both wholesale and retail, were a big industry in the Corfu and Pembroke areas of western New York. Lois Brockway, Pembroke historian, believes that the proximity of the Central Railroad is one explanation for the widespread greenhouse industry in one small area.

Dave Scott agrees. His grandfather shipped cut tulips by rail all over the country to as far away as California.

Flowers by the thousands were shipped across the country on a daily basis. There was a depot right in the village. The right temperature, proper packaging and shipping conditions in the train cars allowed carnations, calendulas, snapdragons, gladioli, calla lilies, and other flowers to be transported to wholesale houses in Buffalo and Rochester or directly to customers out of state. A 1926 article in The Batavia Daily News proclaimed, “It was nothing short of marvelous how our flowers get through without damage even in zero weather.”

Other flowers were trucked across the country to their destinations. In the 50’s and 60’s, Scott’s Greenhouse shipped 5,000-10,000 violets a week.

One five-ton truck could hold up to 10,000 violets.

These trucks were driven as far away as Nebraska.

Dave Scott recalled the mobile greenhouses that were sometimes used to transport their highly acclaimed violets. Scott’s was the first to design these mobile greenhouses in the early 1960’s.

Dave Scott relived a funny story in which he delivered violets with it to G street in downtown Washington. “The guy has this little alley that goes to the store. He tells me to back it in there. If I back it in there, nobody is going to be able to get it into the greenhouse, because the entrance was on the backend. So he says parallel park it out in front and he gave me one parking place that was 20 foot long to put a 20-foot trailer.

There were always things like that that happening.”

John Preisach’s roots in the greenhouse business go back to the beginning to the 20th century. In 1910 his grandparents bought a home and greenhouse from Irene Tyrell, one of the other early pioneers of the Corfu floral industry. She and her husband Charles had an already established greenhouse and wholesale flower business. When Preisach’s grandparents took over, they grew such varieties as carnations, mums, snapdragons, and poinsettias for a time. As market conditions changed and many of the flowers began to be grown elsewhere more cheaply and profitably for wholesale buyers and retail shops, annuals and flowers for spring/summer baskets became the focus. John cites NAFTA and people’s changing tastes in flowers as two factors that influenced

local growers: “People used flowers a lot more than they do now. There was no such thing as imports.”

Scott’s Greenhouse and the Scott name were highly regarded in the floral industry. Dave Scott, the last owner of Scott’s Greenhouse , recounted his floral lineage. His great grandfather, William Scott, whose father was a gardener for the Queen of England before coming to the United States, opened the greenhouse in Corfu in 1893. It was built as a subsidiary for his greenhouse on Main and Balcom in Buffalo. A man of substance in the floral industry, he was in charge of the floral exhibit at the Pan American Exhibition that was held in Buffalo in 1901. Dave’s grandfather and father both ran the operation in Corfu until he took over in 1972. He sold the greenhouse to Michael and Lynn Grant (Petals and Plants) in 2006.

Over the years the Scott family, like the Preisaches, went from yearlong cut-flower production to mostly landscape and houseplants Their growing trends also mirrored what happened to the floral industry in mid 20th century, as cut flower production went from being domestically based to having most flowers grown internationally.

Talking with two these two men who have deep connections to the early floral industry, one gets a real a sense of what was and is no more. But the commitment they have to the future of the industry is evident in their efforts to repair what nature damaged last year. When this story was first being written in the fall of 2009, prospects looked dim for a reopening of Petals and Plants. As this story goes to press, it is positively noted that rebuilding has begun for both Petals and Plants and Preisach’s Greenhouse.

ABOVE: Don Scott’s mobile greenhouse INSET: Jon Presisach

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 21

Fill Your Garden with Color

Family owned and operated, Heimiller Greenhouses was established in 1981 and is a growing tradition among Western New York gardeners.

Annuals, Perennials, Vegetables, Herbs, Baskets & Planters, Unique Gardening Gifts Opening for the Season May 1st Visit our new Web site to create your wish list!

Open Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Sunday 10 am - 4 pm

3038 Ewings Rd, Newfane, NY 14108

(716) 778-0026

www.HeimillerGreenhouses.com 10% OFF your purchase of $50 or more with this coupon. Exp. June 30 2010

“I wish I’d come here sooner!”

We Grow a Bounty of Perennials, Grasses & Ferns, Shrubs & Trees both uncommon and familiar Wetland Plants, Shade Plants, Ground Covers & More.

482 Peruville Rd., Lansing, NY

607.533.7193

At the end of Triphammer Rd., turn right; we’re just 2 miles up on the left.

Home Grown Veggies & Annuals Spray-Free Organic Veggies and Annuals ready at the perfect time for your garden.

Home Grown from seed at the nursery, traditional and Unique Inventory

Visit our website for a taste of what you’ll find at our nursery.

www.plantsmen.com Open Every Day!

Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10 - 4

Landscape Design

and installation Our sustainable landscape approach works with your site conditions, combining native and deer resistant plants to enhance your property with the least disturbance and modification.

Visit Our Spray-Free Nursery

It’s Fun Just to Visit!

Natural display gardens, Landscape pond with waterfall and built-instone features, natural stone benches, locally handcrafted timberframed pergola, and kids areas along with over 500 different types of plants.

Growing for over 50 years • Entire selection of Proven Winners • Perennials - Annuals - Garden Accents • Amish Food Items Opening May 1st Mon - Sat 9 - 7 Sunday 9 - 5

Rte. 98

1582 Oak Orchard Road Albion, NY 14411 585/682-3604 dbertsch@rochester.rr.com N

Rte. 18

Bertsch’s Good Earth Market

Rte. 104

Batavia

Rte. 98

Albion

Thruway - Rte. 90

Dave & Fred invite you to “Make Bertsch’s Your Destination”

Come see our amazing selection of shade, flowering, and fruit trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, ornamentals, annuals, perennials and hanging baskets.

P.O. Box 115 - 8320 West Route 20 Westfield, New York 14787 716-326-3032 - www.westfieldnursery.com Now offering gardening classes and workshops.

For more information call or e-mail gardenshop@westfieldnursery.com

Calendar BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS 8th District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State Inc. Judy Tucholski-Zon, District Director: 716/836-2573. gardenclubsofwny.com.

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm, Depew High School Cafeteria, 5201 Transit Rd., Depew. Note: June meeting will be June 8. 716/652-8658. avgswny@verizon.net. gesneriadsociety.org/chapters/WNY. Garden Friends of Clarence meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, September – June, Town Park Clubhouse, 10405 Main Street, Clarence. gardenfriendsofclarence@hotmail.com.

Hamburg Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at noon, summer garden tours, 3921 Monroe Avenue, Hamburg.

716/648-0275.

Niagara Frontier Pond & Koi Club meets the second Friday of each month at 7 pm, VFW Post, Elgin Street, Tonawanda. nfkpc.org.

Western New York Herb Study Group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo.

Western NY Hosta Society, contact for meeting dates and location. 716/941-6167. h8staman@ aol.com.

Western NY Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm, St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. wnyrosesociety. org.

Williamson Garden Club. On-going community projects; free monthly lectures to educate the community about gardening. Open to all.

315-524-4204; grow14589@gmail.com; growthewilliamsongardenclub.blogspot.com.

WNY Iris Society meets at members’ homes. Next meeting: May 2, 2 pm. Guests welcome.

Registration required. Maria: 716/632-8069. mrgerbracht@verizon.net.

CLASSES / EVENTS

FREQUENT HOSTS BECBG: Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218. $8 adults; $7 seniors (55+) & students (13+ with ID); $4 kids 3 – 12; free members and kids under 3. 716/827-1584; buffalogardens.com.

BMAC: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY 14113. 585/457-3228; 800/377-1520; buffaloaudubon.com.

LOCK: Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY 14075. 716/649-4684; lockwoodsgreenhouses.com.

MENNE: Menne Nursery, 3100 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst NY, 14228. 716/693-4444; mennenursery.com.

REIN: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew, NY 14043. 716/6835959; dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html.

ULB: Ulbrich’s Garden Center & Watergarden Gallery, 11500 Broadway, Alden NY, 14004.

716/937-7742; ulbrichs.com.

May 1: Gardening Galore! Get Ready for Spring, 9 am – 1 pm. Explore landscape design, lawn care, container gardening, tree & shrub maintenance, and more. Learn the latest trends and environmentally-friendly ways to create and care for your landscape. Taught by NCCC Horticulture faculty. $8 advance; $10 at door. Niagara County Community College, Room C-161, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn. 716/614-6470. cstanko@niagaracc.suny.edu.

May 1: Spring Gardening Class, 9 am – 3 pm. Program covers basic gardening techniques. Co-sponsored

by Master Gardeners of Erie County and Buffalo In Bloom. Includes information binder. $20.

Registration required. ECC North, Kittinger. CCE/ EC May 1: Spring Bulb Sale, 10 am. Annual sale of bulbs dug from the gardens, many varieties to select from. Bag provided, you fill. $7 per bag; limit 4 bags per person. Garage behind the gardens.

BECBG

• Ongoing: Sunday Afternoon Kids Activities, 12 – 2 pm. Every fourth Sunday of the month. Ages 3 – 12. Activities vary each month; children must be accompanied by an adult. Free with admission.

BECBG

May 1: Native Perennials for Your Garden, 10 am.

Christopher Leisher of Prides Corner Farms, Connecticut, will introduce American Beauties Native Plants, a collection certified by the National Wildlife Federation. The presentation will illustrate features and attributes of native perennials and grasses and their viability in the landscape. Includes a question and answer session. Free. Registration required. MENNE

• Ongoing: After School Escape, Thursdays, 4:30 pm.

One-hour program for kids featuring a different, fun, outdoor activity each week. Grades K – 5.

Free. REIN

May 1: Victorian Planters, 10 – 11:30 am. Talk and hands-on workshop using old-fashioned flowers for Mother’s Day gifts or spring decorating. $35.

Registration required. LOCK

May 1: Walk at Knox Farm State Park – Spring Ephemeral Hike, 9 am. Learn about the spring-time plants that hide in the woods at Knox Farm. Free.

Registration required. BMAC

May 1: Spring Cleanup of Your Landscape & Lawn, 10 am – 12 pm. A demonstration on how to cultivate, fertilize and edge beds with tips on getting the lawn in shape after winter and proper planting and pruning of trees and shrubs. Outdoor session, rain or shine. Free. Registration required. MENNE

• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

May 1: Build a Pond Day, 9 am. $50; refundable after completion of course. ULB

24 | MAY-JUNE 2010

May 1: Soil Testing, 10 am – 1 pm. Many plants are

sensitive to soil acidity. Bring a dry soil sample to be tested by Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and get advice on what to add to your soil for needed improvements. Free. Registration required. MENNE May 1: Trail Cleanup, 10 am – 1 pm. Volunteer to help with the annual trail cleanup. Bring rakes and shovels. Registration required. REIN May 1: Fruit Trees & Small Fruits, 2 pm. Lana Bilger will discuss how to plant, prune and maintain healthy fruit trees and bush fruits for years of tasty results.

Learn which plant foods and pest controls to select and when to apply them, including organic and natural choices. Free. Registration required.

MENNE May 1 – 24: Coleus Show, 10 am – 5 pm. The Coleus was a popular plant in Victorian times that has regained popularity among modern gardeners looking for a bold colored border or potted plant.

Easy to grow, they practically do all the work.

BECBG May 5: Fresh Floral Mother’s Day Arrangement, 6 – 8 pm. Design your own fresh floral arrangement.

Bring pruners. $30 member; $35 non-member.

Registration required. BECBG May 6: Native Plants in Any Garden, 7 pm. Dr. Don Leopold, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse and author of Native Plants of the Northeast: a Guide for Gardening and Conservation, will discuss native plant recommendations. A Q & A session and refreshments follows the presentation. Dr. Leopold’s book may be pre-ordered or purchased at event at a discount. $24. Registration required.

BECBG May 7: National Public Garden Day, 10 am – 5 pm.

BECBG • May 8: Spring Wildflowers Hike, 9 – 11 am. Seek out the wildflowers that are beginning to emerge in East Aurora’s newest park along Route 16. $3 members; $5 non-members; $15 families.

Registration required. BMAC • May 8: Kids’ Floral Arrangement for Mom, 11 am – 12 pm. Children create a floral gift for Mom’s special day. Instructor: Teresa Mazikowski, Botanical Gardens Gardener. Ages 6 – 12. $15 member’s child; $20 non-member’s child.

Registration required. BECBG May 8: Annuals and Perennials, 1 pm. Learn how to incorporate and identify plants in your backyard, popular varieties, and how they are different. Free.

Registration required. ULB May 10: Soil Problems and Amendments, 6:30 – 8 pm. Join Charles McHugh, Master Gardener, for answers to your soil dilemmas. For an additional $5, bring in up to five dry soil samples for testing (samples will be taken to Cornell Cooperative Extension and results mailed). $10 member; $12 non-member. Registration required. BECBG May 12: Herbs in a Strawberry Jar Planter, 6 – 8 pm.

Plant up the most popular herbs in these planters for fresh herbs at your finger tips. $30 member; $35 non-member. Registration required. BECBG May 15: Herbs for Garden & Kitchen, 10 am. Master Gardener Lee Schreiner will discuss selecting and growing herbs for kitchen and container gardens along with their historical relationship with humans.

Also drying, crafting and creating herbal potpourri.

Free. Registration required. MENNE

May 15: Container Arrangements, 11 am. A hands-on approach to designing and creating a beautiful arrangement for your patio or storefront. Free.

Registration required. ULB

painters. Learn new techniques or polish the ones you have already. $54 member or $15 per class; $60 non-member or $16 per class. Registration required. BECBG

May 15: Fish Health, 11 am. Join aquatic veterinarian Dr. Helen Roberts to learn how to keep your pond fish healthy; diagnosis and treatment for health problems. Free. Registration required. ULB

May 27: Full Flower Moon Walk, 8 pm. Enjoy a walk at the time of year when flowers bloom during the day and the moon “blooms” at night. Free.

Registration required. REIN

May 15 – 16: The Great Plant Sale, 9 am – 5 pm.

Hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, ornamental trees and shrubs, rare and unusual plants, deer resistant plants and flowers, natives, tropicals, Japanese maples, herbs and more. BECBG

• May 29: Wildflower Wander, 10 am. Take a walk to learn about New York’s spring wild flowers that grow at Reinstein Woods. For adults and children age 8 and older. Free. Registration required.

REIN

May 15 – 16: Bonsai Show, 10 am – 5 pm. Bonsai masters and novices display their prized trees at their peak. Presented by the Buffalo Bonsai Society and the Gardens. BECBG

May 29: Water Gardening Day, 12 pm. Members of the Niagara Frontier Koi and Pond Club will speak about pond building and care, water plants, fish, water gardening in containers (with demonstrations), decorating yards and gardens.

Local artisans’ wares including koi décor, birdhouses, garden furniture, artwork, jewelry, painted chairs for potting up, concrete and hypertufa pots, decorations, more. Special sales; refreshments; prizes. Free. Registration required.

Windy Acres Greenhouse, 6175 Wagner Rd., Springville. 716/541-4923.

May 16: Organic Gardening Day, 11 am – 4 pm.

Growing vegetables, composting, vermiculture, beneficial insects, and companion gardens with Sally Cunningham. Organic lawn care with Al Festauitti, organic horticulture expert, A&B Landscaping. $30; includes lunch. Registration required. LOCK • May 19: Babes in the Woods – From Seed to Flower, 10 – 11:30 am. This nature discovery program is for 3-5 year olds and their parents. $5 child & adult; $3 each additional child.

Registration required. BMAC May 19: Perennial Plant Sale & Auction, sale 12 – 6 pm; auction 6:30 pm. Hosted by Garden Friends of Clarence. Several varieties of plants including some rare and unusual items from members’ gardens. Public welcome. Clarence Town Park, large pavilion, 10405 Main St., Clarence. gardenfriendsofclarence@hotmail.com.

May 19: Euro Basket, 6:30 pm. Create a hanging basket with flowering and trailing annuals.

Instructor: Marge Vogel. $30. Registration required. LOCK May 22: Spring Plant Sale, 8 am – 2 pm. Hosted by Orchard Park Garden Club. Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, accent plants, hanging baskets. Gift certificates available: 716/662-5248.

Orchard Park Railroad Depot, behind library.

May 22: Butterflies of Royalty, 11 am. Search for monarch, viceroy and admiral butterflies on this guided walk. Learn how to attract these butterflies to your backyard. Free. Registration required. REIN May 22: Hydrangeas, 1 pm. Topics covered will include hardy varieties, pruning, fertilizing, winter protection. Free. Registration required. ULB • May 22 – June 19: Kids’ Watercolor Classes, three Saturdays, 9 – 10:30 am. Ages 5 – 12. Supplies included. Instructor: Joan Saba, professional artist and teacher. $30 or $11 per class. Registration required. BECBG May 24: Integrated Pest Management, 6:30 – 8 pm. Learn how to use environmentally friendly gardening practices instead of chemicals to treat insect infestations and diseases of your plants.

Presented by Charles McHugh, Master Gardener. $10 member; $12 non-member. Registration required. BECBG May 24 – June 28: Monday Morning Watercolor, four Mondays, 8:45 – 10:15 am. Taught by professional artist Joan Saba, classes are stylized to meet the needs of novices and experienced

May 29: Organic Gardening, 1 pm. Learn how to start an organic garden; what plants and products to use. Free. Registration required. ULB June 5: Odyssey to Ithaca, 7:30 am – 7:30 pm. Join the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal for this second annual this day-long luxury motor coach tour.

Highlights include: a leisurely visit to Cornell Plantations, truly one of the most inspiring gardens in New York State; delicious herbal lunch and shopping at Bakers’ Acres, an incredible array of perennials; shopping at The Plantsmen nursery, known for its natives and beautiful setting; more shopping at Bedlam Gardens, a tiny nursery with huge display gardens offering the rare and unusual. $68, lunch included. Optional box dinner available for purchase. 716/432-8688; 585/538-4980. UpstateGardenersJournal.com June 5: Summer Container Workshop, 10 am. With Mary Gurtler. $35. Registration required. LOCK June 5: Judged Iris Show, 1 – 5 pm. Hosted by the WNY Iris Society. Eastern Hills Mall, 4545 Transit Road, Williamsville.

June 18 – July 25: National Buffalo Garden Festival.

A five week celebration of the greater Buffalo area’s garden walks, talks, tours and events.

Garden Walk Buffalo and 14 other garden tours, Botanical Gardens, Erie Basin Marina Gardens, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Botanical Print Exhibition, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra concerts in parks, Elmwood-Bidwell Farmer’s Market, garden themed Gusto at the Gallery. nationalgardenfestival.com June 19: Perennials Symposium, 9:30 am – 4 pm. Opening of the National Buffalo Garden Festival [see June 18 – July 25]. Guest speakers: Stephanie Cohen, Design a Perennial Garden; Mike Shadrack, Hostas for Small Spaces; Sally Cunningham, High Performance Perennials for WNY; Mary Gurtler, Perennials in Containers.

Book signing and lunch with Stephanie Cohen.

Registration required. LOCK July 10 – 11: Lockport in Bloom, 10 am – 4 pm.

Self-guided walking/driving tour featuring more than 46 private and public gardens in historic Lockport. Rain or shine. Free. Maps available after July 1 at City Hall, Discover Center, Kenan

Center, area nurseries: Zehr’s On the Lake, Boka Farms, Badding Bros., Faery’s (Ransomville), Stedman’s Nursery, LaRosa’s. 716/434-2380; 716/439-1524.

July 10 – 11: Village of Hamburg Garden Walk and Fair, 10 am – 4 pm. Self-guided tour. Vendors.

Art show Sunday only. Maps available at Memorial Park, corner of Lake and Union Streets, Hamburg. 716/648-7544. hamburggardenwalk. com.

July 10 – August 1: Garden Walks, Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm; Sundays 12 – 4 pm. Tour two Orchard Park gardens, about a mile apart, at your leisure.

At the first, enjoy extensive country gardens, a pond filled with fish and water lilies, over 700 registered varieties of daylilies and thousands of seedlings. 6047 Seufert Road. 716/648-0094. The second, designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, features a biologically-filtered water garden surrounded by a large perennial garden connected by stone and flagstone pathways. Woods, pines & Japanese maples are incorporated into an English cottage garden & wildflower prairie. 6346 Ward Road.

716/648-7085.

July 11: Plant Societies’ Bloomin’ Show, 1 – 4 pm.

Judged shows: Japanese iris (WNY Iris Society), hosta blooms (WNY Hosta Society). Exhibits: daylily blooms (Buffalo Area Daylily Society), Ikebana floral arrangements. Members of the three societies will be available for Q & A. Buffalo Chapter 50, Ikebana Society will use Japanese iris, hosta blooms and daylilies in a design workshop, 2 pm. Rudolph Galley & Sons Greenhouses, 2722 Clinton Street, West Seneca.

Save the Date….

July 17: Orchard Park Public Garden Tour, 10 am – 4 pm. Hosted by Orchard Park Garden Club. $5. Presale: Arthur’s Hardware, 6471 W. Quaker St. Day of, 10 am - 2 pm: OP Historical Society/Jolls House, 4287 South Buffalo St. 716/662-1121. 716/674-6430.

ITHACA REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS Adirondack Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (AC/NARGS), usually meets the third Saturday of the month at 1 pm. acnargs. blogspot.com.

FREQUENT HOST CP: Cornell Plantations, 1 Plantations Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Inquire ahead for meeting places. 607/255-2400; cornellplantations.org.

CLASSES / EVENTS Ongoing May 2 – 30: Wildflower Walks at Sapsucker Woods, Sundays, 1 pm. Meet at Cornell Lab’s visitor center. Cancelled in the event of rain.

Free. CP

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 25

Calendar ITHACA continued

ROCHESTER

Ongoing June 2 – October 27: Trumansburg Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 4 – 7 pm. Locally-produced fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, cheeses, meats, crafts, live music and supper food. Located between Cayuga and Seneca Lake wine trails.

Village Park, Trumansburg, corner Rts. 96 and 227.

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

Ongoing June 19 – September 4: Summer Drop-In Tours in the Botanical Garden, Saturdays, 12 pm. Enjoy a guided tour through several theme gardens and discover the beauty and diversity of the Plantations’ botanical collections. Actual tour content will vary from week to week, depending on the plants, season, interests of the group, and whim of the docent. Free. CP May 7 – 9: Mother’s Day Weekend Special Events.

Enjoy the gardens and greenhouses; buffet luncheon (Sunday, registration required); specials.

Bakers’ Acres, 1104 Auburn Rd. (Route 34), Groton.

607/533-4653. bakersacres.net.

African Violet Society of Rochester meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester. Everyone welcome. Bob or Linda Springer, 585/413-0606; blossoms002@yahoo.com.

Bonsai Society of Upstate New York meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at the Brighton Town Park Lodge in Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY. 585/426-6548; bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org.

Fairport Garden Club meets the 3rd Thursday evening of each month (except August and January).

Accepting new members. fairportgc@gmail.com; fairportgardenclub.org.

Garden Club of Brockport meets the second Wednesday of every month at Fire Station #3, 191 West Avenue, Brockport. 585/636-4312.

May 15: Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Indoor and outdoor vendors including Rock Garden Society, Master Gardeners, Finger Lakes Native Plant Society, and specialty growers from Central NY. Stewart Park off Rt. 13 at Cayuga Lake, Ithaca. Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County. 607/272-2292. growline@ cornell.edu.

Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS) meets every month from September through May at the Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester, on the first Monday following the first Sunday of each month (dates sometimes vary due to holidays, etc.). The GROS is an Affiliate of The American Orchid Society (AOS) and of The Orchid Digest Corporation. geneseeorchid.org.

May 15: Combination Container Gardens Workshop using New and Exciting Annuals, 10 am – 12 pm. Dick Ferguson will share his expertise to help participants design their own container garden and lead a short discussion on using the color wheel for enhancing combinations. Bring 12” or larger container or purchase before class. $5; plus materials. Registration required by May 12. BAK

Genesee Valley Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society (GVC NARGS) meets the second Wednesday of each month, April - November, at the Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. 585/924-1739; kpvansco@rochester. rr.com; gvnargs.blogspot.com.

May 20: Evening Wildflower Walk, 7 pm. Tour the woodland pathways and varied plant habitats of the Mundy Wildflower Garden. Spring is the season for experiencing delicate and ephemeral natives such as trillium, Jack-in-the-pulpit, bloodroot, and Solomon’s seal. These plants and many others native to the northeastern U.S., including several that are scarce and vulnerable to exploitation, are carefully managed in this natural area. Free.

Registration required. CP May 22: Halcyon Herb Festival, 10 am – 4 pm. Guest speakers, hands-on demonstrations, plant sales, herb and antique vendors, live music, wine-tasting.

Halcyon Herbals and Antiques, 11 Maple Lane, Savona. 607/583-4311. bbonline.com/ny/halcyon.

May 23: Field Sketching in the Wildflower Garden, 1 – 5 pm. In spring the Mundy Wildflower Garden is a magic carpet of blossoms that participants will capture with sketches and drawings. Bring drawing tablet, pencils, portable seat, drinking water. $40 members and Cornell students; $50 nonmembers.

Registration required. CP July 11: Drawing Garden Flowers, 1 – 5 pm. Sketch the abundant variety of cultivated plants; take skills learned back to your own garden. Bring drawing paper, graphite pencils, color pencils, eraser, drinking water, folding chair/stool. $40 members and Cornell students; $50 nonmembers.

Registration required. CP Save the Date…

July 17: Open Gate Garden and Art Tour, 9 am – 12 pm. Tour 5 historic village gardens.

Walk or ride free shuttle. Maps available day of. Start: Municipal parking lot, George Street, Dryden. Hosted by Dryden Beautification Brigade. $5. drydenbeautification@gmail.com.

26 | MAY-JUNE 2010

Genesee Valley Hosta Society meets the second Thursday of January, March, May, September & November at Monroe County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. 585/538-2280; sebuckner@frontiernet. net.

Genesee Valley Pond & Koi Club meets the first Friday of the month at 7 pm, Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. BobWheeler58@ gmail.com.

Gesneriad-dicts of Western New York, a chapter of the Gesneriad Society, meets the first Wednesday of each month, September – May, at 6:30 pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester. Bob or Linda Springer, 585/413-0606; blossoms002@yahoo.com.

Greater Rochester Iris Society usually meets the last Sunday of the month at 2 pm. Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester.

Greater Rochester Perennial Society (GRPS) meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 pm, Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester, except in the summer, when it tours members’ gardens. laburt@ rochester.rr.com. rochesterperennial.com.

Greater Rochester Rose Society holds monthly meetings, June rose show, garden adventures. 133 Torrey Pine Drive, Rochester. 585/621-8780; tbrooks@rochester.rr.com.

Holley Garden Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm, Holley Presbyterian Church.

585/638-6973.

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets the 3rd Thursday of each month (except December and February) at 10 am, First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester.

585/872-0678; 585/586-0794.

Rochester Dahlia Society usually meets the second Saturday of each month at 1 pm, room 228 of the First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Rochester, and maintains a dahlia display garden at Kent Park Arboretum in Webster. gwebster@ rochester.rr.com.

Rochester Water Garden Society meets the third Monday of the month, 7:30 pm, at members’ homes. 585/672-5857; RWGS@rochester.rr.com; sunkissedaquatics.com.

Valentown Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of each month, time alternates between noon or 7 pm. Victor, NY. Kathleen Houser, president: 585/301-6107.

FREQUENT HOSTS LET: Letchworth State Park Interpretive Program, 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427. 585/493-3625.

LIN: Linwood Gardens, 1912 York Road, Linwood, NY 14486. 585/584-3913; linwoodgardens.org.

PCC: Phelps Community Center, 8 Banta Street, Phelps, NY. 315/548-8484. phelpsny.com/ phelps-fun/community-center.

RBC: Rochester Butterfly Club. All field trips are free and open to the public. rochesterbutterflyclub.org.

RCGC: Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620. 585/473-5130; rcgc.org.

ROC: Sponsored by the City of Rochester: 585/428-6770. cityofrochester.gov.

RPM: Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street, Rochester, NY. cityofrochester.gov; pmarket@cityofrochester.gov.

SG: Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. 585/394-4922; sonnenberg.org.

WAY: Wayside Garden Center, 124 PittsfordPalmyra Road (Route 31), Macedon, NY 14502. 585/223-1222; waysidegardencenter. com.

CLASSES / EVENTS • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

Ongoing: Visit Ellwanger Garden, Tuesdays, 5:30 – 7:30. Stroll the grounds while volunteers are working. Weather permitting. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester. Landmark Society of Western NY. 585/546-7029. landmarksociety. org.

• Ongoing Wednesdays during summer vacation: Plant it Forward, 9 am – 12 pm. Program will help kids embrace nature as a whole, enjoy growing and eating healthy foods and to become good stewards of the earth in addition to helping support the PCC Food Pantry with fresh produce throughout the summer. Hands-on garden experience; crafts; fun educational games. Ages 7 – 12. Materials and snacks included. $50; $35 each additional family member. PCC

largest selection of “rare & unusual” JAPANESE MAPLES DWARF CONIFERS BAMBOO—PLANTS AND FENCING PERENNIALS & MORE CARVED GRANITE GARDEN FEATURES

WHERE EAST MEETS WEST

www.orientalgardensupply.com orientalgardens@aol.com

448 west bloomfield road

in pittsford 585 586 3850 open 4/17 daily 9 - 4 Thursdays ‘til 8 after 6/30 closed Sundays other times by appointment

Calendar ROCHESTER continued May 1: Plant Sale, 9 – 11 am. Hosted by Victor Garden Club. Perennials, ground covers, and herbs grown by members or donated by community members. Victor Free Library, 15 West Main Street.

and recognizing poison ivy. Each week will be different depending on the interests of those attending. Learn from your fellow gardeners and bring plants for help in identification. Free.

North Street Community Center, 700 North St., Rochester. ROC

May 1: Pruning Roses, 10 am – 12 pm. Greater Rochester Rose Society members provide expert advice on roses and hands-on demonstrations.

Meet by the fountain, Maplewood Rose Garden, corner Lake and Driving Park Avenues, Rochester. Free. Rain or shine. ROC

May 4: Herban Gardener, 7 – 9 pm. Master Gardener & herbalist Sherri Reehil-Welser will share her herbal knowledge, expertise and some secrets to growing an herb garden. Topics covered will include germination requirements, best varieties to grow, incorporating edible flowers and uses for herbs. $7; includes gardener’s soap sample. Registration required.

PCC

May 1 – 2: Spring Wildflowers Days, 10 am – 4 pm. Celebrate native plants. Tour the gardens, see many spring wildflowers in bloom. Plants available for purchase. Amanda’s Garden, 8410 Harpers Ferry Rd., Springwater. 585/6692275. amandasgarden@frontiernet.net. amandagarden.com.

May 6: Wildflower Walk, 1 pm. Become more familiar with our many native wildflowers and the role of their surroundings including the other plants and animals in their daily lives.

Enjoy the variation in floral structure and folklore. Upper and middle falls area. Meet at museum. 3 hours; 1 mile. Free. LET

May 2: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 pm. Presented by Monroe County Cooperative Extension in cooperation with Monroe County Parks. Tours conducted by Community Forester volunteers. Moderate hills and wooded trails.

Approximately 2 hours. Meet: kiosk, Zoo Rd. Free; donations to support Master Gardener Program accepted. 585/261-1665.

May 6: Creating Pots with Pizzazz – Using Dwarf Shrubs in Containers, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Dwarf varieties of shrubs perform extremely well in pots, provide structure and height, and offer a mix of foliage and texture. Christine Froehlich, RCGC director and landscape designer, will share slides and give a hands-on demonstration showing how to put together color combinations that last well into fall. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC

May 3: Spring Garden Talk, 7 – 8 pm. Subjects covered will include gardening with a budget of zero dollars, growing plants from seed, planning a vegetable garden, maximizing color with annuals & perennials, raising herbs

May 8: Webster Arboretum Plant Sale, 8 am – 12

pm. Perennials from standard to uncommon, annuals, dwarf conifers, geraniums, dahlias, various garden club offerings and more.

Webster Arboretum, 1700 Schlegel Road, Webster. websterarboretum.org.

May 8: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Kent Park Arboretum Sale, Webster.

May 8: Master Gardener Plant Sale, 9 – 11:30 am.

Reasonably priced plants from the gardens of over 20 Master Gardeners. Proceeds benefit the educational outreach programs of the Ontario County Master Gardener volunteers. Bring boxes for purchases.,Cooperative Extension Center, 480 North Main Street, Canandaigua.

585/394-3977 x427.

May 8: Garden Maintenance Skills, 9 am – 12 pm.

Outdoor program with landscape designer Christine Froehlich. Learn the basics of proper maintenance of landscape plants. Topics covered: planting, watering, soil preparation (including composting and mulch), fertilizers, deadheading and basic pruning, pest and disease monitoring, and perennial division. $32 members; $42 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 8: Garden Day Celebration – Are There Faeries in Your Garden, 9 am – 12 pm. Plant sale, demonstrations, basket auction, refreshments.

Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County Master Gardeners. Free.

CCE-Wyoming County, 401 N. Main Street, Warsaw. 585/786-2251. counties.cce.cornell. edu/Wyoming.

Join the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal on our second annual Buffalo

Odyssey to Ithaca

A wonderful spring tradition—inspiring gardens—shopping at great nurseries— unusual plants—gorgeous scenery—a delicious Herbal Lunch

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2010 Highlights of this day-long luxury motorcoach tour include: A leisurely visit to Cornell Plantations, truly one of the most inspiring gardens in New York State Delicious Herbal Lunch and shopping at Bakers’ Acres—they have an incredible array of perennials Shopping at The Plantsmen nursery, known for its natives and beautiful setting More shopping at Bedlam Gardens, a tiny nursery with huge display gardens offering the rare and unusual Depart Buffalo, Eastern Hills Mall, rear of Sears store, 7:30 am/return approx. 7:30 pm Depart Batavia, location to be determined, 8:00 am/return approx. 7:00 pm

ONLY $70/person. Sign up today.

There will be an optional box dinner available for purchase before we depart for home. You may also feel free to bring your own.

To register, go to UpstateGardenersJournal.com or complete and return the form below.

Call 716-432-8688 or 585-538-4980 for more information or to pay by credit card.

Name_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________________________________ # of tickets________X $70 = __________ (Please enclose check or money order) Please mail to: Upstate Gardeners’ Journal, 3200 East Ave., Caledonia, NY 14423 28 | MAY-JUNE 2010

Stephanie Cohen to headline National Buffalo Garden Festival On June 19th, Stephanie Cohen, the “Diva of Perennials,” will appear in western New York at two events, open for the public. Cohen is a national figure in the garden writing world, author of The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer (2005) and Fallscaping (2008), both from Timber Press. She has taught perennial design at Temple University for 20 years, edits and writes for Fine Gardening magazine, and has won many prestigious awards from the U.S. Perennial Plant Association for her contributions. Her new book, The Non Stop Garden, should be out just in time for her Buffalo appearances.

The National Buffalo Garden Festival includes 5 weeks of garden-themed special events, symposia, garden tours and walks, and bus tours. Cohen’s talks kick off this summer of gardening celebration.

At Lockwood’s Greenhouses (Hamburg, New York), Cohen will speak on perennial garden design, a part of “Perennials Day” at the garden center’s event under the National Festival banner.

Her goal: “to demystify the perennial garden design process, and just get down & dirty with confidence!” Other speakers that day include Mike Shadrack, the London “Bobby” turned international hosta expert—co-author of The New Encyclopedia of Hostas (February 2010, Timber Press.). Sally Cunningham with “High Performance Perennials” and Mary Gurtler with “Perennials in Container Design” will complete the symposium. (See lockwoodsgreenhouses.com) Ms. Cohen’s keynote event takes place in Buffalo that evening, with a welcoming reception at 6:00pm and the lecture at 7:30, on the topic of “The Summer Garden.” This was chosen to encourage the many hundreds of area gardeners preparing to fill their gardens with flowers in time for ­18 garden walks or tours in the Buffalo and Niagara County region this summer. Stephanie promises “summer sizzlers” and “shady stalwarts,” guaranteed to enhance western New York gardens.

Her appearance is sponsored by the WNY Nursery & Landscape Association, with help from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and will be affordable enough that any area gardener can benefit. For program details and registration information visit nationalgardenfestival.com.

Amy Stewart at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library – June 26 Amy Stewart, best-selling author of Wicked Plants (Algonquin Books, 2009),and Flower Confidential will highlight the second weekend of the National Buffalo Garden Festival. Her essays and commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle and many national magazines.

The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library will sponsor her visit—the talk FREE for the public. For humor, insight into the amazing (and wicked) world of plants, don’t miss her talk at the library at 2pm. For more information visit nationalgardenfestival.com.

PICTURED: Stephanie Cohen UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 29

Largest grower of perennials and herbs in Central New York 20 Display Gardens to View

 



Nursery Open Monday-Friday 8-5:30 Saturday & Sunday 9-5 Special Hours in May & June Monday-Friday 8-6 Saturday & Sunday 9-5

 

Mail: 1104 Auburn Rd., Groton, NY 13073 (Rte. 34 in N. Lansing bet. Ithaca & Auburn) Tel: 607-533-4653 email: info@bakersacres.net www.bakersacres.net

      

     

Mischler’s Florist

and GREENHOUSES

118 South Forest Road (between Main St. and Wehrle Dr.), Williamsville, NY 14221

• Top quality plants grown in our greenhouses • Custom planted containers • Award winning container designs • Hanging baskets including moss baskets • New & hard to find annuals & perennials • Proven Winners & other specialty annuals • Numerous ornamental grasses • Experienced gardeners on staff • Friendly, knowledgeable service • We deliver

Full Service Florist

“We’re Growing for You”

716.632.1290 • Toll-free 887.363.1879 • mischlersflorist.com

Calendar ROCHESTER continued May 8: Growing a Rainbow of Blooms, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm. Tom & Kathy Rood from Grace Gardens and Donna Lowry, Greater Rochester Iris Society president, will show participants how to create a rainbow of blooms in their garden with daylilies and irises. Breakfast bar; door prizes. $20.

Registration required. PCC May 8: Vegetable Garden Set Up, 10 am. Gerry Benedict, Master Gardener Wayne County Cornell Cooperative Extension, will discuss practical considerations and their application for setting up a vegetable garden in your yard. Free.

Registration required. WAY • May 9: Mother’s Day Visitor Special. Treat Mom to a day at Sonnenberg. Carriage rides courtesy of Granger Homestead, available during the afternoon, fee. $1 Moms; regular pricing all others. SG May 9: Flower City Days at the Market, 8 am – 2 pm.

Hundreds of area growers. Join in Rochester’s Green Revolution; recycle your old plant containers. Master Gardeners from Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension available to answer gardening questions. RPM May 9: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 2 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Rochester Public Market.

May 11: An Organic Approach to Gardening (and Eating), 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Horticulturist Carol Erb will talk about which foods on the supermarket shelves are typically grown with a lot of pesticides and which organic choices are the best options.

Discussion will include where to buy and how to grow your own organic foods, and how to strike a balance in choosing organic vs. chemical pesticides. Organic food tasting during class. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 11: Gardeners’ Herbal Soap Workshop, 7 – 9 pm. Sherri Reehil-Welser, Master Gardener, Herbalist & Certified Aromatherapist will share the benefits of herbs & oils used for creating healing glycerin soaps geared toward hard working gardeners’ hands. Natural exfoliants will also be discussed. Each participant will create their own gardeners’ soap to take home. Materials included. $12. Registration required. PCC May 13: Purposeful Perennials – Using Perennials in Containers, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Avoid that weary end-of-summer look of annuals, expand your palette of container plants with perennial foliage and flowers. Garden designer Christine Froehlich will present a slide lecture and discuss the many varieties of perennials she has successfully used in containers and then reused in gardens. Lists of perennials that work well in different situations provided. $22 members; $32 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC May 14 – 23: Lilac Festival. Highland Park, Rochester. lilacfestival.com.

May 14 – 23: Visit Ellwanger Garden, 10 am – 4 pm. Open during Lilac Festival. Discover a hidden oasis just blocks from the Lilac festivities at this historic landscape originally planted by nurseryman George Ellwanger in 1867. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester. $5 suggested donation.

May 14 – 23: Master Gardeners of Monroe County Plant Sale, 10 am – 8 pm. Annual Lilac Festival plant sale featuring unusual and common annual, perennial, organic vegetable, herb plants, shrubs and trees. Proceeds support the Master Gardener volunteer programs. Cornell Cooperative

Extension, 249 Highland Ave., Rochester.

May 15: Do-It-Yourself Garden Design Clinic, 10 am.

Create your own garden design with instruction then determine how much and what to do yourself. Participants will complete at least one ready-to-plant design for this spring. Free. Preregistration required. WAY May 15: Twig Arch Workshop, 10 am – 1 pm. Floral designer Alana Miller will share techniques for constructing rustic twig structures for your garden, then the group will participate in putting together one large twig arch, to be displayed at the Garden Center. Outdoor workshop, rain or shine. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 15: Wildflower Walk, 1:30 pm. See description under May 6. East of Lee’s Landing. Meet: parade grounds parking lot. Bring lunch. 3 hours; 1 mile.

Free. LET May 15 – 16: Upstate New York Bonsai Exhibition, 9 am – 5 pm. Bonsai display and vendors.

Lecture demo, 2 pm daily. $5; $3 seniors.

Monroe Community Hospital, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester. 585/334-2595. bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org.

May 15 – 16: Bonsai Open House & Sale, 10 am – 4 pm. Bonsai soil, tools, wire, books, containers, unusual plant material. International Bonsai Arboretum, 1070 Martin Road, West Henrietta.

585/334-2595. internationalbonsai.com.

May 15 – 16: Ikebana Exhibit, 10 am – 5 pm. Hosted

by Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53.

Ikebana exhibit at Bonsai Show & Sale, Monroe Community Hospital, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester.

May 15 – 16: Native Perennial Wildflower Sale, 10 am – 5 pm. Amanda’s Garden will have plants available for purchase. Main entrance; Genesee Country Village & Museum, Flint Hill Road, Mumford. Amanda’s Garden, 8410 Harpers Ferry Rd., Springwater. 585/669-2275. amandasgarden@frontiernet.net. amandagarden. com.

May 16: Flower City Days at the Market, 8 am – 2 pm. See description under May 9. RPM May 19: Perennial Surprises & Hidden Treasures at Michael Hannen’s Nursery, 6 – 7:30 pm. See something different in Michael’s gardens. He’s planted many new varieties, for a total of 700800 different plants, all of them hard to find and unusual. Enjoy a guided tour highlighting the current standouts. $10 members; $15 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC May 19 – 20: Hypertufa Garden Troughs, 7 – 9 pm; 7 – 8 pm Thursday. Alana Miller will guide students through the creation of their own hypertufa planter.

The second evening students will unmold their containers, discuss numerous planting options, wintering over and see examples of planters used in the landscape. Materials included. $65 members; $75 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 20: Wildflower Walk, 1 pm. See description under May 6. Lower canyon woods. Meet: parade grounds parking lot. Bring lunch. 3 hours; 1 mile.

Free. LET May 21 – 22: Plant Sale, 1 – 5 pm Friday; 9 am – 3 pm Saturday. Hosted by Bloomfield Garden Club.

Annuals, hanging baskets, herbs, member-grown perennials; new-to-you garden tools, books, pots.

Bloomfield Historical Academy Building, 8 South Avenue, Bloomfield.

May 22: Mill Creek Gardeners’ Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Healthy, well-established plants from members’ gardens. Detailed cultural information provided for all plants. Proceeds help support

Webster Arboretum. 300 Webster Rd. (Route 250), Webster, 1/2 mile south of Lake Rd. May 22: Native Plant Sale, 8:30 am – 2 pm. Native plants, shrubs, trees. Proceeds support Genesee Land Trust. Brighton Town Hall, 2300 Elmwood Ave., Rochester. Genesee Land Trust, 585/2562130; geneseelandtrust.org.

May 22: Plant Sale, 9 am – 12 pm. Annual sale presented by Pittsford Garden Club. Municipal parking lot next to Pittsford Library, State Street, Pittsford.

May 22: Butterflies and the Plants They Need, 10 am. Most field trips last about 2 hours; some continue into the afternoon, especially those that are further away from Rochester. Bring a cold drink and lunch. Long pants and appropriate footgear are strongly recommended, as there is often poison ivy. Explore Hemlock and Canadice lakes.

Meet: parking lot of the park at the north end of Hemlock Lake, Rix Hill Road, Hemlock. 585/3466859. RBC May 22: Spring Tour – Trees of Highland Park, 10 am – 12:30 pm. Join arborphile and local tree expert Jim Atwater during spring bloom for a tour of this living museum of unusual and seldom-seen plants from around the globe. Be prepared to walk a moderate distance over hilly terrain. $15 members; $22 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 22 – 23: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 9 am – 5 pm. Historic gardens feature a distinguished collection of tree peonies. LIN May 23: Flower City Days at the Market, 8 am – 2 pm.

See description under May 9. RPM May 23: First Blooms Garden Tour, 12 – 4 pm. Tour starts at heirloom and herb gardens on Valentown Museum Grounds; 7 additional gardens in Victor and Farmington. Hosted by Valentown Garden Club. Proceeds benefit the historic Valentown gardens and landscaping projects. $10; available at Victor town and village halls, Chamber of Commerce, area florists and garden supply stores, Valentown Museum morning of tour. Valentown Museum, Victor. valentown.org.

May 24: Make a Garden Stepping-Stone, 7 – 9 pm. Students will each make their own cement stepping stone and decorate it with their choice of embellishments. All materials and embellishments included, or bring your own rocks, marbles, crystals, tiles, broken crockery, etc. to personalize your stone. $28 members; $35 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC May 25: Soiree – Roz Bliss’s Garden in Magical May, 6:30 – 8 pm. Pergolas, berms, swales, giant plants, tiny troughs, vines, edible and ornamental plants all artfully mingle. In May the back yard is adrift with candelabra primroses, flowering bulbs and ferns. The front is a California-style garden with gravel terraces overflowing with herbs and perennials, troughs containing rock gardens, flowering and evergreen trees pruned to reveal individual character, and lots of spring color.

Refreshments. $12.50 individual; $11 (each) two or more. Registration required. RCGC May 25 & 27: Intermediate Professional Floral Design Certificate – Bouquets, 6:30 – 9 pm. For those who have completed the Basic Professional Floral Design program or have floral shop experience.

Instructor Alana Miller is a professional floral designer and teacher with over 30 years experience in the industry. Styles covered in this intermediate program will include vegetative, landscape, botanical, Biedermeier, and bouquets. Students will take home all arrangements created during class. Bring floral tools. $150 members; $225 non-members. Registration required. RCGC

ROCHESTER continued

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 31

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WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: Jim Engel (of White Oak Nursery) Ellen Folts (of Amanda’s Garden) DONATION: $5.00 For registration information and directions, contact Arlene Cluff @ 624-3182 or ajcluff45@aol.com www.mendonfoundation.com

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585/594-8300 Open year-round. Closed Sundays & Mondays.

Calendar pm. See description under May 9. RPM May 28 – 31: Flower City Days at the Market, 8 am – 2 pm. See description under May 9. RPM May 29: Proud Market Plant Sale, 8 am. Shop all manner of plants, many of them unusual or hard to find. Vendors include garden clubs and small independent plant specialists. Perennials, shrubs, trees, annuals, vegetables. RCGC May 29: Rock Garden Society Plant Sale, 8 am. GVC NARGS [see Regular Club Meetings]. Proud Market Plant Sale, Rochester Civic Garden Center.

May 29: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am.

Dahlia plants and tubers. Proud Market Plant Sale, Rochester Civic Garden Center.

May 29 – 31: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 9 am – 5 pm. See description under May 22 – 23. LIN May 30: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 2 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Rochester Public Market.

June 2: Gardening with Locally-Grown, RegionallyAdapted, Open-Pollinated Seed, 6:30 – 8 pm.

Join Mihail Kossev for an open discussion of gardening essentials. Mihail started Collected Seed Farm to introduce non-corporate, handdried, hand-packaged seeds and offer organic gardeners an alternative to the sterile hybrids produced by large companies. Free. RCGC June 5: Odyssey to Ithaca, 8 am – 7 pm. Join the UGJ and RCGC on our seventh annual bus tour. First stop will be Cornell Plantations to tour the gardens near the visitor’s center, then on to three family-owned garden centers with tons of character: Bakers’ Acres for their wonderful Herbal Sampler lunch, with plenty of time to shop their fabulous selection of homegrown annuals and perennials, then on to The Plantsmen Nursery, specializing in natives as well as many unusual plants, and last stop is Bedlam Gardens, a delightful little nursery full of surprises and with a gorgeous display garden.

We’ll travel by luxury coach with ample room to transport all our purchases. Lunch provided; box dinner available for purchase, or bring your own to eat on the way back. $60. Registration required. RCGC June 5: Mendon Foundation Workshop & Native Plant Sale, 9 am – 1 pm. Vendors: White Oak Nursery, Amanda’s Garden, Mendon Village Garden Store, Honeoye Falls- Lima Robotics Team #2228. Workshop, 11 am: Attracting Birds & Butterflies to Your Native Plant Garden. $5. Pre-registration required: 585/624-3182; ajcluff45@aol.com. Proceeds benefit Mendon Foundation & Robotics Team. Mendon Station Park, corner Routes 64 & 251, Mendon. mendonfoundation.com.

June 5: Honeybees, 10 am. Presentation will include correct identification of various bees commonly seen in this region, the importance of pollinators in general, and how to attract them to the garden. Attendees can study a hive body while Mary discusses beekeeping tools and organization of honey bees within the hive. She will also give an update on what’s happening with the colony collapse disorder problem.

Instructor: Mary Moss-Sprague, a beekeeper of 20 years and Master Gardener Wayne County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Free. Registration required. WAY June 5 – 6: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 9 am – 5 pm. See description under May 22 – 23. LIN June 6: Flower City Days at the Market, 8 am – 2

June 6: Medicine Plant Hike, 9:30 am – 12 pm. Join site interpreter Tonia Loran Galban (Mohawk) for a walk on the Earth is Our Mother Trail to discover how the natural world provides human beings with everything necessary for a healthy and spiritually satisfying life. Some hill climbing; uneven terrain. Ages 10+. $3 members, $10 families; $5 non-members, $15 families.

Ganondagan State Historic Site, 1488 State Rte. 444, Victor. 585/742-1690. ganondagan.org.

June 7: Garden Tour, 9 – 11 am. Presented by Phelps Community Center & Cornell Cooperative Extension. Join owners Dana & Sylvia for a unique tour of Borglum’s Iris Gardens. Enjoy 4 acres of peonies, irises, daylilies and hostas.

Plants will be available for purchase. $5.

Registration required by June 1. Borglum’s Iris Gardens, Geneva. PCC June 8: Butterflies and the Plants They Need, 9 am. See description under May 22. Wesley Hill Preserve, Anna Brown Tract, Naples. Meet: Park and Ride parking lot, Bushnell’s Basin Exit of Route I-490. 585/346-6859. RBC June 8: Ikebana Demonstration, 7 pm.

Demonstration with narrative. Presented by Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53.

Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester.

June 11 – August 13: Botanical Drawing, eight Fridays, 9:30 – 11:30 am. Deb VerHulst-Norris will teach students to draw plants and flowers in accurate detail using graphite and colored pencil to bring creations to life. No previous experience needed. $99 members; $120 non-members.

RCGC June 11 – 12: A Garden Gallery – Show and Sale, 11 am – 6 pm Friday, 9:30 am – 4 pm Saturday.

Garden-themed treasures for indoors and out, ornaments, birdhouses and baths, trellises, furniture. A Garden Gallery, 109 Heather Drive, Rochester. agardengallery@yahoo.com.

June 12: Do-It-Yourself Garden Design Clinic, 10 am. See description under May 15. Free. Preregistration required. WAY June 12: Garden Tour - A Garden Medley, 11 am – 5 pm. Tour five private gardens in Pittsford/ Fairport/Webster area. Proceeds benefit Genesee Valley Orchestra and Chorus, a notfor-profit musical group based in Fairport. Rain or shine. $10; available mid-May at several local garden centers. 585/223-9006. gvoc.org.

June 12 – 13: Dry Stone Walling Workshop, 8:30 am – 5 pm. Join Chuck Eblacker and Andy Louden of Great Britain for a weekend of handson instruction in basic principles of this ancient craft. The Harley School. Chuck: 585/233-5320; chuck@eblackerstone.com.

June 12 – 13: US National Bonsai Exhibition, 9 am – 5 pm. Display of over 200 museumquality bonsai from private collections. Lecture demo, 1 pm daily. Vendors. $15; $20 weekend pass. Monroe Community Hospital, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester. 585/334-2595. internationalbonsai.com.

June 12 – 13: Peony Weekend at Ellwanger Garden, 10 am – 4 pm. Enjoy eighty different kinds of perennials, including strong collections of iris, peonies, roses and hostas, in this English-style garden established in 1867. $5 suggested donation. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester.

June 14: Roses & Rosés Wine & Dine Gala, 6 – 8 pm. Enjoy fine wine tastings and delectable food pairings. Celebrate the art of wine and the

formal Rose Garden. Advance tickets strongly recommended. $35; buy one, get second halfprice. SG June 16: The History of Cooking with Flowers and Herbs, 7 pm. Speaker: Linda Foti. Hosted by Valentown Garden Club and Victor Historical Society. Victor Town Hall, Victor. valentown.org.

June 19: Summer Pruning, 9 am – 12 pm. Learn how to properly prune flowering trees and shrubs, as well as broadleaf evergreens and conifers in this class with Mike Tanzini of Ted Collins Tree & Landscape. Prerequisite: Pruning Session I (The Basics) or similar pruning class. $36 members; $46 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 19: Garden Tour, 9 am – 3 pm. Presented by the Women’s Council of the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Tour six residential gardens in the Rochester area including the gardens of: Laurie Broccolo, Albert Seig, Mary Stid, Jerry Kral, Marcy Klein and Rick Schaeffer, and Ann Schuler. $18; available at Wegmans and the Rochester Museum & Science Center.

• June 19: Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars: Keeping the Magic Alive Thru Generations, 10 am – 12 pm. Follow best selling, award winning author Sharon Lovejoy on a creative journey to rediscover the child within. Learn how to share your newfound, infectious enthusiasm with the young and old “children” around you. Proceeds benefit Phelps Community Center Youth Educational Garden Program. $5 individual; $10 family. Registration required by June 1. PCC June 19: Rose Workshop, 10 am – 12 pm. Greater Rochester Rose Society members provide expert advice on roses and hands-on demonstrations.

Meet by the fountain, Maplewood Rose Garden, corner of Lake and Driving Park Avenues, Rochester. Free. Rain or shine. ROC June 22: Fresh-Flower Hand-Tied Bouquets, 7 – 9 pm. Join floral designer Alana Miller for this hands-on workshop. Learn various wrapping techniques and presentations, using French knots and pearl embellishments to create handtied bouquets with roses, freesia and other fresh flowers. $35 members; $45 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC June 23: Perennial Surprises & Hidden Treasures at Michael Hannen’s Nursery, 6-7:30 pm. See description under May 19. $10 members; $15 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 24: Soiree – Visit Rochester’s Castle, 6:30 – 8 pm. Celebrate the beginning of summer with tours of historic Warner Castle and grounds, including the Alling DeForest-designed courtyard and sunken gardens. Refreshments, guided tours, library. $12.50 individual; $11 (each) two or more. Registration required. RCGC June 26: Backyard Habitat Tour – A North Coast Tour, 9 am – 4 pm. Self-guided tour features gardens in Penfield, Webster, Irondequoit, Greece and Hilton. See properties landscaped to attract wildlife; including one on the water. $12 member; $15 non-member. Tickets available through GLT or Wegmans Food Markets (nonmember rate only). Genesee Land Trust, 500 East Avenue, Suite 200, Rochester, NY 14607.

585/256-2130. geneseelandtrust.org.

June 26 – 27: Stone Wall Building Seminar. In-depth opportunity with local stone artisan Scott George. Small class size; off-site. Sara’s Garden Center. 585/637-4745. kkepler@rochester.rr.com.

ROCHESTER continued

June 26: Advanced Professional Floral Design

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 33

Calendar Certificate – Sympathy Arrangements, 9:30 am – 3 pm. For those who have completed the Intermediate Professional Floral Design program or have floral shop experience.

Instructor Alana Miller is a professional floral designer and teacher with over 30 years experience in the industry. Sympathy arrangements continue to be a major part of the floral business. Focus will be on free-standing easel sprays, large one-sided arrangements for visitation, and altar, religious, and theme wreaths. Students will take home all arrangements created during class. Bring floral tools. $125 members; $225 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 29: Daylily Garden Open House, 5 – 7 pm.

Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

June 30: Butterflies and the Plants They Need, 10 am. See description under May 22. Lehigh Valley Trail and Mendon Drumlin. Meet: Visitor Center parking lot, Mendon Ponds Park, Pond Road. 585/ 425-2380. RBC

African Violet Society of Syracuse meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm, September – June. Membership open to all interested in the culture, care and propagation of African violets. Visitors welcome. Andrews United Methodist Church, 106 Church Street, North Syracuse. 315/492-2562; jimviolets@msn.com; avsofsyracuse.org.

BCNY: Bonsai Club of CNY usually meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm.

Visitors welcome. Pitcher Hill Community Church, 605 Bailey Road, North Syracuse.

315/461-9226; iriscohen@aol.com; cnybonsai. googlepages.com.

Central New York Orchid Society meets the first Sunday of the month, September – May, St. Augustine’s Church, 7333 O’Brien Rd., Baldwinsville. Dates may vary due to holidays.

315/633-2437; cnyos.org.

Gardeners in Thyme (a women’s herb club) meets the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm, Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville.

315/635-6481; hbaker@twcny.rr.com.

July 3 – 31: Enchanted Gardens National Daylily Display Garden, 9 – 11 am Saturdays, 6 – 8 pm Mondays. Free. Call to schedule group tours or visit at a different time. 1085 State Road, Webster. 585/265-9635.

Habitat Gardening Club of CNY (HGCNY) meets the last Sunday of most months at 2 pm.

LeMoyne College, Falcone Library, special activities room, Syracuse. 315/487-5742; hgcny. org.

July 6: Butterflies and the Plants They Need, 9 am. See description under May 22.

Letchworth State Park, east side. Meet: Park and Ride lot, Rts. 15 and 251, off I-390, exit 11 for Rush. 585/383-8168. RBC

Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York usually meets the third Monday of each month at 7 pm. See web site for meeting locations.

315/458-3199; cnykoi.com.

July 9 – August 13: Moonlight Stroll Music Series, Fridays, 8 – 10 pm; gates open 7:30 pm. Enjoy live music and the gardens lit in lights. Visitors are invited to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Wine by the glass and light refreshments for sale. $7 members; $9 non-members. SG July 10: Rochester Civic Garden Center Annual Summer Garden Tour, 10 am – 4 pm. Tour gardens in the Webster area at your own pace. Map provided. Advance: $15 members; $20 non-members. Day of: $20. RCGC July 10: Garden Tour, 10 am – 5 pm. Self-guided tour of seven Orleans county gardens, each with artists in plein air (weather permitting).

Hospitality house at Cobblestone Museum, free museum tour. Artist work on display at Leonard Oakes Winery; artist reception, 5 pm (all tour attendees invited); wine tasting.

Proceeds benefit Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners program. $15. 585/589-1640.

July 11: Daylily Garden Open House, 1 – 5 pm.

Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

July 13: Butterflies and the Plants They Need, 9 am. See description under May 22. Hi Tor area, near Naples. Meet: Park and Ride parking lot, Bushnell’s Basin Exit of Route I-490. 585/383-8168. RBC July 14: Daylily Garden Open House, 5 – 7 pm.

Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

SYRACUSE REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS:

34 | MAY-JUNE 2010

Men’s (and Women’s) Garden Club of Syracuse meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm. Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Ave., Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Ave. 315/464-0051.

Syracuse Rose Society meets the second Thursday of every month (except December and February) at 7:30 pm. Public welcome.

Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Ave. Club members maintain the E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden, Thornden Park, Syracuse. syracuserosesociety.org.

CLASSES / EVENTS • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

Ongoing: Volunteer, Weed and Feed, Wednesdays, 10 am. Volunteers gather to spruce up the gardens, grounds and trails. On the third Wednesday of the month volunteers are invited to a lunch of locally harvested foods. BWNC Ongoing through May 16: Weekend Wildflower Walks, Saturday & Sunday, 2 pm.

Spring is the best time to tour one of New York’s premier wildflower collections, the Mildred Faust Garden, with caretaker Audrey Loewer.

Features 200+ species of flowering plants and ferns. Handicap accessible. Donations appreciated. BWNC May 1: Nature in the City: Wildflower Wonders, 10 – 11 am. Elmwood Park has been called the most diverse forest of its size in CNY. Join local naturalists to wander the wooded trails and discover the wealth of woodland wildflowers.

Meet: Old Stone Mill, Elmwood Park, Syracuse.

Donations appreciated. Registration required.

BWNC May 1 – 2: African Violet Show and Sale, 1 – 6 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4:30 pm Sunday.

FREQUENT HOSTS BWNC: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, NY. 315/673-1350; baltimorewoods.org.

EA: Enchantment Acres Flower Farm, 887 County Route 3, Hannibal, NY. 315/5983346; ron2don@twcny.rr.com.

PP: Pippi’s Perennials & Blooming Yoga, 12 Sherry Lane, Kirkville, NY. 315/727-1062; pippis.net.

Annual show and sale presented by African Violet Society of Syracuse. $2. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. 315/633-2437.

May 9: Mother’s Day Garden Tour and Plant Sale, 11 am – 4 pm. Stroll over 25 acres of themed gardens, over 500 varieties of trees, more than 500,000 flowering bulbs, over five acres of ponds, bell garden, maze. Plant sale, art show and sale, bake sale, raffle. Purchase lunch or bring a picnic. Rain or shine. $8 advance; $10 door. Plant sale free. Proceeds benefit BWNC. Sycamore Hill Gardens, 2130 Old Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus. BWNC May 22: How to Prepare Your Favorite Flower for Competition. EA May 24: Designing a Low Maintenance Garden, 6 pm. Garden layout, plant selection, and other tips for optimizing enjoyment of your garden while minimizing effort. Free. PP May 27 – 30: Herb Sale – How to Plant an Herb Garden. EA June 1 – July 6: Yoga for Gardeners, six Tuesdays, 8:30 – 9:45 am. Kripalu yoga classes designed for gardeners. Taught by certified Kripalu yoga teacher Vicky Hilleges, owner of Pippis Perennials & Blooming Yoga. $60. Registration required. PP June 2 – 6: Peonies on Parade. EA June 7 – 28: Yoga for Gardeners, four Mondays, 6:00 – 7:15 pm. See description under June 1. $40. Registration required. PP June 12: Iris among the Trains. Open house. EA June 13: Pippi’s Customer Appreciation Day, 10 am – 4 pm. Discounts, refreshments, & display gardens. PP June 25 – 26: A Summer Place, 1 – 5 pm Friday; 10 am – 5 pm Saturday. Sponsored by Skaneateles Garden Club and Skaneateles Historical Society. House tour and standard flower show, featuring judged artistic flower arrangements in six homes. Judged horticulture and educational exhibits. $20, until June 12; send check (payable to Skaneateles Garden Club), Skaneateles Garden Club, A Summer Place, P.O. Box 96, Skaneateles, NY 13152. Day of: $25, St. James Church, 96 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles. 315/685-3394.

June 26: Herb & Flower Festival, 9am – 3:30 pm. $3. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County, 121 Second Street, Oriskany.

315/736-3394.

& BEYOND CLASSES / EVENTS

Badding Bros.

Farm Market

Carved Rocks Choose from our selection or bring your own design. We will carve it deep into the stone. They are used for doorstops, addresses, garden, pet memorials, and room decor. Smallest $12.50 handsized rocks with one name make excellent gifts.

505 FILLMORE AVENUE TONAWANDA 716-743-8007

Annuals, Perennials, Hanging Baskets, Geraniums, Proven Winners Garden Accessories & All of Your Gardening Needs

“We Grow Our Own”

From Our Greenhouse to Your Garden 10820 Transit Rd.. East Amherst, NY 14051 (716) 636-7824

Shelter Creek Nursery

Rose & Hydrangea Special Three or more 25% off

Twig Cone Baskets— Angel Moss—Coco Moss

Visit our Website for 200+ varieties each to choose from

Wide Assortment of Perennials— Proven Winners Annuals Herbs • Hydrangeas • Roses Flowering Shrubs Containers Galore—Mexican, Chinese, Fiestaware Many Varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes, Peppers and more!

3309 Union St., N. Chili, NY (585) 594-4123

SPRING HOURS Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6 SUMMER HOURS Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 9-6 Join us on Facebook & Twitter too!

Open Daily Year-Round

124 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Macedon, NY 14502 (585) 223-1222 www.waysidegardencenter.com

H.A.Treichler & Sons “We Grow Our Own”

A Family Tradition Since 1854

10” Hanging Baskets—Thousands to choose from Annuals & Perennials—Gallons and 4½” Pots Geraniums Vegetable Plants for Home Gardeners Seeds Gift Certificates Available

Tall. Short. Bushy.

Sparse. Strong.

Delicate.

We have plants as small your pinky or as tall as your waist. Come in and find just the right plant to fit your garden.

Don’t forget our Senior Discount every Wednesday!

Open through October 31, 2010 Monday - Saturday 8 am - 8 pm Sunday 8 am - 5 pm

2687 Saunders Settlement Rd. (Rte. 31), Sanborn

716/731-9390

L UCA S G R E E N H O U S E S Grown right. Here.

23 Pannell Circle Fairport, NY 14450 (585) 223-8951 Fax (585) 486-1551 Hours: Mon-Sat 8-7 Sun 8-4 www.lucasgh.com

Welcome the Night! with

Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park The 2010 Garden Season: May 1, 2010—Garden Season Opens Father’s Day Car Show: June 20 Gardens and cars, something for everyone!

Rose Week: June 14 -20 Take a pause, relax and enjoy over 2,500 roses.

Roses and Rosés: June 14 Celebrate the start of Rose Week in our Rose Garden and the 10th Anniversary of our Finger Lakes Wine Center!

by

Niggli Associates, Inc. 585-426-5940 Low Voltage Landscape and Architectural Lighting Systems Design/Consultation, Sales, Installation and Service

Moonlight Stroll Music Series: Fridays, July 9 - Aug. 13 Sonnenberg at Night!

Enjoy the gardens during the evening and a variety of great music.

Save the Date!

Arts At The Gardens: Aug. 21 & 22 Simply the finest art show around.

Harvest Progressive Dinner at Sonnenberg: Sept. 19 A toast to the season’s end.

Mansion Mysteries: October 22, 23, 29 & 30. Who did it?

Plan Your Private event at Sonnenberg!

Sonnenberg Gardens…you deserve it.

151 Charlotte St. Canandaigua, NY 585-394-4922 Visit online: www.sonnenberg.org

Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician by the AOLP

Winner of an Award of Excellence from the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals

Calendar • Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

FREQUENT HOSTS

• May 1: May Day Crafts, 1 – 2 pm. May Day is often a celebration involving flowers & the making of flower baskets. Create one or more of several flower crafts available. All ages welcome. $2; $5 family; children under 5 years free. Registration required. PINE

KING: The King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga, NY. 518/585-2821; fortticonderoga.org.

May 9: Discover the Pine Bush for Moms, 1 – 2 pm.

Bring your mom for a journey into the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the best remaining example of an inland pine barrens. Experts will guide this one-mile hike over rolling sand dunes. Wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. $2; $5 family; children under 5 years free. Registration required. PINE May 16 – 17: Garden Party at Basin Harbor Club.

Garden design clinic revolving around creating a showcase garden for this resort. Lectures include plant selection, site prep, no-fuss annuals, garden care through the seasons, soil pH test, and more.

The resort’s floral designer will lead a hands-on floral arrangement workshop, participants will make their own fresh cut flower arrangement to take home. $119 Monday only; $230 single, $355 double overnight package. Registration required. Overnight packages: Basin Harbor Club, 800/622-4000. Day only: PY May 22: Pre-season Plant Sale, 10 am – 2 pm. Fill an empty space or start a new garden with perennials from the King’s Garden. Free. KING May 22: Wild Blue Lupine Flower Walk, 11 am – 12 pm. Learn why the wild blue lupine is so vital to the Albany Pine Bush and the survival of the Karner Blue Butterfly. Experts will guide this one-hour hike over rolling terrain. Wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. $2; $5 family; children under 5 years free. Registration required. PINE

June 8: Walk on the Wild Side Nature Walk, 1:30 pm.

Join herbalist Nancy Wotton Scarzello for this 90-minute walk and talk. Learn about traditional and folkloric uses of the wild plants, trees and mushrooms found in the gardens and on the grounds. Rain date June 9. $15. Registration required. KING

PINE: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. 518/4560655; albanypinebush.org.

PY: Perennially Yours gardening and landscaping classes with Kerry Ann Mendez; event information and registration details: pyours. com/gardenclasses.html. 518/885-3471.

May 27: Inside Gardening with Mushrooms, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. This indoor program will explore the different types of mushrooms, ways of growing them, and where to obtain materials. Everyone will prepare planted mushrooms to grow at home. $2; $5 family; children under 5 years free. Registration required.

PINE May 30: Discover the Pine Bush, 1 – 2 pm. Journey into the Albany Pine Bush, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. Experts will guide this one mile hike over rolling sand dunes.

Wear sturdy walking shoes, long pants and bring drinking water. $2 per person; $5 per family.

Registration required. PINE

June 14 – 18 & 21 – 23: Native Plant Seed Collection, 9 am – 12 pm. Staff members will lead volunteers in the collection of wild blue lupine flower seeds for use in Karner blue butterfly habitat restoration. Tools provided. Registration required. PINE June 25: Creating Gorgeous, Low-Maintenance Perennial Gardens in Zones 5 and Colder. Kerry Ann Mendez will feature design tips; top-performing perennials, annuals, and shrubs for zones 5 and colder; and surefire maintenance shortcuts for showstopping gardens. Handouts, door prizes. Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT. $35. Registration required.

PY • July 5 – 9: Hands-on Horticulture: Making Sense of Lavender. Discover the history and uses of lavender, a featured flower in the King’s Garden. Harvest your own sprigs and make a scented sachet to bring home. Included with Fort admission. KING • July 6: King’s Garden Live Ladybug Release, 1:30 pm.

Learn to identify ladybug species and appreciate the work of beneficial insects. Stories, ladybug bingo, bug hunt, ladybug release. One hour. Included with Fort admission. KING

June 1 through summer: King’s Garden, daily, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. Stroll among the flowers of the Colonial Revival garden or take a guided tour, offered daily. Children’s garden, vegetable gardens, historic greenhouse, picnic area. Included with Fort admission. KING

Unusual Ornamentals

Trees, Shrubs, Grasses, Perennials

Holmes Hollow Farm

Large Selection of Hardy Trees & Shrubs

Over 3 acres of fresh hardy nursery stock from the common to the hard to find.

2334 Turk Hill Rd, Victor, NY 14564 (585) 223-0959 tree4u@frontiernet.net www.holmeshollow.com

Annuals • Perennials • Fertilizer Seed • Bulk Mulch • Bagged Mulch • Stone Large Selection of Fine Pottery

Directions: from Turk Hill turn on Whisperwood, go 100 yds, turn R on gravel rd, L past greenhouse and down hill.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION

DAVID L. FRANKE

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

585 343-8200 Design and Management of Distinctive Landscapes 4423 N. Bennett Heights, Batavia, NY 14020

by Clover Lawn & Landscape

DELIVERY & PLANTING SERVICES AVAILABLE

CLOVER

NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER

Est. 1927

www.CloverNursery.com Monroe County’s Oldest Nursery Located near Ellison Park • Open 7 Days a Week

485 LANDING ROAD NORTH • 482-5372

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 37

Garden Center • Shrubs • Trees • Perennials

Landscape Design • Planting • Walks/Patios • Maintenance

Country Corners Nursery 6611 Rtes. 5 & 20 Bloomfield (585) 657-7165

THE-RUN-DE-QUOT GARDENS Specializing in TRUE Dwarf Japanese Maples

*Cultivars from 4' to 30' at Maturity *A minimum of 30 different Cultivars including: Reds, Greens, and Variegated

25% OFF

with this ad exp. 6/30/10 (585) 342-0895 1467 Titus Avenue, Irondequoit, NY 14622

Borglum’s Iris Gardens 2202 Austin Road, Geneva, NY 14456 585-526-6729

Iris - Peonies - Hosta Potted Peonies 100+ varieties Dig-Your-Own Iris & Daylilies Opening May 16, Sunday - Friday Closed Saturdays sylborg@aol.com • www.Borglumsiris.com

The Parker House ... a gathering place

Bed & Breakfast originally a country church located in the town of Wallace, this building has been converted into a bed & breakfast. Additional space is available for special events.

61140 State Route 415 Avoca NY 14809 www.parkerhousewallace.com

607-566-2369 Paula Parker

Spring is here, so come shop our beautifully renovated church built in 1880 located in the heart of Blossom, New York.

Bird houses, butterfly baths, frogs or flowers – we’re sure you’ll find just the right fixin’ for your garden.

Newly arrived concrete garden statuary, stakes, and tea lights, bird baths, clay pottery, antiques and more.

Indulge in complimentary Fireside Coffee® and baked goods while you shop.

“The Shop Where You’ll Never Leave Empty-Handed”

381 Main St., Elma NY 14059 • 716/668-2655 (1/2 Mile from Clinton & Transit roads)

Regular Store Hours: Weds-Sat 10-5, Thurs. ‘til 8, Sun 12-5

Mulch Delivery Available.

Many more varieties of Mulch & Stone available! Contractor pick-up welcome.

Hardwood Mulch Triple Ground Premium

Color Enhanced “Black” Mulch

19.99 $29.99

$

per yard

per yard

With this coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Expires 6-30-10.

With this coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Expires 6-30-10.

Garden Wallstone

SPECIAL BLOW OUT PRICING Starting at $1.80 per block

Professional Grade Paving Stone

Antara Pavers

2.99

$

per square foot

With this coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Expires 6-30-10.

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 - 5; Saturday 7:30 - 1 1346 Pittsford-Mendon Road, Mendon, NY 14506 • 624-9805

COU TOSS O DS C

Not Your Average Flower Shop...

OF MARILLA

FLORIST & GIFTS

Come Visit Marilla’s “Best Kept Secret” Specializing in:

• Custom Fresh & Silk Arrangements with an Artistic Flair • Home Décor & Gift Items include: • Furniture • Wall Art • Lodge • Jewelry • Primitives • Signs/Stitcheries • Garden Stakes/Statuary • Wind & Willow Dips & Soup Mixes

Hours: Mon-Fri 9 - 5:30 Saturday 9-3 Closed Sunday

20 % off

Any one regular priced item with this coupon

700 Two Rod Rd., Marilla, NY 14102 Corner of Two Rod/Clinton • (716) 937-4407

MARKET & GREENHOUSES 11210 Clinton St., Elma, NY 14059 716/681-0455 Open Daily 9 - 8, Sunday 9 - 6

647 Walworth-Penfield Rd. Macedon, NY 14502 • (585) 672-5857

Proudly Grown

Garden Ponds • Pond Supplies Salt Water Aquariums • Rain Barrels • Garden Accessories

at

Berner Farms:

Veggie plants (over 25 varieties of tomatoes) Asparagus and assorted berry plants Herbs Our famous hanging baskets Annuals and Perennials Our

in many sizes and price ranges most popular 1 gal. pot only $7.99,

2/$15

Acres

of flowering trees, shrubs, fruit trees and evergreens that help attract birds Wheelchair-accessible paths May 16th - June 6th kids pot up a free plant Many farm animals Bring your camera New: Distributor of Scotts/MiracleGro products

www.sunkissedaquatics.com

When Distinction Matters...

Specializing in hard-to-find, showstopper plants & one-of-a-kind garden accessories including recycled metal animals teak furniture stone benches Always the Unusual & Tempting

Full Landscape Design & Build Services Join Chuck Eblacker and special guest Andy Louden of Great Britain for a weekend of instruction in basic princles of the ancient craft of dry stone walling.

June 12th & 13th, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at The Harley School Email Chuck for details about the workshop.

Patios & Terraces Butterfly & Natives Gardens Foundation Plantings Garden Renovation

LLenroc Landscaping, Inc.

11753 East Main St. East Aurora, NY • (716) 652-8969 johnsonsnurserycenter.com

chuck eblacker 585.233.5320 chuck@eblackerstone.com

Ad2009.25page.indd 1

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Plants...from your old favorites to the new & unique We have annuals, perennials, shrubs & trees Plus mulches, soil & stone

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or call today

800-333-1472 Come Grow with Me!

For the finest grown Kentucky bluegrass and Tall Fescue sod along with all of your infield needs, call Batavia Turf today

1349 Nine Mile Point Road, Webster, NY 14580 585/872-0120 www.HarrisGardens.com

WE’RE JUST DOWN THE ROAD

Ulbrich’s Garden Center

11500 Broadway, Alden NY 14004 716/937-7742 • ulbrichs.com

Garden Path Tour The

Why travel far afield? At Ulbrich’s, we have the plants, the products and the local expertise you need to help you create, maintain and enjoy the garden of your dreams.

Hop in today.

Stacey Kirby’s Trillium

Treasures of Holley Mural Holley's canal-side park

of Orleans County

Saturday, July 10, 2010 10am to 5pm

Call (585) 798-4265 for Tickets Brought to you By

Orleans County

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Natural selections

Let it Rain!

By Colleen O’Neill Nice

I

ABOVE: Symphytum officinale (comfrey)

42 | MAY-JUNE 2010

love a soft, cool rain. My gardens love it too.

But not all plants flourish in a wet sunless environment. So, when strolling through my woodland borders, I was captivated by the giants of the garden who absolutely thrived in all the rain. While many gardeners were complaining about powdery mildew on their peonies and leaf spot on their zinnias, I was frolicking amongst my mammoth monsters that seemed to grow overnight. Given ample room and moist conditions, these prodigious perennials created a tropical effect, adding drama with a frenzy of foliage.

Arching over the pulmonaria and hosta, the thick stems of Astilboides tabularis (formerly known as Rodgersia tabularis) support huge shieldlike leaves. The bright green leaf surface has a sandpaper texture with numerous small teeth projecting from the undulating leaf margins. In addition to the strikingly bold foliage, creamy white panicles rise upward on tall stems in July.

A single specimen can reach three to four feet in height and width, so ample room should be allowed for this plant. Astilboides is a low maintenance,

clump-forming perennial that prefers cool, moist soil in partial shade. It can be divided in the spring, as the foliage emerges, or propagated from seed in the fall.

I use the handsome large-leafed Rodgersia aesculifolia in my garden to help camouflage the gap left by my bleeding hearts after they go dormant for the summer. This rodgersia has palmate leaves that resemble those of a horse chestnut. Each leaflet is coarsely toothed, strongly textured and about seven inches long. In July, white flowers bloom on upright, two-foot tall stems, while the overall height of the plant can reach four feet.

Rodgersias prefer morning sun and moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Finely-textured plants like ferns, corydalis or astilbe are a suitable contrast for the robust foliage of this perennial.

Propagate rodgersia by division in early spring or by starting seeds in a cold frame.

Hosta ‘Big Daddy’ is a real showstopper and gets plenty of attention in my garden. The enormous frosty blue leaves are cupped and thickly quilted, so slugs are not a threat. In July, white

bell-shaped flowers poke up through the foliage.

Like most hostas, ‘Big Daddy’ prefers partial shade and regular watering. It grows about three feet tall and four feet wide, shading out weeds as it matures. It is a tough plant and tolerates drought as well as sandy or clay soils. I prefer to divide ‘Big Daddy’ in the spring before foliage emerges, but fall division works as well. In October, I delight in collecting ripe seeds from ‘Big Daddy’ that are always quick to germinate. Since hosta seeds do not usually come true to the parent, I often get a mix of blue, green and gold babies. The grey-blue foliage of this specimen is a great companion for my finely dissected red-leafed Japanese Maple.

Often called the umbrella plant, Darmera peltata thrives on moisture. Pink flowers emerge in early spring from leafless, hairy stems. As the flowers fade, enormous, upswept, umbrella-like foliage enlarges up to 24” across. The dark green leaves are rounded, deeply lobed and toothed, with conspicuous veining. The vase-shaped clump, four feet tall by three feet wide, can be divided in spring or fall. A fast grower, it needs constant moisture in a part to full shade setting. A native of the western U.S., darmera is hardy in zones 5-7, and creates a distinct, fresh look in my woodland border.

Romping through my garden is the infamous Petasites japonicus ‘Variegata’ or giant Japanese butterbur (I call it dinosaur food, for short). Its large green flowers bloom close to the ground in early spring, with leaves appearing soon after.

I often caution people about this plant before they put it in their gardens, but no one ever heeds my warnings. The three to four foot wide leaves, covered with brushstrokes of pale yellow, cream and green, are just too seducing to pass up. This giant can be very aggressive, traveling by underground rope-like rhizomes, pushing its way through plant roots just to get closer to a sprinkler head. It is by no means low maintenance if planted amongst other more polite perennials.

Once or twice a season, I thin out petacites to give its neighbors – ferns, hostas, baneberry and dicentra – a fighting chance. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, it can reach three to four feet tall in wet summers.

You probably won’t need to propagate more of this plant, but just in case, two-inch rhizome sections will sprout into new plants. The stalks and flower buds are edible.

A noteworthy complement to the hosta variety ‘Big Daddy’ is ‘Sagae’ with its frosted blue-green leaves edged in yellow. Grey-green streaks are painted in the areas between the leaf’s center and its margins. This hosta’s impressive upright mound consists of thick, triangular, slug-resistant foliage.

In midsummer, lavender flowers rise up on four foot tall scapes. ‘Sagae’ grows three feet tall and

five feet wide in rich, consistently moist soil. It prefers light sun to shade with leaf margins fading to cream in the sun. It grows very deep roots, so plant it in a good location and leave it alone for few years so it can reach its mature size.

For a strong vertical accent, Dryopteris tokyoensis is a perfect addition to the shade garden. The Tokyo wood fern’s ladder-like, upright fronds form vase-shaped clumps that grow to four feet tall in moist soil. It is a low maintenance, moderate grower that prefers light to full shade in a sheltered habitat. This easy-to-grow, relatively unknown, deciduous fern from Japan is hardy in zones 4-9. It is propagated from ripe spores or divided in the spring or fall. It is truly impressive arching over hostas, begonias or dicentra.

My favorite large hosta for dividing areas in my garden is the hosta ‘Nigrescens’. Its immense, grey-green leaves form a very upright vase shape and several plants spaced out in a row can create a hedge effect. Its broad, cupped and corrugated foliage is thick and slug resistant. In August, pale lavender flowers can reach seven to eight feet, one of the tallest scapes of any hosta. Hardy in zones 3-8, ‘Nigrescens’ needs to be watered regularly in a partial shade environment. At maturity, it can grow three feet tall by six feet wide. For seed propagation, allow pods to dry on the plant and then break open the pods to collect the seeds.

The largest of the northeastern native wood ferns, Dryopteris goldiana(Goldie’s Woodfern) reaches four feet tall in ideal conditions. It is a bold, somewhat coarse fern, forming large

ABOVE: Petacites Image courtesy Maha Atma Kaur

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 43

ABOVE: Astilboides (Rodgersia) tabularis

44 | MAY-JUNE 2010

clusters of graceful arching fronds. Broad, oblongtriangular foliage arises from a vase-like clump that spreads slowly by creeping rhizomes. Named for Scottish botanist John Goldie, its fronds are green without a hint of gold. This easy-to-grow deciduous fern prefers a dappled shady moisture-retentive woodland site. It is hardy in zones 3-8 and is very attractive planted in masses where strong, bold texture is desired.

Symphytum officinale is a colossal, perennial herb which is a particularly valuable source of fertility for the organic gardener. Also known as comfrey, its very deep roots mine a variety of nutrients from the soil. The nutrients are then made available through its large, fast growing leaves which quickly break down into a thick black liquid. The leaves of comfrey contain 2-3 times more potassium than farmyard manure. Comfrey can be used as a compost activator, a liquid fertilizer, a side dressing or added directly to your potting soil. It grows two to three feet tall and four to five feet wide in full sun and is hardy in zones 4-9. Tiny purple flowers in summer are an added bonus. I usually harvest the large, arrow-shaped leaves several times throughout

the season and add them to my compost heaps.

Propagate from seed or division.

Lastly, the sinister Dracunculus vulgaris (dragon arum) is the ultimate extreme plant reaching three to five feet tall. A snake-skin patterned, thick stem emerges from the soil in spring with sickle-shaped dragon’s claw foliage. In early summer, a striking upward thrusting spathe surrounds an 18-inch spadix which mimics both the color and smell of rotting meat. The odor attracts the flies that are its pollinators and luckily, lasts only a day. The inflorescence persists for almost a week. Need I say that proper siting of this plant is essential? Hardy in zones 5-9, dragon arum prefers moist conditions in sun or bright shade. Propagate fresh seeds or divide in autumn.

By selecting a variety of different plants for your garden, you can attain both interest and drama, no matter what the weather brings.

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SUNY ESF’s Multi-purpose Greenhouse Range Story and photographs by Julie Houde

A

LEFT: Entomology greenhouse filled with propagated plants and student research projects.

MIDDLE: Cacti collection RIGHT: Maria Mlynarski tends to plants 46 | MAY-JUNE 2010

t the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse, NY, sit seven greenhouses 64 feet off the ground: 6,500 square feet of greenhouse space. They sit on the roof of Illick Hall, which contains classrooms and laboratories and is home to the College’s environmental and forest biology program.

The greenhouses contain 4,200 individual plants that represent 1,100 species and 100 families of plants. The houses are different from some of upstate New York’s other well-known horticultural hot spots. There are no seasonal shows, special arrangements or labyrinths like those at popular conservatories in Buffalo or Rochester, but the greenhouses still attract around 1,000 visitors each year to the campus. Each of the seven greenhouses serves a multitude of purposes.

• Two hold no permanent collection and are used for research projects and only open for

classroom instruction.

• One contains a collection of tall tropical plants including a 20-foot-tall Norfolk Island pine, fishtail palm, floss silk tree, whiteflowered bird-of-paradise, several cocoa trees, large staghorn ferns, numerous anthuriums, a 10-foot-tall, pink- and white-flowered oleander, and a collection of zonal and scented pelargonium.

• One contains a collection of smaller tropical plants including dwarf bananas, begonias, plumeria, and tender perennial bedding plants.

• One contains temperate and maritime plant materials that can’t survive rigorous Central New York winters: winter-blooming camellias, crape myrtle, both coastal and giant redwoods, and yesterday-today-and-tomorrow (Brunfelsia sp.). This is the dendrology house and is kept just above freezing during the winter because chilling (vernalization) is required to set flower and vegetative buds.

• One contains a collection of succulent genera including Echinopsis, Euphorbia, Mammillaria, Agave, Aloe, Crassula, and Sedum in one room, and a Valencia orange tree, a large Epiphyllum (commonly referred to as the night-blooming cereus) and a number of ginger lilies in another.

• One contains plants for sale to the campus community from propagation courses at the end of the semester. Sales help fund the supplies and soil required for courses and research.

The College serves as a rescue center with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for plants that have been confiscated because of a lack of proper import documentation. Plants that come to ESF’s greenhouses this way expand the College’s collection and research efforts.

Maintaining ESF’s greenhouses involves students such as Maria Mlynarski, a landscape architecture major whowse federal work-study job is to help keep the vast collection of plants alive.

She enjoys the work, usually devoting eight hours a week to it as well as spending as much time as possible in the greenhouses during the academic breaks.

Independent research students such as James Johnson, a senior environmental biology major, are establishing protocols on the propagation of round leaf dogwood and prickly ash.

“I decided to work mostly on the round leaf dogwood because not many people have worked with the species before. I took hardwood cuttings because they have the most energy reserves stored up and then did hormone treatments using quick dip, talc, and gave the plants bottom heat to assist with callus growth,” Johnson said.

He will measure the amount of successful callus growth on the cuttings in hopes the cuttings will root. Johnson took varying sizes of cuttings in thickness and in height, with initial results showing more success in the smaller, thinner stalks.

Johnson’s research, along with other projects in the greenhouses, is being done in preparation for a green roof that will be installed on the College’s new Gateway Building, which will be constructed behind Moon Library.

“This green roof is going to be different because it is going to be all native plants and constructed like an ecosystem,” Johnson said. “We are testing

brome grass, Ohio golden rod, fragile fern, wild honeysuckle, common juniper and many more plants.”

Since the construction of the greenhouses on Illick Hall in 1968, the facilities have been used as an educational tool, with students learning about plant propagation and care. “The greenhouses were originally built for classroom instruction to teach students about traditional forest production practices,” said Terry Ettinger, greenhouse manager.

The diverse collection of plants allows students to learn about major terrestrial biomes and provide faculty members an opportunity to conduct a wide range of research activities.

Today, the greenhouses are starting to outgrow the structure and construction of the original facilities. Holding courses like plant propagation or having visitors tour the greenhouses is difficult because the space is limited. The College is planning a multimillion-dollar overhaul for the greenhouses, which includes a reconstructed roof and environmental controls for specific biomes.

“When renovations are complete, the greenhouses will be more accommodating for instruction and tours,” said Ettinger.

Ettinger’s long-term goals, after construction, are to take the ESF greenhouses into the 21st century. Information on plants will be available through a database that can be reached online or by smartphone. This will give visitors the opportunity to interact with the greenhouses in a different way. Until then Ettinger brings the greenhouses to the public through a TV series called Garden Journeys on Time Warner’s Your News Now cable stations. Garden Journeys is seen all across New York, western Massachusetts and northern Pennsylvania. Ettinger describes plants in each segment and shares tips on how to care for plants. Recent topics have been the Amazon lily, walking iris, and a journey through the greenhouses.

INSET: Terry Ettinger

Julie Houde is a senior Environmental Studies major at SUNY-ESF. She graduates this spring.

Visitors can visit the greenhouses 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The greenhouses are closed weekends and on most state holidays. There are occasions when the greenhouses will be closed during normal hours. Please call 315-470-6772 in advance to confirm that the greenhouses will be open. Large groups should call in advance because parking and space is limited. Find more information at esf.edu/greenhouses.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 47

Natural selections

Why would you plant that?

By Ellen Folts

LEFT to RIGHT: Bloodroot, winterberry holly, and trillium

48 | MAY-JUNE 2010

T

he area was in a park, a hilly site underneath native shade tees. The soil was bare except for a few weeds and grasses. Not an area you would be able to mow or where grass would grow. It was an opportunity to establish a planting.

The designer did a drawing and submitted a proposal, using Aegopodium podagraria, bishop’s weed, goutweed, or snow on the mountain, as it is sometimes called. This plant runs rampant and it is extremely hard to control. While the foliage is attractive, it spreads by underground runners and there is no stopping it. The designer had included some ferns and grasses also, but the bishop’s weed was so aggressive it quickly ran these plants over. So why should you or I care? This would have been an excellent area to establish a beautiful woodland garden. There could have been bloodroot, wild ginger, green and gold, trilliums, wild columbine, and jack in the pulpit, ferns, sedges and asters for the fall. The planting would have been not just a garden but a habitat. If these native plants were in place, insects would be attracted to their pollen and nectar. Then birds and other animals would follow the insects as their food source.

There is a reason that you don’t see vast stands of one kind of plant in nature. One disease or insect could, theoretically, wipe out the whole population. It isn’t ecologically sound and doesn’t support varied numbers of insects. Unfortunately, beds like this are planted every day. Plantings of Vinca minor, Japanese pachysandra and English ivy may be attractive but not really a healthy way to plant.

The planting would have yielded so much more in the way of beauty and excitement if the designer had made an effort to find out what nature would have put in that area. There could have been a diverse habitat that would not do damage if the plants escaped into the wild.

We need to be mindful of what we put in our

gardens. While many landscape plants are beautiful, if they are allowed to escape into the wild they may wreak havoc on our environment. Why? They often have no natural enemies in the area—neither diseases nor insects. That is why you rarely see holes or notches due to insect damage in non-native plants. Many of them are vigorous growers. Norway maple and its varieties produce abundant seed that can displace sugar and red maples and other native trees in the forest setting. Japanese and Tartarian honeysuckle, burning bush and barberry not only take the place of native understory plants such as spicebush, viburnum and winterberry holly, but also disrupt the growth of herbaceous plants such as trillium, hepatica, spring beauty and bloodroot by leafing out before the native understory does and shading them out during their critical spring growth phase. Take a walk in any of the woods in the Finger Lakes area. You do not have to look very hard to find garlic mustard, honeysuckle or barberry among other invasive plants that have escaped from cultivation. In upstate New York burning bush has not yet become a real problem, but this fall while walking at Hemlock Lake I was saddened to discover a stand of it. These plants are changing our environment, and not for the better.

What can you do? Consider taking out at least a portion of these groundcovers and replacing them with native plants. If you see your groundcovers or, for that matter, honeysuckle, burning bush or barberry or other nonnative landscape plants escaping into neighboring woods or fields, pull them out. Cut the flower heads off garlic mustard and dame’s rocket before they go to seed.

Do research before planting and think: Why would I plant that?

Ellen Folts, is owns Amanda’s Garden, a native plant nursery in Springwater.

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(Rain) barrel of fun

by Christina Le Beau

“Rain barrel” has long been on my garden to-do list. Buy one, make one, just get one. But like so many other good intentions, that one has languished for years, somewhere between “build a new compost bin” and “turn yard into an edible paradise.”

Then I heard about a workshop that promised I could make-and-take my very own rain barrel for 15 bucks and an hour of my time. I packed up the family and off we went to the Rochester Museum & Science Center on a recent (appropriately) rainy afternoon.

Call me a nerd, but there’s something cool about a roomful of people turning out to craft rain barrels

54 | MAY-JUNE 2010

from old food-service containers. Sure, they, too, were drawn in by the Earth Day deal, but, still, score one for the planet. And the workshop I attended was just one of four, all well-attended.

Sponsored by a Rochester-based group called the Water Education Collaborative (h2ohero.org), the workshop started with a little lesson in stormwater pollution. Who knew that stormwater runoff (not industry) accounts for 80% of our water-pollution problems? Not me.

Rain or melting snow takes a long time to soak in, so most of it flows right on by, picking up every bit of motor oil, trash, animal waste and lawn treatment along the way. That and every other contaminant gets dumped right back into waterways. Rain barrels help by diverting and collecting some of that rainwater, and allowing us to use it judiciously, where needed.

The barrels we had – plastic drums that previously contained things like soy sauce – can hold 55 gallons, apparently a drop in the, um, bucket, during the average rainfall. Still, it was a start.

The nice thing about a workshop is that a lot of the actual work has already been done. So our barrels had perfectly sized holes cut for the spigot and overflow pipe, as well as half-moon openings carved from the lids. All we had to do was screw in a spigot, connect a plastic overflow pipe and install mesh in the lid to prevent debris and mosquito infestation.

Insert. Twist. Tighten. Years of procrastination evaporated like raindrops on hot blacktop.

The kids among us had a blast, wrangling wrenches and crawling into the barrels on assembly missions. And I wasn’t the only adult who expressed relief over finally checking “rain barrel” off the to-do list.

Next step: a little creative embellishment. Aside from bearing soy-sauce labels, the barrels are a bright, recycling-bin blue. A little too blue. So I’m teaming up with a friend to have our girls sand and paint the bins.

Lucky for us, the kids are involved. They get stuff done.

Christina Le Beau lives in Rochester. She blogs about raising food-literate kids at www.spoonfedblog.net.

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