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BUFFALO - ITHACA - ROCHESTER - SYRACUSE

Stump the Chump Where Are They Now? Arborvitae Stamped Gift Tags FREE

Volume Twenty-two, Issue Six November-December 2016

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

SARA’S GARDEN

Always down to the wire…

No matter the season, we always seem to run out of time! Does time fly faster as we approach a deadline? Are all gardeners perennial procrastinators or are there just too many things we all want to do? We are down to the last months of the garden year and there’s so much to accomplish. On the nice days, we will be in the garden. Otherwise we are preparing for our second favorite season, Christmas!

We will be gathering material for wreaths and Christmas decoration; fresh cut boxwood, fragrant cedars, and more. Our handmade wreaths will nary loose a needle throughout your Christmas season and beyond.

Whether on your own door or as a gift, we guarantee it will be loved.

Christmas trees; fresh cut and in several varieties including our new Victorian trees, will bring the lushness of the garden into your home for the holidays. From table-top to cathedral, nothing says Christmas like a real tree.

Our Christmas Shop runs pretty much like the rest of the season; bringing you the rare and unusual along with the tried and true must haves. We invite you to visit this season for in about 60 days we are gone til spring!

Stone Wall Follies 2016 Is it possible they keep getting better and better? Yes! The newly named Honey Moon Gate is just wonderful. Our Fall sneak peek is if nothing else an invitation. If you are a lover of stone, people and creativity - then put the 2017 session on your calendar. Actually, email me today to reserve your space.

Again, nearly half of this year’s students have reserved already, it was that special.

John will be here again in 2017, bringing along another very special guest teacher making Stone Wall Follies a magical experience all over again. Be a part of it!

Check out the FB page to share the 2016 weekend.

Please check out John’s blog - an inspirational read: http://thinking-stoneman.blogspot.com/ kkepler@rochester.rr.com or (585)637-4745

40 Year Mission!

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

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

Contents Ear to the Ground.......................................................6 Where Are They Now?......................................... 8–11 Backyard Habitat...................................................... 12

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Jane F. Milliman ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Megan Frank MANAGING EDITOR: Debbie Eckerson GRAPHIC DESIGN: Cathy Monrad TECHNICAL EDITOR: Brian Eshenaur PROOFREADER: Sarah Koopus WESTERN NEW YORK SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

Kirstin Lincoln: 716/907-5739

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: MICHELLE SUTTON | SHARON ROSENBLUM | AMANDA GRISA TED COLLINS | CATHY MONRAD | LIZ MAGNANTI

On the Cover: Crabapple, Caledonia, NY

Calendar.............................................................. 14–17 Almanac............................................................... 18–19 Upstate Pairing......................................................... 21 Stump the Chump.................................................... 23 Classifieds.................................................................. 24 Cathy the Crafty Gardener...................................... 25 Near or Far................................................................ 27

1140 Ridge Crest Drive, Victor, NY 14564 585/301-7181 e-mail: info@upstategardenersjournal.com upstategardenersjournal.com The Upstate Gardeners’ Journal is published six times a year.

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1140 Ridge Crest Drive Victor, NY 14564 585/301-7181

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Ear to the Ground As the end of outdoor gardening season nears, I like to plan how I’m going to keep my life “green” during the cold winter months. One of my favorite things to do is bring in herbs to continue enjoying them year round – not to mention the warmth of refreshing mint tea when snowflakes are flying. I recently invested in an A-frame plant stand for a more streamlined setup—best decision I’ve made for indoor growing to date. They come in all different heights and widths, number of shelves, and materials. Do you have a favorite or tried-and-true indoor gardening/growing tip? Are you willing to share it with the rest of the UGJ community? Is there a better way to melt away the cold weather blues than keeping the gardener in us aglow? I sure don’t think so! Send your “secret” tips via email to megan@upstategardenersjournal.com or via our Facebook page.

On another note, it wouldn’t be a holiday season without a few gifts for the gardener ideas. There are many out there, but here are my favorites right now:

you slip your bare foot (my preference) into a brightly colored pair for a day in the garden. Easy to rinse, dry, repeat!

Suet Bird Feeders—For me, birds and gardening go hand in hand.

I wouldn’t want to sit on my patio, admiring the fruits of my labor, without the sound of birds chirping in the background.

Jane (yes, that Jane) introduced me to suet feeders and I haven’t stopped recommending them to others. Also, they’re a great alternative when traditional feeders aren’t allowed.

The Gardeners Collection by Crabtree & Evelyn—I have enjoyed these products since before I had my own garden—thank you, Mom, for the introduction. I will always use the ultramoisturizing hand therapy, and you can never go wrong with it either. There are a few new products in the line, with the hand primer topping the list for me. Honestly though, I’m sure any gardener would enjoy them all.

Thank you for another great year for us at Upstate Gardeners’ Journal!

We look forward to 2017!

Cheers!

Garden Clogs—I know gardeners are very divided on the need for such footwear, but I’m all for them. It’s hard not to smile when

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Seasonal Stakeout

Where Are They Now?

by Michelle Sutton

I

followed up with some of the fascinating people I’ve profiled in UGJ in the past: Gordon Ballard, Nina Bassuk, Sally Jean Cunningham, Karen Hanford, Mary Hirshfeld, and Todd Lighthouse. What are they up to now? How has their gardening life changed? Here they are, in their own words.

GORDON BALLARD ABOVE: El Gordo Cantina

INSET: Gordon Ballard and Husband Brian Olinski

In the ten years that have passed since our story in UGJ, so many things have changed both in our lives and in our gardens. Most importantly, I am happy to say that my partner Brian, then of eight years, is now my husband of two years! (Yes, 18 years total).

Of course, neither of us has slowed down or downsized our gardens. The surprise snowstorm of October 12-13, 2006, changed our entire approach. For starters, as storm-damaged trees had to be removed,

8 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016

we went from being 2/3 shade gardens to having many more full-sun gardens. We had to remove 100 feet of privet hedge that ran the length of the yard, giving us the opportunity to add a wood fence to support vertical plantings. And we decided we wanted the gardens to be spaces we and our guests could more fully inhabit, so we created three distinct outdoor living rooms, complete with a Key West-inspired 15 x 15-foot, steel-roof bar that we call “El Gordo Cantina.”

The original centerpiece, our 3,000 gallon koi pond, is no longer. After 15 years, the liner finally disintegrated four years ago and we chose not to rebuild it. Instead, we created a new flagstone patio and added rock gardens and new garden beds. Something we learned from that koi pond was that a HUGE pond created exponentially more work!

With all of our new gardening spaces, we have concentrated on adding more rare and unusual plants

into our collection. We currently have 100-plus daylily and 125-plus hosta varieties. Our gardens are now considered a real showpiece in the WNY community, a place to host bus and garden club tour-goers as well as several large garden parties attended by the “Who’s Who” in the surrounding horticultural community.

I am now celebrating 34 years in the specialty advertising printing business and still am actively involved in the Buffalo Bills Monday Quarterback Club, having served two years as its president in 2008-2009.

I also co-chair the advisory council at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. When not dividing perennials, starting seeds, or just getting his hands dirty, my husband Brian stays busy with his IT job and independent computer work.

NINA BASSUK

Cornell Professor Nina Bassuk continues to teach, lecture, conduct original research, and direct the Urban Horticulture Institute that she founded in 1980.

Like all horticulturists, [husband] Peter and I like to try things that may not be considered possible. We put in a high tunnel (unheated hoop house) two years ago and have been trying to grow figs in Ithaca, which is definitely pushing the envelope (we really, really love figs). The trees are bushy and have lots of figs, but the challenge is getting the fruit to ripen; last year they didn’t, but we’re hoping they will this year. Meanwhile we also grew tomatoes in there and in late September, they look like summer tomatoes at their peak, still flowering and fruiting! It’s looking like we may get tomatoes through Thanksgiving. Maybe they’re trying to tell us we need to grow tomatoes and not figs. The high tunnel is a means of extending the growing season on both ends, but also we’ve noticed much less disease and insect pressure on the plants in the tunnel.

We’re always trying things out and some years we kill a lot of plants—that’s ok, that’s one way you learn.

Sometimes the stated hardiness for things is just not so; for instance, people will say that hardy rubber tree (Eucommia ulmoides) is only hardy to Zone 7, but we’ve grown it for multiple seasons in Zone 5 in our landscape.

We love to go to specialty nurseries and we’re always trying new cultivars. At the Brooklyn Botanical Garden we saw a mimosa tree with purple-brown leaves, Albizia julibrissin ‘Chocolate’ and decided to try one even though it’s not hardy—so it gets moved into the garage in the winter. We have lots of plants we bring in and out of the greenhouse, like grapefruit, oranges, and lime trees.

Someone was cleaning out their lotus pond and gave us some roots; we tried throwing a brick with a lotus root attached into our small pond, and now we have extraordinarily beautiful lotus flowers and leaves. We also have phragmites grass that we’ll have to dig out. I’m very sorry I planted false spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia), as it comes up everywhere. You make mistakes but you just keep learning and working at it.

SALLY JEAN CUNNINGHAM

Where am I now? For me there’s been an arc with some change, some of it painful, and some great new things entered my life—a husband and new jobs. But my core definition has remained the same: I’m a writer, a teacher, and a gardener. I just express some of it differently.

When you interviewed me about a decade ago, I was still reeling from losing my position as an Erie County Cornell Cooperative Extension agent, after fourteen years there. It was just like a divorce. I loved the Master Gardeners (still do), and love the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora where CCE Erie is housed. Like the divorced woman seeing her old house, I couldn’t even enter the building. But change is a catalyst for new opportunities.

I went to work for a great garden center called Lockwood’s Greenhouses, became an official CNLP (Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional), began to write for The Buffalo News and Buffalo Spree Magazine, stayed on WIVBTV (Channel 4), and kept on giving talks and selling my book Great Garden Companions. I kept spinning those plates in the air for several years, and then a larger commitment called to me.

Whatever the profession, there is a time to give back. At some point I’d worked with so many people on so many projects that I felt connected to all the players in the regional garden and landscape industry. Garden Walk Buffalo was making our region famous, and our wonderful visitor’s bureau (Visit Buffalo Niagara) asked me to join with the Garden Walk Buffalo leader Jim Charlier to pull everyone in horticulture together and form the National Garden Festival. I directed the project but it was a team effort that included all the garden walks, our landscape industry (PlantWNY) doing amazing beautification projects, great gardeners who created the Open Garden program, our Olmsted Parks and Botanical Garden, and motorcoach tours with AAA to showcase gardens all over the region.

Through the National Garden Festival we increased tourism, raised the performance of every component, and brought even more national attention to our gardening scene. We received an International Garden Tourism award. Garden Walk Buffalo became the largest garden tourism event in the country. New York State’s landscape association and Plant WNY honored me—wow—as person of the year. And AAA asked me to develop Great Garden Travel so that now I can take people to see gardens in America and Europe. I’m still lecturing and teaching, but now some of it is on a motorcoach or airplane!

TOP: Nina Bassuk, photo

by Michelle Sutton

BOTTOM: Sally Jean Cunningham, photo by KC Kratt

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 9

KAREN HANFORD

ABOVE: Sycamore Hill Gardens Japanese garden and pond, photo courtesy Karen Hanford

I’ll be seventy in a couple of years, so I’m accelerating that “giving back” part quickly. Collaborating with Garden Walk Buffalo (now Gardens Buffalo Niagara) and Visit Buffalo Niagara, I pitched Buffalo as the 2017 host (next August) for the Garden Writers Association to come here.

We’ll be dazzling hundreds of garden writers, bloggers, and other “garden communicators” with our green and flowering region. Meanwhile I’m excited to be the AAA Great Garden Travel Tour Director and plan to take people to the Philadelphia Flower Show, to England in May, Newport in June, Ireland in late summer, and lots more of that. (See AAA, GreatGardenTravel.com and give them your e-mail or call 1-800-242-4244. Let’s take a trip together!)

I still do some garden consulting and give garden talks. The most important topic to me is nature-friendly landscaping—helping pollinators and using native plants—that is my mission. And I must stop the clock, write the next book, and remember to share time with my family, friends, and dear pets.

So you asked about my gardening? Hah. No time for that companion vegetable garden now, but I have a casual landscape for the birds, insects, and other animals, with massive shrub and flower beds and fine trees. Gardening still centers me. Yes, there’s been change. But if you ask me again in ten years, I believe life will still be about writing, teaching, and gardening.

10 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016

Each year we open Sycamore Hill Gardens as a free venue for various local not-for-profits and help them raise funds for their organizations. It’s our way of giving back to the CNY community. We’ve also hosted a few wedding ceremonies and donated those monies to the nearby Baltimore Woods Nature Center, a group dear to our hearts that has held an event here every Mother’s Day for over a decade.

In 2015, to benefit the Onondaga County Library System’s Read One Book program, we hit upon the idea of Weekday Garden Rambles. These are low-key events with 30 to 35 guests, a catered lunch, and a lot of time to ramble the gardens or traverse them on golf cart tours.

These fundraisers were very successful, with minimal expense to the Library System. Since then, we’ve decided to do some Rambles of our own as a way to accommodate out-of-town groups. We also have begun to attend independent garden center trade shows and are giving thought to using our century-old barn as a gift shop or perhaps a meeting facility with local restaurant catering.

These plans do affect how we now approach our gardening. For example, to improve the view for our lunching Ramblers, we are starting more perennials and concentrating them in the beds closest to the patio lunch areas, as well as in the areas nearest to the house and barn, including the formal garden. Also, throughout the gardens we are removing spent shrubs and catering more to the needs of the 500 or so varieties of conifers and deciduous trees we’ve planted over the past 25 years.

In August of 2017, Sycamore Hill Gardens will help to host the American Conifer Society’s annual meeting.

Spurred on by this deadline, we are well underway in creating a garden to showcase our Asian statuary and pottery in a former pond area. This is an ambitious project involving the construction of a dry waterfall and streambed as well as several islands in a gravel lake. A cut stone wall topped by the addition of a sunken path lined with dwarf conifers will give guests a close-up view of various small specimens without the need to clamber into beds.

Other current sources of horticulture excitement include putting the majority of our former dairy farm into the USDA Conservation Reserve Program by planting 10,000 native trees, 10,000 native shrubs, and 150-plus acres of ground nesting bird meadow mix. This project took three years of our energy, thought, and garden budget, but the increase in birdlife and decrease in soil erosion has made it worth all the time and effort.

We’ve also returned to beekeeping, and we’ve returned to vegetable gardening with renewed enthusiasm and a greater emphasis on soil preparation, composting, and organic, non-GMO seeds. You are what you eat, so if we want to continue to garden well into our dotage, we need to eat the best food we can find—and most of it’s in our garden.

MARY HIRSHFELD

In 2014 Mary retired from her position as director of horticulture at Cornell Plantations. She had worked there for 36 years.

While I was still at Plantations I undertook a yearlong course in dog obedience training, followed by an eightmonth internship with a local trainer who I respect very much. He teaches a lot of classes, as well as having private clients. I found the behavior aspect of working with private clients far more interesting than teaching classes.

By the time I finished my internship, I also had ten years of working with the behaviorists that cycled through the SPCA, developing and implementing behavioral modification programs for “gray” dogs, meaning those who had issues that emerged during their behavioral evaluation. I worked for the SPCA as a behaviorist and trainer for a year and a half after I left Plantations, before several of us on the behavior and training team were laid off due to budget constraints.

I opened my own training business last July and am now working primarily with clients whose dogs have behavioral issues they would like to modify—those that are aggressive towards other dogs; guard food, toys, space, and owners; have terrible door manners; bite and tear clothing when they meet new people, etc. I really enjoy meeting new people and dogs and the minute I enter their home, I lose myself in the intellectual challenge of sorting out what is going on in this particular dog’s mind and how the owner’s behavior plays into that dynamic. I still have four dogs of my own; all are shelter dogs except the pug, Lloyd.

TODD LIGHTHOUSE

A whole lot has changed for both my family and business (you can see the original story about Todd at upstategardenersjournal.com/todd-lighthouse-pioneershis-way-into-the-sustainable-mix/). Our family has gotten bigger. My wife Andrea and I have had two more children,

Kate (4) and Lauren (2 months), in addition to our son Jack (8). We quickly grew out of our backyard greenhouse and bought some land in Lima on 15A just north of the village in 2013 where we built a large pole barn, four more greenhouses, a retail farm stand, and a large market garden employing up to seven people during the busy season.

Organic herb and vegetable transplants for home gardeners are still the cornerstone of our business, though we are coming full circle back to ornamentals. We now grow over 500 herb, vegetable, ornamental annual, perennial, fruit, and succulent varieties and offer about 75 of these to wholesale customers in our custom printed pots under our “The Living Earth” brand.

Our commitment to sustainable growing has continued to develop, as we became Certified Organic through NOFA-NY in 2011. We still make our organic compost-based potting soil, which we now sell through retail outlets under our “The Living Earth” brand. We supply dozens of organic farmers, garden centers, and natural food stores in our area, including the Wegmans Organic Farm in Canandaigua.

Our approach to growing is fundamentally the same: We embrace all life and trust the wisdom of nature in our growing processes. We provide our plants with the best growing conditions as possible so that they can better defend themselves. We’ve expanded heavily into growing produce at our new farm and will be building our first high tunnel later this year to extend our season. Growing organic produce for market has catapulted my interest in the soil web of life to almost an obsession. The “Farmer To Farmer” podcast as well as newly published books by young organic farmers inspired by Eliot Coleman has sent me down an organic farming rabbit hole I didn’t know existed.

LEFT: Mary Hirshfeld with 3 of her 4 dogs

RIGHT: Todd Lighthouse with his wife Andrea and their kids, baby Lauren, Kate, and Jack

Michelle Sutton (michellejudysutton.com) is a horticulturist, writer, and editor.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 11

Backyard Habitat

Creature Comforts

by Liz Magnanti

I ABOVE: Male cardinal, photo courtesy Flickr: Eric Kilby.

t’s inevitable: snow, ice, sleet, and cold. Winter will be here before we know it. The days become short and the nights are long. Sometimes I think of how rough we have it here in Upstate New York, but in the winter I take one look out the window and see all the life we have outside. While we are snug in our homes drinking hot tea and curling up next to the fire, birds are exposed to the elements every day to find water, food and shelter. There are some species of birds that are here only for the winter as they have migrated from further north. There are a few ways you can make their lives a little easier this winter, and you’ll get a great view of wildlife from the comfort of your home.

One of the most difficult things for birds and wildlife to find in the winter is a source of water. While we have many large bodies of water here, small songbirds need a shallow, unfrozen patch of water to bathe and drink from.

Cleaning feathers is very important for birds. Having clean feathers keeps parasites off, and more importantly, allows birds to remain warm. Feathers insulate the warm air trapped in between the bird’s body and feathers. One way to provide birds with water this winter is with a heated birdbath. Heated birdbaths operate on a thermostat and keep water just warm enough so it doesn’t freeze over. You can also get just the heater to put in a birdbath you already have. You will be amazed how many birds will flock to a heated birdbath in the winter!

Providing high fat food to birds and wildlife in the cold months of the year is a great way to attract them to your yard. Throughout the year, and especially in the fall, birds and wildlife will cache away seeds and nuts for the winter.

12 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016

They have a surprisingly high rate of success in finding this food again. Some of these food items, however, is lost or stolen by other animals. An additional source of food can help relieve some of the stresses put on wildlife from lack of sustenance. Black oil sunflower seed or a mix containing a majority of black oil seed will always be a big hit in any yard. Black oil sunflower is a favorite of cardinals and will bring in the most bird diversity of any seed. Look for darkeyed juncos, one of our winter birds, feeding on sunflower seeds that have dropped to the ground at your feeders.

Nyjer seed, with its high oil content, is another great food for birds in the winter. Buy fresh seed. If your nyjer seed is more than a few months old you may want to throw it out and get some new. Because nyjer has such a high moisture content, it can dry out quickly. Goldfinches, who turn a drab yellowish/green in the winter, will feast on nyjer all year long. Pine siskins and redpolls that are here only for the winter, will feed from nyjer feeders as well.

High in fat and calories, suet will bring flocks of birds to your yard. These square blocks of animal or vegetable fat are favorites of woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice. Suet helps plump up birds, giving them the fat they need to stay warm. Peanuts are another great option for the winter. Blue jays, nuthatches and woodpeckers will absolutely love this treat.

Plant cover, bird houses and roosting houses can be great sources of shelter for birds. Make sure any nest boxes you leave out over the winter are clean to avoid nest parasites. Roosting houses are similar to bird houses but inside have perches for birds to sit on. Multiple species will use these at one time to stay out of the elements. Roosting pockets, which are made of woven fibers, are also a great option. These are small hanging huts that birds will fly inside of to stay warm and dry.

There are very few things more beautiful than a bright red male cardinal on a backdrop of freshly fallen snow. It is amazing that wildlife can survive so well in such harsh conditions. By providing some “creature comforts” in your yard this winter you will be amazed how much wildlife you can attract! And they just may reward you by staying long enough to get a great photo for this year’s holiday cards.

Liz Magnanti is the manager of the Bird House on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford. She has a degree in wildlife conservation and has worked as a naturalist at various nature centers.

Badding Bros Farm Market

and garden center

fresh cut trees • live trees • wreaths centerpieces • poinsettias and more!

10820 Transit Road • East Amherst (716) 636-7824 • www.baddingbrosfarm.com

Botanical Gardens www.buffalogardens.com

November 25 - January 8

January 25 - February 21

Calendar BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Thursday of the month, March – November, at 7 pm, Greenfield Health & Rehab Center, Manor Park Facility. Contact: Judy O’Neil, judyoneil1945@ gmail.com.

Alden Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except July & August) at 7 pm, 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 11 am, Burchfield Nature & Art Center, 2001 Union Road, West Seneca. 716/668-1100.

Amherst Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except December, March, July & August) at 10:00 am, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Main Street, Williamsville. New members and guests welcome.

716/836-5397.

Buffalo Area Daylily Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora. Open Gardens in July.

716/ 698-3454; Facebook; buffaloareadaylilysociety. com.

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. Meeting dates, times and campus locations: kenancenter.org/affiliates.asp; 716/4332617.

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

Garden Friends of Clarence meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, September – June, Town Park Clubhouse, 10405 Main Street, Clarence. gardenfriendsofclarence@hotmail.com.

Hamburg Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at noon, summer garden tours, 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 7:30 pm, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 576 Delaware Road, Kenmore.

Monthly programs, artistic design and horticulture displays. New members and guests welcome.

November 8: 45 Gardening Tips in 45 Minutes.

December 10: Holiday Luncheon, 12 pm, Squire on Main. 716/833-8799.

Lancaster Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, St. John’s Lutheran Hall, 55 Pleasant Avenue, Lancaster. No meetings January, July & August. December Activities: Christmas Party (December 8), Decorate Lancaster Library, Santa in Westwood Park, Decorate Theodore Roosevelt Site.

716/685-4881.

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 12 pm, Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park.

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

14 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016

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

CLASSES / EVENTS

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

November 10 – 13: Christmas Open House, 10 am – 5 pm. Chicken Coop Originals, 13245 Clinton Street, Alden. 716/937-7837; chickencooporiginals.com.

Western New York Carnivorous Plant Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm, 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 7 pm, 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. A group of hosta lovers who have come together to promote the genus hosta. 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 10 am, Gardenview Restaurant, Union Road, West Seneca.

Western New York Iris Society usually meets at members’ homes and gardens. Information about growing all types of irises and complementary perennials. Show and public sale. Guests welcome.

Carolyn Schaffner, 716/837-2285; drsnooks@twc. com.

Western New York Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 pm, St. StephensBethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. November 16: Board Officer Election. December 7: Holiday Party. wnyrosesociety. net.

• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

November 12: Lockwood’s Open House, 9 am – 3 pm.

LOCK November 12: Nature’s Gathering – An Evening of Art, Wine & Cheese, 5 – 8 pm. Enjoy regional wines, craft beer and hors d’oeuvres. Shop Western New York artisans’ nature-themed artwork and specialty items. Proceeds benefit Friends of Reinstein Woods. Knights of Columbus Hall, 2735 Union Road, Cheektowaga. Reservations required.

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve; 716/683-5959; dec.ny.gov.

November 12 – 13: Orchid Show, Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm; Sunday, 10 am – 3 pm. Presented by Niagara Frontier Orchid Society & Mid-American Orchid Congress. Vendors and judged displays. Included with admission. November 12: Fall Conference, international speakers, $25 all-day pass. BECBG November 17 – 20: Christmas Open House, 10 am – 5 pm. Chicken Coop Originals, 13245 Clinton Street, Alden. 716/937-7837; chickencooporiginals.com.

November 19: Thanksgiving Centerpiece, 10:30 am.

Make your own arrangement using fresh flowers, greens, wheat, corn and gourds. $40. Registration required by November 16. LOCK November 19: Fairy Garden Workshop, 1 pm. Use your imagination to create this miniature garden. Includes container, soil, plants, fairy and one accessory.

Additional items available for purchase. $35.

Registration required. MENNE November 19: Bow Making Workshop, 3 pm. Learn how to make three styles of holiday bows. Materials included. $10. Registration required. MENNE

Wilson Garden Club generally meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm, 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.

November 20: Holiday Container Garden for Porch & Patio, 1 pm. Sharon Howarth will guide participants in combining fresh greens and holiday accents to make a welcoming display. Includes container, soil & greens. Additional accents available for purchase. $35. Registration required. MENNE

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

November 21: Holiday Centerpiece, 7 pm. Create a Fall centerpiece. Materials included. $40. Registration required. MENNE

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. 585/4573228; 800/377-1520; buffaloaudubon.org.

CCE/EC: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Erie County, 21 South Grove Street, East Aurora, NY 14052. 716/652-5400 x177; mgerie@ cornell.edu; erie.cce.cornell.edu.

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.

November 22: Fresh Thanksgiving Arrangement, 6 – 8 pm. Create your own arrangement for the holiday. $35 members; $40 non-members. Registration required. BECBG November 25 – January 8: Poinsettias, 10 am – 5 pm.

Included with admission. BECBG November 25 – January 8: Garden Railway Exhibit, 10 am – 5 pm. Presented by Western New York Garden Railway Society. Included with admission. BECBG November 26: Basic Holiday Wreath, 10:30 am. Make your own wreath with fresh greens. Includes bow. $30. Registration required. LOCK December 1: Bow Making Workshop, 6 pm. See description under November 19. $10. Registration required. MENNE December 3: Decorated Boxwood Tree, 9 – 11 am. Create your own unique boxwood tree. All materials including ribbons and small holiday décor items included. $35 members; $40 non-members.

Registration required. BECBG

• December 3: Breakfast with Santa, 9 am – 12 pm.

Enjoy homemade breakfast with Santa, crafts and storytelling. $7 adult; $5 children ages 4-12; free ages 3 and under. Registration required. BMAC December 3: Watercolor Holiday Poinsettia, 10 am. Watercolor artist Sherryl Perez will provide instruction and discuss watercolor techniques, color mixing/theory, design layout and more. Participants will leave with a fully completed, matted painting. $30. Registration required. MENNE December 3: Outdoor Winter Arrangement, 10:30 am. Create a seasonal arrangement in an outdoor container with greens, twigs, berries & bow. $45.

Registration required. LOCK December 3: Fresh Conifer Wreath, 12 – 2 pm. Create a fresh and fragrant 14” conifer wreath. Ribbons and small holiday décor items included. $35 members; $40 non-members. Registration required. BECBG December 3: Holiday Container Garden for Porch & Patio, 1 pm. See description under November 20. $35. Registration required. MENNE • December 3: Friends of Reinstein Woods Holiday Party, 1 pm. Hike the preserve with Santa and visit live animals from Earth Spirit Educational Services.

Registration required. Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew. 716/683-5959; dec.ny.gov.

• December 3: Gift Tags & Ornaments, 1 – 3 pm.

Participants will create 10 unique gift tags and an ornament using materials collected in nature. $5.

Registration required. BMAC December 3: Bow Making Workshop, 6 pm. See description under November 19. $10. Registration required. MENNE • December 3 – 17: Kids Art Classes, 3 Saturdays, 9 – 10:30 am. A piece of art will be completed at each class. Ages 5-15. Series: $35 members; $40 non-members. Single class: $13 members; $15 nonmembers. Registration required. BECBG December 4: Holiday Wreath Workshop, 1 pm. Learn how to decorate a fresh evergreen wreath. Includes wreath, ribbon, & three holiday picks/decorations. $40. Registration required. MENNE December 4: Multi-textured Holiday Wreath, 1:30 pm. Create an elegant wreath using several kinds of natural evergreens and cones. $40. Registration required. LOCK December 7: Director’s Walk, 1 – 2:30 pm. Explore the trails at Beaver Meadow with Buffalo Audubon Executive Director Loren Smith. Registration required. BMAC December 7: British Kissing Ball, 6:30 pm. Make this alternative to mistletoe to hang outside your home.

Couples welcome. $38. Registration required. LOCK • December 10: Santa’s Workshop, 10 am – 5 pm. Visit with Santa. Photo prints with Santa will be available, $5 each. Included with admission. BECBG

December 13 – January 10: Beginner Watercolor, 4 Tuesdays, 5:30 – 8 pm. Taught by Joan Saba. Series: $65 members; $70 non-members. Single class: $18 members; $20 non-members. Registration required.

BECBG December 17: Natural Ornaments. Use natural materials to create one-of-a-kind ornaments.

Materials included. Registration required: makersbuffalo.com. BMAC December 17: Christmas Centerpiece, 10:30 am.

Create your own arrangement using mixed greens, cones, berries and a candle. $40. Registration required by December 14. LOCK December 17: Make & Take – Holiday Fairy Garden, 1 pm. Create a holiday-themed indoor garden.

Includes container, soil, plants, fairy and one accessory. Additional items available for purchase. $35. Registration required. MENNE December 21: Winter Solstice Twig Wreath, 6 – 7:30 pm. Create a simple rustic starburst wreath. A short night stroll along Beaver Meadow’s trails will also take place. $5. Registration required. BMAC December 22: Fresh Holiday Arrangement, 6 pm.

Create your own arrangement for the holidays.

Materials included. $35 members; $40 nonmembers. Registration required. BECBG December 27: Old Growth Forest Hike, 10 am – 12 pm. Hike through some of the preserve’s old woods with Naturalist Mark Carra. Donations. Registration required. BMAC December 28: Dollar Day, 10 am – 5 pm. $1 admission; members & children under 3 free. BECBG

SAVE THE DATE… February 18: Communities in Bloom, 8:30 am – 2:45 pm. Hands-on workshops: Great Soil, Winter Sowing & Seed Starting, Pruning. Unitarian Universalist Church, 695 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. Registration required. CCE/EC February 25: Communities in Bloom, 8:30 am – 2:45 pm. See description under February 18. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 21 S. Grove Street, East Aurora. Registration required. CCE/EC

ITHACA REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS Adirondack Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (ACNARGS) meets the third Saturday of the month (except in summer) at 1 pm, Whetzel Room, 404 Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca. Meetings are open to all. November 12: Primroses, Elizabeth Lawson. 607/269-7070; acnargs. org; facebook.com/acnargs.

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

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

• November 12: Nut Bonanza, 12 – 6 pm. Taste American persimmons, acorns, chestnuts, hickory nuts, heartnuts, butternuts, hazelnuts, and black walnuts. Stations will be set up for participants to experience everything from roasted chestnuts to pressing walnut oil. Children welcome. $5 - $25 suggested donation or bring a dish to pass. Twisted Tree Farm, 279 Washburn Road, Spencer. CCE/TOM December 2: Evergreen Wreath Making Workshop – Experienced, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Class oriented towards those who have attended in the past.

Includes fresh-cut greens, ring, wires and ribbons. $18. Registration required. CCE/TOM December 3: Evergreen Wreath Making Workshop – Beginner, 10 am – 12 pm. Class will include how-to instructions, geared for those who have not attended a wreath making class. Includes fresh-cut greens, ring, wires and ribbons. $18. Registration required. CCE/TOM • December 4: Holiday Workshop, 1 – 3 pm. Choose to make an evergreen wreath, boxwood tree or evergreen center piece. $8 adults; $4 children under 12. Additional materials fee. Registration required.

Bakers Acres, 1104 Auburn Road, Groton. 607/5334653.

December 21: Plants of the Winter Solstice, 7 – 9 pm.

Discover the natural history and folklore of plants such as oak, holly, ivy, mistletoe and evergreens.

The program will include an indoor presentation followed by a ‘lantern tour’ of the Mullestein Family Winter Garden. Enjoy hot apple cider and doughnuts after the tour. $8 members; $10 nonmembers. Registration required. Cornell Plantations, 1 Plantations Road, Ithaca. 607/255-2400; cornellplantations.org.

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

7thdistrictfgcnys.org.

December 10: Boxwood Tabletop Tree, 2 pm. Made using cut pieces of live boxwood. Includes bows & baubles. $38. Registration required. LOCK

Finger Lakes Native Plant Society meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, Unitarian Church annex, corner of Buffalo & Aurora, Ithaca. Enter side door on Buffalo Street & up the stairs. 607/2574853.

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Rochester meets the first Wednesday of each month, September – June, at 7 pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester. All are welcome.

December 7: Holiday Party. January 8: Field Trip to the Violet Barn, Naples; snow date: January 15.

Stacey Davis, 585/426-5665; stacey.davis@rit.edu; avgsr.org.

December 11: Make & Take – Terrarium, 1 pm. Create a miniature ecosystem containing a collection of plants that thrive in a similar habitat. Includes container, soil, 3 plants, stone and moss. $30. Registration required. MENNE

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

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. 585/314-6292; mdolan3@rochester.rr.com.

December 10: Holiday Wreath Workshop, 1 pm. See description under December 4. $40. Registration required. MENNE

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 15

Calendar ROCHESTER cont.

Bloomfield Garden Club meets the third Thursday of the month (except May, July & August) at 11:45 am, 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; 585/8695062.

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 meet the second Monday of the month at 9:15 am (except July & August), Penfield United Methodist Church, 1795 Baird Road, Penfield. Visitors welcome. Call 585385-2065 if interested in attending a meeting.

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 7 pm, 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 from September through May at 7 pm, 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 from September through May at the Brighton Town Hall, Door 9, 2300 Elmwood 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. 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 6:30 pm, 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 2 pm, dates vary, St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 11 Episcopal Avenue, Honeoye Falls. Public welcome. 585/266-0302; thehutchings@mac.com.

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

Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month, April through November, at First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Room 110, Rochester. July meeting is a garden tour.

585/694-8430; 585/621-1115; rochrosesociety@ gmail.com; Facebook.

16 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016

Henrietta Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except May-August & December) at 6:30 pm, Main Meeting Room, Henrietta Town Hall, 475 Calkins Road, Henrietta. Guests welcome.

January 11: Gardening with Native Perennials, Ellen Folts. 585/889-1547; henriettagardenclub@gmail. com; henriettagardenclub.org.

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

585/638-6973.

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets the third Thursday of each month (except December and February) at 10 am, First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. November 17: Demonstration by Saskia Eller, Ohara School of Ikebana. $5 guest; $3 audit. 585/301-6727; 585/4021772; ikebanarochester.org.

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

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

Pittsford Garden Club meets the third Tuesday of the month at 11 am, Pittsford Public Library, Fisher Meeting Room, 24 State Street, Pittsford, except in July & August when it visits members’ gardens. 585/425-0766; BKRU888@aol.com; pittsfordgardenclub.wordpress.com.

Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of the month at 12:30 pm, Trinity Reformed Church, 909 Landing Road North, Rochester, except July – 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 12 pm, 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 7 pm in East Irondequoit. 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 at 7 pm, Stafford Town Hall, 8903 Morganville Road (Route 237), Stafford, except December and January. Plant auction in May. All are welcome.

585/343-4494.

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

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

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

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

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

November 12: Advanced Professional Floral Design Certificate – Sympathy Arrangements, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. Instructor Alana Miller will focus on freestanding 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 non-members. Registration required. RCGC November 12: Candlelight Holiday House Tour, 11 am – 4 pm. Valley Views in the Village of Geneseo. Five historic homes will be featured and decorated for the holidays, including the Wadsworth Homestead, Hartford House, Cornerways House & SUNY Geneseo’s President’s Home. Presented by 7th District Federated Garden Clubs of NYS. $20. 585346-5622; 585-703-1748; dconnelly3352@gmail. com.

November 15: Health from Your Garden, 6:30 – 8 pm.

Bonnie Bullivant will highlight plants that have been shown to be safe and effective in university and National Institute of Health research trials and will also talk about commonly available plant remedies which are ineffective or dangerous. Participants will take home seeds of some of the perennials and annuals discussed plus handouts of medicinal plants and sources which can be used to verify safety and benefits. $18 members; $25 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC November 15: Create a Floral Centerpiece for the Season, 6:30 – 8 pm. Create a seasonal arrangement using fresh greens and flowers and learn how to keep it looking fresh for weeks. Materials included.

Class takes place at Gallea’s, 2832 Clover Street, Pittsford. $50. Registration required. RCGC November 17: Kissing Ball Workshop, 7 – 9 pm. Create a kissing ball using assorted artificial greens, fresh boxwood and seasonal adornments. The finished decoration will be suitable to hang either indoors or outside and will last for several years. Materials included. $35 members; $45 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC November 29: Make an Everlasting Floral Wreath, 6:30 – 8 pm. Create an everlasting wreath using a base of salal (lemon leaf) and baby’s breath (depending on availability) embellished with dried, fresh and/or silk floral materials. Materials included. Class takes place at Gallea’s, 2832 Clover Street, Pittsford. $60.

Registration required. RCGC November 29: Boxwood Wreath Workshop, 7 – 9 pm.

Participants will add fresh boxwood to a rectangular form and embellish it with their choice of holiday decorations to create an arrangement suitable to be used as a wall hanging or tabletop decoration.

Materials included. $40 members; $50 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC December 1: Boxwood Tree Workshop, 7 – 9 pm. Alana Miller will guide participants in constructing this long-lasting tabletop Christmas tree, embellished with your choice of seasonal decorations. Materials included. $35 members; $45 non-members. RCGC • December 4: Holidays at the Market, 9 am – 3 pm. Dozens of vendors selling holiday art, crafts, decorations, gifts, stocking stuffers, foods, a wide selection of holiday trees, wreaths, fresh garlands and more. Carriage rides with Santa, 10 am – 2 pm.

RPM

December 6: Make a Knock-out Holiday Wreath that Lasts All Winter, 6 – 8 pm. Nellie Gardner will guide participants in making their own wreath using an assortment of mixed greens embellished with natural materials including herbs, chili peppers, rose hips, pods, dried flowers and cones. Materials included. $38 members; $48 non-members. Registration required. RCGC December 6: Holiday Welcome Arrangement, 6:30 – 8 pm. Design a custom arrangement using fresh greens and decorative materials in a holiday pot that will last outside through the holiday and winter season. Materials included. Class takes place at Gallea’s, 2832 Clover Street, Pittsford. $60.

Registration required. RCGC December 8: Healing Herbs, 6:30 – 8 pm. Board certified Chinese medical practitioner Tennille Richards will explain common botanical western ‘cousins’ to well-known Chinese herbs and their very specific medical uses. Learn about the optimal care and growing conditions of these herbs and plants as well as how to prepare herbal decoctions. Topics such as the immune system, circulation, digestion and inflammation will also be discussed in a practical way. Class takes place at Gallea’s, 2832 Clover Street, Pittsford. $40. Registration required. RCGC • December 11: Holidays at the Market, 9 am – 3 pm.

See description under December 4. RPM • December 18: Holidays at the Market, 9 am – 3 pm.

See description under December 4. RPM

SYRACUSE 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.

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

Gardeners of Syracuse meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm, 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 7 pm, Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville. 315/635-6481; hbaker@twcny.rr.com.

124 Pittsford-Palmyra Road • Macedon, NY 14502 • (585) 223-1222

Christmas décor on sale now!

Call for fundraising opportunities for your organization Fresh locally grown Xmas trees and Wayside-made custom wreaths.

Custom order or come in and design yourself.

Check our website or Facebook pages for fresh examples and Open House updates. www.waysidegardencenter.com

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

November 27: Discussion of Doug Tallamy’s book, “Bringing Nature Home.” 315/487-5742; hgcny. org.Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York usually meets the third Monday of each month at 7 pm. See web site for meeting locations.

315/458-3199; cnykoi.com.

Syracuse Rose Society meets the second Thursday of every month (except December) at 7 pm.

Public welcome. 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. 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.

Deadline for Calendar Listings for the next issue (January-February 2017) is Friday, December 23, 2016.

Please send your submissions to deb@upstategardenersjournal.com.

Handmade Custom Decorated Wreaths ❄ Fresh Cut Fir Trees ❄ Poinsettias & Seasonal Flowering Plants ❄ Boxwood Trees & Table Arrangements ❄ Christmas Gifts & Decor ❄ Holiday Workshops

Christmas Open House November 12th 9am–3pm Shopping, Food, Music & Fun! Extended Holiday Shopping Hours

Lockwood’s Garden Center 4484 Clark St. Hamburg, NY 14075 716-649-4684

WeKnowPlants.com

Almanac

Preparing for Holiday Decorating in November & December Once growth begins, rotate the pot regularly to prevent the plant from leaning toward the light. If the amaryllis has been grown in a warm room, the flower stalk may require staking to be held upright; take care not to damage the bulb when inserting a stake into the container.

For longer lasting flowers, move the plant out of direct sunlight and keep it in a cool room after the blossoms have opened.

After the flowers fade, remove the flowers but do not cut off the flower stalk or foliage. Place the plant back on a sunny windowsill and continue watering thoroughly.

Frequently the bulb will send up a second flower stalk.

After the last of the flowers fade it is essential to keep the foliage growing vigorously since it produces the food for the following year’s blossoms.

Now that you have put your outdoor gardens to bed, it is time to prepare for the upcoming Holiday Season. Indoor plants can add beauty to your home during the cold and snowy months ahead.

AMARYLLIS To plant a newly acquired Amaryllis bulb, place a piece ABOVE: Christmas cactus, photo courtesy Flickr: Sarah Beach

of clay shard over the drainage hole at the bottom of a pot that is 1½ to 2 inches in diameter larger than the widest part of the bulb. A suitable growing medium consists of 2 parts packaged potting soil, 1 part perlite, and approximately 1 tablespoon slow release fertilizer. Place the bulb so that the top half (pointed end) is protruding above the soil. After potting, water thoroughly.

Place the newly potted bulb on a sunny windowsill in a cool room (55 to 65°F). Water only when the top layer of soil in the container feels dry to the touch. If the soil is

POINSETTIA Place your newly acquired poinsettia in a sunny location, if you have one. Avoid an area where there is a draft or sudden fluctuations in temperature. Do not allow the leaves to touch cold windowpanes. The poinsettia’s flower bracts last longest when daytime temperatures are from 60° to 70° F and there is a slight drop in temperature at night.

When the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch, water the poinsettia thoroughly until water runs through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Wait 15 minutes, then discard the excess water that accumulated in the saucer beneath the pot. Fertilize the poinsettia regularly with a water soluble houseplant fertilizer following label directions.

In order to have a well-shaped, bushy plant for the following year, cut the stems back to 6 inches in height sometime between February and early March. Be sure to make the cuts just above a node. Contact your local Cooperative Extension for detailed instructions.

kept overly moist, the bulb may rot. As the roots develop and fill the container, the top layer of soil will dry more quickly and the frequency of watering should be increased accordingly. In approximately 6 to 7 weeks, flower buds will emerge.

18 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016

CHRISTMAS CACTUS The Christmas cactus is native to tropical rain forests, unlike the vast majority of cacti. As a result, the Christmas

MAXSEA Solu ble Seaweed Plan t Food s

cactus is cared for quite differently from most of its relatives.

The Christmas cactus requires direct sunlight. However, during the summer, the midday sun can burn the stems. Thus, during summer, move the plant a few feet from the window or place the plant in a window that receives indirect light.

The Christmas cactus should be watered when the top inch of soil in the container feels dry to the touch. Soak the soil thoroughly until water comes through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Wait 15 minutes and discard the excess water that accumulated in the drop plate beneath the container. The Christmas cactus grows best when humidity is high. The best way to increase humidity is to place the pot, with its drip plate, on a tray filled with small pebbles. The water will evaporate from the tray and humidify the air around the plant.

A soil mix consisting of equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and packaged potting soil is suitable for the Christmas cactus. Add 1 teaspoon dolomitic limestone and 1 teaspoon 5-10-5 fertilizer for each 2 quarts of soil used. Fertilize the plant with a watersoluble fertilizer recommended for flowering houseplants. Apply fertilizer every month at full strength or every two weeks at half the strength suggested on the label. Reduce the frequency of fertilization from autumn until after plants have flowered and new growth has begun.

GOOD FOR YOUR PLANTS AND KIND TO THE EARTH

MAXSEA

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Professional growers and home gardeners alike tell us our MAXSEA plant foods are the finest available anywhere. We're very proud of that.

Find a retail dealer location near you by visiting: www.maxsea-plant-food.com Interested in becoming a dealer? Contact your Sales Rep: Tom Suffoletto / Toms Greenworks 716-225-6891 / tom@tomsgreenworks.com

CHRISTMAS TREE CARE A few simple practices will help maintain tree color, reduce needle fall, and keep the tree moist and fire resistant. When you bring home your cut tree, stand it in a bucket of water outdoors protected from sun and drying wind, or in a cool place inside.

When you bring the tree inside for decoration, make a fresh cut across the trunk at least one inch above the old cut. The smoother and cleaner the cut is, the better the tree can absorb water.

Place the tree in a container of water or in a Christmas tree stand that has a reservoir of water. Luke-warm water is taken up more readily than cold. A tree in a warm room will absorb up to a quart of water a day; keep the reservoir filled above the base of the tree at all times. Sterilization of the stand and tree base with boiling water before setting up the tree may also be beneficial in retarding the fouling of the tree’s pores that can ultimately reduce water uptake.

Place your tree in the coolest part of the room away from the fireplace, heaters, radiators, air ducts and TV sets, all of which can dry the needles.

At Christmas,

V BBest... est...

send the ery ery

Poinsettia The Mischler

—Sharon Rosenblum, Master Gardener CCE-Monroe County and Amanda Grisa, Horticulture Program

www.mischlersflorist.com

Coordinator CCE-Monroe County 118 South Forest Road, Williamsville, NY 14221 (between Main and Wehrle)

716.632.1290 Toll-free 877.363.1879 Full-service Florist Delivery Available

Cayuga Landscape Ithaca, NY

Design Office Hours:

Hosted by:

Monday-Friday, 8 am–5 pm

Sally Cunningham

Garden Center

2712 N. Triphammer Rd. phone: 607-257-3000

www.cayugalandscape.com

Garden Expert/CNLP

2017 TOURS • PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW

March 15 -17

This year’s show will celebrate The Wonders of Holland – from windmills and wooden shoes to the vibrant tulip and flower fields. Don’t miss the largest flower show in the US! • CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW & LONDON GARDENS

May 23 - 30

Includes Chelsea Flower Show, London sightseeing, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace Gardens, Hidcote Manor Garden, the Royal Horticultural Society Garden and more!

• IRELAND GARDENS, PUBS & CASTLES

August 19-27

Come and explore the Emerald Isle’s timeless landscapes, historic glory and old-world gardens as you travel through Ireland’s beautiful countryside. Visit Dublin, Kilkenny, County Cork and Limerick.

Above: Entry planting design with Whitespire birch grove, Liriope spicata groundcover, Fullmoon Maple (Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’)

COMING SOON – WATCH FOR DETAILS! • Newport Flower Show – June 23-26, 2017

For more information Visit: www.greatgardentravel.com Call: 800.242.4244

Left: Hornbeam arch at entry to stone amphitheater and garden ®

Visit us on our Facebook page or website for Garden Center hours and specials!

Promo Code: 2016GGT-J

1271-16

Fresh From Our Greenhouses Poinsettias & Specialty Plants Amazing choice of colors & sizes

Wreaths

Natural or artificial, decorated or undecorated

Christmas Tree Wonderland

Displayed inside our greenhouses

Unique and Unsual Gifts We Have Them!

Fresh Cut & Potted Trees • • • •

poinsettias pine roping wreaths Christmas Decor... and so much more!

Christmas Open House

November 12th 9–5pm November 13th 10–4pm

Beautifully Decorated Flowering Gifts

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

✁

2722 Clinton Street West Seneca, NY 14224 (716) 822-9298

Growing the Highest Quality Plants Since 1922.

Christmas Preview Sale Coupon

Gift Buying Coupon

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Valid Nov. 19 & 20, 2016

Valid Dec. 3 & 4, 2016

1 regular priced item 1 regular priced item

Upstate Pairing

F

ox Run Vineyards overlooks one of the deepest parts of Seneca Lake, with fifty acres of vineyards producing a remarkable range of fine wines. The Fox Run Café features ingredients from their neighborhood farmers and producers. Also, an on-site garden is filled with vegetables that are featured on the menu.

The property that Fox Run currently encompasses was a dairy farm for more than a century. The first grapes were planted in 1984 and the Civil War-era dairy barn was converted to a modern wine-making facility in 1990. In 1996, farther up the slope a new facility was completed with

state-of-the-art capabilities and view of Seneca Lake that is unrivaled.

The original barn itself is used now for special events, winemaker dinners and our Food & Wine Experience. The tasting room was designed and built around the barn providing two tasting bars, café and market, and gift shop.

Spend time by having lunch in the café and taking a vineyard tour.

Fox Run can ship to 30 states. You might even come across a bottle of Fox Run wine when you travel internationally, as it is available in almost ten different countries around the world.

Brussel Sprout Carbonara with Fettuccini Yield: 4 servings 8 ounces of dry fettuccini 2 tbsp olive oil 1 lb brussel sprouts, cleaned and chopped (but not too small) 2 shallots, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 4 ounces smoked bacon, chopped into small pieces 2 eggs, slightly beaten 2 ounces grated parmesan cheese

1. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan. When it reaches a medium high heat, add the shallots and garlic and sauté for a minute.

2. Add the sprouts, cook until they are browned and become a little softer (not too soft though, you don’t want them to be mushy, but to retain a little bite). Start cooking the pasta when the sprouts are nearly finished.

Follow the instructions on the packet for timings.

3. When the sprouts are cooked, move them to the outside area of the pan and add the bacon to the center, allowing it to cook for a couple of minutes, turning a couple of times.

4. When the bacon is cooked, mix it through the sprouts and add black pepper and a little salt.

Careful with salt as the bacon and the parmesan will also add a salty flavor.

5. When the pasta is ready, bring your two pans close together on the stove. Then, with tongs, grab the pasta and drag is swiftly into the pan with the sprouts. By doing this you take in some of the pasta water. This water helps bind and create your sauce. You don’t need much, in this case probably about 2 tablespoons worth. This dragging technique should ensure that you have enough.

6. Turn the heat off under your sprouts and pasta. Add the egg (not directly on to the base of the pan but onto the pasta mixture) add the parmesan.

Stir through quite quickly, this will create a creamy style sauce.

7. Check for seasoning, and serve immediately with some extra parmesan, if desired.

Pair with Fox Run Chardonnay Reserve 2013, Kaiser Vineyard.

Give the gift of nature with a

GIFT CERTIFICATE from

Amanda’s Garden 8030 Story Road Dansville, NY 14437 (585)750-6288

specializing in plants for pollinators

Advance your knowledge

at the PLANT WNY Trade Show & Education Conference 2017 Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional Day - Thursday, February 2 New for 2017: Hort 101 (Thursday only)

Trade Show and Education Conference - Friday, February 3

Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, Depew, NY Join us for two full days of seminars. Friday will feature Andrew Keys and a trade show along with the seminars.

CNLP and DEC credits will be available

Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden Center Everything for your Holidays!

Dedicated Hardscape Room For more information:

Visit www.plantwny.com or contact 716-741-8047

Gift Baskets • Poinsettias • Trees Fresh Centerpieces • Wreaths Special order holiday decorations welcome!

3646 West Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 585/343-8352 www.pudgieslawnandgarden.com Like us on Facebook

www.plantwny.com

Friday, February 3: keynote speaker Andrew Keys. Andrew is an artist, writer, trained organic land care professional and lifelong gardener. He is author of Why Grow That When You Can Grow This?: 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants and Growing the Northeast Garden. He has also produced podcasts for Fine Gardening and Horticulture magazines.

A Call for Photos!

We want to hear about and see the interesting plants—

trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, vegetables, and even mosses—you’ve encountered in your travels, near or far.

Each issue we will feature something different – and give credit to whomever submitted our selected feature.

Send an email to megan@upstategardenersjounal.com with the following:

Ted Collins Tree and Landscape will help you get through the snowy months in Upstate New York.

Here are a few of the professional winter services we offer:

1. A high-resolution photo

Snow Plowing

Garden Lighting

2. Location, name, date or time of year visited, and anything else you found fascinating.

Firewood

Bulb Planting

Tree Pruning

Garden Design

Tree Rodding

Winter Garden Cleanup

We look forward to sharing your green travels!

Tree Cabling

Tree Surveys

Stump Grinding

Hazard Tree Inspections

Large Tree Planting

Vertical Mulching for Trees

Angel Oak on John’s Island, SC

Contact us for more information, including pricing and availability

585-381-9000

| TedCollinsT-L.com

Q&A

Stump the Chump

HINTS:

With legumes I’m likely to be compared “Pinnate,” pods, and all that stuff, My stems are a little tooth-brush like But not quite as stiff or rough.

If bigger, like closer relatives, I’d be good as firewood, Plus as rot-resistant fence posts, and I’d take over if I could.

I flower briefly, month of May, Rose-colored showy, no scent.

The fact that you don’t know me better, Is, of course, my chief lament.

I’m not sold at Northern Nurseries or Oriental Garden Supply, I could be invasive, so they are evasive, Say John Prince and Al Pfieffer: “That’s why!”

—Ted Collins, AKA Doc Lilac

The answer to the September-October 2016 stumper: Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis

The first person to answer correctly, genus and species please, will win a $50 gift certificate to Aladdin’s. Please call 585/301-7181 or email megan@upstategardenersjournal.com to guess.

We will accept guesses starting November 14, 2016, in order to give everyone a fair chance. Good luck!

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 23

Seneca Greenhouse

Coldwater Pond Nursery Dwarf Conifers Flowering Shrubs

Beautiful poinsettias, Traditional wreaths & garlands for a warm welcome Fresh cut Christmas trees • Holiday gift items

2250 Transit Rd., near Seneca St. West Seneca, NY 14224 • 716/677-0681 Garden Center • Shrubs • Trees • Perennials

Unique Trees Wholesale and Retail Hours by appointment www.coldwaterpond.com 315-331-8068 • info@coldwaterpond.com 600 S. Marbletown Rd, Phelps, NY 14532

Looking for Gifts for Gardeners?

They’ll all dig subscriptions to the UGJ.

Landscape Design • Planting • Walks/Patios • Maintenance

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

Please send $20 (one year; six issues) per address to: Upstate Gardeners’ Journal 1140 Ridge Crest Drive, Victor, NY 14564 - or subscribe online at -

UpstateGardenersJournal.com Questions? Call 585/301-7181

Chicken Coop Originals

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

Three country gift, garden & herb shops featuring hand-painted primitives, country artwork, herbal wreaths & holiday arrangements, holiday gifts, oldtiques & collectibles

Iris - Peonies - Hosta Potted Peonies 100+ varieties Dig-Your-Own Iris & Daylilies

Christmas Table Centerpiece and Boxwood Tree workshops Dec.1-10 Christmas Open House Nov. 10–13, Nov. 17–20 10am–5pm

13245 Clinton St., Rte. 354 Alden, NY 14004 chickencooporiginals.com 716-937-7837

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

Nov./Dec. hours: Thur.–Sun. 10am–5pm

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”—Joshua 24:15

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

Cathy's Crafty Corner

Arborvitae Stamped Gift Tags

by Cathy Monrad

MATERIALS Pre-made blank gift tags, about 2 by 3 inches Ink pad in desired color; I used “pine” Arborvitae cutting about 2–3 inches long A few pieces of scrap paper Piece of wax paper, slightly larger than arborvitae cutting Fine tip marker in desired color

1. Remove a few rows of foliage from bottom of arborvitae cutting to reveal stem.

2. Place cutting face up on scrap paper. Press finger on stem to hold cutting in place, then dab cutting with inkpad until fully coated.

3. Carefully lift cutting by stem, then place inked side down on clean area of scrap paper. Cover arborvitae with wax paper to keep fingers clean.

4. Use finger to hold wax paper and cutting in place.

Use other hand to gently rub cutting from bottom to top to ensure ink is transferred to paper.

5. Remove wax paper and cutting to reveal result.

6. Practice steps 2 through 5 until you are happy with the outcome.

7. Once technique is mastered, stamp gift tags as desired.

8. When ink is dry, use fine tip marker to embellish design or simply write greeting on tag.

Cathy Monrad is the graphic designer and self-proclaimed garden crafter for Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS

Use arborvitae to stamp designs on plain wrapping paper, gift bags or notecards.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 25

2015 Grand Prize Winner: Alicia Young, Walworth

Announcing the 7th Annual

Upstate Gardeners’ Journal

Winter Photo Contest

Enter starting December 21, 2016

Details online: upstategardenersjournal.com/winter-photo-contest/

Your favorite gardening magazine is online.

Check us out at UpstateGardenersJournal.com.

Near or Far

Location: Bovara, a village nestled in the olive groves on the slopes near Trevi, Italy.

Name: Sant’ Emiliano (that’s the name of this individual tree­—it’s a thing, in Umbria) Genus/species: Olea europaea Common name: Olive tree Age: 1,000 years (Or 700 years, or 1,700 years. Or something) Submitted by: Reynolds Kelly Reynolds says: Umbria in Autumn is as beautiful and peaceful a place as you will find anywhere in Europe. Lacking the high-wattage tourist appeal of nearby Tuscany, Umbria busies itself harvesting grapes (in August and September) and olives (in October), and having homey local festivals celebrating the local sausage, or local truffles—even the humble local celery.

Driving through a landscape filled with beautiful vineyards and cascading olive groves never gets old, but those olive trees themselves? They do. Umbria’s oldest olive tree, Sant’ Emiliano, is said to be 1,000 years old, and continues to produce a healthy crop of olives year after decade after century. It’s a little odd for a tree to have a name. Here in the Umbria Valley, Saint Emiliano was an Armenian monk who served as bishop in Trevi in the 4th century, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. The legend goes that Emiliano was tied to an olive sapling and beheaded, and that sapling became the tree that bears his name. That’s a conventionally gruesome martyrdom story, and if it is to be believed it would make the tree about 1,700 years old. Other accounts place the tree at 1,000 years old (a suspiciously round number) or 700 years old. I couldn’t find any account of a core being taken to verify the stories, but my first-hand report is that this is one very old tree.

Surrounded by much younger siblings (or cousins, or great-great-grandtrees) it’s easy to see how much older is our friend Sant’ Emiliano than its brethren. Signposts help you find it among thousands of acres of trees, and a stone walkway and rustic fence provide a dignified

setting for this eminent geezer of the groves. No matter how old the tree really is—and may it keep growing, that we should never learn—the peaceful setting in groves of trees that have turned out fine olive oil for centuries is a fitting monument to the modest industry that is Umbrian olive oil.

If you visit Umbria and our friend Sant’ Emiliano, do stop at the bottom of the hill at the local oil cooperative.

If you have time, stay for lunch Umbrian style. If not, buy as many bottles of the cloudy green oil as you can carry.

You’ll thank me.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 27