Upstate Gardeners' Journal May-June 2017

BUFFALO - ITHACA - ROCHESTER - SYRACUSE

Water Aware Nellie Gardner Pressed Flower Coasters FREE

Volume Twenty-three, Issue Three May-June 2017

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL - 1140 RIDGE CREST DRIVE - VICTOR, NEW YORK 14564

SARA’S GARDEN

Hand Picked for You! We are so happy to introduce you to one of the best collaborative efforts between growers and retailers in a long time. New plant varieties are the life blood for all of us; from producers to garden lovers ever where. When you visit each spring, we strive to bring you as many new options as we can, but we are also aware of how daunting this can be.

Hand Picked for You is our labeling program that helps you sort through the volume of material and gets to the nitty gritty that all gardener’s face; will this grow for me? This new label will tell you that is has been grown, vetted and certified in a garden near you. It has performed on a myriad of levels from hardiness, drought-tolerance, production performance, landscape value, disease and insect resistance, invasive tendencies, duration of interest and more.

All this professional scrutiny before plants even hit the garden center ensures you a certified performer! Look for our special section this spring devoted to plants that are handpicked for you and then feel free to plant with abandon!

Stone Wall Follies 2017 Stone Wall heaven is more like it! Our 9th year is in the works and dates will be announced soon. This season of the follies is filling up fast so if you want to share in our ‘wee bit of magic’ this fall, contact us soon! We will send you the details on our next session.

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Contents

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Jane F. Milliman MANAGING EDITOR: Debbie Eckerson GRAPHIC DESIGN: Cathy Monrad TECHNICAL EDITOR: Brian Eshenaur PROOFREADER: Sarah Koopus

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: MICHELLE SUTTON | CAROL ANN HARLOS | LYN CHIMERA LIZ MAGNANTI | CATHY MONRAD | MICHAEL HANNEN | PETER HOUSE

Ear to the Ground.......................................................7 Almanac: What to do in May and June.....................9 Nellie Gardner Seeks the Unified Whole..........12-15 Calendar...............................................................20-25

1140 Ridge Crest Drive, Victor, NY 14564 585/733-8979 e-mail: info@upstategardenersjournal.com upstategardenersjournal.com The Upstate Gardeners’ Journal is published six times a year.

To subscribe, please send $20.00 to the above address.

Magazines will be delivered via U.S. mail and or email (in PDF format). We welcome letters, calls and e-mail from our readers.

Please tell us what you think!

We appreciate your patronage of our advertisers, who enable us to bring you this publication.

All contents copyright 2017, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Turn Your Garden into a Cocktail......................28-29 Water Aware........................................................32-34 Songs of Springs....................................................... 36 Cathy the Crafty Gardener...................................... 38

ON THE COVER: Lathyrus vernus, High Line, New York City

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Thank you 1140 Ridge Crest Drive Victor, NY 14564 585/733-8979

Ear to the Ground taken on the duties of managing editor, and she helps with deliveries, too!

Debbie Eckerson and Cathy Monrad

Cathy Monrad joined the team in 2012 as graphic designer, but she is much, much more than that. For one thing, Cathy is incredibly crafty, as you can see by her “Crafty Gardener” column in each issue. She is imaginative, organized, and a tireless worker, and our advertisers love her and what she does with their ads. (She’s also helping with deliveries. And sales. And…and…)

There's always some glitch or another when we're getting ready to go to press with the Upstate Gardeners' Journal.

This issue was particularly weird, as our email server was down for at least a week leading up to publication. Twenty years ago, we communicated with our advertisers mostly via phone, fax machine and even the U. S. Mail (woah!), but in 2017, email trouble is real trouble. Thank goodness for text messages and cell phones. And thank goodness for Cathy and Debbie, who always make it work.

A glance at the masthead will show that there are many people involved with making the UGJ happen, but Cathy and Deb put the hard work in every day, and I am very grateful for everything they do.

If you have interacted with the magazine in any way over the past several years, you have probably met, albeit virtually, Cathy Monrad and/or Debbie Eckerson. Since 2008 Debbie has managed our subscriptions, and she’s the one who puts together our magnificent (if I do say so myself), comprehensive calendar of events. Recently Deb has also

PS) Shameless plug: If you would like to hang out with these two ladies (and who wouldn’t?) come on our annual Ithaca shopping extravaganza June 3. Details are on page 39 and our website, upstategardenersjournal.com. Sign up now—the trip sells out quickly.

—Jane Milliman, Publisher

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Almanac

What To Do in the Garden in May & June ANNUALS & PERENNIALS Buying Plants: --Choose compact, healthy plants with unopened buds that are appropriate for your gardens.

--Check plant tags to make sure your growing conditions meet the plant’s needs and that the final height and width is appropriate for your space.

--Check for signs of insects (chewed leaves, puncture wounds, sticky substances) or disease (yellow leaves, stunted growth, signs of fungi). Be sure to look on both sides of the leaves.

--Buy yourself at least one new plant! Consider those beneficial to pollinators and birds.

In the Garden: --Leave bulb foliage intact until it yellows and wilts but remove spent flowers to prevent seed formation. The foliage is required to give the bulb energy for blooming next year.

--Watch for pale yellow trails on columbine leaves caused by leaf miner. Remove and destroy infested leaves throughout the season.

--At the end of June, cut back perennials such as phlox, bee balm, sedum, asters, and goldenrod by one-third to one-half to control height or delay flowering.

--Cut back spring flowering perennials such as pulmonaria and perennial geraniums after they bloom to encourage the growth of new foliage and/or reblooming.

--Deadhead perennials and annuals to prevent seed formation and to encourage new growth and more flowers.

--Place stakes or other supports next to or over taller flowering plants so they can grow up through them without damage to foliage and flowers.

--Plant dahlias, gladiolas, lilies, begonias, elephant ears, caladiums, and cannas when the soil is warm.

--Place plants in the soil at the proper depth. Be sure to spread out the roots.

--After direct-sowing seeds, be sure to thin the seedlings to prevent crowding.

--Spring bulbs can be moved or divided as soon as the foliage dies.

--Weigela, forsythia, and spiraea can be pruned back after blooming. Cut about one-third of the stems to the ground.

--Remove spent flowers from azaleas and rhododendrons so energy goes to the foliage rather than to the making of seeds.

--If growing azaleas and/or rhododendrons in higher pH soil, be sure to add acidifying agents to the soil.

LAWNS --Mow lawn at least three inches high. This helps the lawn outcompete weeds and encourages deeper, healthier root growth. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil.

--The first application of lawn fertilizer, if needed, can be put down around Memorial Day. If fertilizer was applied in fall, a spring application is not necessary. A top dressing of compost is an excellent natural fertilizer.

--For optimal pre-emergent crabgrass control, do not apply until soil is close to 60 degrees. Crabgrass doesn’t germinate until the soil temperature two inches deep is between 60 and 64 degrees. Applying when the ground is too cold is a waste of money and chemicals.

VEGETABLES --Check the Cornell Recommended Vegetable list for suggested and disease-resistant varieties.

--Plant your brassicas now: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and summer cabbage.

--Reseed bush beans every few weeks to replace plants that have finished producing.

--Leeks may be moved to their final growing place in the garden.

--Plant your tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, and peppers when the ground is warm to promote growth, lessen the chance of disease, and to prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes. End of May is recommended.

--If plants were grown from seed be sure to harden them off before planting them in the garden.

--Harvest salad greens, radishes, and spring onions if ready.

--Stake tomato plants. Pinch out sucker growth.

GENERAL GARDENING --Start slug control.

--Check for four-lined plant bugs.

--Avoid overcrowding plants to discourage disease.

--Use deer repellants or consider deer resistant plants.

--Prune spring flowering trees and shrubs after blooming is finished.

--Weed now while weeds are small.

--Keep newly planted trees, shrubs, vegetables, perennials, and flowers well watered (about one inch per week.)

--Renew mulch if necessary.

--Turn your compost. Add finished compost to all beds.

Distribute about 1/4 inch depth over your lawn as well. This discourages weeds and enriches the soil.

--Thin out your fruit trees to ensure fruit of a reasonable size.

--Gradually move houseplants outdoors to a site with some shade when night temperatures are above 50 degrees.

--Make softwood cuttings before the plant tissue hardens to insure success.

--Rethink at least one of your gardens. Begin to make changes now.

ABOVE: Forsythia

— Carol Ann Harlos and Lyn Chimera, Master Gardeners, Erie County UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 9

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Seasonal Stakeout

Nellie Gardner Seeks the Unified Whole

in horticulture, historical house renovation, and everything she does

by Michelle Sutton

N RIGHT: Horticulturist Nellie Gardner in the Darwin Martin House courtyard. Photo by David Clark

12 | MAY-JUNE 2017

ellie Gardner is trying to learn how to relax.

This is not an easy thing for someone who spent her adolescence on a self-sufficient farm on resource-poor land in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Gardner’s free-spirited parents, former teachers who decided to exit the grid altogether, learned selfsufficiency as they went. Gardner and her siblings worked alongside their parents and didn’t go to high school, something that didn’t stop her from attending an Ivy League college.

“Since we were always scrambling for our next meal, we were always working, moving, and thinking about how we were going to feed ourselves,” she says. “It did affect my ability to relax as an adult. Even my non-work pursuits have to have a purpose … it’s bad,” she says, laughing.

On the bright side, growing up in this hardscrabble setting, Gardner learned many useful skills those of us raised in suburbs might envy. She’s used these skills to renovate six historic homes, run a cut flower business for 25 years, and earn the position of horticulturist for the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Martin House Complex in Buffalo and for Graycliff, the Martins’ former summer home on Lake Erie, also designed by Wright. The Martin House, completed in 1905 and once home to Darwin and Isabelle Martin and their extended family, is Buffalo’s most popular tourist destination.

Gardner says, “This position at the Martin House and Graycliff pulls together so many of my interests and abilities—history and historic homes and landscapes, architecture, horticulture, education … I really feel called to be here to help tell the story of the Martins and their relationship with plants.” Gardner says that landscape architects regard the Martin House landscape as the most significant of Frank Lloyd Wright’s landscapes because of how highly developed it was, and will again be. “They also say that the landscape of the Martin House is at least 40% of the story of this place,” she says.

Gardner had been a volunteer for several years at the Martin House and was eventually recruited as horticulturist in 2011. For several years she commuted from her Spencerport farm—and the farmhouse she’d renovated— until last spring, when she sold the Spencerport property in order to move to Clarence Center so she’d be closer to work.

The hardest part about leaving the Spencerport property was letting go of its beautiful sandy loam soil, a remnant of the ancient Lake Iroquois. “It was easy to grow flowers there,” she says. “I developed my own recipe for growing as well as for bouquet making.”

Her interest in soils and plants as a young person led her to study agriculture at Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) in the late 1970s and then agronomy at Cornell.

Gardner won an international cattle-judging competition

while at NSAC, and that, she says, helped her get into Cornell. After Cornell, she studied ecology in a master’s program at SUNY Brockport. (It’s a good thing Gardner was in no way discouraged when her advisor at NSAC told her to “do something more suitable for a woman, like be a secretary.”)

Gardner went on to develop pest scouting methods and disease forecasting systems for Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) while working in integrated pest management (IPM) at the Geneva Experiment Station, and she served as CCE Vegetable Specialist in Batavia.

Eventually she struck out on her own as a professional agricultural consultant, where for seventeen years she helped large growers lower their input costs while reducing crop risk, improve their scouting methods, and computerize their crop and farm records to enable better decision making. Concurrently, she started Flower Fields, her cut flower enterprise, and completed one historic house renovation after another.

“The homes I rehabilitated sold immediately,” she says, “because I had restored the feeling of cohesiveness and comfort that comes from all of the house’s features being of the same era. I’d buy lighting, kitchen cabinets, flooring, and other features from ReHouse in Rochester that were era-appropriate and would restore the visual coherence of the home. That’s why I’m so drawn to Frank Lloyd Wright’s

TOP: Panorama of the Martin House from the visitor center taken in 2009 after building restoration but before garden restoration.

Free for use by Cygnusloop99 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org

BOTTOM LEFT: The front of Darwin Martin House in 1969. Courtesy University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo

BOTTOM RIGHT: Isabelle Martin working in her cutting garden circa 1908. Courtesy University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 13

THE STORY OF DARWIN MARTIN HOUSE From darwinmartinhouse.org Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) designed a unique residential complex for wealthy Buffalo businessman Darwin D. Martin and his family between 1903 and 1905. The most substantial and highly developed of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie houses in the eastern United States, the Darwin D. Martin House received National Historic Landmark status in 1986. The house is considered by leading Frank Lloyd Wright scholars as one of Wright’s finest achievements of the Prairie period and, indeed, of his entire career.

The complex consists of six interconnected buildings designed as a unified composition, including the main Martin House and a pergola that connects it to a conservatory and carriage house with chauffeur’s quarters and stables, the Barton House, a smaller residence for Martin’s sister and brother-in-law, and a gardener’s cottage added in 1909. The landscape design for the grounds of the complex is highly integrated with the overall composition of buildings.

The Martin House is a prime example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie House ideal, with strong horizontal lines and planes, deeply overhanging eaves, a central hearth, prominent foundation, and a sheltering, cantilevered roof. The complex contains 394 examples of Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned art glass, including the famed “Tree of Life” window.

TOP: The original courtyard gardens with peonies for cutting, circa 1905. Courtesy University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo

BOTTOM: The courtyard today as Nellie Gardner plants and maintains it. Photo by Michelle Sutton

14 | MAY-JUNE 2017

architecture, because it’s all about the subliminal effects of coherence that add up to making you feel good when you enter a space. It’s a masterful achievement of making the house and landscape a unified whole.”

Gardner brought this vision to her volunteering at the Richardson Olmsted Campus in Buffalo, where she developed and gave tours of the Olmsted-designed grounds of this former psychiatric treatment center. “Your surroundings can affect how you feel and not everybody understands that,” she says. “The people who ran the Richardson Campus knew that and they harnessed the healing powers of nature by involving the patients in the enjoyment and cultivation of the grounds. Olmsted, himself a farmer as well as a landscape architect, got it.”

••• Nellie Gardner’s first encounter with the Martin House complex was in the early 2000s, when she took a tour with her brother, also an appreciator of Frank Lloyd Wright. At the time the complex, first completed in 1907 but having suffered neglect mid-century, was newly under restoration via the Martin House Restoration Corporation (MHRC), founded in 1992. On Nellie’s first visit, an ugly 1960s-era apartment building loomed right in the middle of the

complex, and the landscape no longer resembled Wright’s vision for it.

Gardner gravitated toward the institution because it held so much historic promise, it united so many of her interests, and there was so much work to be done. In 2006, she began volunteering in the gardens and researching them, especially original owner Isabelle Martin’s cut-flower gardens, some of which were under glass. Gardner spent many hours in the University of Buffalo archives, which also has a digital collection, learning about Frank Lloyd’s Wright intentions for the landscape, including his vision for harmony between the house and landscape.

When the MHRC recruited her to be its horticulturist, she continued the work of restoring the central gardens of the complex with the help of volunteers. Bayer Landscape Architects of Honeoye Falls have created plans for bringing back the most ambitious original feature of the grounds, a 95-foot-long floricycle, a semi-circular mixed planting of shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and annuals wherein a grouping repeats 12 times. Originally installed in 1905, the floricycle created an outdoor gathering place for family events like the wedding of Darwin and Isabelle’s daughter Dorothy in 1923. Some of the original floricycle shrub specimens, including snowberry, lilac, spirea, and mockorange are in waiting on other parts of the property.

“At one time there were 18,000 plants in the floricycle,” Gardner says.

In her research, Gardner found that at its peak, there were over 300 different plant species on the grounds at large. She says, “There were English borders, picking borders, lots of sturdy old-fashioned perennials like phlox, anemones, peonies, irises, and even plume poppy. We’ll be editing that list—for instance, we may forego plants that are on the NYS Invasive Plant List—at least those that are a problem in our region. And whereas they planted wisteria right against the house, we will put it on trellises well away from the buildings, so it doesn’t degrade structures like it once did.”

The grounds were once dotted with American elms and surrounded by elm street trees. The only remaining tree original to the landscape is a European copper beech that Darwin Martin planted in 1905 in consultation with Wright. However, trees have been added over the decades and Gardner is studying to be a Certified Arborist so that she can better manage the tree collection. “I would have loved to have been here to experience the overarching canopy of the American elms,” she says. “You can tell from pictures that they made it feel very intimate within this setting and encouraged a relationship with nature. When you’re here at night and there’s no one around, you can feel what that must have feel like—that intimate communion with nature.”

Gardner also teaches classes for the community in the gorgeous main Martin House on topics like pruning, flower arranging, and wreath making. (Her signature for the latter is incorporating ornamental hot peppers that she grows herself; her wreaths will be featured later this year in a story in Country Gardens magazine.) Gardner also coordinates the garden volunteers and leads tours of the grounds. She is the only paid garden staff for the Martin House and Graycliff. She is a busy woman.

••• One of Gardner’s favorite things to do in her free time is to take multi-day bike or kayak trips along the Erie Canal.

“I love studying the canal’s history and how our cities and state grew up around it,” she says. When she lived in Spencerport, she and a friend ran a tour boat on the Canal that made local forays. “Someday I’d like to get a tour boat and take people on the Canal all the way down to NYC,” she says. “I’d take them into towns along the way that have these historical treasures. For example, there’s the Peppermint Museum in Lyons, which at one time was the peppermint capital of the world. The museum is housed in the former packinghouse of the H.G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company and the lower level opens out onto the canal, where they would receive peppermint from farmers and ship out peppermint oil. It gives you a whole different perspective on the town.”

Gardner continues to run Flower Fields on a muchscaled-down level. She keeps in touch with her son Casey, an agronomist who lives in San Francisco. She misses her dog Wags, her best friend of eighteen years, but is delighting in her new dog, Farmer, a rescue who is still a puppy. She is working on a memoir about her childhood and reading lots of memoirs by people she admires. “I feel a real kinship with people from earlier times,” she says, “but most especially with Darwin and Isabelle Martin, because of their relationship with nature—they loved beauty and they got their hands dirty daily pursuing the unified whole.”

LEFT: Gardner’s cutting garden in Clarence Center. Photo by Michelle Sutton

RIGHT: Gardner has operated Flower Fields in several different places over the course of 25 years. Photo by Michelle Sutton

BELOW: Farmer is Gardner’s new family member and is also very much interested in historic restoration. Photo by Nellie Gardner

Recommended viewing: Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House: Domestic Symphony on YouTube Michelle Sutton (michellejudysutton.com) is a horticulturist, editor, and writer.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 15

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The Botanical Gardens

National Public Gardens Day - May 12 Great Plant Sale - May 18-20 Bonsai Show - June 3-4 Garden Railway - June 3 - July 9 Coleus & Color - June 17 - August 6 Starry Night in the Garden - June 21 Camp for Kids - July & August

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 Over 25 Varieties of Proven Winners Vegetable Plants for Home Gardeners Seeds • Certified Seed Potatoes

Gift Certificates Available Don’t forget our Senior Discount every Wednesday!

Open through October 31, 2017 Monday - Saturday 8 am - 8 pm Sunday 9 am - 5 pm

2655 South Park Avenue - Buffalo, NY 14218 buffalogardens.com - 716.827.1584

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

716/731-9390

Calendar BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Thursday of the month, March—December, at 7pm, Greenfield Health & Rehab Facility, 5949 Broadway, Lancaster. judyoneil1945@gmail.com.

Alden Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except July & August) at 7pm, Alden Community Center, West Main Street, Alden. New members and guests welcome. Plant sale each May. 716/937-7924.

Amana Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January) at Ebenezer United Church of Christ, 630 Main Street, West Seneca.

Visitors welcome. 716/844-8543; singtoo@aol.com.

Amherst Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except December, March, July & August) at 10am, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Main Street, Williamsville. New members and guests welcome.

716/836-5397.

Bowmansville Garden Club meets the first Monday of the month (except June, July, August & December) at 7pm, Bowmansville Fire Hall, 36 Main Street, Bowmansville. New members and guests welcome.

For more information 716/361-8325.

Buffalo Area Daylily Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora. Friendly group who get together to promote daylilies. Open Gardens in July.

August 26: Hosta & Daylily Sale, Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (see calendar, below). 716/ 6983454; Facebook; buffaloareadaylilysociety.com.

Buffalo Bonsai Society meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Buffalo Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave, Buffalo. June 3–4: Bonsai Show, 10am–5pm (see calendar, below).

Federated Garden Clubs NYS – District 8.

Marcia Becker, District Director. 716/681-3530; marshmelo601@yahoo.com; gardenclubsofwny.com.

Friends of Kenan Herb Club meets Monday evenings, Kenan Center for the Arts, 433 Locust Street, Lockport.

June 3: Plant & Herb Sale, 10am–3pm (see calendar, below). Meeting dates, times and campus locations: kenancenter.org/affiliates.asp; 716/433-2617.

Garden Club of the Tonawandas meets the third Thursday of the month at 7pm, Tonawanda City Hall, Community Room.

Garden Friends of Clarence meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm, 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, Hamburg Community Center, 107 Prospect Avenue, Hamburg. 716/648-0275; droman13@verizon.net.

Ken-Sheriton Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of the month (except January) at 7:30pm, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 576 Delaware Road, Kenmore.

Monthly programs, artistic design and horticulture displays. May 20: Plant Sale, 9am–2pm, Zion United Church, Tonawanda (see calendar, below). June 13: Container Gardening presented by Lyn Chimera. New members and guests welcome. 716/833-8799.

Lancaster Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm, St. John’s Lutheran Hall, 55 Pleasant Avenue, Lancaster. No meetings January, July & August. May 10: Spring Cleaning with Lyn Chimera, spring garden maintenance the easy way.

716/685-4881.

Niagara Frontier Koi and Pond Club meets the second Friday of the month at 7pm, Zion United Church, 15 Koening Circle, Tonawanda. June 17–18: Koi Show, 9am–5pm, Masterson’s Garden Center, East Aurora (see calendar, below).

20 | MAY-JUNE 2017

Niagara Frontier Orchid Society (NFOS) meets the first Tuesday following the first Sunday (dates sometimes vary due to holidays, etc.), September—June, Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo. niagarafrontierorchids.org.

Orchard Park Garden Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 12pm, Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park.

President: Ruth Ann Nowak, 716/662-1017.

Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club meets the second Saturday of the month at 2pm, First Baptist Church, 32 Main Street, Silver Creek. Sue Duecker, 716/9347608; duke.sue@roadrunner.com.

Smallwood Garden Club meets the third Monday of the month at 7pm, United Methodist Church, 5681 Main Street, Williamsville. New members welcome. May 15: Spectacular Container Garden Creations with Lyn Chimera. May 20: Plant Sale, see calendar (below).

June 19: Royal Horticultural Society Presents the Chelsea Flower Show with Mike Shadrack. Claudia, 716/833-2251.

South Town Gardeners meets the second Friday of the month (except January) at 10:30am, Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center, 2001 Union Road, West Seneca. New members welcome.

Western New York Carnivorous Plant Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm, Menne Nursery, 3100 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst. wnycpclub@aol.com; Facebook.com/wnycpclub.

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

Western New York Honey Producers, Inc. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, 21 South Grove Street, East Aurora. wnyhpa.org.

Western New York Hosta Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora. Meetings with speakers, newsletter, sales. August 26: Hosta & Daylily Sale, Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (see calendar, below). September 16: Fall Hosta Forum, four speakers, lunch, auction, vendors, Edinboro, PA. 716/941-6167; h8staman@aol.com; wnyhosta.com.

Western New York Hosta Society Breakfast Meetings, a friendly get-together, first Saturday of the month at 10am, Forestview Restaurant, Depew. wnyhosta.com.

Western New York Iris Society usually meets at members’ homes and gardens. Information about growing all types of irises and complementary perennials. Guests welcome. June 17: Iris Show, Eastern Hills Mall (see calendar, below). August 26: Plant Sale, Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (see calendar, below). Carolyn Schaffner, 716/8372285; drsnooks@twc.com.

Western New York Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm, St. StephensBethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. May 17: Fresh Cut Flower Demo by Julie Hughes. June 14: How to Exhibit Roses for Show by Steve Styn. June 17: Rose Show, Walden Galleria Mall (see calendar, below). wnyrosesociety.net.

Wilson Garden Club generally meets the second Thursday of each month at 7pm, Community Room, Wilson Free Library, 265 Young Street, Wilson.

Meetings open to all, community floral planting, spring plant sale, local garden tours. 716/751-6334; wilsongardenclub@aol.com.

Youngstown Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm, First Presbyterian Church, 100 Church Street, Youngstown.

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

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- Indicates garden tours.

FREQUENT HOSTS BECBG: Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218.

716/827-1584; buffalogardens.com.

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

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

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

Ongoing: Family Walk at Beaver Meadow, Sundays, 2pm. Enjoy a naturalist-led walk through the Preserve.

Donation appreciated. BMAC May 16: Container Garden Workshop, 6:30pm. Marge Vogel will discuss which plants work best together and will guide participants in creating their own container garden to take home. $42. Registration required.

LOCK May 19: Endangered Species Day, 7–8:30pm.

Naturalist Mark Carra will discuss the importance of protecting fragile plants and animals. $5. Registration required. BMAC S- May 19–20: The Great Plant Sale, Friday, 10am–8pm; Saturday, 9am–4pm. Locally grown plants: native, drought-tolerant, sun, shade, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, lilacs, Japanese maples and more.

BECBG S- May 20: Plant Sale – Smallwood Garden Club, 9am– 1pm. Member-grown plants. Club members will be available to answer questions. Randall Church, 6301 Main Street, Williamsville.

S- May 20: Native Plant & Perennial Sale, 9am–2pm.

Large selection of natives for WNY plus perennials for sun and shade. Purchase from local growers, Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden. Pre-order available: 585/750-6288; amandasgarden@frontiernet. net. 170 Pine Street, East Aurora. lessonsfromnature. biz; amandasnativeplants.com.

S- May 20: Ken-Sheriton Garden Club Plant Sale, 9am– 2pm. Perennials, annuals, garden related items and basket raffle. Club members and Master Gardeners will be present to answer gardening questions and provide planting tips. Soil testing, $2 per sample. Zion United Church, 15 Koenig Circle, Tonawanda.

• S- May 20: Garden Fair – Silver Creek, Hanover Garden Club, 9am–4pm. Plants, flowers, vendors, silent auction, kid’s projects, food & more. Village Park & Gazebo, Routes 5 & 20, Silver Creek.

May 20: Zoar Valley Ephemerals, 10am–2pm. Search out early blooming flowers with naturalist Mark Carra as he explains the area’s natural history of the flora and fauna as well as the unique history of the humans that lived there. Meet: Springville Tops, 10am. Bring a bag lunch. $7. Registration required. BMAC May 23: Container Garden Workshop, 6:30pm. See description under May 16. $42. Registration required.

LOCK S- May 26–27: Plant Sale – Erie County Master Gardeners, Friday, 8:30am–3pm; Saturday, 8:30am– 2pm. Shop a selection of sun and shade perennials, natives, herbs, annuals, shrubs and vegetables.

Master Gardeners will be on-hand to provide advice on selecting and growing plants. Soil testing. First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, One Symphony Circle, Buffalo. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Erie County.

716/652-5400 x177; mgerie@cornell.edu; erie.cce. cornell.edu.

May 30: Container Garden Workshop, 6:30pm. See description under May 16. $42. Registration required.

LOCK

June 3: Odyssey to Ithaca Day Trip. Join UGJ staff us as we travel by motor coach to tour the Ithaca region. Highlights include a visit to Cornell Botanic Gardens; shopping at a variety of nurseries including Baker’s Acres, Cayuga Landscape and Plantsmen Nursery; wine tasting and more. Lunch at Baker’s Acres included. $77. Registration required. Upstate Gardeners’ Journal, 1140 Ridge Crest Drive, Victor, NY 14564. 716/432-8688; 585/591-2860; upstategardenersjournal.com.

June 3: Friends of Kenan Herb Club – Plant & Herb Sale, 10am–3pm. Plant sale, garden items, raffles, herbal treats and recipes. Kenan Center, 433 Locust Street, Lockport.

June 3–4: Bonsai Show, 10am–5pm. Presented by Buffalo Bonsai Society. Displays, demonstrations, vendors, raffle. Included with admission. BECBG • June 3–July 9: Garden Railway Exhibit, 10am–5pm.

Presented by Western New York Garden Railway Society. Included with admission. BECBG June 10: Landscape Design Basics, 10am. Gain a few ideas on creating an outdoor living area by adding new plantings, patios and water features to increase usable space while providing privacy, fragrance, color and sound. Free. Registration required. MENNE June 10: Bonsai Workshop, 2 pm. Peter Martin will introduce the basics of creating and caring for Bonsai including watering, fertilizing, pruning and wiring techniques. Participants will create their own bonsai to take home. Requires purchase of Bonsai plant and pot, all other materials included. Free. Registration required. MENNE June 17: Rose Show. Presented by Western New York Rose Society. Walden Galleria Mall, 1 Walden Galleria, Buffalo. wnyrosesociety.net.

June 17: Reading and Feeding your Landscape, 10am. Horticulturist Nellie Gardner will incorporate lessons from the past with science of today to explain how to read the landscape, provide a healthy environment and foster a successful garden. $25 members; $30 non-members. Registration required.

Darwin Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo.

716/856-3858; education@darwinmartinhouse.org; darwinmartinhouse.org.

June 17: Art in Bloom – Watercolor, 11 am. Sherryl Perez will discuss various watercolor techniques, color mixing/theory, design layout and more. Participants will leave with a completed, matted painting. Materials included. $25. Registration required. MENNE June 17: Iris Show, 1–4pm. Presented by Western New York Iris Society. Eastern Hills Mall, near Sears & food court, 4545 Transit Road, Williamsville.

June 17–18: Koi Show, 9am–5pm. Saturday, demonstrations; Sunday, 11am, auction. Presented

by Niagara Frontier Koi and Pond Club. Masterson’s Garden Center, 725 Olean Road, East Aurora.

T- June 17–18: Lewiston GardenFest, 10am–5pm. Open gardens, speakers, demonstrations, container garden contest, vendors and more. Center Street, Lewiston.

716/634-2447; Facebook; lewistongardenfest.com.

June 17–August 6: Coleus & Color, 10am–5pm. See thousands of coleus mixed with many different types of flowers in full bloom. BECBG June 21: Starry Night in the Garden. Music, food, beverages. Fundraiser to benefit the Gardens. BECBG June 24: Summer Tree Tour, 11am. Learn about some of the interesting and unique trees in the Gardens’ Arboretum and surrounding South Park. $10. BECBG June 24–25: Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale, 10am–5pm.

Shop nearly 40 vendors of nature-themed items or works that can be displayed in a garden setting including sculpture, metalwork, paintings, woodwork, architectural remnants, found art, jewelry, ceramics, planters and more. Representatives from area plant societies will be on hand to answer questions about

their specialty plants. Presentations on garden topics. Free. Rain or shine. Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue. gardensbuffaloniagara.com.

June 25: Seneca Traditional Uses of Medicinal and Edible Plants, 1:30–3:30pm. Marvin “Marty” Jacobs will share the Seneca world of respect and understanding for plants. Brief indoor session followed by outdoor walk. $5. Registration required. BMAC July 1: Tamarack Swamp Hike, 9:30am–12pm.

Registration required. BMAC

ITHACA REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS Adirondack Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (ACNARGS) meets the third Saturday of the month (except in summer) at 1pm, Whetzel Room, 404 Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca.

Meetings are open to all. 607/269-7070; acnargs.org; Facebook.com/acnargs.

T- July 8–9: Lockport in Bloom Garden Walk.

Self-guided walking and driving tour. Free. lockportinbloom.com.

Finger Lakes Native Plant Society meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Unitarian Church annex, corner of Buffalo & Aurora, Ithaca. Enter side door on Buffalo Street & up the stairs. 607/257-4853.

T- July 8–9: Hamburg Garden Walk, 10am–4pm. Selfguided. Vendors. Rain or shine. Free. Maps: Memorial Park, corner Lake & Union Streets, Hamburg. 716/6487544; hamburggardenwalk.com.

Windsor NY Garden Group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 10am, members’ homes or Windsor Community House, 107 Main Street, Windsor. windsorgardengroup.suerambo.com.

July 9: Allenberg Bog Walk, 9am–2pm. Registration required. BMAC T- July 15: Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk, 10am–4pm.

Self-guided tour of 70 private gardens and public spaces in the neighborhoods surrounding the UB South Campus. capengardenwalk@gmail.com; ourheights.org/gardenwalk.

T- July 15: Capen at Night, 8–10pm. Self-guided evening tour of Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk (above). capengardenwalk@gmail.com; ourheights. org/gardenwalk.

July 16: Summer Tree Tour, 11am. Learn about the trees and shrubs that have been planted at the Gardens. $10. BECBG

FREQUENT HOSTS CBG: Cornell Botanic Gardens, formerly known as Cornell Plantations, 1 Plantations Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Inquire ahead for meeting locations.

607/255-2400; cornellplantations.org.

CCE/TOM: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850. 607/272-2292; tompkins@cornell.edu; ccetompkins.org.

CLASSES / EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE…

• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- July 21–22: Ken-Ton Garden Tour – Night Lights, 8:30–11pm. See gardens illuminated at night. Part of the Ken-Ton Garden Tour (see below). Self-guided.

Rain or shine. Free. kentongardentour.com.

May 18: No-Dig Soil Prep Techniques, 6:30–8:30pm.

Hands-on class will demonstrate techniques such as sheet composting and Irish ‘lazy beds’. $5–$10, sliding scale. Registration required. CCE/TOM

T- July 22–23: Ken-Ton Garden Tour, 10am–4pm. See open gardens in the village of Kenmore and town of Tonawanda. Self-guided. Rain or shine. Free. kentongardentour.com.

S- May 20: Garden Fair Plant Sale, 9am–2pm.

Presented by Tompkins County Master Gardeners.

Ithaca High School, 1401 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca.

CCE/TOM

T- July 29–30: Garden Walk Buffalo, 10am–4pm.

Self-guided, over 400 gardens. Free. Facebook; gardenwalkbuffalo.com.

May 20: Garden & Arboretum Hike, 10am–12:30pm.

Extended hike with Dr. Peter Davies through diverse plant collections and landscapes of the Botanical Garden and F.R. Newman Arboretum. Entails steep slopes and stair climbing. Rain or shine. Bring water. $5 suggested donation. Registration not required.

CBG

August 5: Beyond Flowers Bus Tour, 10am–3pm.

Visit eight locations including successful recoveries of land and water resources along the waterfront, an urban habitat project and a bioretention cell. Lunch included. $35. Registration required. gardensbuffaloniagara.com.

T- August 5: Riverside Tour of Gardens, 10am–4pm.

Self-guided, features more than 50 gardens. New: 14207 Day, local activities throughout the area. Free.

716/851-5116. brrtourofgardens.com.

T- August 5: Starry Night Garden Tour, 8–10pm.

Self-guided, features 20 gardens. Part of Riverside Tour of Gardens (see above). Free. 716/851-5116. brrtourofgardens.com.

August 12: East Side Momentum Bus Tour, 9am–1pm.

Visit the diverse and often overlooked projects in this area of Buffalo. Gardens, parks and a Buddhist community garden round out the stops. $25.

Registration required. gardensbuffaloniagara.com.

S- August 26: Hosta, Iris & Daylily Sale, 9am–2pm.

Hundreds of daylilies, hostas and irises, labeled and described, for sale at reasonable prices. Experts will be on hand to answer questions. Presented by Western New York Hosta Society, Western New York Iris Society & Buffalo Area Daylily Society. Free.

BECBG September 16: Fall Hosta Forum. Peace, Love & Plants.

Four speakers, lunch, auction, vendors. Edinboro, PA. wnyhosta.com.

May 21: Birds & Blossoms Wildflower Walk, 1pm.

Held in collaboration with Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Meet: Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca. Rain or shine. Free.

Registration not required. CBG May 22: Evening Wildflower Walk, 6:30–7:30pm. Tour woodland pathways in search of wildflowers such as Dutchman’s breeches, trillium, bloodroot and Solomon’s seal. Meet: Mundy Wildflower Garden entrance, Caldwell Drive. Free, donations welcome.

Registration not required. CBG May 25: Rainwater Harvesting, 6:30–8:30pm. Topics covered will include sourcing and placement of containers, connecting multiple containers in series, techniques for designing overflow systems and farming techniques that complement erratic rainfall and turbulent growing seasons. $5–$10, sliding scale.

Registration required. CCE/TOM June 2: iMapInvasives Training – Finger Lakes Region.

Learn how to use iMapInvasives, an online mapping system shared by citizen scientists, educators and natural resource professionals who help keep the map up-to-date and accurate by reporting invasive species locations and control efforts. Beginner and advanced levels. Free. Registration required. Binghamton. nyimapinvasives.org.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 21

Calendar ITHACA cont.

S- June 10: Spring Plant Sale, 9am–12pm. Includes plant specialists from Baker’s Acres, RC’s Plants & Produce and more. Plantations Plant Production Facility, 397 Forest Home Drive, Ithaca. CBG Ongoing June 17–October 1: Garden Tours, Saturdays & Sundays, 2–3pm. Guided tours will include the Herb Garden, Flower Garden, Groundcover Collection, Tropical Container Display and more. Content will vary week to week depending what is in bloom and the interests of the group. $5 suggested donation.

Registration not required. CBG June 22: Managing Diseases on Tomato Plants, 6:30–8:30pm. Learn to identify common diseases of tomato plants such as early blight, septoria and late blight. Class will also cover organic and integrated pest management techniques. $5–$10, sliding scale.

Registration required. CCE/TOM June 24: Compost with Confidence – Getting Started, 12:30–1:30pm. Master Composters will cover compost basics with focus on how to choose a bin and get started. Compost Demonstration Site, Ithaca Community Gardens. Free. Registration required.

CCE/TOM June 25: Garden & Arboretum Hike, 10am–12:30pm.

See description under May 20. $5 suggested donation. Registration not required. CBG

SAVE THE DATE… July 29: Compost with Confidence – Troubleshooting, 12:30–1:30pm. Master Composters will cover compost basics with focus on how to avoid or fix common problems. Compost Demonstration Site, Ithaca Community Gardens. Free. Registration required. CCE/TOM

ROCHESTER REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS 7th District Federated Garden Clubs New York State, Inc. meets the first Wednesday of the month.

7thdistrictfgcnys.org.

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Rochester meets the first Wednesday of each month, September–June, at 7pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester. All are welcome. Stacey Davis, 585/426-5665; stacey.davis@rit.edu; avgsr.org.

Big Springs Garden Club of Caledonia-Mumford meets the second Monday evening of the following months: September–November, January–May. New members and guests welcome. June 9–10: Perennial Sale, see calendar (below). 585/314-6292; mdolan3@rochester. rr.com; Facebook.

Bloomfield Garden Club meets the third Thursday of the month (except May, July & August) at 11:45am, Veterans Park, 6910 Routes 5 & 20, Bloomfield.

New members and guests welcome. 585/657-4489; kjmonrad@frontiernet.net.

Blue Belles & Beaus Garden Club (formerly Valentown Garden Club) meets the third Tuesday of each month.

Victor. Contact Pat Bartholomew; 585/869-5062.

Bonsai Society of Upstate New York meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Brighton Town Park Lodge, Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester.

585/334-2595; bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org.

Creative Gardeners of Penfield meets the second Monday of the month at 9:15am (except July & August), Penfield United Methodist Church, 1795 Baird Road, Penfield. June 9–10: Plant Sale, 9am–4pm (see calendar, below).Visitors welcome. Call 585/3852065 if interested in attending a meeting.

22 | MAY-JUNE 2017

Fairport Garden Club meets the third 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 7pm, Jubilee Church, 3565 Lake Road, Brockport. Speakers, hands-on sessions. Georgie: 585/964-7754; georgietoates@ yahoo.com.

Garden Path of Penfield meets the third Wednesday of the month, September–May at 7pm, Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Road, Penfield.

Members enjoy all aspects of gardening; new members welcome. gardenpathofpenfield@gmail.com.

Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS) meets every month, September–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.). GROS is an affiliate of the American Orchid Society (AOS) and Orchid Digest Corporation. facebook.com/ geneseeorchid; geneseeorchid.org.

Genesee Valley Hosta Society meets the second Thursday of the month, April–October, at Eli Fagan American Legion Post, 260 Middle Road, Henrietta. 585/538-2280; sebuckner@frontiernet.net; geneseevalleyhosta.com.

Genesee Valley Pond & Koi Club meets the first Friday of the month at 6:30pm, Adams Street Recreation Center, 85 Adams Street, Rochester, except in summer when it tours local ponds. president.gvpkc@ gmail.com; gvpkc.shutterfly.com.

Greater Rochester Iris Society (GRIS) meets Sundays at 2pm, dates vary, St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 11 Episcopal Avenue, Honeoye Falls. June 4: AIS Accredited Show, 1:30–5:30pm, Marketplace Mall (see calendar, below). Public welcome. 585/266-0302; thehutchings@mac.com.

Greater Rochester Perennial Society (GRPS) meets the first Thursday of each month at 7pm, Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 1200 South Winton Road, Rochester, except in summer when it tours members’ gardens. June 3: Plant Sale, 10am– 2pm (see calendar, below). 585/467-1678; smag@ rochester.rr.com; rochesterperennial.com.

Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month, April–November, at First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Room 110, Rochester. July meeting is a garden tour. June 24: Rose Show, Irondequoit Public Library (see calendar, below). 585/694-8430; rochrosesociety@gmail.com; Facebook.

Henrietta Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except May–August & December) at 6:30pm, Department of Public Works Building, 405 Calkins Road, Henrietta. Guests welcome.

585/889-1547; henriettagardenclub@gmail.com; henriettagardenclub.org.

Holley Garden Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 7pm, Holley Presbyterian Church. 585/6386973.

Hubbard Springs Garden Club of Chili meets the third Monday of the month at 7pm, Chili Senior Center, 3235 Chili Avenue, Rochester. dtoogood@rochester. rr.com.

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets the third Thursday of each month (except December and February) at 10am, First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. 585/301-6727; 585/402-1772; ikebanarochester.org.

Kendall Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Kendall Town Hall. 585/ 370-8964.

Newark Garden Club meets the first Friday of the month at 1pm, Park Presbyterian Church, Newark. Guests are welcome.

Pittsford Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of the month at 11am, Pittsford Public Library, Fisher Meeting Room, 24 State Street, Pittsford, except in July & August when it visits members’ gardens.

May 20: Plant Sale, 9 am–12pm (see calendar, below). 585/425-0766; BKRU888@aol.com; pittsfordgardenclub.wordpress.com.

Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of the month at 12:30pm, Trinity Reformed Church, 909 Landing Road North, Rochester, except July, August, September. Visitors welcome. 585/865-2291; djohan@ frontiernet.net; Facebook; rochesterdahlias.org.

Rochester Herb Society meets the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January & February) at 12pm, Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. June–August garden tours. New members welcome.

Rochester Permaculture Center, meets monthly to discuss topics such as edible landscapes, gardening, farming, renewable energy, green building, rainwater harvesting, composting, local food, forest gardening, herbalism, green living, etc. Meeting location and details: meetup.com/rochesterpermaculture.

Seabreeze Bloomers Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except January) at 7pm, Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 3760 Culver Road, Rochester. Some meetings feature speakers others are visits to local gardens or special events.

Members receive a monthly newsletter. All are welcome. Contact Suzanne Flanigan: 585/544-1356; sflaniga192@gmail.com.

Stafford Garden Club meets the third Wednesday of the month (except December and January) at 7pm, Stafford Town Hall, 8903 Morganville Road (Route 237), Stafford. Plant auction in May. All are welcome.

585/343-4494.

Victor Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January & February) at 6:30/6:45pm.

New members welcome. Meeting and location details at victorgardenclubny2.com or 585/721-5457.

FREQUENT HOSTS BGC: Broccolo Garden Center, 2755 Penfield Road, Fairport 14450. 585/424-4476; info@broccologroup. com.

CCE/GC: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee County, 420 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020.

585/343-3040; genesee.cce.cornell.edu.

CCE/MON: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County, 2449 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY 14617.

585/753-2550; monroe.cce.cornell.edu.

LET: Letchworth State Park Interpretive Program, Humphrey Nature Center, Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427; 585/493-3625.

LIN: Linwood Gardens, 1912 York Road, Pavilion, NY 14525. 585/584-3913; Facebook; linwoodgardens. org.

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

RBC: Rochester Butterfly Club. Field trips last about 2 hours, some continue into the afternoon, especially those that are further away. Long pants and appropriate footgear strongly recommended. Free and open to the public. rochesterbutterflyclub.org.

RPM: Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street, Rochester, NY. 585/428-6907; cityofrochester. gov/flowercitydays.

CLASSES / EVENTS

• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- Indicates garden tours.

S- May 12–21: Lilac Festival Plant Sale, daily, 10:30am– 8:30pm. Presented by Monroe County Master Gardeners. A variety of perennials, lilacs, hydrangeas, clematis, annuals and garden decor. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions and assist with plant selection. CCE/MON S- May 13: Webster Arboretum Plant Sale, 8am–12pm.

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 13–14: Visit Ellwanger Garden, 10am–4pm.

Originally the private garden of 19th-century horticulturist George Ellwanger, this historic landscape contains many plantings originally placed by Mr. Ellwanger and his family. Donation. 625 Mt Hope Avenue, Rochester.

May 14: Flower City Days at the Market, 8am–2pm.

Shop over 250 local nurseries and growers. Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer garden-related questions.

Composting demonstrations by City Bureau of Recreation’s Horticulture Coordinator. RPM May 16: Introduction to Vegetable Gardening, 6:30–8pm. Class will cover soil basics, site selection, fertilizing, watering, good vegetables to select, pest and weed control. Class takes place at Gallea’s, 2832 Clover Street, Pittsford. $25. Registration required.

RCGC May 16–17: Hypertufa Garden Troughs, Tuesday, 2–4pm; Wednesday, 2–3pm. Alana Miller will guide participants through the creation of their own hypertufa planter at her home in Webster. Learn to mix and mold the hypertufa, curing and wintering over techniques and see some examples of how to use these planters in the landscape. Materials included. $65 members; $75 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC May 16–17: Hypertufa Garden Troughs, Tuesday, 6:30– 8:30pm; Wednesday, 6:30–7:30pm. See description above. Materials included. $65 members; $75 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC May 17: Gardening with Bulbs, 7–8:30pm. Join Master Gardener Laurie Burtner to learn about utilizing bulbs in the garden. Free. Registration required. CCE/MON May 18: Fruits of Your Labor, 6:30pm. Intro to starting your own orchard with information on what to grow, needs, pruning and sprays. Free. Registration required. BGC May 18: Soiree – A Plantsmen’s Idyllic Farmstead in Ontario, 6:30–8pm. Gail Maier’s 3-acre farmstead, formerly Lakeside Nursery, is landscaped with mature specimens of flowering trees and shrubs and mixed gardens of perennials and woody plants surrounding her restored brick Italianate Victorian farmhouse and historic barn. Gail will be on hand to answer questions about landscaping with woody plants and special perennials. $12. Registration required. RCGC S- May 19–20: Plant Sale – Bloomfield Garden Club, Friday, 9am–5pm; Saturday, 9am–12pm. Annuals, herbs, vegetables, home-grown perennials, hanging baskets & raffle items. Bloomfield Historical Academy Building, 8 South Avenue, Bloomfield. 585/657-4489.

S- May 20: Plant Sale – Pittsford Garden Club, 9am–12pm. Perennials & annuals. Parking lot behind Pittsford Public Library. pittsfordgardenclub. wordpress.com.

S- May 20: Plant Sale – Town of Ontario Garden Club, 9am–1pm. Member grown and propagated annuals, including geraniums, bushes and trees. Lodge at Casey Park, Knickerbocker Road, Ontario.

S- May 20: Native Plant & Perennial Sale, 9am–2pm.

Large selection of natives for WNY plus perennials for sun and shade. Purchase from local growers, Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden. Pre-order available: 585/750-6288; amandasgarden@frontiernet.

net. 170 Pine Street, East Aurora. lessonsfromnature. biz; amandasnativeplants.com.

S- May 20: Genesee Land Trust Native Plant Sale, 9am–3pm. Native flowers, shrubs and trees. Proceeds benefit local land conservation. Brighton Town Hall, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester. Genesee Land Trust. 585/256-2130; info@geneseelandtrust.org; geneseelandtrust.org.

S- May 20: Spring Garden Gala Plant Sale, 10am–1pm.

Presented by Genesee County Master Gardeners.

Featuring indoor and outdoor plants (most grown by Master Gardeners), geranium sale, chance auction, free soil pH testing. CCE/GC May 20–21: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 9am–4pm. Stroll the collection of Japanese and American tree peonies in full bloom set in the historic garden landscape, designed in the early 1900s, with an Arts and Crafts style summerhouse, walled gardens with pools and fountains, ornamental trees and an open view of the valley below. $10; $15 guided tours.

LIN May 20–21: Visit Ellwanger Garden, 10am–4pm. See description under May 13–14. Donation. 625 Mt Hope Avenue, Rochester.

May 21: Flower City Days at the Market, 8am–2pm.

See description under May 14. RPM Ongoing beginning May 23: Visit Ellwanger Garden, Tuesdays, 5:30–7:30pm. See description under May 13–14. Donation. 625 Mt Hope Avenue, Rochester.

May 23: Floral & Herb Container Garden, 6:30–8pm.

Design an edible container garden for use on a deck or patio. Choose from a wide selection of herbs and plants. Class takes place at Gallea’s Florist & Greenhouse. $50. Registration required. RCGC May 23 & 25: Intermediate Professional Floral Design Certificate – Bouquets, 6:30–9pm. Instructor Alana Miller will cover various styles including vegetative, landscape, botanical, Biedermeier and bouquets.

Students will take home all arrangements created during class. Prerequisite: completion of RCGC’s Basic Professional Floral Design program or floral shop experience. $150 members; $225 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC May 25: Linwood Gardens Tour, 10am–12pm. Enjoy a private tour of the historic gardens, buildings and landscape designed in the early 1900’s that includes an Italian walled garden, Arts and Crafts style summerhouse, labyrinth and more. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic lunch for after the tour. $20.

Registration required. RCGC May 25: Elements of Serene and Natural Garden Design, 6:30–8pm. Join Dennis Burns in the Japanese-style garden of a client where he will discuss design principles such as enclosure, borrowed scenery, color palette, plant selection, selection and setting of boulders for artistic effect and pruning of azaleas and other woody plants. $18 members; $25 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 26–29: Flower City Days at the Market, 8am–2pm.

See description under May 14. RPM S- May 27: Proud Market Plant Sale, 8am. Shop local growers and garden clubs with a variety of unusual trees and shrubs, annuals, perennials, dahlias, herbs and more. RCGC May 27–28: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 9am–4pm. See description under May 20–21. $10; $15 guided tours. LIN • May 28–June 25: Family Springtime Walk, Sundays, 10am–12pm. LET May 28–June 25: Weekly Wildflower Walk, Sundays, 1pm. LET May 29: Memorial Tree Walk, 2–4pm. LET May 31: Floral Design Workshop – Pavé, 7–9pm. Learn the art of precisely placing various floral materials

close together to create a flat, textured, painterly effect. Materials included. $35 members; $45 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC June 1: Redesign and Maintenance of a Brighton Gem, 6:30–8pm. Landscaper Cindy Cali will lead a walk through this East Avenue property and describe changes she made in order to arrive at the present cohesive design. She will also explain the year-round process of pruning and maintaining the gardens, comprised of perennials, ground covers and many mature flowering shrubs and ornamental trees. $18 members; $25 non-members. Registration required.

RCGC June 2: iMapInvasives Training – Finger Lakes Region.

Learn how to use iMapInvasives, an online mapping system shared by citizen scientists, educators and natural resource professionals who help keep the map up-to-date and accurate by reporting invasive species locations and control efforts. Beginner and advanced levels. Free. Registration required. Binghamton. nyimapinvasives.org.

June 3: Odyssey to Ithaca Bus Trip, 7:45am–6:30pm.

Visit Cornell Botanic Gardens (formerly Cornell Plantations) plus a few family-owned garden centers including Cayuga Landscaping, Baker’s Acres and The Plantsmen Nursery. Travel by luxury coach with ample room to transport purchases. Includes buffet lunch at Baker’s Acres. $60. Registration required. RCGC S- June 3: Plant Sale – Greater Rochester Perennial Society, 10am–2pm. Many plants & varieties to choose from. Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church, 1200 South Winton Road, Rochester. rochesterperennial.com.

June 3: Made in the Shade, 11am. Plants that thrive in the shade throughout the entire growing season.

Free. Registration required. BGC June 3–4: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 9am–4pm. See description under May 20–21. $10; $15 guided tours. LIN T- June 3–4: Landmark Society House and Garden Tour, 10am–4pm. Landmark Society of Western NY. 585/546-7029; landmarksociety.org.

June 4: Flower City Days at the Market, 8am–2pm. See description under May 14. RPM June 4: Iris Show, 1:30–5:30pm. Iris in Wonderland.

Presented by Greater Rochester Iris Society.

Marketplace Mall, center court, 1 Miracle Mile Drive, Henrietta. 585/266-0302; thehutchings@mac.com.

June 6: Garden Talk – IPM in the Garden, 12:15– 12:45pm. Take a walk around the CCE Gardens to scout for insect pests and diseases. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies will be explained including finding a pest before it becomes a problem.

Bring lunch. Free. CCE/GC June 6: Summer Container Workshop, 6:30–8pm. Join Deb VerHulst-Norris at her lakefront property in Hilton where she will discuss the principles of a balanced and interesting design along with care and maintenance.

Bring a pot, 16” diameter or less, potting soil and a variety of plants appropriate for sun or shade will be provided. $30 members; $35 non-members.

Registration required by May 25. RCGC June 6: Living Wreath Workshop, 6:30–8pm. Create a wreath to grow throughout the summer season that can be taken indoors in the fall. Choose from an assortment of succulents, flowering and foliage plants.

Materials included. Class takes place at Gallea’s Florist & Greenhouse. $55. Registration required. RCGC June 8: A Designer’s Approach to Taming an Urban Wilderness, 6–7:30pm. Jean Westcott will describe her design process and her approach to the challenges of creating a garden in an area with common issues such as deer, groundhogs, dry shade, unwanted woody plants and noxious weeds. Class takes place in the gardens behind The Artful Gardener. $18 members; $25 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 23

Calendar

ROCHESTER cont.

June 8: Healing Herb Garden, 6:30–8pm. Tennille Richards, M.S. and Licensed Acupuncturist, will discuss common botanical western cousins to wellknown Chinese herbs and their very specific medical uses. Learn about the care and growing conditions of these plants plus their usefulness according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Topics covered will include the immune system, circulation, digestion and inflammation. Class takes place at Gallea’s Florist & Greenhouse. $45. Registration required. RCGC S- June 9–10: Creative Gardeners of Penfield Plant Sale, 9am–4pm. Unique plants and garden related items. 19 Huntington Meadow, Rochester.

S- June 9–10: Perennial Sale – Big Springs Garden Club of Caledonia-Mumford, Friday, 10am–6pm; Saturday, 9am–2pm. A variety of perennials available for purchase. At the park next to the monument, Caledonia. 585/314-6292; mdolan3@rochester.rr.com; Facebook.

June 10: Garden Talk – Butterflies, Birds & Bees in the Landscape, 10am–12pm. Presented by John Nelson, Master Gardener. Free. Hansen Nature Center, Tinker Park, 1585 Calkins Road, Pittsford. CCE/MON June 10–11: Peony Weekend at Ellwanger Garden, 10am–4pm. See description under May 13–14.

Donation. 625 Mt Hope Avenue, Rochester.

June 13: Everything Herbal – Growing, Crafting & Cooking, 6:30–8pm. Learn how to create an herb garden in any space, from back yard to apartment patio. Participants will leave with plans, herb plants and information on growing and using a variety of herbs. $25 members; $30 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 14: iMapInvasives Training – St. Lawrence– Eastern Lake Ontario Region. See description under June 2. Free. Registration required. Watertown. nyimapinvasives.org.

June 14: Purposeful Perennials – Using Perennials in Containers, 6–8pm. Christine Froehlich will cover potting mix, planting for optimum performance, varieties of perennials that hold up well in containers and plant combinations for sun and shade. Class takes place at Broccolo Garden Center. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 15: Butterflies and the Plants they Need – Wesley Hill Preserve, 9am. Day-long outing, bring lunch and a folding chair. Meet: Park & Ride lot, Bushnell’s Basin Exit of Route I-490. 585/385-4725. RBC June 17: Summer Pruning, 9am–12pm. Learn how to properly prune flowering trees and shrubs, broadleaf evergreens and conifers in this outdoor workshop.

Prerequisite: Pruning Basics or another pruning class. $36 members; $46 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 17: Houdini Hydrangea Blooms, 11am. Learn when to prune hydrangeas and what they need to be happy. Free. Registration required. BGC June 20: Creating a Naturalistic Garden – Sustainable & Satisfying, 6–8pm. Christine Froehlich will share the process of creating Roy Diblik-style plant communities in this woodland garden in Penfield.

Learn how to choose plants for sun and shade, group them to achieve an attractive natural look that requires minimal care, provides optimal bloom and interesting textures. $22 members; $32 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC June 20 & 22: Advanced Professional Floral Design Certificate – Sympathy Arrangements, 6:30–9pm.

Alana Miller will focus 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. Prerequisite: Intermediate Professional Floral Design program or floral shop experience. $150 members; $225 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC 24 | MAY-JUNE 2017

June 21: Soiree – Jerry Kral’s Incredible Landscape in June, 6:30–8pm. Enjoy an informal get-together with refreshments and fellow gardeners in this unique landscape that combines small and medium-sized evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs with perennials and annuals all linked by pathways and stone walls. Rock gardens include a slab garden, tufa crevice garden and pumice rock garden. $12.

Registration required. RCGC

T- July 9: ABC Streets Garden Walk, 12–4pm. Selfguided. Tour city properties containing a variety of front, side and back yard spaces that include inviting porches, patios & decks, shade gardens, grass-less yards, tree-lawns, found objects, water features and more. Rain or shine. Free. Maps: Morrison Park, Culver Road & Harvard Street; East Avenue Dentistry, 1641 East Avenue. 585/721-8684; abc.streets@gmail.com; abcstreets.org.

June 22: Early Summer Blooms Stroll, 6–7:30pm.

Michael Hannen will lead this tour of his home-based nursery focusing on new and rare additions including 10 types of Jack-in-the-pulpit, Pinellia, ‘green dragons,’ Chinese cobra lilies and numerous laterblooming perennials. Arrive early to shop or preview the gardens. $10 members; $15 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC

July 11: Butterflies and the Plants they Need – Hi Tor Area, 9am. Day-long outing, bring lunch and a folding chair. Meet: Park & Ride lot, Bushnell’s Basin Exit of Route I-490. 585/383-8168. RBC July 11: Garden Talk – Red Lily Leaf Beetle, 12:15– 12:45pm. Get some tips on how to control this destructive pest of bulb lilies. Bring lunch. Free. CCE/ GC

Ongoing last week of June through July: Lavender Farm & Market, Saturdays & Sundays, 10am–5pm.

Pick your own lavender: over 2000 plants, 20 different varieties. Shop the Lavender Market. Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles.

315/685-5369; lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com.

July 13: Butterflies and the Plants they Need – Black Creek Park, 10am. Butterflies and summer wildflowers. Meet: parking lot near Sunnyside Lodge, Black Creek Park, 3830 Union Street, North Chili.

585/383-8168. RBC

T- June 24: Backyard Habitat Tour, 9am–4pm. Selfguided tour of 8 gardens/backyard habitats in Penfield, Brighton and City of Rochester. $15.

Genesee Land Trust, 46 Prince Street, Suite LL005, Rochester. 585/256-2130; gmills@geneseelandtrust. org; geneseelandtrust.org.

June 24: Rose Show, 1:30–4pm. Presented by Greater Rochester Rose Society. Free. Irondequoit Public Library, 1290 Titus Avenue, Rochester. 585/694-8430; rochrosesociety@gmail.com; Facebook.

June 25: Visit a Local Commercial Shiitake Mushroom Operation, 9am. Session 3 of Outdoor Mushroom Growing Workshop Series. $10. Registration required.

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Wyoming County, 36 Center Street, Warsaw. 585/786-2251; cce.cornell. edu/wyoming.

June 28: Daylily Garden Open House, 5–7pm. Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), Charlie and Judy Zettek, 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

June 28: Creating Pots with Pizzazz – Using Dwarf Shrubs in Containers, 6–9pm. This demo class with Christine Froehlich will cover planting for optimum performance, the best varieties to use and how to pair them up to highlight foliage, texture and color combinations that will last all summer and well into the fall. Class takes place at Broccolo Garden Center. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC June 29: Butterflies and the Plants they Need – Ganondagan State Historic Site, 10am. Meet: parking spaces nearest Boughton Hill Road at Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan, 7000 Boughton Hill Road, Victor. 585/425-2380. RBC July 8: RCGC Summer Garden Tour – Town and Country Gardens from Pittsford to Honeoye Falls, 10am–4pm. Explore a variety of gardens, large and small, from tastefully designed suburban properties to elegant country estates, in a range of formal and naturalistic styles. Self-guided. Advance: $15 members; $20 non-members. Day of: $20. RCGC July 8: Daylily Garden Open House, 1–5pm. Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), Charlie and Judy Zettek, 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

July 8–9: Finger Lakes Lavender Festival, 9am–5pm.

Pick your own bouquet from 18 varieties of lavender; shop local artists, hand-crafters and the Lavender Market; culinary treats and photographic opportunities. Rain or shine. Free. Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles.

315/685-5369; lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com; fingerlakeslavenderfestival.blogspot.com.

T- July 15: RMSC Women’s Council Garden Tour, 10am–4pm. Six gardens in the Rochester area. Selfguided. New & used garden item sale, raffle. $20.

Tickets: 585/385-3068; 585/352-8034; rmsc.org/ gardentour; Cunningham House day of.

SAVE THE DATE… July 16: Butterflies and the Plants they Need – Mendon Ponds Park, 10am. Beginners walk will discuss butterflies and caterpillar plants. Meet: Visitors’ Center / Wild Wings parking lot, 27 Pond Road, Honeoye Falls. 585/383-8168. RBC July 16: Daylily Garden Open House, 1–5pm. Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), Charlie and Judy Zettek, 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

July 22: Growing Roses, 11am. An overview of successful types of roses and their growing needs.

Free. Registration required. BGC July 26: Daylily Garden Open House, 5–7pm. Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), Charlie and Judy Zettek, 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

July 29: From the Earth, 9am–5pm. Presentations, demonstrations and hands-on activities. Topics include agriculture, gardening, crafts made with natural materials and appreciation of natural beauty.

Event takes place at several locations around Alfred.

607/587-9877.

July 30: Daylily Garden Open House, 1–5pm. Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), Charlie and Judy Zettek, 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

August 3: Butterfly and Hummingbird Friendly Garden, 6:30pm. Learn which plants will attract and provide food sources for butterflies and hummingbirds. Free. Registration required. BGC August 5: Daylily Garden Open House, 1–5pm. Cobbs Hill Daylily Garden (a National Display Garden), Charlie and Judy Zettek, 1 Hillside Avenue, Rochester.

585/461-3317.

August 19: The 3 C’s of Containers, 11am. Learn about color, contrast and container choice. Free.

Registration required. BGC September 9: Gathering of Gardeners, 9am–4pm.

Speakers Janet Macunovich and Steven Nikkila will present, Making the Most of Change. Parking lot plant sale. Presented by Monroe County Master Gardeners.

DoubleTree by Hilton, 1111 Jefferson Road, Rochester. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County, 2449 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester. 585/753-2550; monroe.cce.cornell.edu.

S- September 16: Fall Garden Gala, 10am–1pm. Plant sale featuring indoor and outdoor plants, basket auction, free soil pH testing. CCE/GC

SYRACUSE

FREQUENT HOST

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet Society of Syracuse meets the second Thursday of the month, September–May, Pitcher Hill Community Church, 605 Bailey Road, North Syracuse.

315/492-2562; kgarb@twcny.rr.com; avsofsyracuse.org.

Bonsai Club of CNY (BCCNY) usually meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Pitcher Hill Community Church, 605 Bailey Road, North Syracuse.

September 9–10: Annual Show, Liverpool Public Library. 315/436-0135; lnewell1@gmail.com.

Central New York Orchid Society meets the first Sunday of the month, September–May, St. Augustine’s Church, 7333 O’Brien Road, Baldwinsville. Dates may vary due to holidays. 315/633-2437; cnyos.org.

Gardening Friends Club meets the third Tuesday of the month, March–December, at 6:30pm, Wesleyan Church, 4591 US Route 11, Pulaski. 315/298-1276; Facebook: Gardening Friends of Pulaski, NY; VicLaDeeDa@frontiernet.net.

Gardeners of Syracuse meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm, Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Avenue.

315/464-0051.

Gardeners in Thyme (a women’s herb club) meets the second Thursday of the month at 7pm, Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville. 315/635-6481; hbaker@ twcny.rr.com.

Habitat Gardening Club of CNY (HGCNY) meets the last Sunday of most months at 2pm, Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool. HGCNY is a chapter of Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes; for-wild.org. Meetings are free and open to the public. 315/487-5742; hgcny.org.

Home Garden Club of Syracuse usually meets the first Tuesday morning of the month. Members are active in educating the community about gardening, horticulture & floral design and involved with several civic projects in the Syracuse area. New members welcome. homegardenclubofsyracuse@gmail.com; homegardenclubofsyracuse.org.

Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York usually meets the third Monday of each month at 7pm. See website for meeting locations. 315/4583199; cnykoi.com.

Syracuse Rose Society meets the second Thursday of every month (except December) at 7pm, Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse.

Enter from Melrose Avenue. Club members maintain the E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden, Thornden Park, Syracuse. Public welcome. syracuserosesociety.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.

BWNC: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, NY 13108. 315/6731350; Facebook; baltimorewoods.org.

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

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- Indicates garden tours.

S- May 13: Trinity Plant Sale, 9am–12pm. Plant selection includes perennials, annuals, house plants and herbs. Also available will be tools, bird houses and other gardening and yard items plus two varieties of manure: Black Gold, aged, composted horse manure and Inca Gold, from a local alpaca farm. Trinity Episcopal Church, 106 Chapel Street, Fayetteville. trinityplantsale.com.

T- May 14: Mother’s Day Garden Tour at Sycamore Hill Gardens, 11am–4pm. Stroll over 35 acres of themed gardens that include diverse statuary, koi ponds, stonework, a formal garden, a hedge maze and more.

Most recently, the owners have planted over 10,000 trees and shrubs, turning the land surrounding the garden into one of New York State’s largest privately held bird sanctuaries. Rain or shine. No pets. $12; children 8 and under free. 2130 Old Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus. BWNC S- May 20: Plant Sale – Onondaga County Master Gardeners, 9am–1pm. Locally grown natives, perennials, herbs, vegetables and annuals. Beaver Lakes Nature Center, 8477 Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Onondaga County. 315/424-9485; cceonondaga.org.

June 2: iMapInvasives Training – Finger Lakes Region.

Learn how to use iMapInvasives, an online mapping system shared by citizen scientists, educators and natural resource professionals who help keep the map up-to-date and accurate by reporting invasive species locations and control efforts. Beginner and advanced levels. Free. Registration required. Binghamton. nyimapinvasives.org.

S- June 2–4: Native Plant Sale & Garden Festival, Friday, 4–7pm; Saturday, 9am–3pm; Sunday, 11am– 4pm. Native plants, perennials, flowers, shrubs, trees, vegetables, herbs and hanging baskets. Shop natureinspired gifts by local artisans. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Garden talks, café, raffle. BWNC • June 3: Container Gardening Workshop, 10–11am.

Participants will mix soil and plant up a “Salad Bowl” garden to take home. Bring 15” or larger pot, gardening gloves and trowel. Ages 7 and up. $20 members; $30 non-members. Registration required.

BWNC

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 by May 15, Sunday - Friday Closed Saturdays sylborg@aol.com • www.Borglumsiris.com

June 14: iMapInvasives Training – St. Lawrence– Eastern Lake Ontario Region. See description under June 2. Free. Registration required. Watertown. nyimapinvasives.org.

Ongoing last week of June through July: Lavender Farm & Market, Saturdays & Sundays, 10am–5pm.

Pick your own lavender: over 2000 plants, 20 different varieties. Shop the Lavender Market. Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles.

315/685-5369; lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com.

• S/T- June 24: Summer Solstice Garden Tour & Plant Sale, 11am–4pm. Stroll the grounds at Sycamore Hill Gardens, Marcellus. Live music, yoga lessons, refreshments available for purchase. Picnicking encouraged. Proceeds benefit Central New York Land Trust. $6 advance; $12 gate. Facebook; cnylandtrust. org.

July 8–9: Finger Lakes Lavender Festival, 9am–5pm.

Pick your own bouquet from 18 varieties of lavender; shop local artists, hand-crafters and the Lavender Market; culinary treats and photographic opportunities. Rain or shine. Free. Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles.

315/685-5369; lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com; fingerlakeslavenderfestival.blogspot.com.

T- July 9: Lowville Free Library Garden Tour, 12–6pm.

See seven private gardens in Lewis County. Includes booklet with garden descriptions and map/directions to each garden. $15. Lowville Free Library, 5387 Dayan Street, Lowville. 315/376-2131; lowlib@ncls. org; lowvillefreelibrary.org.

SAVE THE DATE… September 9–10: Bonsai Show. Presented by Bonsai Club of CNY. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool. 315/436-0135; lnewell1@gmail.com.

& BEYOND CLASSES / EVENTS May 17: iMapInvasives Training – Capital–Mohawk Region. Learn how to use iMapInvasives, an online mapping system shared by citizen scientists, educators and natural resource professionals who help keep the map up-to-date and accurate by reporting invasive species locations and control efforts.

Beginner and advanced levels. Free. Registration required. Fonda, NY. nyimapinvasives.org.

June 3: iMapInvasives Training – Catskill Region. See description under May 17. Free. Registration required.

Mt. Tremper, NY. nyimapinvasives.org.

Deadline for Calendar Listings for the next issue (July– August 2017) is Friday, June 16, 2017. Please send your submissions to deb@upstategardenersjournal.com.

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UPCOMING TRIPS: • NEWPORT FLOWER SHOW

June 23-26, 2017

Visit the Newport Flower Show, Vanderbilt’s Breakers and take in all of Newport’ charm.

• IRELAND GARDENS, PUBS & CASTLES

August 19-27, 2017

Enjoy Ireland’s gardens, landscapes and picturesque countryside. Visit Kilkenny, County Cork, Limerick and Dublin.

LOCAL DAY TRIPS: July 7

Buffalo Horticultural Heritage Tour

July 12

Southtown’s Perennial Gardens and “Green” Innovations

July 21

Amazing Private Gardens of Buffalo For more information Visit: www.greatgardentravel.com Call: 800.242.4244 ®

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Fresh

Lockwood’s Garden Center

From Our Greenhouses

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A Spectacular Display of Annuals, Perennials Hanging Baskets 70 Varieties of Herbs 70 Varieties of Vegetables & Spring Bedding Plants

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H E N RYS GAR D E N S.C O M

Upstate Pairing

Turn Your Garden into a Cocktail

HERBS Muddle them, infuse them or garnish with them—herbs are essential to any cocktail. Whether you keep perennial herbs in a container or plant them in a garden, here are a few to consider for your next cocktail: Basil works great with gin. Try adding basil to our barrel aged gin with some tomato.

Cilantro works best as a garnish, but is also a great way to spice up a margarita.

Dill is a natural fit with the corn and oak driven sweetness of bourbon.

Mint is great with everything! Make yourself a mint julep, and don’t feel limited to bourbon. Brandy, rum, and gin also make a great julep.

Rosemary is great for a garnish. Gently roast some with a match, extinguish and place on top of a cocktail for an aromatic garnish that can’t be beat.

Sage works best when paired with a lighter spirit like Vodka or Gin. Add something sweet to balance it out. Sparkling wine would be a great addition here as well.

Thyme: Put a sprig in a refreshing highball cocktail like a gin and tonic for some inviting aromatics.

COCKTAIL

Whiskey Smash 2 oz. Black Button Distilling’s Four Grain Bourbon .5 oz. simple syrup .5 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice

by Jason Barrett

A

s the temperature begins to rise, I’m eager to get outside. I know many upstate New Yorkers are also eagerly planting away and awaiting the first vegetables of the season.

You might be getting excited for those fresh tomatoes, carrots, or lettuce, but I can’t wait for the lavender, lilac, juniper, basil, rosemary and thyme and the array of other herbs, flowers, and fruits I can use to make, garnish or even distill spirits for my favorite cocktails.

As the president and head distiller at Black Button Distilling, I’ve done a lot of experimenting with herbs, flowers and fruits to craft our grain to glass sprits. There is nothing better than fresh from the garden.

As you plan and plant your garden, consider adding some of your favorite herbs and flowers to use in your next cocktail. Not only do they taste great, but growing your own fresh herbs, flowers and fruits can also save you a lot of money and extra trips to the store. Why buy when you can grow your own?

Here are some suggestions for herbs, flowers and fruits that you can plant in order to turn your garden into a cocktail.

28 | MAY-JUNE 2017

5-10 leaves of mint 3 large basil leaves

Combine all ingredients and shake hard with ice for 20 seconds, dump into a large glass, and garnish with fresh basil and mint.

FLOWERS

FRUITS

While you’re planning your flowerbeds, think not only about what will look beautiful, but what you might be able to use. Some flowers make for great garnishes or even additions to your next cocktail.

While citrus is great, we have an abundance of fruits in Western New York that also make for great cocktail ingredients.

Consider:

Elderflower (the flowers of elderberry plants) can be very bitter, but there are lots of great elderflower liqueurs out there, and it can make a lovely garnish.

Honeysuckle is great with bourbon, honey and lemon, but beware: the berries can be poisonous!

Jasmine is delicious with gin and green tea.

Lavender is a great way to add a pleasant floral element to any cocktail. Dry some leaves to keep year round and add to a drink anytime.

Lilacs are very bitter, but as we know in Rochester, they smell amazing. Garnish a drink with some lilac petals to make it smell and look pretty!

Apples, apricots, peaches and pears all work well muddled into a drink or as a lovely garnish.

Plums are great infused into gin for a sort of homemade sloe gin.

Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, sour cherries, sweet cherries, strawberries can all be muddled with vodka, gin or rum for a fruity and refreshing cocktail. And don’t forget to stick a couple on top as a garnish!

Grapes are delicious when muddled into a sparkling wine cocktail. This is a great way to enjoy grapes two ways.

Instead of putting watermelon into a cocktail, put the cocktail into a watermelon! Cut a small hole in the top and dig out some room, then drain off any water inside. Pour in your spirit of choice and you have watermelon infused spirit, and spirit infused watermelon.

If you have an abundance of tomatoes, make your own Bloody Mary mix! Or you can smash up a couple of cherry tomatoes in the bottom of a glass and top with a bourbon or gin cocktail to add a little zing.

COCKTAIL

Bramble 2 oz. Black Button Distilling’s Citrus Forward Gin or Four Grain Bourbon

In honor of the rich floral tradition that Rochester—“the Flower/Flour City”—has cultivated throughout its history, Black Button Distilling has created a lilac gin. Made once a year in a small batch, each flower petal is steeped, distilled, and recombined to create a light, delicate flavor. Rose, hibiscus, lavender and lilac as well as juniper, coriander and a myriad of other botanical components make this one of a kind spirit highly sought after.

(Our lilac gin release date for this year is May 12, 2017.)

.5 oz. fresh lemon juice .25 oz. simple syrup (or a half oz. fruit syrup)

Muddle a handful of berries into the shaker (skip if you used fruit syrup).

Shake with ice and dump into large glass and garnish with fresh berries.

COCKTAIL

Bee’s Knees 2 oz. Black Button Distilling’s Lilac Gin .5 oz. honey syrup (honey and hot water 1:1) .5 oz. lemon Small pinch of dried lavender

Shake all ingredients with ice and double strain into a coupe or martini glass, then garnish with fresh edible flowers.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 29

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MUDDLIN’

PRO TIP Almost any botanical ingredient can be infused to make a syrup to use in your next cocktail.

Infused Syrup ½ cup herbs, flowers or fruit 1 cup water 1 cup sugar When making herb syrups, remember to blanche the herbs first by dipping them in boiling water for 30 seconds. This will prevent the herbs from turning black as they break down over time, and will prevent tannins from precipitating and turning your syrup bitter.

Combine ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring well until the sugar dissolves. Let cool, then pour through a mesh strainer. Keep refrigerated. It will last two to three weeks, longer if in the freezer. You can also skip the stovetop by mixing fruit or herbs with simple syrup in a blender, just strain out the solids after blending.

When muddling fruit, all we’re really doing is smashing it up so that the fruit will mix into the other ingredients more completely.

Herbs, however, are much more sensitive, particularly mint. All of the sweet, sweet oils that make mint such a popular ingredient reside on the exterior, while bitter oils are released when it is shredded or smashed apart. So, when muddling herbs, just coax out the oils with a few gentle presses of the muddler, and when garnishing with mint or other herbs, simply give them a little slap between your hands and place them on top of the drink. This will release a great scent without lending bitterness to your drink.

LIVE LARGE IN SMALL GARDENS At Black Button Distilling, our tagline is “live large in small batches.” It’s a nod to our craft distilling, grain to glass philosophy.

This spring, we hope you’ll also apply that idea to your own garden!

We hope our ideas and tips help you get off to a great start with making garden fresh cocktails at home. But at the end of the day (or beginning—no judgment) this is your garden, and your bar. So play around, experiment, and make something wholly yours.

Jason Barrett is president and head distiller, Black Button Distilling.

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Plant Health Care

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by Michael Hannen with Peter House

Water Aware An urban nurseryman shares tricks of the trade 32 | MAY-JUNE 2017

n a time of shrinking resources, we can all become good stewards of our environment by employing practices of sustainability right in our own home gardens.

As the operator of a small, home-based perennial nursery, I have long adhered to sustainable practices. I use recycled pots. I make my own potting soil comprised of compost, leaf debris, and other garden scraps. I don’t use any chemical fertilizers or insecticides. My potted plants are packed into very tight extra wide rows, and remain outside all year long with no cover or greenhouse. During the growing season I don’t water my potted plants unless they show signs of wilting.

So I was surprised when I received a letter last August from the City of Rochester informing me that my water usage had increased significantly. While I was aware on some level that I was watering more than in other years, I had no idea how much more water I was really using.

The fact that our area has been experiencing moderate drought in the past few years is no doubt well known to anyone who gardens. What may not be as well understood is how the average home gardener can better conserve an ever more precious resource: clean, potable water.

One big change we can all make is in how we water our gardens. Most of us probably use sprinklers in the belief that they simulate rain, and do a good job of covering the entire garden. While this is true, they also waste water in two ways: On dry, low humidity days like we have been experiencing the past few years, much of the water evaporates before it ever reaches the soil. Additionally, water from overhead sprinklers often does not penetrate the soil sufficiently. It will often simply wet the top inch or so, without soaking in.

I discovered that the solution to this problem is soaker hoses. Because the water source is touching the ground instead of hovering five feet above it, the evaporation will be minimal. In my experience, soaker hoses do a much better job of thoroughly soaking the soil at a deeper level than sprinklers. The water department official I spoke with estimated that soaker hoses use as little as half the water that overhead sprinklers do. One final benefit of soaker hoses is that you won’t have water falling on sidewalks, patio furniture, and newly waxed cars.

Even more important than reducing the water we use is maintaining the moisture that is already in the soil. This can be done in a few ways.

While many people use commercial mulch to keep soil moist, I have found that my own garden debris is much better suited to the task. In addition to saving money, this permaculture-like technique is more sustainable. When I prune my plants, pull weeds, or cut dead plants down in the fall, I cut all of this debris into one inch sections with a pair of scissors, or pruners, and drop it right on the

garden soil. In fact, I don’t just do this in the fall—I do it all year long. Anytime I deadhead or cut something back, it goes on top of the garden. I find that orange-handled Fiskars scissors from the fabric store are an ideal tool for this task.

This technique will keep new weeds at bay for two weeks or more, add nutrient rich compost to the soil, and preserve soil moisture. One caveat, however: Make sure to check plant debris for disease and unwanted seeds. Don’t despair if you miss a few seeds, as they will germinate into more weeds to be made into compost.

If you can resist the scorn of your neighbors, you can also follow my lead and simply let autumn leaves stay where they fall. Tree leaves are excellent free mulch.

Mixed with your garden debris and a little wood mulch, they break down into nutrient rich compost that will keep weeds down and hold moisture in the soil. This spongy mass also provides habitat for beneficial insects, worms, and caterpillars. Even bees and butterflies will seek refuge in this cool, moist habitat on hot days. Increasing the organic matter in the soil makes it better able to retain moisture.

As any farmer knows, perhaps the most important way to preserve soil moisture is to keep the soil planted.

Barren soil leeches water into the air. So keep your garden densely planted with drought-tolerant plants. If they are habitat or pollinator plants, that’s even better.

Tall plants help preserve moisture by providing pools of shade in otherwise sunny areas. Densely planted, tall, leafy plants can create microclimates within your garden.

These microclimates can support shorter plants, shade loving native plants, and perennial ground covers, all of which provide habitat, enrich the soil, and preserve moisture.

The fun part of preserving water in this way is the opportunity to explore new plant material. I find tall native plants such as Vernonia noveboracensis (New York ironweed), helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ and any other form of perennial sunflowers are excellent at creating shade. Most helianthus varieties are native to the U.S. (Warning: Jerusalem artichoke, H. tuberosus, which is native and a great food source, is also extremely invasive and nearly impossible to eradicate once you plant it on your property. If you plant it, you will have it forever.)

Thalictrum pubescens and T. lucidum, Aralia racemosa, Senna hebecarpa, Rudbeckia nitda, Persicaria polymorpha (giant fleece flower), Kerria japonica, lespedeza (hardy bush pea), double hemp agrimony, and Sambucas laciniata work well also to create a canopy to shelter shade-loving plants.

For the low plants underneath your canopy, variegated lilies-of-the-valley (there are more than 50) only spread a third as much as the traditional lily-of-the-valley and are

easier to maintain. Erigeron pulchellum ‘Lynhaven Carpet’, Hylomecom japonica, Anemone nemerosa, Asian Jacks-inthe-pulpit (Arisaema consanguineum, A. fargesii, etc.), and all pinellias produce leaves and flowers from early June until late October.

These plant choices would create a self-sustaining habitat garden. Using soaker hoses for minimal water use and minor weeding once established will provide a habitat garden that will feed all forms of wildlife.

OPPOSITE: Soaker hoses do a much better job of thoroughly soaking the soil at a deeper level than sprinklers TOP: Kerria japonica BOTTOM: Pachysandra procumbens

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 33

As the lack of winter snow indicates, our area is not out of the woods when it comes to drought. This summer may likely be as dry as the last one. The more conscious we become of conserving water, the better able we will be to weather the dry conditions we may have to endure in the years to come.

While most of us in upstate New York will most likely not have to endure water rationing any time soon, unless we are on a well, why wait to start being a better steward of our environment and home?

Why not take the lead now and start practicing more sustainable watering practices and encouraging your neighbors to follow your lead?

There is so much we can all be doing to be better stewards of our planet, and the wildlife will thank us for our efforts. I plan to take action now instead of waiting until it’s too late. I put my soaker hoses out as soon as the snow melted, and I plan to be more mindful about my water usage. How about you?

ABOVE: Polygonatum multiflorum

and see all the color and forms of our daylilies—3700 cultivars --4540 east shelby road Medina, new York 14103 retaIL & aHs dIsPLaY garden open July 1st – august 6th tuesday – sunday, 10 am – 5 pm or by appointment email: cglilies@rochester.rr.com Phone 585-798-5441 Web: http://www.daylily.net/gardens/cottagegardens We welcome garden tours • Gift Certificates available

O R I G I N A L S

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Come visit us at

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Imagine walking through fields of daylilies in bloom.

13245 Clinton st., alden, nY 14004 (716) 937-7837

DIScOveR OuR heRb GARDeNS & RuStIc ShOpS

Garden & art Workshops Welcome garden clubs, groups for “summer garden visits”

July 15, 2017: 10am–4pm

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garden décor • hand-painted primitives oldtiques & collectibles bird baths • herbs & perennials

Hours (Apr.–Dec.): Thurs.–Sat. 10–5 Other days by chance or app’t

Explore six beautiful gardens in the Rochester area.

Tickets are $20 in advance online or at area locations or on tour date at the RMSC Cunningham House, 657 East Ave. Visit www.rmsc.org/GardenTour for details.

Rochester Museum & Science Center | Women’s Council

QB Daylily Gardens

Garden Center • Shrubs • Trees • Perennials

AHS DAYLILY DISPLAY GARDEN Open for regular hours

Landscape Design

June 24 - August 6 Wed thru Sunday, 10am to 5pm

• Planting • Walks/Patios • Maintenance

or any other time by appointment Group tours are welcome Gift certificates available on site or by phone 557 Sand Hill Rd Caledonia • 585.538.4525 QBDAYLILYGARDENS.COM

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

SALE—Buy one, get one free on select varieties Clip this add for a $5 discount.

Visit

Eagle Bay Gardens

See: 8 acres of gardens

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Come Visit Us!

We are a perennial nursery that takes pride in growing healthy, beautiful plants.

There is nothing better than taking a little piece of our garden home to your garden!

Lessons from Nature & Amanda’s Garden present:

Annual Native Plant and Perennial sale 170 Pine St., E. Aurora, NY 14052

Come shop the largest selection of native perennials in the state

SATURDAY • MAY 20 • 9 am - 2 pm Check out our websites: • lessonsfromnature.biz •amandasnativeplants.com

Lasting Dreams Daylilies

Display Garden & Nursery Northern Hardy Field Grown Plants

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Over 2000 AHS Cultivars Set On 5 Acres 6425 South Abbott Road, Orchard Park, 14127 (716) 648-4920 / LastingDreams@verizon.net

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Easy Walking & Access - Ample Parking - Shaded Seating - Restroom Gift Shoppe - Clubs & Groups Welcome By Appointment

Seneca

Greenhouse Bring on Spring with our beautiful selection of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and garden decor.

2250 Transit Rd., near Seneca St. West Seneca, NY 14224 716/677-0681

Celebrate the Moments of Your Life

No matter if you are getting married, spending a day with your life partner, going on a family outing, or squeezing in some “me” time, Sonnenberg is the perfect backdrop to create those memories in. Open 7 days/week, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (until 5:30 pm Memorial Day - Labor Day).

151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua, NY 585-394-4922 • www.sonnenberg.org

Backyard Habitat

Songs of Spring

At this time of the year, we have no shortage of feathered friends.

by Liz Magnanti

T

INSET: Northern (Baltimore) Oriole (Icterus galbula). Photo courtesy Flickr: Larry & Teddy Page

36 | MAY-JUNE 2017

he sounds of spring are in the air! Mornings are filled with the songs and chirps of birds as they try to attract mates and evenings bring the chorus of frogs and toads. Grosbeaks, orioles, warblers, hummingbirds and more have made their way back into the area where they are actively searching out food and nesting sites.

Rose-breasted grosbeaks are fairly large songbirds, with males being black and white with a bright red breast.

Females are brown and white and look like oversized sparrows with a large beak. Grosbreaks are in the same family as cardinals and prefer similar food and feeders. An open feeder, such as a tray or hopper, is great for attracting grosbeaks. Load the feeder up with sunflower and safflower seeds for your best opportunity of getting grosbeaks at your feeder.

Orioles are gorgeous orange and black birds that migrate into the area in early May. They can be enticed to stay in your yard by feeding them their favorite foods—jelly, nectar and orange halves. The orioles’ favorite kind of jelly is grape, or birdberry jelly, which is a mix of grape and blackberry. Make sure the jelly you feed them has no artificial sweeteners or corn syrup. Oriole nectar can be purchased as a concentrate or a ready-to-use option. You can also make your own oriole nectar by combining one part sugar to five parts water. Make sure to boil the water before adding the sugar. Never add any dye to the nectar, as it can be harmful to the birds.

Hummingbirds are among the favorite birds to attract, and for good reason! These tiny birds migrate all the way here from Central and South America and arrive around Mother’s Day. Hummingbirds will make a tiny nest where they usually lay two eggs. They are fairly easy to attract, and will eagerly visit hummingbird feeders and tubular flowers. Like for the orioles, you can purchase nectar or make your own. The recipe for hummingbird nectar is one part sugar to four parts water. Hummingbirds also love native plants. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), bee balm (Monarda didyma), wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), and phlox (Phlox maculata) are just a few of their favorites. On the east coast we have only one species of hummingbird, the ruby-throated. These little

birds are territorial and will actively defend food sources.

The key to getting more hummingbirds in your yard is to put up multiple feeders (preferably out of sight of one another).

The flurry of bird activity has also brought in birds that can be less appealing to us. Grackles and starlings are dark colored birds that are known to decimate feeders and raid bird houses. Grackles are large birds with a black body and iridescent blue head. They migrate south in the winter but arrive back in the early spring. A common concern this time of year is the amount of seed these birds can eat. There are, however, ways to discourage grackles and starlings from coming to your feeders. The first is to switch your seed to safflower seed. Safflower is about the same size and shape as sunflower seed, but it is white in color. Safflower has a bitter taste that keeps away both blackbirds and squirrels. The best part though, is that most backyard birds love it. It is a favorite of cardinals and house finches and is also eaten by chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, blue jays, grosbeaks, finches and more. If blackbirds are raiding your suet feeder, switch to an upside-down suet feeder. These suet cages lie flat with a roof over them, to keep big birds from perching. To get to the suet, the bird must cling upside down on the feeder. This is an easy task for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees, but it is not possible for grackles. Another way to discourage grackles and blackbirds is to put out feeders with only small perches, or no perches at all.

Grackles are large, require a lot of perching room, and prefer feeders with long perches and trays. Without the room to perch it is difficult for them to feed from bird feeders.

One of my favorite things to put out in the yard this time of year is a water feature. Not all birds will come to a feeder or bird house, but they all need water. A shallow source of water is great for small birds and warblers. Large, deep birdbaths may only attract big songbirds like robins, blue jays, and bluebirds that will sit in the bath to drink and bathe. Moving water sources attract birds better than standing water. Add a solar fountain or water wiggler to your birdbath to get even more birds flocking!

Liz Magnanti is manager of The Bird House in Brighton.

Go

th e

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Allegany Garden Festival Allegany Garden Festival

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877 LaRue Road Clifton Springs

Open April 25 thru June 15 Monday-Saturday 10-6; Sunday 9-3

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LookiNg foR hEiRLooms?

Visit harrington’s greenhouse.

specializing in a large selection of vegetable plants, including many hot and sweet pepper varieties. Also many varieties of annuals, perennials in packs, shrubs and hanging baskets.

harrington’s

Greenhouse

4653 North Byron Rd. Elba, NY 14058 585/757-2450

find us on

2017-•10:00-4:00 JuneJune 10,10, 2017 10:00–4:00 th

and Maple Complex • Allegany, NY 4th and Maple Complex Allegany, NY

Greenhouse

Perennials, annuals, beautiful hanging baskets, geraniums, container gardens, mulch, soil “Find perfect Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, or any occasion spring or garden plants”

Visit our family-owned greenhouse, where growing is our business!

9784 South Main St., Angola, NY

716-549-0458

Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden Center Keep the Local, Family-Owned Businesses Alive & Growing!

Shop at Pudgie’s

3646 West Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 Store: 585/343-8352 Office: 585/948-8100 www.pudgieslawnandgarden.com

CLASSIFIEDS PAPERBARK MAPLE. World’s most beautiful maple. Due to health, must sell 7-year trees 5 to 8 feet. Also 2-year trees 2 to 3 feet just $10. Ten varieties hardy, deer-proof ferns, kousa dogwoods, dawn redwoods, coral bark Japanese maples, Korean bee trees, hostas.

Call Howard Ecker at 585-671-2397 for appointment.

DAYLILIES. Daylilies are outstanding, carefree perennials. We grow and sell over 225 top-rated award-winning varieties in many colors and sizes in our Rochester garden. We are also an official national daylily society display garden. We welcome visitors to see the flowers in bloom from June to September. Call 585/461-3317.

PURE, NATURAL, LOCAL HONEY. Award-winning small scale apiary by Lake Ontario. SeawayTrailHoney.com 585-820-6619

Amanda’s Garden 8030 Story Rd. Dansville, N.Y. 14437

Come tour our diverse display beds of native perennials that will bring beauty to your garden Open daily• please call ahead

•585-750-6288•

amandasnativeplants.com

Cathy's Crafty Corner

Pressed Flower Coasters

by Cathy Monrad

C

reate an everlasting bouquet with these pressed flower coasters. You can use pre-pressed flowers and leaves, or press your own. Search the Internet for techniques and tutorials on the subject. Blossoms and leaves that are nearly paper-thin after pressing, such as pansies, violas, and some herbs and ferns, are best. Glass can be cut to size at your local hardware store, sometimes free of charge. To clean finished coasters, use glass cleaner and paper towel; do not submerge coasters in water; the copper tape edge is not watertight.

MATERIALS PER COASTER Two 4-inch square pieces of 2.0mm thick glass Pressed pansies, or other very flat flowers or leaves ¼-inch wide copper tape Non-water-based clear-drying craft glue Glass cleaner Paper towel TOOLS Tweezers Toothpick Scissors Popsicle stick

1. Clean glass pieces thoroughly with glass cleaner and paper towel.

2. Use tweezers to arrange pressed flowers/leaves in desired layout on one piece of glass.

3. Remove a flower/leaf with tweezers. Use toothpick to dab a bit of glue on glass, then carefully replace flower/leaf.

4. Repeat step three until all foliage is adhered to glass.

5. Allow glue to dry completely according to glue manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Gently place second piece of glass on top of flowers, aligning edges exactly.

7. Use scissors to cut copper tape to a 16½-inch length, then fold back the first inch or so of backing to expose adhesive.

8. Tilt glass and flower “sandwich” upright while keeping edges aligned. Visually center tape on glass edge with an overlap of ¼-inch before starting corner. Press down tape with exposed adhesive, first on the top edge, then on the side. Continue to wrap tape around entire perimeter of coaster, peeling off backing as you go, and keeping glass pressed together.

9. Use a popsicle stick to smooth tape along edges, then use to press down and smooth tape overhang on top and bottom of coaster.

Cathy Monrad is the graphic designer and the selfproclaimed garden crafter for the Upstate Gardners' Journal.

38 | MAY-JUNE 2017

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