Upstate Gardeners' Journal September-November 2018

BUFFALO - ITHACA - ROCHESTER - SYRACUSE

Pests!

Asian Worms The Unwanted Guests FREE

Volume Twenty-four, Issue Five September-October 2018

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL - 390 HILLSIDE AVENUE - ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14610

SARA’S GARDEN

Fall is for Planting What can drain your energy faster, beat your soil to a hard pan of crumbly nuggets, and tax your plants more than the past 10 weeks? Can you imagine anything more tiresome for a gardener than excessive heat and drought? But do you know what we love about people who love plants? All those issues can be swept away in a day! Lower that humidity and drop that dew point, and next thing you know: our parking lot is full! Of course, there are those die-hards who will not be kept out of the garden (thank you so much), happily we’re all part of a big group of plant-loving people who enjoy any gardening season no matter what mother nature throws at us. And with the onset of Fall weather we’re refreshed and ready to go!

Annual Customer Appreciation Days are happening now… and every growing thing we offer is on sale.

In honor of plant lovers everywhere and the promise of Fall weather, we have begun our Annual Customer Appreciation Days! We love this tradition. It’s not just a summer ‘overstock or burnouts’ sale, there are new items and new varieties.

Additionally, we have labored hard all season to make sure the plants you buy this Fall are the plants you bought last May—pretty and primed for that special spot in your garden. With the reset of the weather, it’s the perfect time to put that curb appeal back on the front burner. After all, don’t you usually feel better after a good scrub or a fresh haircut? Paint your door, spray the porch, grab some new house numbers…all good ideas! To really freshen up the look, why not try a new porch pot or a colorful window box? Ready to go all-out? We can help you plan an entire garden bed.

Stone Wall Follies Finale This will be our 10th and final year of the follies, and what a wonderful journey these 10 years have been. We have met some of the most amazing, stone-loving, people. This season’s anniversary brings to mind what John says, ‘Stones want to be together.’ And they bring people together, too. John and Norman will be making their final appearance here in Brockport this session…they have devoted years to their craft along with teaching and traveling to enlarge the circle for the ‘dyker’ at heart everywhere. Consider the beginners dry laid stone wall session this year to experience that last ‘wee bit of magic’ with true masters of the art.

The 2018 session of our dry-laid stone wall class is set for October 6th & 7th A two-day event designed to encourage and foster the art of dry-laid walling Anyone can join our students for an evening of inspiration featuring John Shaw-Rimmington of the CSWA Norman Haddow, Scottish Master Craftsman Saturday Oct 6th at 7:15 pm This Saturday night event is free and open to the public and will include presentations on some of the wonderful projects John and Norman have done around the world.

Google these guys for a sneak preview!

Please contact Kathy to reserve a space for the Saturday evening event: kkepler@rochester.rr.com or 585-637-4745 If you’re ready to take the weekend session, we can email you the requirements and itinerary.

41 Year Mission!

It is our greatest desire to provide our customers with top quality, wellgrown 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

Experience the Largest Living History Museum

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Something New to Discover in Every Season!

12 Historic Gardens and Operating Farm 68 Historic Buildings to Explore Skilled Crafts and Tradespeople Cooking Demonstrations Don’t miss our Fall Festival & Agricultural Fair October 6 & 7, 2018

Just 20 miles from Rochester!

Contents

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: LYN CHIMERA | CAROL ANN HARLOS | LIZ MAGNANTI WALT NELSON | CATHY MONRAD | VALERIE SHAW | STEVEN JAKOBI

Ear to the Ground.......................................................7 Almanac: September and October..................... 9-10 Asian Worms............................................................. 12 The Unwanted Guests.........................................14-15

390 Hillside Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610 585/733-8979 e-mail: info@upstategardenersjournal.com upstategardenersjournal.com

Calendar...............................................................16-19 Backyard Habitat.................................................22-23

The Upstate Gardeners’ Journal is published six times a year.

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Classifieds.................................................................. 24 Little Sprouts............................................................. 25

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

All contents copyright 2018, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Cathy the Crafty Gardener...................................... 26

ON THE COVER: 'Heavenly Blue' morning glory, Caledonia, NY

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Ear to the Ground Fall is arguably the most productive season in the ornamental garden. After the sweltering heat of summer has passed, yard work is a lot more inviting, for one thing.

Looming deadlines also play a roll: first frost, killing frost, first snow, deep frost. Trees, shrubs, and perennials planted now (mostly) can gain enough root growth to give them a meaningful boost in the spring.

Fall is for planting!

INSET TOP: Cyclamen hederifolium, Cornell Botanic Gardens, fall

INSET BOTTOM: Crafty fly repellent sneak peek

THINGS TO TRY

Hardy cyclamen I’ve never had luck with these little darlings, which is why I am such a sucker for them in other people’s gardens. There are both spring- and fall-blooming types, and the flowers range from white to deep pink, while the glossy leaves are frequently intricately marked.

you work for the treasury, please don’t blow her in. Cathy’s craft is part of our issue theme—Pests.

Lasagna mulching If you know you want to install or enlarge a bed but don’t think you can get around to planting it this fall, layer some organic material to kill off grass and weeds and prepare the soil for next year. You can start with cardboard, thick sections of newspaper...anything like that, and add on top whatever compost you have around, shredded leaves, straw from this year’s vegetable garden, even commercial bark mulch, if you like (shredded is good). Keep it on the moist side—this keeps stuff from flying away and aids in decomposition.

Happy gardening and as always, thanks for reading!

Cathy’s craft Not in the mood for flies? Me neither. Check out our resident crafter’s cute solution on page 26. Cathy is concerned that she might get in trouble for drilling holes in pennies, so if

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Almanac

What To Do in the Garden in September & October

INSET: Planting springflowering bulbs

AUTUMN GARDENING CHORES

FRUITS – VEGETABLES – HERBS

Remove, pick up, and discard any diseased plants or leaves. Disinfect your pruners as you move from plant to plant to prevent spreading fungal spores, bacteria, phytoplasma, and viruses.

Divide early-summer–blooming perennials that have become overgrown, show diminished bloom, or have a bare spot in the clump center (doughnut). Do this in early fall while there is still enough time for the roots to settle in for the winter.

Deadhead (cut off the flower/seed heads) plants that seed freely unless you want seedlings. This will cut down on your weeding next year. Leave the seed heads of astilbe, black-eyed-Susan, coneflower, and daisies intact to provide food for birds and winter interest.

Remove weeds to prevent both perennial and annual weeds from getting a head start in the spring.

Add compost to your beds to improve soil texture and promote beneficial microbes to prepare the garden for next spring.

Spread fallen leaves to serve as a protective mulch for your plants.

Don’t heavily prune trees or shrubs at this time. Pruning now may prevent hardening off and encourage new growth that can be killed back during the winter.

Don’t prune lavender, azaleas, viburnums, rhododendrons, forsythias, or spiraea.

Pot up some of your garden herbs and bring them in the house for fresh herbs during the winter.

Cover plants if early frost is expected.

Harvest frost-tender veggies and herbs such as basil, tomatoes, beans, peppers, eggplants, squash, and pumpkins.

Don’t wait too long before picking pears—they ripen from the inside out. Take a fruit in your hand and tilt it horizontally. If the fruit comes off the branch it is time to pick your pears.

Cut off the growing tip of each tomato stem to prevent new flowering. The energy will then go into the tomatoes already on the vine.

Continue watering into the autumn so developing vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers mature.

Allow winter squash such as butternut and acorn to fully ripen on the vine. The rind will be hard and not easily punctured. Harvest before the frost.

Harvest onions when the bulbs are mature and the tops start to turn yellow.

Store in a dry place.

Plant radishes, kale and spinach for your last crops of the season.

Plant your largest garlic cloves around Columbus Day about three inches deep.

Plant cover crops or spread composted manure or compost over unplanted areas.

Mulch carrot rows for winter harvesting.

BULBS, TUBERS, AND CORMS

Plant spring flowering bulbs from mid-September through October to allow bulbs to set strong roots— resulting in more successful blooms It’s difficult to tell the top from the bottom of some bulbs. The skin is loose at the top and attached at the bottom. If you can’t tell, plant them sideways.

To deter moles, voles, and squirrels, ring the planting area with a mixture of soil and gravel or put small chicken wire between the bulbs and soil surface.

Plant bulbs two-to-three times as deep as their height, or a little deeper for naturalizing varieties.

Dig and store summer-blooming tubers such as caladium and elephant ear before frost and tuberous begonias, cannas, and dahlias after the foliage is blackened by frost.

8 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

LAWNS

September is the best time to fertilize your lawn or seed a new one. Remember to water newly seeded areas regularly to keep the soil moist. Choose high quality seed appropriate for your site.

Overseed bare spots in the lawn. Filling in bare spots helps prevent weeds in those areas next year.

Check your lawn for grubs by lifting up about one square foot of sod. If there are more than 10–12 grubs per foot you may want to treat the lawn.

GENERAL

Don’t spread mulch until the ground freezes.

Trees, shrubs or any newly planted perennials should be

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In late September, bring in any houseplants that have been outside or annuals you want to winter over. Give the foliage a good soapy bath and check them carefully for insects. Keep them isolated from your other houseplants for two to three weeks. Do this is before you have to turn on the furnace. This cuts down on the shock of moving inside.

Harvest sunflowers when the seeds are firm. (Cover with mesh if birds are a problem.) Cut the heads with about a foot of stem.

Hang in a dry area to complete seed ripening.

Watch out for Asian ladybugs, stink bugs and western conifer seed bugs that enter homes looking for warmth and shelter.

Caulking and weather stripping helps prevent their entry. They are not harmful and can be vacuumed up. Empty the vacuum bag to dispose of them.

This is the time for fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea). Spraying is not necessary. Consider hosing down the webs to disturb the cycle.

Take pictures of your gardens. Make notes for next year’s gardens now—what worked, what didn’t; what to add, remove, or move. You think you will remember next year, but you won’t!

Plant winter pansies, ornamental kale, and mums. In October bring some pumpkins and gourds to the landscape for seasonal interest.

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Asian Worms

by Walt Nelson

E ABOVE: Mature jumping worm, with characteristic milky white clitellum (band near the head of the worm). Photo by Susan Day / UW- Madison Arboretum

arthworms, good in the garden, right? Maybe, but not in our natural landscapes. Earthworms have not been native to our temperate zone since the last ice age. Our forest and landscape ecosystems have evolved without them.

European colonists inadvertently brought their native worms (Amynthas spp. and Metaphire sp.) to North America. Those worms colonized much of the area and have had an adverse impact on the soil ecology. But even more recently introduced worms are wreaking havoc in the forest and landscape.

Asian worms were accidently introduced to southern Appalachia in the late 1880s. They migrated via human activity to the upper Midwest, New England, the Northwest, and the Northeast, including many areas of upstate New York.

The three species in the two genera are visually indistinguishable. Their cloudy, white-to-gray smooth clitellum differentiates them from European worms, which have a raised pink to dark-red band.

The Asian worms move in a snakelike fashion, rather than compress and stretch as do the European worms.

When disturbed they thrash about, jumping or moving in an erratic manner, hence some of their common names, which include Alabama jumper, crazy worm, Asian jumping worm, and snake worm.

12 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

Their preferred habitat is the top two inches of soil or within leaf litter or mulch. The poop, or castings, of the Asian worms is courser, almost granular, in comparison to European worm castings. Organic duff degrades to their castings in a single season. All worms consume organic matter, releasing the nutrients previously tied to the organic matter. However, the faster nutrient release by Asian worms results in a soil environment less suitable for native plants and microbes that are dependent on partially decomposed organic matter.

Asian worms are parthenogenetic, requiring no mate for reproduction. Adults die as winter approaches, but their cocoons, containing one or two eggs, survive the winter and hatch in April. These young feed, grow, and reproduce during the growing season.

There are no registered pesticides for use against any worms. Researchers and gardeners have attempted to manage the Asian worm with diatomaceous earth, sulfur, or mustard. The results are erratic and inconclusive.

Best management practices in minimizing their spread when moving plants from areas where the Asian worm is present includes washing roots and removing both adults and cocoons. Plant these bare root plants in a "peat-lite"– type medium. If keeping these potted plants outdoors, avoid ground contact to prevent worms from migrating up into the pots.

Census for the presence of worms in soil by drenching a one-square-foot area with one gallon of a ground mustard solution (1 gallon of water, 1/3 cup ground yellow mustard) and count the worms that will appear at the surface.

Practically, the “cat may be out of the bag� with the Asian worm. That said, best management practices can slow their spread. Research is underway in New York and elsewhere to help us learn more about these worms and hopefully provide solutions for their management.

Walt Nelson is a horticulturist with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County.

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The Unwanted Guests story and photo by Steven Jakobi

A

ABOVE: The western conifer seed bug.

utumn is a time for the arrival of a bunch of unwanted guests to the house. In reality, they are more like squatters, moving in for the winter. I am not talking about people but about insects, mammals, and other creatures.

Field mice and shrews may inundate the basement and even an enterprising snake or two may set up shop in the dark corners of the cellar or porch of an old house.

Old or new, many homes are invaded by several kinds of insects looking for a place to ride out the cold months of winter. In my house, a large portion of which was built in the 1840s, we have to deal with cluster flies, Asian lady beetles, and western conifer seed bugs, the latter of which are often confused with the marmorated stink bug. Other folks I know also have occasional infestations by boxelder beetles.

All of these insects can be a nuisance if their numbers are big enough. Their populations may fluctuate from year to year, depending on a number of environmental and control factors, but in some years there may be hundreds or even thousands attempting to enter homes. Mind you, none come to eat or reproduce. They are simply searching for a suitable place to bide their time until the warmer months of next spring.

Of the insects I listed above, the most loathed species is the cluster fly. Slightly larger than house flies, they spend the summer months parasitizing earthworms during their larval development. In autumn, they enter homes through cracks or crevices and set up shop in any dark part of the house. These hiding places may be in walls, dark ceiling corners, base boards, or even behind curtains. If they are numerous enough, they may buzz around the house and occasionally fall into food, clothing, bedding, or even people’s hair. They can be quite a disgusting nuisance.

Unlike the house fly, cluster flies do not eat or reproduce in the home and they don’t carry disease-causing germs. The

14 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

best remedy is to keep them out in the first place by sealing any openings around doors or windows and caulking tiny crevices. However, this is easier said than done, especially in older dwellings. Once they are inside the house, the vacuum cleaner is the homeowner’s best friend. If there’s an annual influx a professional exterminator’s equipment and chemicals might be called upon to help prevent the entry of these flies. The use of over-the-counter insecticides is not recommended as an effective control measure.

Multicolored Asian lady beetles were brought to North America from Japan as biocontrol agents of aphids and scale insects in southern forests and fruit orchards.

Another group of these beetles was accidentally introduced in shipping containers in the port of New Orleans, and they have since been spreading throughout the eastern part of the U.S. In New York, they were first recorded in Chemung County in 1994. Often mistaken for the common ladybug, this species invades homes in October or November and can congregate by the hundreds in ceiling corners, porches, or other structures. These lady beetles may range in color from pale yellow to dull red, and normally have numerous black spots on their bodies. Like cluster flies, the lady beetles do not eat or reproduce during the winter months.

Many will die from the low humidity in our heated homes and litter carpets, floors, or tops of cabinets, but the majority simply leave the home when the weather turns warm. Control measures are pretty much the same as for the cluster fly: exclusion and the vacuum cleaner. The use of insecticides is not recommended by Cornell University entomologists.

For the past three or four years, I have had another group of unwanted guests: the western conifer seed bug.

These insects are often misidentified as “stink bugs.” To be sure, they do produce a strong odor when handled improperly, but they are not related to the marmorated stink bug. A western North American native, the conifer

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seed bug has spread eastward and was first recorded in New York State in 1992. During the summer, they feed on the cones and seeds of pines, spruces, firs, and hemlocks. In the fall, they enter dwellings but they neither bite nor sting nor cause any damage. Because of the smell these beetles can give off when injured, some people prefer to handle them with paper towels or disposable gloves. Adults are about three-quarters of an inch long, slender with brown stripes and a darker abdomen. They have characteristic bumpy enlargements on their hind legs (see photograph), which easily distinguishes them from the shorter and wider marmorated stink bug. I don’t mind these beetles too much in the house, although they occasionally startle one of us in the bathroom or in the kitchen. For folks who do not care to have them at all in the house, exclusion is once again the best practice. The same goes for the boxelder beetle, a similarly shaped bug with handsome red-and-black coloring that is frequently encountered in areas where boxelder trees (a kind of maple) are common.

Living in the suburbs or in the country, we have to contend with all kinds of wildlife—from mammals, like deer and skunks, to a variety of birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. It is a constant “battle,” although we might remember that these creatures need pretty much the same things we do: food, water, and shelter to protect them from the bitter cold months of western New York’s harsh winter climate.

Steven Jakobi is a Master Gardener volunteer for the Allegany County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

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Calendar BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

Niagara Frontier Koi and Pond Club meets the second Friday of the month at 7pm, Zion United Church, 15 Koening Circle, Tonawanda.

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

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.

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

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

Contact: Sandra Patrick, 716/662-2608.

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

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

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

716/836-5397.

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

For more information 716/361-8325.

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

716/ 698-3454; Facebook.

Buffalo Bonsai Society meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Buffalo Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo. September 19: Auction Night. October 17: Guest Speaker John Wiessinger. buffalobonsaisociety.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; 716/433-2617.

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

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

Hamburg Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at noon, Hamburg Community Center, 107 Prospect Avenue, Hamburg. Summer garden tours.

716/649-6789; lonabutler4@gmail.com.

Kenmore Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of the month (except March, July, August & December) at 10:00am, Kenmore United Methodist Church, 32 Landers Road, Kenmore. New members and guests welcome. gengjf3@gmail.com.

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

Monthly programs, artistic design and horticulture displays. November 13: Build Your Own Porch Pot, ideas & tips to make a winter display, bring your own container, materials provided, $5, registration requested. New members and guests welcome.

716/833-8799; dstierheim@gmail.com.

Lancaster Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm, St. John’s Lutheran Hall, 55 Pleasant Avenue, Lancaster. No meetings January, July & August. October 10: Flowers & Food for Others, make paper flowers for Roswell. November 14: Hosta Love Story, a movie by Mike & Kathy Shadrack. All are welcome. 716/685-4881.

16 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

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

South Town Gardeners meets the second Friday of the month (except January) at 9:30am, West Seneca. New members welcome.

Town and Country Garden Club. September 13: Arbordale Nursery, 6:30pm, tour & discussion about garden design. All are welcome.

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

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

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

Western New York Hosta Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora. Meetings with speakers, newsletter, sales. September 15: Fall Hosta Forum, see Calendar (below). 716/941-6167; h8staman@aol.com; wnyhosta.com.

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

Western NY Iris Society usually meets the first Sunday of the month (when Iris are not in bloom), 1–4pm, at the Lancaster Public Library, 5466 Broadway, Lancaster. Information about acquiring and growing irises (bearded & non-bearded) and complimentary perennials, annual flower show & summer iris sale.

Guests welcome. 716/837-2285; drsnooks@twc.com.

Western New York Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm, St. StephensBethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. October 17: Winterizing your Rose Garden with Mark Yadon. November 14: Historical Gardening with Pati Aine Guszynski. wnyrosesociety. net.

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

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

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

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

Ongoing: Family Walk at Beaver Meadow, Sundays, 2pm. Naturalist-led walk. Donations appreciated.

BMAC Ongoing September–December: Beginner Watercolor Classes, 4 Tuesdays, 8:45–11:15am or 4 Wednesdays, 5:45–8:15pm. Six sessions to choose from. Mornings: September 4–25; October 2–23; October 30– December 4. Evenings: September 5–26; October 3–24; November 7–December 5. Beginners will learn the basics of how to paint with watercolors. $68 members; $76 non-members. Registration required.

BECBG Ongoing September–December: Intermediate Watercolor Classes, 4 Tuesdays, 5:45–7:45pm. Three sessions to choose from: September 4–25; October 2–23; October 30–December 4. For students who are more confident in their abilities and are ready to move beyond the basics. $60 members; $68 non-members.

Registration required. BECBG Ongoing September–December: Studio Watercolor Classes, 4 Mondays, 8:45–10:45am. Three sessions to choose from: September 10–October 1; October 15–Novmber 5; November 12–December 10.

For students confident in their artistic ability. $60 members; $68 non-members. Registration required.

BECBG September 15: Walk at Knox Farm State Park, 9–11am. Learn the history of the estate from the late1800’s to present day. Meet: main parking lot by red barns. Donations appreciated. BMAC September 15: Fall Festival at Reinstein Woods, 10am–4pm. BMAC September 15: Fall Hosta Forum. Fun, Fun, Fun. Four speakers will cover hostas, conifers & clematis. Live and silent auctions. Vendors. University of Edinboro, Edinboro, PA. wnyhosta.com.

• September 15–October 14: Mum Exhibit, 10am– 5pm. Enjoy the colors of fall with numerous varieties of mums. Kids can visit the 4-H Farm with ducks, sheep, rabbits and more. Included with admission.

BECBG September 16: Fall Wreath Workshop, 1:30pm.

Participants will make a fall wreath using dried hydrangeas and other seasonal adornments. $40.

Registration required. LOCK September 17: Fall Gardening, 7–8:30pm. Taught by CCE Master Gardeners. Free. Orchard Park Public Library, 4570 S. Buffalo Street, Orchard Park. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Erie County, 716/652-5400 x177; mgerie@cornell.edu; erie.cce.cornell.edu.

September 19: Senior Stroll, 10am. Leisurely guided walk through the woods. Free. Registration required.

REIN September 21: Growing American Ginseng in WNY, 5–8pm. Ginseng expert Bob Beyfuss will lead this classroom presentation and woods walk designed to teach participants how to grow American ginseng on forested land. Includes a copy of The Practical Guide to Growing Ginseng by Bob Beyfuss. $25; registration required. Check payable to CCE Allegany County should be mailed to: 5435A County Rd. 48, Belmont, NY 14813. 585/268-7644 x18; lao3@cornell.edu.

FREQUENT HOSTS BECBG: Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218. 716/827-1584; buffalogardens.com.

BMAC: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY 14113. 585/457-3228; 800/3771520; buffaloaudubon.org.

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

REIN: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Drive, Depew, NY 14043. 716/683-5959; dec.ny.gov.

September 21: Gala at the Gardens, 6pm. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, catered dinner, silent and live auctions, raffles and more take place in the gardens.

Advance reservation required. BECBG September 23: Bouquet Arranging Workshop, 1:30pm.

Participants will make a bouquet using fresh-cut flowers. $20. Registration required. LOCK • September 29: Poisonous Plants in Your Backyard, 10am. Learn about these common plants and their chemical defenses. For adults & children ages 12 and up. Free. Registration required. REIN • September 29: Elderberry Delights, 10am–12pm.

Participants will learn how to make an elderberry dessert topping from freshly picked berries and be able to sample treats. Recipes provided. Ages 13+. $5. Registration required. BMAC September 29: Promising Under-Utilized Trees for the Landscape, 1–4pm. Slide show presentation and list of 50+ trees that are under-utilized but offer promising results in the landscape and are available regionally.

Presentation followed by arboretum tour to see trees discussed. Registration required. Draves Arboretum, 1821 Sharrick Road, Darien. dravesarboretum@ rochester.rr.com.

SAVE THE DATE… November 17: Woods Walk, 11am. See description under October 6. Free. Registration required. REIN November 19 or 20: Fresh Thanksgiving Arrangement, 6–8pm. Participants will create their own autumnal arrangement. $35 members; $40 non-members.

Registration required. BECBG November 21: Senior Stroll, 10am. See description under September 19. Free. Registration required.

REIN November 23–January 6: Poinsettia & Railway Exhibit, 10am–5pm. Included with admission. BECBG December 1: Decorated Boxwood Tree, 9–11am or 1–3pm. Participants will create their own boxwood tree. Materials, ribbons & small holiday décor items included. $35 members; $40 non-members.

Registration required. BECBG December 2: Fresh Conifer Wreath, 9–11am or 1–3pm.

Participants will create a fresh and fragrant 14” conifer wreath to take home. Materials, ribbons & small holiday décor items included. $35 members; $40 nonmembers. Registration required. BECBG

October 6: Woods Walk, 11am. Guided nature walk through the woods. Free. Registration required. REIN

ITHACA

October 7: Succulent & Pumpkin Centerpiece, 1:30pm. Participants will create their own seasonal centerpiece. $38. Registration required. LOCK

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

October 9: Succulent & Pumpkin Centerpiece, 1:30pm.

See description under October 7. $38. Registration required. LOCK October 11: Tropical Glass Terrarium, 6pm. Create your own in this workshop for adults. $15 members; $20 non-members. Registration required. BECBG October 14: Succulent & Pumpkin Centerpiece, 1:30pm. See description under October 7. $38.

Registration required. LOCK October 17: Senior Stroll, 10am. See description under September 19. Free. Registration required. REIN • October 20: Autumn Tree Trek, 10am–12pm.

Naturalist Mark Carra will lead this hike to see the leaves. All ages welcome. $5. Registration required.

BMAC October 20: Hypertufa Container, 2pm. Fashion your own unique planting container using a mix of peat moss, Portland cement and perlite. $25 members; $30 non-members. Registration required. BECBG • October 23: Nature’s Art Box – Seed & Spice Mandalas, 3:30–5pm. Participants will use recycled CDs and natural materials to create a simple Autumninspired mandala suitable to hang or make into a magnet. Ages 8+. $7. Registration required. BMAC October 27–January 5: Horticulture II Certificate Series, 6 Saturdays, 11am–1pm. Taught by David Clark, Horticulturist & CNLP. Soil Science for Gardeners; Advanced Propagation Techniques; Getting Started with Hydroponics; Water Gardening & Aquascaping; How to Prune Plants; Introduction to Landscape Design. Series: $108 members; $138 nonmembers. Single session: $18 members; $23 nonmembers. Registration required. BECBG November 3: Woods Walk, 11am. See description under October 6. Free. Registration required. REIN November 10: Natural Products Workshop, 10am.

Learn how to make natural cleaning and beauty products. Participants will make a cleaner or lip balm to take home. $5 members; $7 non-members.

Registration required. REIN November 10: Nature’s Gathering, 5–8pm. Sample regional wines, beer & sprits, local cheeses, appetizers and desserts. Browse art and specialty crafts from local vendors. Cash bar, raffles & more. Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois Street, Buffalo. $15 advance; $20 day of. REIN

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

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

Auraca Herbarists, an herb study group, usually meets the second Tuesday of the month at noon, Cornell Botanic Gardens, Ithaca. Brownbag lunch at noon followed by the program and herb of the month. Field trips during the growing season. All are welcome.

Contact: Pat Curran, pc21@cornell.edu.

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

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

FREQUENT HOSTS CBG: Cornell Botanic Gardens, 1 Plantations Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Inquire ahead for meeting locations. 607/255-2400; cornellbotanicgardens.org.

CCE/TOM: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850. 607/272-2292 x146; jrc10@cornell.edu; ccetompkins.org.

W&B: Wine & Blooms, 3284 Myers Road, Genoa, NY 13071. 607/216-6058; info@poplarpointstudio.com; wineandblooms.com.

CLASSES / EVENTS

• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

Ongoing through September 29: Guided Garden Tours, Saturdays, 11am or 4pm. Stroll the grounds with a volunteer guide. Each tour will be unique as the gardens progress through the season. Free.

Registration not required. CBG September 13: Advanced Compost Series – Part I, 6–7:30pm. How it Works. Learn the process of how compost happens. Series, 3 classes: $10. Single class:

$5. Registration required. CCE/TOM September 19: Cover Crops for the Home Garden, 6–8pm. Jennie Cramer will share her knowledge of which cover crops do well locally and which work best for specific garden situations. Includes hands-on planting demonstration in the CCE garden. $7–$10 sliding scale. Registration required. CCE/TOM September 20: Advanced Compost Series – Part II, 6–7:30pm. Testing & Use. Series, 3 classes: $10.

Single class: $5. Registration required. CCE/TOM September 21: Autumn Topiary, 6:30pm. Step-by-step instruction on creating a mini topiary inspired by Fall.

Location: Grisamore Cider Works, 4069 Goose Street, Locke. Materials included. $35. Registration required.

W&B September 24: Autumn Topiary, 6:30pm. See description under September 21. Location: Crossroads Bar & Grille, 3120 N. Triphammer Road, Lansing. Materials included. $35. Registration required. W&B September 26: Fall Lecture Series – Botanical Adventurers: The Men Who Roamed the Planet to Find Our Everyday Foods, 7:30pm. Presented

by Daniel Stone, National Geographic contributing editor and author of The Food Explorer. Free. No registration required. Statler Hall Auditorium, Cornell University. CBG September 27: Advanced Compost Series – Part III, 6–7:30pm. Troubleshooting & Advanced Techniques.

Series, 3 classes: $10. Single class: $5. Registration required. CCE/TOM September 30: Judy’s Day Family Learning Festival, 1–5pm. Plant exhibits, hands-on activities, tastings and story sharing. Rain or shine. $5. CBG October 9: Pumpkin Centerpiece, 6:30pm. Create a succulent centerpiece in a small white pumpkin.

Location: Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W. Green Street, Ithaca. Materials included. $45.

Registration required. W&B October 10: Fall Lecture Series – A Bird’s Eye View of Nature in the City, and the Surprising Ways we might Affect Ecological Communities, 7:30pm.

Presented by Amanda D. Rodewald, Garvin Professor of Ornithology & Director of Conservation Science, Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University. Free. No registration required. Statler Hall Auditorium, Cornell University.

CBG October 16: Pumpkin Centerpiece, 6:30pm. See description under October 9. Location: The Apple Station, 5279 Cross Road, Cayuga. Materials included. $45. Registration required. W&B • October 20: Worm Composting Bin, 10am–12pm.

Learn how worms make rich compost for the garden while disposing of food scraps. Includes starter bin & worms. $10 per household. Registration required.

CCE/TOM October 24: Fall Lecture Series – The New Heirloom Garden: Modern Designs for Old-Fashioned Gardeners, 7:30pm. Presented by Ellen Ogden, author. Free. No registration required. Statler Hall Auditorium, Cornell University. CBG October 25: Fall Plant Propagation, 6–8pm. Sean Dembrosky will demonstrate techniques for propagating edible tree species such as stratifying seeds of a variety of fruit and nut trees and striking cuttings from fruit bushes. Participants will take home seeds and cuttings. $7–$10 sliding scale. Registration required. CCE/TOM November 7: Fall Lecture Series – Monarchs and Milkweed: Coevolution, Chemistry & Conservation, 7:30pm. Presented by Anurag Agrawal, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University.

Free. No registration required. Statler Hall Auditorium, Cornell University. CBG UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 17

Calendar ITHACA cont.

SAVE THE DATE… November 16: Rustic Fall Wreath, 6:30 pm. Create a one-of-a-kind seasonal wreath using faux pumpkin, succulents, soil etc. Location: The Apple Station, 5279 Cross Road, Cayuga. Materials included. $35.

Registration required. W&B November 17: Bokashi Composting Workshop, 10am–12pm. Learn about this Japanese composting technique that involves natural fermentation. $10 per household. Registration required. CCE/TOM November 26: Rustic Fall Wreath, 6:30 pm. See description under November 16. Location: Crossroads Bar & Grille, 3120 N. Triphammer Road, Lansing. Materials included. $35. Registration required. W&B November 29: Getting Started with Nut Trees, 6–8pm.

Brian Caldwell & Akiva Silver will discuss the best types of nuts for growing in NY plus harvesting and processing methods. Samples will be provided. $7– $10 sliding scale. Registration required. CCE/TOM December 7: Evergreen Wreath-Making Workshop, 5–7pm. Fresh-cut greens, ring, wires & ribbons supplied. $18. Registration required. CCE/TOM December 8: Evergreen Wreath-Making Workshop, 10am–12pm. See description under December 7. $18.

Registration required. CCE/TOM

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

7thdistrictfgcnys.org.

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Rochester meets the first Wednesday of the month (except in summer), 7–9pm, Messiah Church, 4301 Mount Read Blvd., Rochester. October 3: Learn What Judges Look for When Evaluating Plants for Competition.

November 7: Creating Designs for Competition.

December 5: Tips for Growing Plants from Seed. All are welcome. Stacey Davis, 585/426-5665; stacey. davis@rit.edu; avgsr.org.

Big Springs Garden Club of Caledonia-Mumford meets the second Monday evening of the month, September–November, January–May. New members and guests welcome. 585/314-6292; mdolan3@ rochester.rr.com; Facebook.

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

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

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.

Country Gardeners of Webster meets the second Monday of the month (except Februrary, July & August) at 7pm at various locations. All aspects of gardening covered, outside speakers, projects, visits to local gardens, community gardening involvement.

Includes coffee and social time. Guests welcome.

585/265-4762.

Creative Gardeners of Penfield meets the second Monday of the month at 9:15am (except July & August), Penfield United Methodist Church, 1795 Baird Road, Penfield. October 8: How to Attract Birds to Our Backyards with Liz Magnanti, manager of the Bird House. November 12: The Genesee River from 18 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

Pennsylvania Basin to Lake Ontario with George Thomas, Executive Director, Genesee River Watch.

Visitors welcome. Call 585/385-2065 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.com.

Garden Club of Brockport meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm, Jubilee Church, 3565 Lake Road, Brockport. Speakers, hands-on sessions. Georgie: 585/964-7754; georgietoates@ yahoo.com.

Garden Club of Mendon meets the third Tuesday of the month, 10am–1pm, Mendon Community Center, 167 North Main Street, Honeoye Falls. Work on community gardens and gather new ideas in a casual, social environment. 585/624-8182; joanheaney70@ gmail.com.

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

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

Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS) meets the first Monday following the first Sunday of the month (September–December; February–May), Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester. GROS is an affiliate of the American Orchid Society (AOS) and Orchid Digest Corporation.

March 29–31, 2019: Orchid Show & Sale, Eisenhart Auditorium, Rochester Museum & Science Center. facebook.com/geneseeorchid; geneseeorchid.org.

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

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

Greater Rochester Iris Society (GRIS) meets Sundays at 2pm, dates vary, St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 11 Episcopal Avenue, Honeoye Falls. October 14: Companion Plants for Bearded Iris with Brenda Fox. Public welcome. 585/266-0302; thehutchings@mac. com.

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

Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm, First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Room 110, Rochester.

July meeting is a garden tour. 585/694-8430; rochrosesociety@gmail.com; Facebook.

Henrietta Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except May–August & December) at 6:30pm, Department of Public Works Building, 405 Calkins Road, Henrietta. October 10: Building Healthy Soil with Linda Groves. November 14: Low Maintenance Gardening with Cindy Cali. Guests welcome. 585/889-1547; henriettagardenclub@gmail. com; henriettagardenclub.org.

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets the third Thursday of each month (except December and February) at 10am, First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. September 20: Chiko School of Ikebana – Demonstration & Workshop, $5. October 20: Exhibit, Demonstrations & Children’s Workshop, Barnes & Noble, Pittsford Plaza. November 15: Ohara School of Ikebana, festive seasonal arrangements. 585/301-6727; 585/402-1772; rochesterikebana@gmail.com; ikebanarochester.org.

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

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

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

Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of the month (except August & September) at 12pm, Trinity Reformed Church, 909 Landing Road North, Rochester. Visitors welcome. September 15: Dahlia Show, see Calendar (below). Facebook; rochesterdahlias.org.

Rochester Herb Society meets the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January, February & July) at 12pm, Potter Memorial Building, 53 West Church Street, Fairport. Summer garden tours. New members welcome. rochesterherbsociety.com.

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

Seabreeze Bloomers Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except January) at 7pm, location varies depending on activity. Meetings may include a speaker, project or visit to local gardenrelated site. Members receive a monthly newsletter.

September 26: Winter Birds. October 24: Travelogue of UK Trip & Gardens Visited with Carol Herring. New members welcome. Contact Bonnie Arnold: 585/3428653; bonniearnold@frontiernet.net.

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

585/343-4494.

Victor Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except January & February) at 6:30/6:45pm. New members welcome. Meeting and location details: victorgardenclubny2.com; 585/7215457.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

GAL: Gallea’s Florist & Greenhouse, 2832 Clover Street (corner of Clover & Jefferson Road), Pittsford, NY 14534. 585/586-3017; galleas.com.

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

September 13: Continuous Containers, 6–7:30pm.

Garden designer Christine Froehlich will demonstrate how to combine plants using foliage, berries and flowers to create combinations that will brighten up the fall landscape. $15. Registration required. BGC September 15: Create a Natural Fall Wreath, 10– 11:30am. Jeanine “J” Fyfe will guide participants in using local dried flowers and grasses to create a oneof-a-kind wreath. $15. Registration required. BGC September 15: Fall Garden Gala, 10am–1pm. Plant sale featuring indoor and outdoor plants, mum sale, auction and free soil pH testing. Presented by Genesee County Master Gardeners. CCE/GC September 15: Dahlia Show, 1–5pm. Presented by Rochester Dahlia Society. Flower arrangements for sale: Saturday, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 10am–1pm. The Garden Factory, 2126 Buffalo Road, Gates. Free.

Facebook; rochesterdahlias.org.

September 20: Continuous Containers, 6–7:30pm.

Garden designer Christine Froehlich will demonstrate how to combine plants with interesting foliage, berries and flowers to create combinations that will brighten up the fall landscape. $15. Registration required. BGC September 22: Amanda’s Garden Flowers & Foliage Day, 9am–4pm. Native plants for sale, seed collecting demonstrations, guided tours, leaf rubbing station for the kids. 8030 Story Road, Dansville. 585/750-6288; amandasgarden@frontiernet.net; amandagarden.com.

September 22: Visit a Designer’s Garden in Sodus Point, 1:30–3pm. See Christine Froehlich’s use of hardscaping combined with a variety of plantings to create garden rooms including an entry garden, vegetable garden, pergola fort in the shady back garden, native plant border and dining patio. Membership & registration required. flowercitygardennetwork@gmail.com; flowercitygardennetwork.com.

September 24: Houseplants 101, 6:30–8pm. Pat McCullough will cover repotting, fertilizing, trimming, soils, fertilizers, insect controls and tips to promote growth. Pat will guide participants as they repot a plant to take home. Materials included. $27.

Registration required. GAL September 25: Everlasting Wreath, 6:30–8pm. Sue Lang and Sheryl Roets will guide participants in creating an everlasting wreath using a base of salal (lemon leaf) and baby’s breath (depending on availability) to embellish with dried, fresh and/ or silk floral materials. Materials included. $64.80.

Registration required. GAL September 28: Harvestfest, 5:30–9pm. Featuring live music; beer, wine and food available for purchase. $7.

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

September 29: Promising Under-Utilized Trees for the Landscape, 1–4pm. Slide show presentation and list of 50+ trees that are under-utilized but offer promising results in the landscape and are available regionally.

Presentation followed by arboretum tour to see trees discussed. Registration required. Draves Arboretum, 1821 Sharrick Road, Darien. dravesarboretum@ rochester.rr.com.

October 2: Garden Talk – A Witches’ Garden, 12:15– 12:45pm. Explore the folklore and plants of the witch, once considered wise women and healers. Bring lunch. Free. CCE/GC October 2: Kokedama String Garden, 6:30–8pm.

Kokedama is the cultivation of plants encased in a hanging ball of moss. Pat McCullough will guide participants in creating one of their own. Materials included. $54. Registration required. GAL

• October 8: Children’s Fairy Garden, 11am–12pm. Pat McCullough will guide participants in building their own magical garden allowing children to get their hands in the dirt and use their imaginations. $27.

Registration required. GAL October 9: Terrariums, 6:30–8pm. Joe Gallea will guide participants in creating a terrarium to take home.

Bring a glass container or purchase one before class.

Includes 3 plants, planting medium & decorative stone. $37.80. Registration required. GAL October 13: Winter Containers, 10–11:30am. KC Fahy Harvick will discuss ways to create seasonal accents for porch, patio, deck or garden. $15. Registration required. BGC October 13: Hypertufa Workshop, 10am–12pm. Pat McCullough will guide participants in creating their own planter. Materials included. $70.20. Registration required. GAL October 13: Fall Gardening Symposium, 10am–5pm.

Speakers, book sales & signing. Includes lunch & park admission. $55 members; $65 non-members.

Registration required. Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua. 585/394-4922; sonnenberg.org.

October 14: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2–4pm. Conducted by Community Forester Volunteers, routes will traverse moderate hills and wooded trails. Meet: kiosk on Zoo Road next to park offices lot. Donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@gmail.com.

October 16: Orchid Workshop, 6:30–8pm. Pat McCullough will guide participants in choosing an orchid plant and transplanting it into a special pot and soil. She will also discuss care including fertilization, diseases & insects. Materials included. $37.80.

Registration required. GAL October 21: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2–4pm. See description under October 14. Meet: kiosk on Zoo Road next to park offices lot. Donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@gmail.com.

• October 23: Fairy Garden, 6:30–8pm. Pat McCullough will guide participants in creating an indoor garden that will last for years and can be added to and changed over time. Children may attend for free if accompanying a registered adult. $37.80. Registration required. GAL October 28: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2–4pm. See description under October 14. Meet: kiosk on Zoo Road next to park offices lot. Donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@gmail.com.

November 4: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2–4pm. See description under October 14. Meet: kiosk on Zoo Road next to park offices lot. Donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@gmail.com.

November 7: Garden Talk – Outdoor Greens Container, 12:15–12:45pm. Demonstration and ideas for creating a container to last through the holidays.

Bring lunch. Free. CCE/GC • November 12: Children’s Flower Arranging, 11am– 12pm. Each child will make a simple design with fresh flowers to take home. All ages welcome. $21.60.

Registration required. GAL November 13: Autumn Centerpiece, 6:30–8pm.

Participants will use fresh flowers & greens to create a centerpiece that will last into January. Materials included. $54. Registration required. GAL

SAVE THE DATE… November 28: Everlasting Wreath, 6:30–8pm. See description under September 25. Materials included. $64.80. Registration required. GAL December 4: Outdoor Holiday Welcome Arrangement, 6:30–8pm. Create 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. $64.80. Registration required. GAL

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.

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

315/436-0135; lnewell1@gmail.com.

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

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

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

315/464-0051.

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

Habitat Gardening in CNY (HGCNY) meets the last Sunday of most months at 2pm, Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool. HGCNY is a chapter of Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes; wildones.org. September 30: Mundy Wildflower Garden at Cornell and the Effects of Climate Change on the Garden with Dr. David Weinstein. October 28: What Do We Know about How to Get (a lot of) People to Do More Gardening for Wildlife?, with Rhiannon Crain. Meetings are free and open to the public. 315/487-5742; info@hgcny. org; hgcny.org.

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

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

Men and Women’s Garden Club of Syracuse meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30pm, Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse.

Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of gardening and related topics. Members maintain gardens at Rosemond Gifford Zoo & Ronald McDonald House. Annual spring & fall flower shows.

315/699-7942; Facebook.

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

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

Deadline for Calendar Listings for the next issue (November–December 2018) is Friday, October 12, 2018. Please send your submissions to deb@upstategardenersjournal.com.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 19

Badding Bros Farm Market

and garden center

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Scarecrow Village FREE Halloween Village for our customers with purchase

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HYDRANGEAS’ FALL COLORS Macrophyllas MAX OUT! Oakleafs Go BOOM! Paniculatas Go PINK! Serratas Go VAVOOM! 124 Pittsford-Palmyra Road Macedon, NY 14502 (585) 223-1222 www.waysidegardencenter.com Store Hours: Monday–Saturday: 8–6 Sunday: 8–5 Like us Follow us Pin with us

Amanda’s Garden presents:

Flowers and Foliage Saturday, September 22, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Amanda’s Garden Perennial Nursery 8030 Story Road Dansville, NY 14437 (585)750-6288 • Beautiful native plants ready to plant for next year’s garden • Autumn decorations • Demonstrations & tours • Leaf rubbing station for kids!

Hydrangeas and/or Roses: 3 OR MORE—25% OFF Text Copyright © 2014 Trish Gannon

Email: amandasgarden@frontiernet.net Website: www.amandagarden.com

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Fresh Cut Bouquets from Our Farm ❀ 11th Annual Fall Festival ❀ Saturday, September 8, 9am – 5pm Music, Classes, Food, Vendors and Plant Specials

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Christmas Open hOuse weekends

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

methin “So

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g Good for You & Better for Your Gard en.”

Seneca Greenhouse Invites gardeners and friends to our bountiful harvest of fall decorating needs including colorful mums, pumpkins and corn stalks

Lockwood’s Garden Center

4484 Clark St., Hamburg, NY 14075 (716) 649-4684

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

Blooming now!

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

nce the Experie r Touch!

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We bet you can’t take home just one!

Come visit us today!

Full-service Florist . Delivery Available 716.632.1290 www.mischlersflorist.com

Celebrate Oktoberfest in the Village at Build a Scarecrow & Spooky Mini Garden Fri., Sept. 21 & Sat., Sept. 22 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

118 S. Forest Rd., Williamsville NY 14221

23 Pannell Circle • Fairport, NY 14450

(585) 223-8951 • LucasGH.com

Backyard Habitat

Birds and Summer Perennials

by Liz Magnanti

T

he approaching fall brings with it that magical time when garden centers put their perennials on sale!

Now is a great time to get a head start on your garden for next year. Planting in the fall gives the plants a chance to get their root systems growing and can make for more successful growth the next year. Here are some of my favorite flowering plants that are both beautiful and will attract birds and butterflies.

TOP: Cardinal flower BOTTOM: Joe Pye weed

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) This plant attracts hummingbirds to it like no other plant or feeder I have in the garden. It has one- to threefoot-tall spikes of beautiful scarlet flowers that are a fantastic source of nectar. It thrives in wet conditions but will also do well in an average garden setting. The plant doesn’t live long, but because it self-sows it will reseed itself each year.

Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium spp.)

I have always had success with Joe Pye weed no matter where I plant it. It thrives in sunny locations but will bloom even in shade. The plant can grow tall after several years—sometimes up to eight feet! Joe Pye is a wonderful source of nectar for bees and butterflies, and juncos and finches will eat its seeds over the winter. I suggest planting this in a place in the garden that has been unsuccessful in growing other plants. Just make sure

22 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

to prepare for how tall it can get.

Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

Coneflower is great because you can find it everywhere. There are many varieties in pink, purple, white, yellow, and orange—some tall, some short.

There is a type of coneflower for any empty sunny spot you are looking to fill. The flower provides nectar for butterflies, especially monarchs, silver-spotted skippers, and swallowtails. When it goes to seed it’s a treat for goldfinches all winter long.

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

The milkweed plant is essential to the development of the monarch butterfly. The female monarch lays her eggs on the plant and, once those eggs hatch, the caterpillars are leaf-eating machines. The flowers milkweed produces contain nectar that feeds butterflies as well as bees and other pollinators. My favorite milkweed is the orange variety called butterfly weed. (Asclepias tuberosa.) Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is the other variety you will most often find in garden centers. This species can be pink, purple, or white in color. The common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) that is usually found in fields is great in large gardens, but can easily overtake other plants in a small one. Milkweed is easy to grow from seed. It has large, showy seed pods that can be collected once the pods

become dry and begin to split.

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) When gardening for pollinators it is important to plant a variety of flowers that will bloom throughout the season. Asters are small, fall-blooming flowers that tend to flower during the time many birds are migrating.

Hummingbirds will sip from its flowers as they make their way down south for the winter. Butterflies such as the clouded sulphur, painted lady, and red admiral will also drink its nectar. Chickadees and finches will eat aster seeds throughout the winter.

Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Sedums like ‘Autumn Joy’ are another type of plant that blooms late in the season, giving honeybees and other insects a source of pollen and nectar at the end of the summer and fall. Wild stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) is a shade-tolerant species that makes a great ground cover in the garden. This variety blooms in April to May. It makes a wonderful garden edge and will grow in rock gardens.

Bee balm (Monarda spp.)

Bee balm is one of my favorites for a few reasons. It is an herb that has a great smell and can be used in cooking!

Even better, its blooms attract hummingbirds and seem to be a favorite flower of the hummingbird clearwing

moth. This day-flying moth gets its name from looking strikingly similar to the hummingbird and having very similar flying and feeding behaviors!

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.)

Although not native, the butterfly bush is like a magnet to butterflies. I have yet to find another nectarproducing plant that comes close to attracting butterflies to the garden. This plant is very hardy and can even be planted in containers. Many different colors are available, including some that are tri-color or rainbow. The leaves of the plant won’t offer nutrition to caterpillars, but the flowers attract enough butterflies to make up for that.

All of the plants listed here, with the exception of the butterfly bush, are natives. Not only is this good for our local wildlife, but it also means they often require less maintenance. Once established, these plants will need very little extra attention, be it watering or fertilizing.

The next few weeks are a perfect time to fill in any holes you have in your garden, and you should be able to get perennials at a great deal! Take advantage of it and you will thank yourself come spring!

TOP LEFT: Coneflower TOP MIDDLE: New England aster TOP RIGHT: Bee balm BOTTOM LEFT: Milkweed BOTTOM MIDDLE: Sedum BOTTOM RIGHT: Butterfly bush All photos by Jane Milliman

Liz Magnanti is the manager of the Bird House in Brighton.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 23

Pudgie’s Lawn & Garden Center mums

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straw

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

10% OFF with this ad at PUDGIE’S LAWN & GARDEN CENTER expires 10/31/18

480 Dodge Rd., Getzville, NY 14068 arbordale.com • 716-688-9125

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

Fall Gardening Symposium Oct. 13, 10 am - 5 pm Join Terry Ettinger for a selection of edible landscaping topics in this day-long event.

Advance tickets by phone & website.

See Autumn Splendor - Open Daily through Oct. 31 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua, NY 585-394-4922 • www.sonnenberg.org

Come Visit Us!

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

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

Much More Than Just Herbs!

1147 Main St., Mumford • zantopiaherbgardens.com One mile north of the Caledonia monument • 585/538-4650

The time to become a Master Gardener Volunteer is now.

Every 2 years Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County selects and trains 25 people to become Master Gardener Volunteers.

Why shouldn’t it be you?

For more information see: http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/horticulture/master-gardeners

Deadline for registration 10/8/18 Or you may contact: Luanne Crosby 585-753-2558 • lcc54@cornell.edu

Little Sprouts

Gardening with Kids: Preserving the Bounty

by Valerie Shaw; artwork by Andrew Monrad

A

s the scorching days of summer yield to the cooler, shorter days of early autumn, some of the most wonderful flower displays and veggie harvests are just beginning. The big favorites around here, squash, sunflowers, and tomatoes, are drowning us in their cheerful abundance. If you’re into preserving foods, you may have your shelves lined with colorful jars of pickles and jellies, or your freezers full of plump berries. Your kids might be delighted to discover that not only can you keep the yummy harvest over the winter, but you can keep parts of your beautiful garden preserved to enjoy later too! Here are some fun ideas for savoring all of your late summer gardening adventures.

Garden journals. These can be really fun for kids. Using a simple notebook, binder, photo binder, or any pre-made version, create a scrapbook or journal that documents all the great things about your garden. You can buy disposable cameras and let your kids be roving photographers, then “publish” them in a fun scrapbook.

You’ll be able to see the garden from their eyes. Use stickers, scraps of fabric, used seed packets, and doodles.

Your kids will love pulling out their garden journal year after year, and be encouraged to try their hand at it again next spring.

Recipe Book. Whether it’s a five-page handwritten booklet or a chock-full book you have printed and bound at Staples, making a family recipe book is a great and delicious way to connect your garden to your table. Kids can be encouraged to make their own signature salads, vegetable dips, pizza sauce, or zucchini brownie recipes. Let them come up with fabulous names for their dishes! Having your kids choose the recipes will encourage them to get involved, try new veggies, and take pride

in their hard work. They can include drawings or photos, and make a special cover for it too. If there are other gardeners or cooks in the family, your kids could collect favorite recipes from them as well, making it a truly memorable keepsake! These make terrific presents for grandparents and other family members for the holiday season.

Painting with flowers. Head on out to the garden and snip a big bouquet of flowers or plants with interesting leaves. Using poster or acrylic paints, use the flowers as paintbrushes. For toddlers, this is a great activity to use with finger paints. Older kids might enjoy practicing on paper, then moving on to using the flowers with acrylic paints on canvases. My kids really like the mini canvases. They’re smaller and less intimidating. If you buy the canvases with thick wooden walls, you don’t need to worry about framing them; a tack on the wall and you’ve got a display! Simply have them paint on a solid background color (usually a pale color, like yellow or light blue works well), and then apply flowers dipped in paint to make patterns.

Stiffer petaled flowers, like zinnia or mums, work very well, although don’t rule out anything until you try it! Again, these make great presents for your child to give to others, and telling the story from the planting of a seed to the making of a beautiful painting is a lovely way to build pride in hard work and dedication.

Another fun thing to try with flower painting is making

ABOVE: Fully open dahlia bloom

INSET: Firework design created using unopened sedum blossom

flower shirts. Choose a plain tee or sweatshirt. Using the

same technique as the canvas painting, dip the flowers into fabric or acrylic paints and make a fun pattern on the shirt.

When the snow is up to their knees, they can wear their flower shirt and remember the time you all sat around in your tank tops and sandals, playing with petals! Spring might not seem so far away, after all.

BOTTOM LEFT: Succulent twirled to create a spiral

Valerie Shaw is a gardener, YMCA youth coach, and homeschool mom in West Monroe, NY. She shares her garden with two adventurous children and a patient husband, to whom she has promised that this last goat, Flora, is the final addition to their herd. At least until spring.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 25

Cathy's Crafty Corner

WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS WORKS?

Check out this post on the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation site: www.tnfarmbureau. org/pennies-bags-water-make-flies-flee

Shoo Fly

by Cathy Monrad

T

his summer we had an unusual number of flies congregating near our back door. In my search for a homemade fly repellent, I found solutions that included spraying pine scented cleaner, burning coffee grounds, and inserting whole cloves into lemon halves, all of which are purported to offend the olfactory systems of these annoying insects.

One method utilized in Latin America seemed ridiculous to me, but I gave it a go since I had the materials on hand: Place three to five pennies in a plastic zipper bag, fill it halfway with water, then hang outside where the problem occurs.

Surprisely, it worked! But the execution wasn't pretty—definitely not up to “Crafty Cathy” standards. Additional research uncovered that using an incandescent light bulb with tubes and filaments removed also works—and it looks trendy. I chose to hunt for a bulbous vase instead, and my shopping excursion netted a cool find: a light bulb–shaped glass jar.

MATERIALS 1 small bulbous vase or jar* 3 or 4 pennies Water 20 gauge wire S hook Clear fishing line (optional)

1. Use needle nose pliers to bend wire into a nearly closed loop.

2. Hold loop in place and wind wire around vase. Slip wire through open loop and bend upward.

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

26 | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

TOOLS Needle nose pliers Wire cutter Scissors (optional) Drill and a 1∕16 inch bit (optional)

3. Create a looped wire handle, then cut and slip the end under wire as shown.

* Make sure the neck of vase is large enough to fit a penny through. If you decide to use an old light bulb instead, there are tutorials on the Internet showing safe removal of incandescent bulb insides.

4. Use pliers to create a second loop. If desired, go on to steps 5 and/or 6 before completing project. To finish, fill vase with water nearly to top, add three pennies, then hang from desired location with S hook.

5. Optional: Wrap wire around top of vase. Create an unclosed loop of wire and hook it on loop created in step 1. Wrap as desired, finishing near starting point. Cut wire then slip the end through the first loop and bend backward.

6. Optional: Suspend a penny. Drill a hole in a penny as shown. Thread fishing line through hole and tie. Lower penny into vase to desired location, then tie other end of fishing line to one side of wire handle created in step 3.