ACNARGS

February newsletter

2012-01-29T18:59:00.001-05:00

The February newsletter is available here: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201202.pdf

November newsletter

2011-10-30T16:39:00.003-04:00

The November newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201111.pdf

Enjoy!

October newsletter

2011-10-02T13:04:00.008-04:00

The October newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201110.pdf

Enjoy!

September newsletter

2011-09-04T12:13:00.001-04:00

The September newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201109.pdf

Enjoy!

July/August newsletter

2011-07-04T10:37:00.003-04:00

Please note that the August 20 picnic/plant sale will be at Donna Gibson's -- NOT Billie Jean Isbell's as noted in the newsletter.

The July/August newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201107.pdf

Enjoy!

May/June newsletter

2011-05-03T12:21:00.001-04:00

The May/June newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201105.pdf

Enjoy!

April newsletter

2011-04-03T11:13:00.001-04:00

The April newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201104.pdf

Enjoy!

March newsletter

2011-03-07T08:35:00.002-05:00

The March newsletter is online:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201103.pdf

Enjoy!

Learn about Ash Tree Problems

2011-02-09T20:01:00.003-05:00

From member Pat Curran, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County:

Do you have ash trees on your property? Are they healthy? Will the Emerald Ash Borer be a threat? These are questions to be addressed during a Cooperative Extension workshop on February 15, 7-9 PM. The workshop will include information on ash identification, a review of common ash diseases, and signs of Emerald Ash Borer. Jeanne Grace, City of Ithaca Forestry Technician will provide an overview of the common ash species in our area and how to identify them. Dr. George Hudler, Cornell
Plant Pathologist specializing in woody plant diseases, will talk about ash dieback and decline. Mark Whitmore, Entomologist with the Dept of Natural Resources will talk about what to expect from Emerald Ash Borer and how to plan for the pest. The workshop is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested due to limited space at the Cooperative Extension building. Call 272-2292 to sign up.

AGENDA
Know your Ash - CCE Tompkins County, Tuesday, Feb. 15
7 PM - Welcome, intro to the purpose of the program - Monika Roth, CCE Tompkins
7:10 - Ash Identification - Jeanne Grace, Forestry Technician, City of Ithaca (20 Minutes)
7:30 - Ash tree diseases that impact their longevity and health - Dr. George Hudler, Cornell Plant Pathology (30 Minutes)
8:00 - Emerald Ash Borer - expected progress of the infestation, what to look for, actions to take/when.. - Mark Whitmore, Entomologist, Cornell Natural Resources (30 minutes)
8:30 Q & A -

Feb. ACNARGS newsletter

2011-02-06T12:45:00.001-05:00

The February 2011 issue of Green Dragon Tales, the ACNARGS newsletter, is now online here: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201102.pdf

2011 program plans

2011-02-06T12:39:00.008-05:00

Our tentative program line up for for the rest of the year, updated April 3.

April 16: Carol Eichler – The Tame and Wild Alpine Flora of Colorado. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca. Plant of the Month will be plants growable in the East from Laporte Avenue Nursery, Fort Collins, Colorado.

May 14: Ithaca Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., location to be determined (likely NYS Armory off Rt. 13 N at Hanshaw Rd.)

June 18-20 – Working trip to White Pine Camp. See details below.

July 10 – Member garden tour, Syracuse area. Featured gardens include Michael Brennan’s, in Pompey, and John Gilrein’s and Harold Peachey’s, both in South Onondaga. Details and directions coming in future newsletters.

August (date to be announced) – Member plant sale and picnic.

September (tentative, date to be announced) – Working trip to White Pine Camp.

Fall programs to be announced: September 17, October 15, November 12 (note November meeting is on the second Saturday).

Time to re-up

2010-11-09T19:36:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year. Time to (join or) renew your membership.

2011 membership form.

November/December newsletter

2010-11-07T18:41:00.001-05:00

The November/December newsletter is now online here: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201011.pdf

October newsletter

2010-10-03T10:19:00.002-04:00

You can find the October ACNARGS newsletter online here: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201010.pdf

October 16 program: 'Vertical Gardening'

2010-09-26T12:09:00.001-04:00

Elizabeth Zander, program chair of the Berkshire Chapter of NARGs, will speak on 'Vertical Gardening at our October 16 meeting.

“Most alpines in nature grow wherever the wind takes the seed,” she observes. “Many times this can be in a vertical crevice or a slope with loose scree. In these places there is less competition and great drainage.” Zander will explore how this translates to crevices and screes in the garden. She will also share construction techniques of her Goshen, Conn., garden – including the raised saxifraga bed built by Zdenek Zvolanek.

Zander directed the NARGS Seed Exchange from 1994-96, edited the Berkshire Chapter NARGS Newsletter for many years and served as president of the chapter.

We'll meet in 404 Plant Science Building (Whetzel Room) on the Cornell University campus. Brown bag lunch at noon. Program begins at 1:00 p.m.

Plant of the Month

2010-09-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

From John Gilrein, Plant of the Month coordinator

Since our September speaker will be talking about rocks, rather than plants, our September Plant of the Month wasn’t dictated by the topic. One of our members, Harold Peachey, grows a lot of plants from seed, and I was able to obtain a nice, diverse assortment of plants. There may be a few surprise additions, but the current mix includes:

Gentiana depressa (1),6-10”x18-24”, nice green mound after blooming, purple flowers, good looking foliage.
Primula japonica (2), flowers in various pink shades, red, or white.
Aquilegia, early blue (3), low growing, blue flowers.
Aquilegia frangrans (3), the only fragrant columbine, purple to light yellow flowers.
Allium x 'Mt. Everest' ,18”, late blooming (now) white flowers (3)
Veronica alpina (3), mat forming, blue flowers.
Ruellia ciliata f. depressa (3), very small plant with purple leaves with white flowers.
Cheilanthes lanosa (3) (hairy lip fern, these are still small), lip fern is a versatile fern for sunny areas or woodland edge-even a cave man could grow it!

Key to cultural recommendations (numbers after plant names above):

1 – Sun to part shade, good well-drained soil.
2 – Part shade to sun, damp to moist soil.
3 – Sun to part shade, well-drained to very-well-drained soil.

As usual, the plants will be a good deal for our members. Thanks Harold for the interesting selection from your private nursery!

September newsletter

2010-09-05T09:28:00.001-04:00

The September newsletter is online at http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201009.pdf

Updated: Members only plant sale August 21 - Set up starts at 11 a.m.

2010-08-01T12:45:00.003-04:00

From David Mitchell and BZ Marranca, plant sales coordinators

I hope you've been enjoying the hot summer. Please think about potting up plants now for the sale in August.

Plans are set for this year's members plant sale to be held at Ken Post Lab on the Cornell University campus. (View google map.)

11:00 a.m. Arrive, get your plant sale number and help with sale set-up.
12:00 noon Lunch break (bring your own, this is not a dish-to-pass meeting)
1 p.m. Plant sale begins.

As in past years, we'll very democratically allow those who arrive first to get "first dibs" at purchases. So it pays to arrive early and sign in. For the treasured and special plants, we will have a silent auction table. Note this is our only members-only sale and we should have some real gems.

You may join for 2010 at the meeting for $10 ($15 for families). It's still a great value since we have half of our program year ahead of us.

Dan Snow to speak Sept. 18

2010-08-01T12:35:00.003-04:00

Dan Snow, the author of: "In the Company of Stone: the Art of the Stone Wall," will give a talk at our September program on "Dry stone construction: a 'fitting' medium for the rock garden." He believes that: "The earth is alive and continually tries to take back what it has given up." Snow’s walls and artwork always embody this dynamic between the earth and the structures he creates.

Save the date, details will follow. Meantime, visit Dan's website:
http://www.inthecompanyofstone.com/

And here's Dan's bio:

Dan Snow is a designer of outdoor spaces in stone, and an art maker specializing is dry stone constructions. He has been building with stone since 1972 when he worked on the restoration of a 13th century Italian castle. His career as a professional dry stone waller began soon after, in his native Windham County, Vermont, with retaining wall and field fence reconstructions. He apprenticed with Scottish “dry stane dyker” Dave Goulder in 1986 and on return to Scotland in 1994 passed the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, Level 2, Craftsman Certification Test. Snow became a DSWA certificated Mastercraftsman in 2000. His dry stone constructions have included stock-proof fences, pillars, stiles, staircases and arch bridges. Utilitarian works have expanded to include garden follies, grottos and grandstands as well as environmental art and non-functional, abstract and figurative works of sculpture.

In 2001 Snow authored “In the Company of Stone”, published by Artisan, with photographs of his work by Peter Mauss. “Stone Rising”, a film by Camilla Rockwell, released in 2005, captures the spirit of Snow’s constructions and chronicles the process of their creation. Snow’s second book “Listening to Stone - Hardy Structures, Perilous Follies, and Other Tangles with Nature”, was published by Artisan in October 2008. His work has been the subject of articles in “This Old House” and “Vermont Life” magazines, and the “New York Times.”

Dan Snow has instructed many workshops in dry stone walling and lectured on the craft across the USA, Canada and Great Britain. In 2003 and 2007 he taught environmental art workshops for the University of Art and Design, Helsinki. In 2008 and 2009 Snow worked with Kansas State Landscape Architecture students rebuilding pioneer homestead walls and creating a permanent sculpture for the grounds of the Beach Museum of Art. As a DSWA Examiner he has organized test venues and tested dozens of applicants in the craftsman certification scheme.

July/August newsletter

2010-07-08T06:14:00.000-04:00

It's here in reader-friendly .pdf format: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201007.pdf

May/June newsletter

2010-05-02T20:48:00.002-04:00

May/June newsletter is here: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201005.pdf

Day trip to Seneca Hill Perennials!

2010-04-30T07:35:00.002-04:00

From Carol Eichler:

Chapter members are invited to tour Ellen Hornig's wonderful gardens on Friday, June 18th. Rather than trying to coordinate a caravan from a central starting point, anyone wanting to go should plan to arrive at her place about 10 a.m. Ellen's website has good directions: www.senecahillperennials.com. For those going to White Pine Camp that weekend this will be an "on-the-way" stop. As a courtesy to Ellen, I'd like to let her know how many of us to expect. Please email me if you're planning to go. ceichler@twcny.rr.com

Plants, help needed for May 15 plant sale in Stewart Park

2010-04-30T07:21:00.000-04:00

From David Mitchell and BZ Marranca, plant sales coordinators

Now's the time to have your plant donations potted up so that they'll have time to recover and look great for the May plant sale. The sale will be held on Saturday, May 15, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at a new location, Stewart Park. We will set up on Friday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Our booth will be located inside the large pavilion nearest the lake.

My driveway is available for dropoffs anytime before the day of the sale if you can't make it to Stewart Park. The driveway is on the Washington Street side of the corner of Washington and Esty Streets (402 Esty Street).

Now more than ever it is important that you have your plants labeled. An idea of the value of your plants would also help with pricing.

We need volunteers for setup Friday, day of sale setup, cashiers, plant advisers during the sale, and cleanup. Remember, members receive a discount on purchases at the sale. Please arrive early to help with late donations or jump in any time to help. Every pot should have a label and a price stick before the sale starts.

My phone number is (607) 342-3660 should you have any questions about the sale. Tompkins County Cooperative Extension can be reached at (607) 272-2292.

Garden Conservancy Open Days

2010-04-02T11:14:00.001-04:00

This year's Garden Conservancy Open Days for Tompkins County will feature:

May 8: Hitch Lyman's Garden
June 12: Der Rosenmeister, Lion Garden, Myers Garden
July 31: Lipari Garden, Bassuk/Trowbridge Gardens, Nancy Ridenour

For more information, visit: gardenconservancy.org/opendays/

Delaware Valley Chapter at the Philly Flower Show

2010-04-02T10:46:00.002-04:00

From Carol Eichler.

The Delaware Chapter always had an exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show and it was well worth seeking out. This year they truly (in my opinion) outdid themselves so I wasn't surprised when they received "Best in Show for Plant Societies."

I took a lot of photos that I'll plan to show at one of our meetings. However in the meantime their website has posted some with comments here: www.dvcnargs.org/flowershow.html. It also has their plant list with over 80 species and cultivars. I spoke briefly with the member who was tending the exhibit. He said a retired architect designed the exhibit and they were really scrambling to get it built and planted up to the last minute. I can only imagine the work.

Work weekend at White Pine Camp June 18-20

2010-04-02T10:36:00.000-04:00

From Carol Eichler.

I'm organizing another working weekend at White Pine Camp in the Adirondacks for the weekend of June 18-20, with an emphasis on adding plants to the garden.

Anyone who is interested in going this year should contact me by April 17 - our April meeting. Space is limited. Priority will be given to people who have not yet been there. We will stay for 2 nights - Friday and Saturday. It is a working weekend so we will plan to spend about a half day on Saturday working - doing fun stuff like weeding, planting, watering, mulching, etc. Between White Pine Camp and the George's we have a budget of $150 to spend on plants. Hopefully we can supplement this with plants from our own gardens and the seedling exhange or other donations. I'll gather together our notes on what seemed to do well. Last summer we found many plants survived that shouldn't have been hardy because of the heavy snow cover.

On the way up on Friday we will take a side trip to Seneca Hill Perennials for a tour of Ellen Hornig's wonderful gardens. (But the nursery will not be open so we can't buy plants.)

If you're interested in the trip or have questions, contact me: ceichler@twcny.rr.com or 607-387-5823.

Thanks to 'seed pickers'

2010-04-02T10:35:00.002-04:00

From BZ Marranca, treasurer

A special thanks go out to all the members who helped with the Round 2 Seed Exchange this year. We filled 249 orders in 11 days. Thirty one people invested approximately 222 hours in the process. As I write this, I'm still waiting for any orders that were mailed from overseas for the final count. But so far we've picked 16,483 packets and received orders for $4,098. Some of the top workers were Susanne with 26 hours, Marcia with 17, Rosemarie 11, Karen Hansen 8, David Mitchell and Bill Plummer with 6 each and the rest with 5 or less. After will fill the final orders, we'll then spread the rest of the seeds over 33 chapters and pack up the supplies to ship back to various places.

April Seedling Exchange and May Plant Sale New Location: Stewart Park

2010-04-02T09:42:00.002-04:00

From David Mitchell, plant sale coordinator.

In addition to our fabulous speaker, we’ll have our annual seedling exchange at our April meeting. Bring in your seedlings to share. I’ll have some pots and potting soil on hand. Potted divisions will also be accepted and priced for sale or held for the May plant sale. I’m hoping the seedlings will find good homes and that some will show up on our tables at the May and August plant sales. The seedling exchange is a great way to learn about what plants are easy to grow from seed and to learn from other’s experiences in growing them on.

The May plant sale will be held on May 15, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Due to Ithaca High School construction, the plant sale will be held at Stewart Park. ~~We will not be able to set up on Friday afternoon, so please come early on Saturday to help.~~ Change of plans. We will be able to set up on Friday afternoon. Our booth will be located inside the large pavilion.

My driveway is available for dropoffs any time before the day of the sale if you can’t make it to Stewart Park on Saturday morning. The driveway is on the Washington Street side of the corner of Washington and Esty Streets (402 Esty Street). My phone number is (607) 342-3660 should you have any questions about the sale. Tompkins County Cooperative Extension can be reached at (607) 272-2292.

Dwarf Conifers – April Plant of the Month

2010-04-02T09:34:00.002-04:00

John Gilrein, Plant of the Month coordinator

Our April POM will be dwarf conifers from Evermay Nursery. These will be small plants, at great prices, suitable for a rock garden, perennial border, or trough.

The beauty of dwarf conifers is that they always look good. Though there’s no flush of gorgeous color, they have no season of blackened, withered foliage or otherwise looking worn out. Dwarf conifers may grow slowly; these will stay small. The plants will generally be less than 12 inches high when mature, except ‘Little Jamie’, which will grow to around 2 feet.

The supplier recommends well drained soil, though some are native to wet soils in nature, and recommends no more that a light dose of fertilizer. They should do well in full sun or part shade in soils that are not excessively acidic or alkaline. For planting in troughs that will not receive winter protection, a plant 2 zones hardier than your USDA hardiness zone is the general recommendation.

Our selection will include some of the following [approximate shape]:

Abies balsamea ‘Nana’ (balsam fir), from Northern North America, is hardy to zone 3. [cushion]
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’ (Hinkoki cypress), from Japan, is hardy to zone 5. [globe]
Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Tsukumo’ (Sawara cypress), from Japan, is hardy to zone 5. [globe]
Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Little Jamie’ (Atlantic white cedar), from the Eastern coastal US, is hardy to zone 4. [cone]
Picea abies ‘Little Gem’ (Norway spruce), from Europe, is hardy to zone 3. [globe]
Picea mariana ‘Nana’ (black spruce), from Northern North America, is hardy to zone 3. [mound]
Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz midget’ (American arborvitae), from Northeastern North America, is hardy to zone 3. [globe]

For additional information, check the Everymay Nursery web page for dwarf conifers, or the book Rock Garden Plants by Baldassare Mineo.

'Seed picking': Great progress!

2010-03-23T19:26:00.001-04:00

From Susanne Lipari:

Thanks to the 31 members who have come in over the last two weeks to pick seed for the seed exchange. This afternoons, we completed the last few order we had in hand. There will be more coming in over the coming week, and at the end we will have a big push to pack and mail out the remaining seeds to the chapters and to mail back the supplies. But for today and the next few days – no need to come in and pick. BZ will let us know when enough stragglers have come in to make another seesion worth it.

Thanks you all!

Chapter Summer Trip June 5-7

2010-03-14T10:23:00.004-04:00

From Susanne Lipari, membership coordinator (sel3@cornell.edu):

On Saturday, June 5, we will be heading down to Stonecrop to visit that lovely Cabot garden in its early summer glory. People wishing to also visit the sculpture garden at Storm King can do that afterwards and then join the rest of the group at the lodging (TBA).

On Sunday, June 6, we will be given a tour of the rock garden at NY Botanic Garden by garden’s curator, Jody Payne. After the tour, we can explore the rest of the garden or visit Wave Hill, not far away. We will meet at the East Norwich Inn in Oyster Bay on Long Island. There will be a cocktail hour in the courtyard of the lovely Chelsea Mansion, one of the Gold Coast mansions, followed by dinner in a local restaurant (TBA).

On Monday, June 7, we will visit Planting Fields Arboretum, with its synoptic garden, newly established Daphne collection, the rose garden, heather garden, late flowering rhododendrons…. Leaving Planting Fields, we can stop in at Martin Viette Nursery and – most importantly - stock up on goodies at Trader Joe’s. Return to Ithaca whenever you have had enough of Long Island.

Please let me or BZ know if you will join us for the trip, and if you will need us to make lodging arrangements for you and for which nights (the individual events – except Planting Fields - can be done as day trips for those who cannot spare more than one day).

May 8 deadline for NARGS awards nominations

2010-03-14T10:18:00.001-04:00

From Lee Curtis, Chair NARGS Awards Committee (buzz.curtis@netscape.com):

The North American Rock Garden Society is seeking nominations for six prestigious awards, the Award of Merit, the Marcel le Piniec Award, the Edgar T. Wherry Award, the Carleton R. Worth Award, the Marvin E. Black Award, and the Linc and Timmy Foster Millstream Garden Award. For information about the awards and nomination details, see the Rock Garden Quarterly, Winter 2010, page 52-53. Or check the NARGS website, http://www.nargs.org/ Click on Board and Committees at the bottom of the page, and under Committees you will find Nomination procedure and lists of past recipients.

Please review the various awards. I’m sure you and members of your chapter know of individuals who meet the criteria and richly deserve recognition. As the Chairman of the Awards Committee, I invite you to consider submitting a nomination. The deadline for submitting the necessary letters and documentation for consideration is May 8, 2010, but the sooner you submit nominations, the more time you (and I) will have to garden when the weather warms up.

NARGS Board nominees

2010-03-14T10:06:00.003-04:00

From Alice Nicolson, Chair, Nominating Committee (taxonomy@verizon.net):

On behalf of the NARGS Nominating Committee, I present the list of nominees for the three upcoming positions on the Board of Directors for 2010-2013. They will be voted on at the NARGS annual meeting in Colorado in July 2010.

Jane Grushow--Pennsylvania
Philip MacDougall--British Columbia
Anne Spiegel--New York

Brief Biographies:

Jane Grushow has been a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of NARGS since 1980 and the Mason-Dixon Chapter since its creation in 1999, and she has been chair of both. She has a large garden and grows plants large and small, but dearest to her heart is a small rock garden, tufa, and sand beds. Jane is a retired photographer specializing in garden photography. Now most of her photography is underwater as her new addiction is scuba diving.

Philip MacDougall is an RN working at the BC Cancer Agency. He's also studied plant biochemistry and has a lifelong commitment to gardening. On one-half acre in Surrey, British Columbia, it's always sad to discover a plant has been pushed beyond its climactic tolerances. Program chair and Vice President of the Alpine Garden Society of Vancouver and program chair of the Rhododendron Society of Vancouver, he occasionally lectures on botanizing in many of the
world's diverse habitats.

Anne Spiegel has been a member of NARGS over 25 years and is a charter member and past President of Berkshire Chapter. She's spent many years botanizing in the Northeast, the Rockies, the Southwest, the Northwest, and more recently in the Alps. A dedicated rock gardener, she has spent almost 30 years building a rock garden on a very challenging site. Her plant interests are too numerous to list but any such list would be headed by the "glorious peas" (Fabaceae). She has numerous degrees from the University of Trial and Error and
is the owner of a large plant cemetery.

Exotic Plant Order Anyone?

2010-03-14T09:51:00.004-04:00

From John Gilrein, Plant of the Month coordinator (basecamp@alum.syracuse.edu)

Two years ago a small group of Adirondack Chapter members placed a collective order to Janis Ruksans’ Bulb Nursery in Latvia. Ruksans was a speaker at one of our chapter meetings and is also a well-renown author of a book on bulbs. He has had access for years to areas formerly behind the iron curtain (the USSR) and other areas of Central and Eastern Asia (inaccessible to Americans in the past), and has collected seeds from many exotic areas.

His nursery has available many bulbs available either exclusively from him, or at least not widely available in the trade. Bulbs available vary from $2 Alliums to $80 Trilliums, and from easy to grow bulbs to some requiring very special conditions. The catalog includes a large selection of Alliums, Corydalis, Crocus, Iris, and Tulips.

Is anyone interested in working on a group order to Ruksans’ Nursery? I’m volunteering to help, but not to be in charge of the order.

Mr. Janis Ruksans
Bulb Nursery
P. O. STALBE
LV-4151 Cesis distr.
LATVIA
Telephone: ++371-29-41-84-40, 641-00-326
Fax: ++371-641-64-003
E-mail: janis.bulb@hawk.lv
Catalog: US$5.00

More seed starting resources

2010-03-14T09:10:00.002-04:00

Member Lynn Purdon Yenkey (visit her blog, Sin City to Slaterville) passes along two helpful seed starting sites:

Rob's plants - Rob has tons of info he's tried on lots & lots of plants
Tom Clothier's Garden Walk and Talk - This site is amazing for not just alpine, but all kinds of seeds. There is an entire database for Penstemons

Also, a great article in the WSJ on seed exchanges, including NARGS.

'Seed picking' update: We need your help!

2010-03-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

From Susanne Lipari:

We have decided to do the seed picking for the NARGS Seed Exchange Part 2 in the basement of KPL (outside BZ’s former office). This allows us to leave everything set up rather than having to move all the trays at the end of the workday when we are exhausted.

To get there, go down the stairs at the end of the central greenhouse isle. At the foot of the stairs, turn right and you will see us.

We really need help from you all. There were 6-7 of us yesterday, and it wouldn’t work well to have too many more at any one time. But it’s pretty hard work, and if people were willing to coordinate with BZ when they want to come in, we could do 2 hour shifts, making it much more tolerable.

We will be working today from 10 AM on until some time in the afternoon. Check with BZ (mmm10@cornell.edu) for work times tomorrow (Sunday). Next week, we will be working about 5 PM, but people who have been trained can really come in any time to work for some hours during the day.

NARGS Seed exchange - Time to pick!

2010-03-09T19:50:00.002-05:00

From Susanne Lipari:

Our Chapter will be in charge of the 2nd round of the NARGS seed exchange. You are all encouraged to help, you do not need to be a member in NARGS National.

Why would you do that?

Because those working on this project have the right to pick up to 100 seed packets ( $5 per 20 packets) right at the start with a good chance of getting the seeds we want.
Because you get to hang out with a fun bunch of people and get fed and pampered to keep you in a good mood.
Because it‘s something that needs to be done.

The first seed picking session will start this coming Friday (3/12/2010) at 5 PM. There will be other sessions on the weekends and in the evenings until all orders have been picked. We will be in the seminar room working at KPL. (Parking on the Cornell campus is free after 5 PM and on weekends.)

Please send BZ (mmm10@cornell.edu) an email to let her know that and when you can help.

March Plant of the Month: Cyclamen

2010-03-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

From John Gilrein, Plant of the Month Coordinator:

Our March 2010 Plant of the Month is Cyclamen. Our plants will be from Ellen Hornig, one of our members, who has a nursery, Seneca Hill Perennials, in Oswego County, NY. We will have Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen purpurascens, which are both hardy in our area.

C. hederifolium is a fall blooming Cyclamen, and is summer dormant. C. purpurascens is an evergreen, summer blooming Cyclamen. Leaf shape and silver markings on leaves are variable. The leaves can be extremely attractive, even without flowers. A mature C. hederifolium can have a dinner plate sized tuber and hundreds of flowers. The flowers are smaller than florist’s Cyclamen (non-hardy C. persicum), but make up for their smaller size with sheer abundance.

These Cyclamen will perform best in part shade in a humus rich, well drained soil, with a near neutral or alkaline pH. They are tolerant of lower pH conditions, evidenced by growing under Rhododendrons shown in the Cyclamen article (see March newsletter). Cyclamen are tolerant of root competition but intolerant of poor drainage. C. hederifolium should be planted where it will not be disturbed during its summer dormancy. Cyclamen tubers should be planted near the soil surface and mulched. C. purpurascens prefers to stay moist during the summer. Our Plant of the Month will be from a cold greenhouse, so it will need to be acclimatized before planting outside.

Additional cultivation information can be obtained from the Cyclamen Society’s website:
http://www.cyclamen.org/cultiv_set.html

Next month’s Plant of the Month will be dwarf conifers.

Camille Doucet to speak on Botanical Illustration & Painting

2010-03-07T10:09:00.002-05:00

From Rosemarie Parker Gardener.Parker@gmail.com:

The Finger Lakes Native Plant Society Present a slide show & talk by Camille Doucet, Painter, Botanical Illustrator, Watercolor Teacher, & President of the local chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators:

Botanical Illustration & Painting

In conjunction with the Living Light art show at the Tompkins County Public Library, Camille Doucet, one of the invited guest jurors, will present a different side of botany than we usually hear at FLNPS meetings. Camille will speak about the business of being an artist and art teacher, using slides of her work to discuss painting from photos and from live specimens. Her love of nature, of science, and of gardening is evident in her detailed images. Be ready for a visual treat!

Thursday, March 18, 2010
7:00 to 8:30 PM
at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow Ave., Ithaca

All are welcome!

Flower bulb expert, author to speak at Cornell

2010-02-14T10:19:00.005-05:00

Horticulturist and best-selling author Anna Pavord will speak on “A Luxuriance of Bulbs” at 11 a.m., Saturday March 20 at the Statler Hall Auditorium on the Cornell University campus. The talk is free and open to the public.

Pavord has been the gardening correspondent for The Independent (UK) since 1986 and has written eight books, including the international bestseller The Tulip and 2009’s Bulb.

“Of all the different plants in the world, bulbs intrigue me the most,” says Pavord. “As a gardener, I appreciate the way they mark the seasons. Bulbs are not just a spring thing. In this talk I introduce some of my favorites and suggest how they might be used in a garden.”

Pavord is also the author of New Kitchen Garden, Border Book, and Plant Partners. She was one of the founding editors of Gardens Illustrated and wrote and presented Flowering Passions for BBC Channel 4 television. She has lived in Dorset for almost forty years. After restoring the garden of an old rectory, she recently moved to a new garden, which she is filling with bulbs.

After the talk, Pavord will sign copies of her new book, Bulb, which will be available for sale.

NARGS seed exchange featured in WSJ

2010-02-14T09:13:00.001-05:00

A nice article on seed exchanges in the Wall Street Journal, A Growing Obsession: Rare Seeds, explains the allure of swapping seeds in winter.

Spring in the Netherlands: A Festival of Flowers Feb. 27

2010-02-14T09:04:00.002-05:00

From Pat Curran:

Travel to the Netherlands with Chris Cerveny of Cornell's Horticulture Department, at a Garden Travel Slide Show offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 pm.

Holland is gorgeous in April! This presentation will take you on a pictorial journey to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, and provide an overview of field production of flower bulbs. Chris traveled to the festival of flowers in the Netherlands in April 2008. This presentation will take place Saturday afternoon February 27, 2-3:30 pm, at the Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. Refreshments and time to socialize will follow the talk. Suggested donation of $3 helps support the Horticulture Program. Please call 272-2292 for more information.

Feb. newsletter

2010-02-07T11:06:00.001-05:00

The Feb. 2010 newsletter is online in .pdf format here:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/201002.pdf

Enjoy

Seed exchange deadline extended to Feb. 15

2010-02-07T10:08:00.001-05:00

From Joyce Fingerut, director, NARGS Seed Exchange:

The deadline for receiving Seed Exchange orders has been extended to Monday, February 15th, giving NARGS members an extra weekend to pore over the Seed List and send in their requests.

View the 2009-2010 Seed List and ordering instructions at:

http://www.nargs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=75&Itemid=123

There are still many desirable seeds available. Please be sure to indicate whether you would also like to receive the list of Surplus Seeds, which can be ordered in March, and send a self-addressed, self-adhesive mailing label.

Chapter Chairs: Please remind your members that the Seedex is on-line this year. Those chapter members who do not yet belong to NARGS (national) may join now and be eligible to order seeds.

Your input needed for spring trip plans

2010-01-31T13:11:00.002-05:00

From Susanne Lipari:

BZ Marranca and I took on planning a spring/summer trip. We had a couple of thoughts regarding this trip:

More visiting than driving.
An itinerary that allows members with jobs to participate as much as they like.
Inspiring gardens and fun plant shopping.

Below is a suggested tour. Please give us feed-back to let us know if we should get down to more detailed planning, or if we should look at an altogether different itinerary. If you tell us to abandon this one, please suggest alternatives. (sel3@cornell.edu or mmm10@cornell.edu)

The center point is a visit to the rock garden at the New York Botanical Garden with hopefully a tour given by Jody Payne, the curator who gave a presentation to the chapter in October 2008. Surrounding this are several other locations and combinations of locations that would allow different people to take part in all or just some of the visits.

Day 1: Stonecrop - If people feel strongly about attending the NARGS sale, the trip would would have to start on Saturday, April 24. However, on our last visit there, some of us thought that the end of April was too early for a visit there and the garden would be more beautiful a couple of weeks later. Since Stonecrop (www.stonecrop.org) is open to the public on the 1st and 3rd. Saturday of the month, that would mean May 1 or June 5, since the third weekend in May is the high school plant sale and we can't plan a trip then. In any case, the visit to Stonecrop could be followed by a visit to Storm King (www.stormking.org) and a night spent at a motel somewhere north of New York City.

Day 2: New York Botanical Garden (www.nybg.org) - Guided tour. After that, people interested could either spend more time there or visit Wave Hill (www.wavehill.org), which is fairly close, also in the North Bronx. Return to Ithaca afterward, or drive to Long Island to spend the night in an Inn near the next day's destination:

Day 3: Planting Fields Arboretum (www.plantingfields.org) and after that head back to Ithaca.

What we like about this trip that people could either go along for the whole trip, or join for any one of the events that fit into their schedule. If this trip appeals to the membership, we will find some nurseries on Long Island to visit.

Seed starting info

2010-01-31T13:08:00.001-05:00

From Susanne Lipari:

The Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society has a very informative germination guide to over 6,000 species. The ones I had not found anywhere else were represented:

http://www.onrockgarden.com/guide/seedguide.htm

Art to drive away your winter blues

2010-01-31T13:07:00.000-05:00

Here are two Ithaca art exhibitions worth checking out:

Living Light: A Celebration of the Finger Lakes Flora - Tompkins County Public Library through March 26. Juried art show organized by the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society features 50 artists celebrating the beauty and diversity of our region's wild plants and fungi in a wide array of media and styles.

Chronicling Brief Lives: Botanical Portraits in Water Color – Mann Library, Cornell University through February 24. Showcases the award-winning botanical illustrations of milly archarya, a long-time Ithaca resident.

NARGS Eastern Winter Study Weekend

2010-01-31T13:04:00.000-05:00

March 19-21
Eastern Winter Study Weekend, Devens, Massachusetts.
More info.

Want to share transportation? Contact: John Gilrein, basecamp@alum.syracuse.edu, 315-492-0844.

Designing with Native Plants Symposium

2010-01-31T13:02:00.000-05:00

March 5-6:
Ithaca's 2nd Annual Designing with Native Plants Symposium
More info: www.cayugawaterfronttrail.com/

2010 program plans

2010-01-31T12:58:00.010-05:00

Updated 8//2010.

Here's our tentative program line up for the rest of 2010.

Plans for local and long-distance garden tours and other programs are in the works.

September 18: Dan Snow, www.inthecompanyofstone.com, “Dry stone construction: a 'fitting' medium for the rock garden.”
October 16: Elisabeth Zander, Berkshire Chapter-NARGS, “Vertical Gardening.”
November 20: Program to be announced.

ACNARGS people

2010-01-31T12:45:00.004-05:00

Chair/trips: Billie Jean Isbell, bji1@cornell.edu, 607-539-6484

Vice chair/program: Donna Kraft, sanibel.tully@gmail.com, 315 696-8626

Secretary: Harold Peachey, hlpeachey@gmail.com,

Treasurer/Plant sales: BZ Marranca, mmm10@cornell.edu

Plant sales: David Mitchell, dwm23@cornell.edu, 607-342-3660

Plant of the Month: John Gilrein, basecamp@alum.syracuse.edu, 315-492-0844

Membership: Susanne Lipari sel3@cornell.edu 607-387-9308

New member hospitality: Judy Fogel jfogel@twcny.rr.com607-275-3332

Newsletter editor/Webmaster: Craig Cramer, cdcramer@gmail.com

NARGS seed exchange seed list available

2009-12-20T14:23:00.003-05:00

The NARGS seed exchange seed list is now available online.

For more information on the seed exchange, visit the NARGS seed exchange page.

Ordering deadline is Feb. 10.

NARGS looking for board nominations

2009-12-20T14:16:00.001-05:00

From Alice Nicolson, Potomoc Valley Chapter and Chair, NARGS Nominating Committee 2010.

We're looking for three new Directors of the Board to help support the NARGS Administrative Committee who keeps our society running smoothly, adapting to members' changing needs and goals. Todd Boland, Florene Carney, and Don Dembowski will finish up their three-year terms next year, and we need people to replace them on the nine-person Board.

The job is conducted mostly by email, since most of us can't attend that many national meetings. We are basically asked to contribute our thoughts on the various issues that come up, and to vote on a few matters. Most of you are already contributing your time and ideas to your local chapters, but you may know members who might be interested in doing the same for our umbrella group, NARGS, or you may be interested in such a role for yourself.

Please suggest a couple of people whom you know who might be able to contribute to the continued development of NARGS. Send us their names and email addresses or phone numbers as soon as possible, at least before January 10. Don't worry - they won't be nominated unless they consent! We'll contact possible candidates to ask if they are willing serve, and if so, that they prepare a short gardening bio that can be published in the spring Quarterly. The deadline for that is February 1, so we don't have much time! We'll get going on this sooner next year, I promise.

Send your suggestions to any of the committee members listed below:

VA - Alice Nicolson - taxonomy@verizon.net
NY - Lola Horwitz - llhorwitz@gmail.com
ONT - Anna Leggatt - anna.leggatt@sympatico.ca
MA - Matt Mattus - mmattus@charter.net
MN - Cheryl Philstrom - cphilstrom@frontiernet.net
CO - Nicola Ripley - nicola@bettyfordalpinegardens.org
PA - Joan Schmitt - schmitt@temple.edu

With your help, I think we'll come up with another three good people to help keep NARGS running.

NARGS on Facebook

2009-12-20T14:07:00.004-05:00

Visit NARGS' new Facebook page.

The page was created by Hugh MacMillan, NARGS webmaster, and will help the newly formed Membership Committee, chaired by Matt Mattus (Mass.), recruit new members.

Spencer Crest Nature Center rock garden update

2009-12-20T13:53:00.001-05:00

From Bill Plummer:

Here is the progress report on the pavilion rock garden at the Spencer Crest Nature Center.

It has been submitted to the Norman Singer Endowment committee and to Todd Boland, the Image Coordinator for the NARGS web site and photos have been posted thereon.

There are dozens of plants that I just HAVE to get after Don's talk yesterday. I spoke to him about creating a bog garden on the west side of the pavilion and he offered plants.

2010 Membership Form

2009-11-28T13:46:00.001-05:00

It's time to re-up for 2010. You can send the 2010 membership form electronically, or print and mail or bring to our next meeting.

Want a copy of Native Plants of the Northeast?

2009-11-15T09:09:00.002-05:00

From Carol Eichler:

Because we sold out of Don Leopold's book Native Plants of the Northeast so quickly at our meeting (8 copies weren't enough), please contact me, Carol Eichler, (ceichler@twcny.rr.com, 607-387-5823) if you were one who missed out and would like to purchase a copy. We need a minimum order from Timber Press (I believe it's 12) to get the discount of 50%. There's a small shipping charge too but the Chapter covered that. We can add other books to beef up the order. So if you have any books on your wish list, we can add them as well - in time for holiday giving - if I get a good response.

Nov./Dec. newsletter

2009-11-03T17:38:00.001-05:00

The Nov./Dec. newsletter is online here.

Deer Fortress

2009-10-25T12:32:00.009-04:00

From Carol Eichler:

My fall anemones have never looked so great! In spite of the fact that I grow them near the house, the deer are bold enough (as you all know) to enjoy them as a snack just when the plants begin to flower.

This year, after the first early nibbles (earlier would have been better), I hung out a product called Deer Fortress. You'll notice (picture below) I used ski poles located about every 6 to 8 feet because I needed the Deer Fortress's small cylindrical canisters to be located at about flower height.

You can see for yourself that Deer Fortress ended my deer dilemma. The really nice thing about this product - besides its effectiveness - is that they last a whole season. No need to reapply. I use them elsewhere in my garden as well.

Yes, they are available locally or by mail order. This is my second year using them. I'm curious as to whether other members are familiar with this product and if they've had equal success.

Click image for larger view.

October newsletter

2009-09-27T12:08:00.001-04:00

The October issue of The Green Dragon is online in reader/printer friendly .pdf format.

Coming This March: NARGS Seed Exchange 2010, Surplus Round

2009-09-27T08:33:00.002-04:00

From Rosemarie Parker:

Our chapter has agreed to coordinate the Surplus Seed round of the NARGS Seed Exchange again this year. The process should be less hectic than last year, as more people adjust to the web-only seed list and get their orders in for the first round. BZ Marranca has agreed to be overall coordinator, and we hope to have weekly coordinators as well to share some of the work. For national NARGS members, the incentives include getting “donor status” on the next year’s exchange (10 more packets + priority order filling) and the ability to choose your own surplus seed purchase. The chapter is looking at several incentives for local members who are not national members, so that everyone will want to help. Look for details around February, as the work will take place throughout March. If you have questions or want sign on as one of the weekly coordinators, contact BZ Marranca: mmm10@cornell.edu.

Holly Shimizu on Sustainable Landscapes in Corning

2009-09-27T08:28:00.001-04:00

From Bill Plummer:

October 30: Holly Shimizu, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden will be speak on Creating Sustainable Landscapes at 171 Cedar Arts Center's Drake House Theater, 155 Cedar Street, Corning, N.Y. at 10 a.m. Directions and more info at www.171cedararts.com

Plant of the Month for October

2009-09-27T07:51:00.002-04:00

From John Gilrein, Plant of the Month coordinator:

The Plant of the Month at our October 11 meeting will be miniature Narcissi. We’ll have a selection of bulbs available. The first dozen will be free to each member and any remaining bulbs will be available to purchase. Since we’re buying in quantity, leftover bulbs will be sold at a good price. Narcissi prefer full sun to partial shade, neutral soil, and good drainage. Pending availability, our selection will include the varieties below, all hardy to at least zone 4, except N. caniculatus:

‘Small Talk’ is an all yellow miniature trumpet, 5 to 6 inches high, blooming in April. Plant 5 to 6 inches deep and 5 inches apart.
‘Segovia’ is a small cupped Narcissus. It has white perianth (the base) and a small disc shaped greenish-yellow cup. It’s 5 to 6 inches high, blooming in April. Plant 6 to 7 inches deep and 6 inches apart.
Narcissus canaliculatus is a species miniature with multiple flowers. It has a white reflexed perianth and a cup shaped golden crown. It’s 6 inches high, blooming in April. Plant 4 to 5 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches apart. It’s reputedly hardy to zone 6, so try a protected spot, or be adventurous.
Narcissus cantabricus is a species miniature with white flowers. It’s 6 inches high and blooms in April. Plant 4 to 5 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches apart. Availability may be limited.

Spring Bulbs: Three Months of Bloom

2009-09-27T07:29:00.001-04:00

From ACNARGS member and Cornell Cooperative Extension educator, Pat Curran:

Spring Bulbs: Three Months of Bloom
Thurs. Oct. 1, 6:30-8:30 pm

Plan now to plant bulbs this fall for three months of bloom next year! Pat Curran, Horticulture Educator, will discuss different bulb varieties, planting and growing tips, and suggestions for using bulbs in the landscape. Spring Bulbs: Three Months of Bloom will be held Thurs. Oct. 1, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Tompkins County Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. Fee: $5; pre-registration requested. Please call 272-2292 for more information or registration.

September newsletter

2009-09-07T19:36:00.001-04:00

View/download the September newsletter in .pdf format.

NARGS Seed Exchange seed list

2009-09-06T11:59:00.000-04:00

From Joyce Fingerut, NARGS Seed Exchange Director:

The Seed Exchange Seed List will appear on the NARGS website on December 15, 2009. NARGS no longer will automatically distribute printed lists to all its members. NARGS national members who would like to receive a printed copy of the Seed List - either because of no computer, or slow internet connections - must request a copy by November 15, 2009. Write: Joyce Fingerut, 537 Taugwonk Road, Stonington, CT 06378-1805. Phone: 860.535.3067. Or email: alpinegarden@comcast.net

From the Chair

2009-09-06T11:57:00.000-04:00

I want to invite everyone to my garden for our September meeting and bring your diseased plants – in a zip-lock bag please. I'm sure I have enough diseases of my own.

I also extend an invitation for any member to bring a note pad and annotate plants that you would like a start of from my garden. I have so much plant material and I would like to share them. I cannot guarantee that I can name them. In fact, I'd like the membership to help me name plants. I seemed to have developed 'plant Alzheimer's ' – I try to retrieve the names from my memory and I remember typically around 2 a.m. If you have a means of keeping your plant records bring them along to share.

Billie Jean Isbell

Members' garden tour pictures

2009-08-30T19:56:00.002-04:00

ACNARGS member Lynn posted more of the great pictures she took from the member garden tours earlier in the summer at her blog, Sin City to Slaterville. Check them out.

Let's visit Sycamore Hill Gardens October 12

2009-08-30T11:16:00.000-04:00

From Donna Kraft, Vice chair/program:

Pamela Eveleigh, our speaker on Sunday, October 11, said that she would like to see our autumn colors and visit gardens. She will be in the area on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12. So I’ve made arrangements with Karen Hanford for ACNARGS access to their private Sycamore Hill Gardens in Marcellus!

Go to www.sycamorehillgardens.com for an overview of these magnificent 25 acres! This is a wonderful opportunity for our membership to view these awesome gardens while extending accessibility to our speaker. We will meet at the gardens at 10:30 and take a leisurely tour. The Hanfords do request a $5 per person donation for continuing support of Baltimore Woods Centers for Nature Education. Those who wish may also join us for a quick bite to eat in Skaneateles.

Karen did ask about how many people might participate, so we will be taking a poll at the September meeting. For more information or to RSVP, contact me: dkraft@twcny.rr.com, 315 696-8626. Sycamore Hill is located at 2130 Old Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus, NY 13108-9760.

NARGS 2010 Annual Meeting

2009-08-30T10:09:00.001-04:00

Mark your calendars for the 2010 NARGS annual meeting: Romancing the Rockies - The Marriage of Plant and Stone, July 11-14, 2010, Denver & Salida, Colorado

Join the Rocky Mountain Chapter of NARGS for a trip to the undiscovered Colorado that is every bit as beautiful as—but somehow more pristine and authentic—than the famous resorts that grab headlines. The meeting is scheduled to coincide with the peak of the alpine season: come dance with Eritrichium and primulas on the very backbone of America! Information at www.rmcnargs.org and more to follow.

Cornell Plantations fall lecture series starts Sept. 2

2009-08-29T13:13:00.002-04:00

Here's the fall line up. For more information, visit the Plantations' website.

September 2, 5:30 p.m., Warren Hall B45
Reconfiguring Nature after Darwin: Skepticism and Sexuality in High Modernist Literature
Daniel Schwarz, Frederic J. Whiton Professor of English Literature & Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow

September 16, 7:30 p.m., Statler Hall Auditorium
Conservation of an Urban Oasis: Managing Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Albany Pine Bush.
Neil Gifford, Conservation Director of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve

September 30 7:30 p.m., Statler Hall Auditorium
The Fruit Hunters
Adam Gollner, author

October 14, 7:30 p.m., Statler Hall Auditorium
The Authentic Garden: Five Principles for Cultivating a Sense of Place.
Claire Sawyers, author and director, Scott Arboretum

October 28, 7:30 p.m., Statler Hall Auditorium
Chinese Herbs and Health
Jean Giblette, owner, High Falls Gardens

November 11, 7:30 p.m., Statler Hall Auditorium
Farming in Iroquoia: Surprising Comparisons with European Agriculture
Jane Mt. Pleasant, Associate Professor of Horticulture, Cornell University

Contribute to NARGS Image Library

2009-08-09T10:43:00.001-04:00

From John Serowicz, NARGS Image Library

This is an open call for photos and to introduce you to the NARGS Image Library. I have been assigned the duties of image archivist.

The Image Library was created to archive images used by our members. The first project will be to scan the 35mm slides from the NARGS Slide Library. This will be done for two reasons. First to save these images in a format that will not be degrading over time. The second is to be able to offer the images to our members in a format readily usable with today's technology. All images will be saved in a nondegrading format then transferred to discs. Duplicates will be kept in two separate locations.

Please notify all your members that we need their photos. All photos will be accepted. If they are in a non-digital format (35mm or negatives) contact me to schedule a time when they can be scanned. Each image should have as much identification information included as possible.

If you know of an older member, past or present, that may have a collection of slides please ask them to join this project so their photos are not lost. All originals will be returned with a copy of the digital format.

All images will only be used by NARGS. You still have copyright privileges for your work. I realize some people get worried about the use or loss of control of their photos. Truth is almost all major nations follow the Berne copyright convention. So almost everything after April 1, 1989 is copyrighted and protected whether it has a notice or not.

What kinds of images are we looking for? Everything! Garden plants, plants in the wild, expedition photos, troughs, seedling, plants with diseases or insects on them, rock garden styles, etc. One project that needs photos is for the Seed Exchange Database. We need photos of seed, seed pods, seedlings, flowering plants in the garden. One important reason for this is to help identify mislabeled seed that is being passed around.

Send all images or questions to imagelibrary@mi.rr.com Also anyone interested in helping with the scanning please contact me.

July/August newsletter

2009-07-26T17:06:00.001-04:00

The July/August newsletter in .pdf format is available online here:

http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/200907.pdf

May Plant Sale Report

2009-07-19T11:31:00.001-04:00

From David Mitchell and BZ Marranca, plant sale coordinators:

The final total for the plant sale was $2,108.75. This includes new and renewing members dues. We have six new members and eight renewals ($70.00). The new members are Susan Barnett, Lynn Bonnivier, Donna Gibson, Graham Kerslick, Susan Lipinoga and Flora Marranca. Thank you to all who donated quality plants, bought plants and pitched in to help run the sale. Also welcome new and renewing members!

Wurster Garden 'Weed Fest' thanks!

2009-07-19T11:17:00.002-04:00

Thanks to all who helped weed, deadhead and perform other maintenance in the rain at the Wurster Garden 'Weed Fest' June 18. It's that kind of dedication that makes Wurster sparkle, as in this picture snapped by David Mitchell earlier in the season.

Bluegrass Lane Open Houses July 25 and 26

2009-07-19T11:11:00.000-04:00

Come visit the flower research and demonstration area at the Cornell Department of Horticulture’s Bluegrass Lane Research facility, featuring more than 1,000 varieties of perennial and annual flowers — many new or just coming onto the market.

Everyone is welcome from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 25 and 26. Bluegrass Lane is located off Warren Rd. near the Robert Trent Jones golf course northeast of campus. (See map.)

For more information, contact Melissa Kitchen: mjb239@cornell.edu

For a preview, visit the Bluegrass Lane Annual Flower Trials website.

Irma Markert's garden

2009-07-19T10:58:00.003-04:00

From Carol Eichler:

On our June trip to White Pine Camp, we (11 of us) had a very nice visit with Irma Markert at her well-established, well-tended gardens in Ogdensburg. Her property is along the St. Lawrence River providing ideal conditions for wet-loving candelabra primroses. What a show as they were in full bloom! Her rock garden was exquisite too, built along the stone paths leading from the house down to the river's edge. One of Irma and Harold amongst the primroses:

Members' garden tour pictures

2009-07-19T10:43:00.002-04:00

ACNARGS member Lynn Yenkey posted some pictures from our May 31 members' garden tours on her blog. And she promises more. Meantime, enjoy exploring her blog for more great garden pictures.

Plan ahead for native plant art exhibition

2009-07-19T10:31:00.003-04:00

From Rosemarie Parker:

Artists with an affinity for plants take note: A juried art exhibition is currently being planned by the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society. The show will highlight the beauty and diversity of our region's native plants and fungi and will welcome a wide variety of media.

It will be hosted at the Tompkins County Public Library from January through March 2010, and its opening will coincide with Ithaca's 6th annual Light in Winter festival. Jurors include Camille Doucet, painting and botanical illustration; Eric Serritella, ceramic art; and David Watkins, photography.

Now is the time to begin planning your submissions. For more information, visit www.flnps.org/artshow

August 15 Annual Picnic and Member-Only Plant Sale

2009-07-19T09:39:00.003-04:00

From Donna Kraft, vice-chair/program:

Plans are set for this year’s member picnic and plant sale to be held on Saturday, August 15th at Kenneth Post Lab, Cornell University, Ithaca. ACNARGS will provide a light lunch for those who RSVP by August 7 to Donna Kraft at 315 696-8626 or dkraft@twcny.rr.com.

The schedule:

10:00 a.m. Arrive promptly, get your plant sale number, help with sale set-up & pricing.
11:00 a.m. Plant sale begins. Buy, buy, and buy some more.
12:00 noon-ish Picnic lunch on the Knoll at Cornell Plantations if weather is good or stay at KPL if conditions dictate.
1:30-ish p.m. Enjoy Cornell Plantations.

As in past years, we'll very democratically allow those who arrive first to get "first dibs" at purchases. So it pays to arrive early. For the treasured and special plants, we will have a silent auction table. Note: this is our one members-only sale and we should have some real horticultural gems. Please label your plant contributions in advance to speed things up.

Not yet a member? We welcome you to join for 2009 at this meeting for $10 ($15 for families). It's still a great value since we have half of our program year ahead of us.

As soon as we finish the plant sale, respondents will enjoy sandwiches, wraps, salads, and dessert provided by our chapter! Socialize and then enjoy Cornell Plantations.

Don't forget to RSVP by August 7.

Garden Conservancy Open Days June 13

2009-06-08T17:39:00.002-04:00

Three gardens in the Ithaca area are open for tours this Saturday, June 13. ACNARGS plant sale coordinator David Mitchell's garden is among them. If you missed it on the ACNARGS garden tours last month, now's your chance. You won't want to miss it.

Find details at the Garden Conservancy Open Days website.

Garden Conservancy Open Days July 11

2009-06-07T07:08:00.003-04:00

Two gardens in the Ellis Hollow area east of Ithaca will be open for tours as part of the Garden Conservancy Open Days July 11, in partnership with the Tompkins County Community Beautification Program:

Gibson Garden, 2021 Ellis Hollow Road
Hillman Garden, 159 Ellis Hollow Creek Road

Descriptions and directions are available at both the Open Days and TCCBP websites.

Norbert Markert RIP

2009-06-07T06:39:00.003-04:00

Longtime ACNARGS member Norbert Markert of Ogdensburg passed away June 3. From his obituary in the Watertown Daily Times:

Norbert's passion through the years was gardening. The garden at his home, developed in partnership with his wife Irma, has been visited by gardeners nationally and internationally. He was active in the Adirondack chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society and was active in the national organization as well. He and his wife were presented with an award for distinguished service and devotion to the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. He was an honorary member of the Ottawa and Horticultural Society. He participated in many beautification projects for Ogdensburg and was presented a certificate with his wife Irma as Citizens of the Year of Ogdensburg by the Chamber of Commerce on November 15, 1997 in recognition of their outstanding community service. In 2004 he received an Award of Distinction from the Ogdensburg Garden Club in recognition of his noteworthy contribution to Civic Beautification. He and his wife gave many lectures on Rock Gardening and other topics to garden clubs and rock garden societies.

Fall Creek Garden tour June 7

2009-05-31T14:29:00.000-04:00

The 2009 Fall Creek Garden tour will take place on Sunday, June 7, 11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., rain or shine. Maps will be available at Thompson Park (N. Cayuga and Marshall Streets). Please pick up your map by 3:00 p.m. to allow at least an hour for the tour. This year’s tour will feature a wide variety of flower and vegetable gardens for your enjoyment and inspiration.

The tour is sponsored by the Fall Creek Garden Collective, a local group that works to encourage gardening and engages in beautification efforts in the Fall Creek neighborhood. The group’s activities include work days for clean up and gardening in public green spaces, an annual fall plant exchange, and the annual Fall Creek Garden Tour, now in its seventh year. For more information contact Britta at 272-5756.

Trip to Linwood Gardens Saturday May 30

2009-05-27T19:15:00.001-04:00

From Billie Jean Isbell

The trip to Linwood Gardens has been moved to this Saturday, May 30th, 2009. I called Linwood and was told that by June 7th the blooms would be just about finished due to the recent heat spell. Sorry for the short notice.

Please email me at bji1@cornell.edu if you wish to join the group. We will meet at cooperative extension at 8am and carpool. I suggest that we make a stop at Palmiters nursery first. I will make appointments at Linwood and Palmiters. Food is provided at Linwood. There are no picnic facilities.

If you call me instead of emailing 607-539-6484, leave a message. I'm working in the garden as much as possible between raindrops.

New NARGS website

2009-05-08T18:17:00.004-04:00

From Grazyna Grauer, website volunteer and NARGS president

The new NARGS website is up!! It went up Sunday night, May 3. Hugh MacMillan, our designer in Colorado, spent a long weekend transferring data from the prototype to the actual website. The NARGS address is: http://www.nargs.org

About Hugh: his expertise, dedication and unwavering support for NARGS are ASTOUNDING. The final website (it's still a work in progress) will be light years away from what Hugh's initial website plan stipulated. Yes, I did get to hear about project creep, but the resulting website will be so much more fun! Thank you Hugh! (There will be many more "thank you's" to come!!)

And now things you might like to know about the site:

1. What you see now will look different when our Volunteer Graphics Guru gets done with the website. This might take a while, as he is very busy right now.

2. Yes, the Seed Exchange segment is going to join the rest of the website, it's not on it yet. Chris Klapwijk, the creator of much of that segment will work on it.

3. There is some info on the new website, transferred form the old website, that is obsolete and this will be cleaned up.

4. When the new website went up, it appeared on a different Internet Service Provider (ISP) than the old one. The old one was called Hubris and we were paying Hubris about $500/year for hosting. The new one is siteground.com and costs us $71/year.

Having said that, when we have the on-line shopping cart for the Book Service (under development), we will need secure web pages for credit card transactions. This means we'll need an SSL (Secure Socket Layers) account and that will cost us an additional $70 or so a year. Plus, if we decide to add PayPal, another $30/month.

5. Speaking about the Book Service, while the on-line ordering is being developed, books can be ordered by printing the website order form and mailing it to Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

6. Photo Gallery is currently accessible to the general public for viewing purposes, but only NARGS members will be able to post pictures. Actual posting will be done through the Photo Gallery Administrator and his team.

Login to the Photo Gallery will be synchronized from the nargs.org site and not directly into the gallery.

How will you log in? If you supplied your email address when paying membership dues, we'll e-mail you your login information once it is created (please be patient, there are over 1000 users to set up). If not, the query will go to Bobby Ward (our Executive Secretary), he'll check if you are a member, add your e-mail address to the database, notify the webmaster to create a web user account, and you'll receive your login notification when it is ready.

If you are not a NARGS member, you'll be invited to join.

7. Online membership - Bobby Ward, Randy Tatroe (the Treasurer) and Hugh are in the process of getting this set up. This should take a week or so to
complete. Members have access to a printable form for now.

8. The wiki and the Discussion Forum are features that are currently accessible by signed in members. We are still evaluating the option of making these parts open to general public.

Have fun getting acquainted with our new site!

May/June newsletter

2009-05-04T18:52:00.001-04:00

The May/June ACNARGS newsletter in printer-friendly .pdf format is here: http://www.acnargs.org/newsletter/200905.pdf

Let's visit Linwood Gardens

2009-05-03T08:43:00.003-04:00

From Billie Jean Isbell, chair and garden tour coordinator.

Linwood is a private garden on the historical registry in Pavilion, N.Y. (southwest of Rochester). It is only open during the festival of flowers:

May 24 OR June 7
Open to the public 9 am to 5 pm
Suggested contribution $8 for garden preservation.
Guided tour $10

I will check their website regularly to see when the best time to visit will be. We will aim for either Sunday, May 24th or Sunday, June 7th. Send me an email (Billie Jean Isbell bji1@cornell.edu) if you are interested in joining the group. If you do not have email, call me. My phone number is (607)539-6484.

This will be a day trip, leaving Ithaca at around 8am and returning by 5pm. I’ll see if there is a nursery we can visit in the vicinity. The garden does not have picnic facilities but they do sell food and drinks.

Come join us. It will be a great opportunity to see one of the historic gardens in our region. You can check out the website to check on updates of blooms: http://linwoodgardens.org.

NARGS interest groups

2009-05-03T08:39:00.002-04:00

A message from the National President of NARGS via Billie Jean Isbell, chair.

I am pleased to announce an idea that has the potential to increase NARGS membership. The idea was suggested at a NARGS board meeting a few years ago.

The suggestion is to establish NARGS interest groups, which would be dedicated to particular genus of plant, a specific type of gardening or a pastime related to rock gardening. This could include, for example, Campanula, Fritillaria, or Helleborus sections. Other groups could be dedicated to woodland rock garden or gardening in troughs and other containers. There might be a place for plant photography.

The NARGS member who has agreed to take charge of interest groups is Tony Reznicek.

How would it work? There were two scenarios written on the subject and these are attached. The original proposal came from the Rock Garden Quarterly editor, Jane McGary, and was based on the Alpine Garden Society's (Great Britain) structure. Later, past president Dick Bartlett wrote a supporting opinion and included a potential list of societies to approach.

A lot of creative thinking will have to go into the project. Clearly, the first thing to do would be to ask the AGS how they handled it. To that end, Tony Reznicek and I are going to talk to Malcolm McGregor, of the Scottish Rock Garden Club, who is also an active member of the AGS saxifrage group. Malcolm is scheduled to speak at the Great Lakes Chapter "Spring Gala", Saturday May 16 - Sunday 17.

Once in place, the interest groups could have an impact on NARGS and its activities, most notably the Quarterly, the Web site and the Seed Exchange. There is a lot we can gain from these groups. You will hear more about the project as the work progresses.

Would you like to help with this project? Volunteers are needed; please contact Tony reznicek@umich.edu or me grazynalg@sbcglobal.net.

Grazyna Grauer,
NARGS President

Visit members' gardens May 31

2009-05-03T07:59:00.009-04:00

From Billie Jean Isbell, chair and garden tour coordinator.

We've planned a series of garden visits for May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We will be visiting 4 members’ gardens that are quite different: David Mitchell’s urban garden in downtown Ithaca, Nariman Mistry’s suburban garden, Deb Lampman’s commercial enterprise with many unusual plants, Bedlam Gardens, in King Ferry and Susanne Lipari’s country garden in Alpine.

Visit the Mitchell, Mistry and Bedlam gardens anytime during the day. But plan to be at Susanne Lipari's between 3-4pm, for a final get together. Bring snacks and drinks to share.

Addresses and directions:

David Michell
402 Esty St., Ithaca. (607) 342-3660
From Route 13 (Meadow St.) North, turn right at Esty Street just before the Tamarind Thai restaurant and after CFCU bank. David's house is at the first intersection, on your left. The corner is Esty and Washington Streets. Park anywhere on the street. Coming from downtown, heading west on Buffalo, turn right on Washington Street. Go two blocks to Esty Street. David’s house is on the corner, the one with the huge hedges.

Deb Lampman, Bedlam Gardens
1893 Rt 34 B King Ferry. (315)346-8726
Bedlam Gardens is about 19 miles from downtown Ithaca. Take 34 to 34 B. Continue on 34 B 10-12 miles past the Lansing schools. When you reach the stop sign in King Ferry Deb's place is 3 miles north on the west (left) side of the road. You can't miss it -- too many flowers!

Nari Mistry
1159 Ellis Hollow Rd. (607) 272-7496
Ellis Hollow Rd. originates at East Hill Plaza and 1159 is one mile east of the Plaza. Turn left onto Dodge Rd. where visitors should park. (Traffic is too heavy on Ellis Hollow Rd.) Nari’s house and garden are across the street on Ellis Hollow.

Susanne Lipari
Alpine, N.Y. (607-256-9308)
Plan to end your visits at Susanne Lipari’s. She is expecting us in the afternoon at the end of our tour. Bring nibbles and drinks to share. Take Rt. 79 West to Mecklenburg, take Rt. 228 South (direction Odessa) for 2.4 miles. When you see a silo at the left side of the road, you’ve made it. Her driveway is across the road on the right. Please park along the road on the shoulder.

Volunteers needed for new NARGS website and other news from National

2009-05-02T07:28:00.005-04:00

The new and improved National NARGS website is expected to go live this month. Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with monitoring discussion forums, posting updates, and providing back-end support and graphic help. To find out more, contact NARGS president Grazyna Grauer grazynalg@sbcglobal.net.

Grazyna, Tony Reznicek and other NARGS leaders are also looking in to forming interest groups around particular genera, types of gardening (such as troughs or woodland gardens) or garden-related pastimes (such as garden photography). If you'd like to read more about this, let me know and I'll email you the background correspondence (cdcramer@twcny.rr.com).

Jane McGary will be retiring as editor of Rock Garden Quarterly next year. Maria Galletti is chairing an editor search committee that is also looking at the "need to redefine our journal for the purpose of being more vital and relative to the membership of the organization." Again, let me know if you'd like to read background correspondence and I'll forward (cdcramer@twcny.rr.com).

Summer events

2009-05-02T06:41:00.003-04:00

In addition to our May 31 tour of members' gardens, there are lots of other garden-related activities to take in this summer:

Mother's Day Garden Tour at Sycamore Hill Gardens - May 10, Marcellus. More information.

Der Rosenmeister in Ithaca has a season-long line-up of informative and educational programs. More information.

Cornell Plantations has it's usual spectacular line-up of walks, workshops and other events. More information.

Garden Conservency Open Days:

Tompkins County: June 13 (3 gardens including David Mitchell's)
Oswego: June 14 (Seneca Hill Perennials)
Tompkins County: July 11 (2 gardens)
Marcellus: July 12 (Sycamore Hill)

May Plant Sale

2009-05-02T06:21:00.002-04:00

From David Mitchell, plant sales coordinator along with BZ Marranca

Now's the time to have your plant donations potted up so that they'll have time to recover and look great for the May plant sale. The sale will be held on May 16 at the Ithaca High School. We'll start setup on Friday around 4 p.m. and usually work until 8. My driveway is available for drop-offs anytime until 3:30 p.m. on Friday 5/15, if you really can't make it to the high school. After then, all plants need to be brought directly to the high school, before 8 p.m. Friday or early Saturday morning. The driveway is on the Washington Street side of the corner of Washington and Esty Streets (402 Esty Street).

Please have your plants labeled and and suggest a price. This is especially important if you drop the plants off early on Saturday. Labeling, pricing and setting up all at the same time makes for a very hectic Saturday morning!

We need volunteers for setup, day of sale setup, cashiers, and plant advisers during the sale, and cleanup. Remember, members receive a 25 percent discount on purchases at the sale. The sale hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those working at the sale have a chance to pick out some cool plants
before others get there.

The sale hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please arrive early to help with late donations or jump in any time to help. Every pot should have a label and a price stick before the sale starts.

My phone number is (607) 342-3660 should you have any questions about the sale.

Ithaca garden tour May 31

2009-04-26T08:18:00.002-04:00

Mark your calendar: We're planning a tour of Ithaca-area members' gardens for May 31. Details coming soon.

April newsletter

2009-04-12T09:42:00.001-04:00

The April 2009 in printer friendly .pdf format is here:
http://remarc.com/acnargs/newsletter/200904.pdf

Member volunteers distribute 20,245 seed packets

2009-04-12T09:15:00.003-04:00

From Rosemarie Parker

I hope all the members who volunteered for the NARGS Seed Exchange Phase 4 distribution have recovered somewhat from the back pains, nightmares of seed packet mishaps, etc. I nearly have. I just want everyone to know how grateful I am for all the members who showed up to work whenever they could to help with this monumental effort.

We sent out roughly 20,245 packets. That is assuming everyone got exactly the right amount, but I know some got less, a few got more. We filled 331 orders, and sent off remains to 23 chapters, including our own. That is a massive undertaking.

All together, we had 22 volunteers helping with the seed pulling. Marcia Meigs wins the attendance award for having missed only one work session. David Mitchell and BZ Marranca were close seconds! Harold Peachy gets the laid-back-nod for being willing to figure out the most
bizarre and complex order forms with no complaints or snide comments.

We had wonderful snacks and dinners provided by volunteers - Lynn's chocolate peanut butter cookies, Billy Jean's casserole, Carol's pizza, and David's party leftovers come to mind. And every volunteer who wanted to order was able to pick and choose the packets for themselves.

American Primrose Society 59th National Show

2009-04-12T09:14:00.001-04:00

American Primrose Society 59th National Show, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, located in the quaint New England Town of Boylston, Massachusetts, May 1, 2 & 3, 2009. More info: www.americanprimrosesociety.org

April Plant of the Month

2009-04-12T09:12:00.001-04:00

John Gilrein, Plant of the Month Coordinator

Due to a shipping error (the supplier forgot to ship the order in time), our March 2009 Plant of the Month, woodland wildflowers and ferns, will be offered at the April 2009 meeting as a member appreciation plant. Plants we will offer include: Hepatica acutiloba, Uvularia grandiflora (merrybells), Trilliums, including T. grandiflorum, T. luteum, and T. sessile, and Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern). After members receive a free plant, leftover plants will be offered for sale. For details on growing these plants, please refer to the article in the March 2009 Green Dragon.

In addition, The April 2009 Plant of the Month will be Hostas. As our speaker will be talking about miniature Hostas, we’re going to purchase mainly miniature Hostas to coordinate with our speaker’s presentation. We have arranged to buy plants from a local nursery, Tobeytown, where an endless array of Hostas is grown, but none in very large quantities. As Tobeytown does not currently have a list of the plants available, you’ll have to be in suspense waiting for exactly which varieties we’ll offer on April 25. We hope to have some really enticing Hostas to inspire our discriminating members!

Hostas, formerly named Funkias, are hardy in zones 3 to 8. Hostas grow best in partial shade and humus rich, fertile soil with mulch and adequate moisture. In our northern latitude, Hostas are more tolerant of bright sun, but they will suffer more from dry conditions when planted in a sunny spot, unless the gardener provides plenty of moisture during dry spells. Blue leaved Hostas have the best foliage color in partial shade. Hostas with yellow or yellow variegated leaves have the brightest yellow coloring with some sun – but not a location that’s too dry or sunny.

Hostas unfortunately are preyed on by slugs, the chief pest of Hostas, but slugs can be controlled, or at least discouraged by baiting and trapping, or by mulching with sharp grit. Slugs can be baited with iron phosphate pellets (e.g. Sluggo), which are toxic to slugs but not toxic to mammals, including the gardener. Iron phosphate pellets will eventually dissolve in the rain, so they’ll need to be either covered, or reapplied during the season. An effective slug trap is any small container filled with cheap beer. Disposable, small hard plastic cups work well and can catch a lot of slugs. Some of the thicker leaved Hostas are reputedly more slug resistant. It is important to start slug control early in the season before slugs have a chance to disfigure your Hosta leaves with their chew holes. Hostas are very sturdy plants, though they may suffer from vole damage during the winter; I’ve only had a minor problem with this during 1 or 2 winters. Unfortunately deer also will eat Hostas. They chewed on my Frances Williams, but apparently never found her tasty enough to consume more than a sample.

I’ve never tried growing Hostas in a container or trough, but Hostas should be hardy enough to overwinter in a trough in most of our area, if the trough is in a sufficiently protected spot. Miniature Hostas would be perfect for a trough.

Soils follow up

2009-04-12T07:40:00.002-04:00

From David Mitchell, plant sale coordinator

Plants need soil to grow in, but what kind? Success is in the mix and if you have any number of materials on hand, you'll find it easier to make up a trough or section of the rock garden to meet the soil needs of most rock garden plants. You'll find many soil recipes include sterilized soil, but I don't use soil as most of the plants I grow in pots will end up at our plant sales where soilless mix is required by law.

Several people asked me where I found the materials I presented at the beginner's rock garden workshop: granite grit, potting mix, composted pine bark, gravel, fired clay grit, and sand.

Chicken grit can be found at Agway's feed and grain across from their garden center on Fulton Street. The brand I buy is called Gran-I-Grit "starter" size and a 50 pound bag sells for about nine dollars. This is 100% granite and it is slightly acidic at about a pH of 5 to 6, but doesn't seem to affect the pH of the soil mix. Granite grit: Ithaca Farm and Garden Center, 213 S Fulton Street, Ithaca, NY, Tel. (607) 273-2505.

The potting mix is Fafard brand Number 52 found at Griffin Greenhouse and Nursery Supply in Auburn. Griffin does not promote itself as retail, so you won't know how inexpensive they are until you find them. They have a website with lots of product details, but no pricing, but I can tell you the trip to Auburn is worth the gas money. The Number 52 contains 24% peat moss, 8% perlite, 8% vermiculite, and 60% bark. This is the lowest peat content I could find. Potting mixes, etc.: Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies, Inc., 1 Ellis Drive, Auburn, NY, Tel. (315) 255-1450.

If you want to eliminate the use of peat altogether, you may want to try using aged pine bark, also known as composted pine bark. I found 2.8 cubic bags 35 miles southwest of Rochester at Palmiter's Garden Nursery, 2675 Avon Geneseo Rd., Avon, NY, Tel. (585) 226-3073.

Local sand and gravel can be found at several gravel pits in the area. The one I use is the Brooktondale Pit, 113 Perkins Road, Brooktondale. Drive in and park at the white trailer, go in and let the person know what you want and they'll give you instructions. I usually get three or four buckets of material for about 5 dollars.

The Turface brand soil amendment I found at Banfield-Baker in Horseheads (thank you Bill Plummer). It's fired clay grit that is used on baseball playing fields and sometimes seen as cat litter. The clay is porous and holds moisture. Banfield-Baker Corporation, 2512 Corning Road (Rt. 14), Horseheads, NY, Tel. (607) 739-8771.

The beautiful, dustless white quartz sand I have was found at a garden center in Cleveland for about 4 dollars a bag, priceless as they say. Haven't seen it here, but play sand may be an option.

April Seedling Exchange and May Plant Sale

2009-04-12T07:35:00.002-04:00

From David Mitchell, plant sale coordinator

In addition to our fabulous speaker, this month's meeting will be our annual seedling exchange. Bring in your seedlings to share. I'll have some pots and potting soil on hand. Potted divisions will also be accepted and priced for sale or held for the May plant sale. I'm hoping the seedlings will find good homes and that some will show up on our tables at the May and August plant sales. The seedling exchange is a great way to learn about what plants are easy to grow from seed and to learn from other's experiences in growing them on.

The May plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 16th. We'll start setup on Friday around 4 p.m. or so. My driveway is available for dropoffs if you can't make it to the high school before the sale starts. The driveway is on the Washington Street side of the corner of Washington and Esty Streets (402 Esty Street). My phone number is (607) 342-3660 should you have any questions about the sale.