Upstate Gardeners' Journal March-April 2013 edition

buffalo - ithaca - rochester - syracuse

A Few Good Asian Maples Crosman Seed Where Do I Start?

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Volume Nineteen, Issue Two March-April 2013

upstate gardeners’ journal - 3200 east avenue - caledonia, new york 14423

SARA’S GARDEN

Garden Use Tie the Knot: Need a venue? Our mature gardens feature a beautiful setting of plants and stone walls, perfect for any wedding ceremony (and reception, too!). And of course, we offer a full range of floral services: bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, table arrangements, and more. Whether your event is big or small, we want to help you set the perfect tone for your special day. Perfect for showers, anniversaries, birthdays…Call us to set up a personal consultation.

Garden Plots for Rent: 2012 was another sell out season in our vegetables gardens so we are adding more beds! We add compost, till the beds, and water for you all season—you just come to plant and harvest (oh, and weed, too). No easier way to do a veggie garden. Plots are 12 x 16 for $50.

Stone Wall Follies: Our dry-laid stone wall class for 2013 is going to be our biggest yet. Once again we are privileged to have John Shaw-Rimmington and Norman Haddow instructing; Google these guys and check out John’s blog and his vision for the next phase of our castle in the garden. This 10 student limited course help in October always sells out—early reservations are recommended.

For details & reservations for the Stone Wall Follies, Veggie Gardens, events in our garden, or any other garden-related event, call or email… kkepler@rochester.rr.com 585-637-4745 Ask for Kathy!

30+ year Mission!

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

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

Lockwood’s...Growing Plants of Distinction since 1914 We grow the newest and best varieties of specialty annuals in our greenhouses in Hamburg, NY. Cutting edge brands such as Proven Winners, Simply Beautiful, Waves and Burpee, just to name a few, will all be available this spring at our garden center.

NEW FOR 2013 NEW COLOR: Superbells ‘Lemon Slice’

NEW SERIES: Divine Impatiens *downy mildrew resistant

NEW ANNUAL: Mandevilla ‘Fire & Ice’

NEW BEST SELLER: Angelonia

NEW FAVORITE: Volumia Begonia

NEW SENSATION: Petunia ‘Peppy’

…And that’s just the annuals…Come see our extensive selection of unique houseplants, perennials, trees, shrubs and native plants! *Downy Mildew is serious problem in garden impatiens in WNY. See our website for more information on substitute plants for your garden.

WeKnowPlants.com 4484 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY 716.649.4684 BioBest Biological Systems protect our plants and people in the growing process at Lockwood’s Greenhouses.

JOE CASCIO

BIG Beautiful and

We’re America’s largest garden festival. By far.

Dig into 1,000 gardens during 14 weekend garden walks, dozens of Open Gardens, motorcoach tours, workshops and more!

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For all the dirt, visit NationalGardenFestival.com or call 1-800-BUFFALO

garden artisans of 30,000 Square Feet of Beautifully Designed Gardens by Rochester’s Premier Landscape Craftsmen 80 Garden Marketplace Vendors Garden Symposium Featuring Guest Speakers Kerry Ann Mendez, Colleen Plimpton and Rich Pomerantz and more…

Lego Children’s Garden with Guest Appearance by Gary the Happy Pirate and Miss Beth of WARM 101.3

rochester expo march 14–16 9am to 8pm

march 17

9am to 5pm

southtown plaza henrietta, ny

Preview Party to benefit Loads of Love March 13, 5pm - 8pm Breakfast Tours March 15 & 16, 7am-9am

Adults

$9.00

Seniors

$8.00

Children Free 12 & under Tickets Available Now at All Wegmans ‘That’s T.H.E. Ticket’ Locations!

g a r den a rt i s a n sro c h e s t er . c om Sponsored By:

| landscape design | natural stonework specialists | patios, stone walls | water features & plantings

Landscapes by

David A. Spencer Victor, NY | 585-738-3548 davespencer3@gmail.com

Ear to the Ground As we turn more to the Internet for our information, the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal wants to keep ahead of the game by offering you better online options for staying in the regional gardening loop.

Print publications such as this one are wonderful for longer, more in-depth stories like Andrew Fowler’s in depth tree profiles, or Colleen O’Neill Nice’s musings, this issue, on what to plant now that impatiens are such a risky bet.

For short bites of information and interacting with our readers, of course, being online can provide faster and often, more intimate conversation. So we invite you to join us on facebook, twitter, pinterest and the rest. You can find links to all of those by visiting our brand new website, recently redesigned and revamped by our own Cathy Monrad, at UpstateGardenersJournal.com.

Have a wonderful spring!

Jane Milliman Publisher

Your favorite gardening magazine has a new look.

Visit UpstateGardenersJournal.com to sign up for our web version, free.

CLASSIFIEDS 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.

STONE. For sale: field stone, Medina sandstone, landscape boulders.

Architectural salvage. Stone $60 per ton. Call 585/478-5970.

Business Opportunity. Vendors wanted for selling garden merchandise e.g., plants, flowers, statuary, gardening books & tools, pots, bird feeders. Plantasia, WNY’s premier landscape/ garden show, March 2012 at the Fairgrounds Event Center in Hamburg. Contact 716-741-8047.

Q&A

You ask… the experts answer Q: What makes a great garden center?

A: Local knowledge that allows the store to select plants that the local gardener can use with confidence and a shoppable retail environment that encourages customer-merchandise contact.

Q: What is your favorite plant?

A: The one a local garden center staff has just loaded into a customer’s trunk.

table-top orchids and fresh wreaths, customers have more choices than ever to enjoy gardening that does not require digging holes or amending the soil. I call it “clean fingernail gardening.” And, because this kind of gardening invites year round refreshment, the local garden center who caters to this category can enjoy increased customer visits and higher add-on sales.

This issue’s guest expert is Judy Sharpton, a garden center design

Q: What is your favorite public garden?

A: The more than 20 squares that define Savannah, Georgia’s historic district. These public spaces invite strolling under a canopy of ancient oaks in the middle of one of America’s most beautiful cities. I invite everyone to visit.

and renovation specialist with 35 years of experience in advertising and promotion. She is the owner of Growing Places Marketing and a true southern belle. Judy was in upstate New York for a professional event put on by the

Q: What do you see as some key trends in gardening this year?

A: Container gardening in all its iterations is the answer to the time-starved consumer’s prayers. From traditional containers like hanging baskets to newly developed raised beds and wall gardens to

Genesee-Finger Lakes Nursery and Landscape Association recently, and we had the chance to ask her a few questions and get a retailer’s point of view.

Contents

Publisher/Editor: Jane F. Milliman Art Direction: Dean S. Milliman Managing EDITOR: Debbie Eckerson Graphic design: Cathy Monrad Technical Editor: Brian Eshenaur Proofreader: Sarah Koopus Western New York Sales Representative:

Maria Walczak: 716/432-8688

You ask... the experts answer.........................................9

ETTG.............................................................................9

Contributing Writers:

Carol Ann Harlos | Lynn Chimera | Marion Morse Michelle Sutton | Jonathan Everitt | Teresa Mazikowski Mary Ruth Smith | Christina Le Beau

What to do in the garden in March and April.............. 10

Maples..................................................................12-14 Crosman...............................................................16-18 3200 East Avenue, Caledonia NY 14423 phone: 585/538-4980; fax: 585/538-9521 e-mail: info@upstategardenersjournal.com upstategardenersjournal.com The Upstate Gardeners’ Journal is published six times a year.

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Please tell us what you think!

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

All contents copyright 2012, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal.

Where Do I Start?................................................22-23 Calendar...............................................................24-35 Not Impatiens......................................................44-50 Recipe........................................................................ 51 LeBeau....................................................................... 56 Mystery...................................................................... 57 Plantasia Backyard Oasis Seminar Schedule................ 58

Never miss another issue! Get the UGJ delivered to your door six times a year for just $15.00. It’s our area’s guide to everything gardeners want to know about. To give a gift, simply enclose a note with the gift recipient’s info. We’ll send a notice and start the subscription.

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Almanac

What to do in the garden in March and April The following are some general ideas for early spring gardening. Keep in mind you have to take the weather conditions into account. Wait until the soil is above 50 degrees to try any planting.

Winter damage Clean up and remove leaves and winter debris, which are loaded with phosphorus, from paved surfaces and drainage sewer openings. This helps preserve drainage water quality and reduce algae buildup in our waterways.

The salt residue in soils near a road, sidewalk, or driveway that has been covered with salt laden snow can be diluted by thoroughly soaking the area a few times with a hose. This is only necessary if we don’t have heavy rains.

Snow, wind and ice can cause damage to trees and shrubs. Prune out any damaged branches.

Plants that have “heaved” from the freezing and thawing action of the soil should be replanted as soon as the soil is workable. A layer of leaves will help protect the exposed root mass if the soil is still frozen.

Pruning Early spring is the time for pruning many shrubs. The exceptions to this are ones that bloom in the spring like forsythia and lilac. These should be pruned after flowering.

Prune trees with the exception of maple and birch, which bleed. They should be pruned only after their leaves have fully emerged. Never “top” a tree. This produces a weak tree with an unnatural shape.

When pruning, be careful not to cut flush to the trunk. Cut outside the branch collar (swelling in bark around the area where the branch meets the tree). For more information on proper pruning techniques 1 0 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

contact your local CCE or check out their web information at cce.cornell.edu Cut back and prune roses when forsythia blooms. Cut back dead or crossing canes to about one quarter of an inch above an outward facing bud.

Complete any pruning of other shrubs before new growth starts.

Perennials Cut back grasses and other perennials that have been left up for winter interest.

Ideally this should be done before the new growth gets more than a few inches high so you don’t damage the new growth while cutting back the old.

Sow coriander, orach, baby’s breath, poppy, phlox, and cornflower seeds directly into garden beds.

Pull emerging weeds by hand so as not to disturb emerging perennials and bulbs.

This also prevents new weeds from growing from disturbed soil.

Wait until the soil is workable to divide perennials. This means it should be above 50 degrees and dry enough not to stay in a clump when squeezed in your hand.

Vegetables Take the time to plan your vegetable garden taking care to use rotation. Do not plant members of the same plant family (tomatoes and peppers for example) in the same spot as last year.

Indoors, sow tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Be sure they will get adequate light.

Direct seed cool season vegetables and flowers when soil is suitable.

Houseplants Houseplants come to life with the increase in hours of sunlight. This is a good time to resume feeding. Natural fertilizers

are preferable to synthetic ones.

Give houseplants a good shower in the sink or tub to clean off dust buildup from the winter months. For plants too large to move, give the leaves a sponge bath.

Prune off any dead or yellowing leaves and branches.

Any plants that have outgrown their pots can be repotted. If you want the plant to continue increasing in size just repot it in a larger container. If you want to keep the plant in the same size container the roots can be trimmed back.

General Apply horticultural oil to trees and shrubs that have had past problems with piercing and sucking insects such as mites, aphids, scale, whitefly and adelgids. Carefully follow the application directions for temperature and weather conditions. If applied at the wrong time they are not effective. Follow product label instructions closely.

Plant bare-root shrubs and roses while they are still dormant, about 4 weeks before the last expected frost.

Take the time to enjoy forced branches indoors. Examples are forsythias, weigelia, and pussywillows.

Mulch can change soil temperature.

Consider using black plastic to warm the soil for heat- loving vegetable plants like peppers.

Check stored tubers and bulbs. Discard those that are diseased or decayed.

In April remove evergreen boughs from the crowns of your perennials.

Fertilize your spring bulbs when the leaves first appear.

—Carol Ann Harlos & Lyn Chimera, Master Gardeners, Erie County This almanac is abridged. For the complete version, visit UpstateGardenersJournal.com/ almanacMA13

Natural selections

A Few Good (Asian) Maples

By Andrew Fowler

M

aples (Acer spp.) are one of the most numerous of tree genera, with more than 120 species, and are spread over the entire northern hemisphere from North America, through Europe and Asia. They are a diverse lot, ranging from huge, majestic trees like the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) to the numerous small shrubby cultivars of Japanese maple (A. palmatum), but they all share the same traits of opposite arranged leaves and the winged samaras (“helicopters”), usually arranged in pairs.

Most maples have the “typical” lobed leaves with anywhere from 3 to 9 lobes. One or two species, however, have unlobed leaves and would be difficult to identify as maples but for the samaras. Many species, especially the slower growing ones, lend themselves well to bonsai training. Maples are noted

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for their vivid fall colors of red, orange and yellow, and many cultivars, especially red maple (A. rubrum), are selected for this particular trait. Japan is noted for its use of maples in the garden, and extensive selections of Acer palmatum over the centuries have resulted in over 1000 cultivars of the species with every conceivable leaf color and variation. Entire books have been written on the subject of Japanese maples alone.

In this article I would like to bring attention to a few small- to medium-sized Asian species, which tend to be overlooked in favor of the ubiquitous Japanese maple.

Korean Maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum)

Also known as purplebloom maple, the Korean maple is a delightful small tree, reaching a height of about 15’, with an equal spread. It tends to be multitrunked or low-branched, forming a wide vase shape at maturity. The leaves closely resemble those of A. japonicum, with 9 to 11 lobes, about 4 to 6” wide and doubly serrated. Dark green in summer with a slight pubescence on the underside, the leaves turn brilliant orange red in the fall. The flowers appear on terminals before the leaves emerge and are small and purplishred (distinguishing it from A. sieboldianum, which has yellow flowers). Stems are red to purple and smooth.

Native to Korea and Manchuria, it was introduced to the west by E.H. Wilson and is one of the hardiest maple species to about Zone 4. It thrives in full sun or shade and makes a great substitute for A. palmatum in the colder areas. Although difficult to find in the industry, it is worth seeking out.

Manchu Maple (Acer tegmentosum)

One of the striped-bark (or snakebark) group of maples, Manchu maple is closely related to the North American species Acer pennsylvanicum (Moosewood).

It is a native of the mountains of China and Korea and the riverine regions of eastern Siberia, where it prefers the wetter areas. Like its North American cousin, it tends to be an understory tree, growing to a height of about 20’. Unlike A. pennsylvanicum, however, which does not easily take to cultivation, A. tegmentosum is quite easy to grow in shade or full sun. The distinguishing feature of the snakebarks is, of course, the striped bark pattern. One year-old stems are purplish red, turning green with vertical white stripes in the second year. In some, the green turns to red in the fall, providing a striking contrast. The leaves have 3 to 5 shallow lobes, the central one being much bigger than the laterals. Fall color is generally a golden yellow. The flowers are greenish yellow and appear in 3” long pendulous racemes as the leaves are emerging. The samaras are widely angled, almost horizontal.

Other snakebark maples of interest include the cultivar ‘White Tigress’, which is a cross between A. tegmentosum and A. davidii, introduced by Tim Brotzman, which has more pronounced white striations.

The snakebarks make very attractive additions to the garden because of the bark coloration, although the bark is thin and easily damaged. They are more difficult to cultivate, preferring cool, moist, acid soils in partial shade. However, A. tegmentosum is perhaps the toughest and best of the group for the average garden, and is hardy to Zone 4.

TOP: Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) BOTTOM: Manchu Maple (Acer tegmentosum) LEFT: Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)

Henry’s Maple (Acer henryi)

Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)

A native of China, Henry’s maple is extremely rare in cultivation. It is sometimes subsumed under A. cissifolium as subspecies henryi, and is not easy to distinguish from that species. It is a trifoliate maple with leaves divided into 3 leaflets (trifoliolate). Young stems are greenish or sometimes reddish with a thin papery peeling “onion” skin. Mature bark is a medium gray and quite smooth. The coarsely serrated leaflets emerge reddish purple and slightly pubescent, turning dark green and a good red-orange in the fall. Flowers are very pale greenish yellow and occur in 3 to 4” long pendulous racemes. The species is reportedly dioecious, so getting good seed is a challenge. But cutting propagation is possible. Henry’s maple is upright in youth, eventually becoming rounded at about 20’ high with a similar span. Published reports on hardiness are rare, but from personal experience I can say it’s hardy to at least Zone 5.

The paperbark maple is perhaps the best-known Asiatic maple after the Japanese maple. A trifoliate maple, with leaves divided into three leaflets, it grows larger than the other species described herein, to about 30 to 40’, and is native to China. Hardy to Zone 5, it is a slow grower, maturing into an upright rounded form with many low branches. It is best known for its deep chestnut brown bark, which exfoliates in large papery strips. The exfoliation usually begins on two-year old wood, so this feature is evident on young trees. The leaves begin to unfold in early May (usually 2 weeks after A. triflorum) and are distinctly reddish and pubescent. In summer the leaves are bluish green and turn orange to red late in the fall (November). The flowers are greenish yellow, not showy.

Samaras are more visible than the flowers, but, as with most trifoliate maples, are usually empty of seed.

Paperbarks make worthy specimen trees in any landscape. They are pH adaptable, even succeeding in clay soils, and shade tolerant, although best growth and fall color is achieved in moist acid soils in full sun.

Three-Flower Maple (Acer triflorum)

INSET: Three-Flower Maple (Acer triflorum)

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Another trifoliate maple is the three-flower or rough-barked maple, a native of northern China and Korea. This is a small tree to about 20’ with an equal spread. It tends to be low-branched or multi-trunked and is hardy to Zone 5, perhaps 4. The bright green leaves emerge quite early in April, before most other trees, but they can withstand a good deal of frost, perhaps to about 25°F, due to a fairly dense tomentum on the young leaves. Fall color ranges from yellow to red/orange. As the name suggests the yellowgreen flowers occur in groups of three on terminal shoots, usually in late April. As the alternate name suggests, the bark is light tan, rough with vertical fissures and exfoliating. The samaras are very woody and hairy, and like most trifoliate maples, are often empty of seed. Full sun and acid soils are best, although it will tolerate a range of conditions, except swamps and highly basic pH. This is a great choice for a petite specimen tree with fine, dense foliage, exquisite bark, good fall color, no serious pests, and a small size to fit most gardens.

All of these maples make good specimens for any garden. They are small enough to fit most situations. They can grow in full sun or part shade and have no serious pests, although summer leafhoppers occasionally feed at the terminals, causing a proliferation of buds. Deer tend to pass maples for more palatable pickings, although buck rubs can be a problem. If you’ve had problems with Japanese maples, I urge you to try one of these hardier species.

Andrew Fowler operates Holmes Hollow Farm nursery and Christmas tree farm near Victor, NY.

Further Reading:

Dirr, Michael, 2009, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants.

6th Edition. Stipes Publishing Van Gelderen, C.J. and D.M. 1999. Maples for Gardens: A Color Encyclopedia. Timber Press

Botanical Gardens Spring Classes Sign up today!

Horticulture III & IV NEW! Starts March 16

Taste of Paradise March 15

Spring Flower Show Includes Farmer Brown’s Animals and visits from the Easter Bunny!

March 16 - April 7

Easter Egg Hunt March 30

Great Plant Sale

Pre-Orders Due April 5 & Great Plant Sale - May 18-19

Bonsai Show May 18-19

www.buffalogardens.com

Seasonal Stakeout

From Shakers to Epcot: The Evolution of Crosman Seeds

By Michelle Sutton

A

TOP: Seed packet, courtesy Crosman Seed BOTTOM: Seed packet, courtesy Trish Gannon

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few years ago, I was driving around East Rochester on a beautiful sunny winter day. I turned my head at just the right moment to see a delightful, huge, 1930s-era “Crosman Seed Corporation” sign atop a vintage white factory building. I had to come back and take a picture of this beautiful sign and even framed it and hung it in my office. For me, the sign evokes wonder, mystery, and the industrious, pioneering horticulture heritage of Rochester. But what about the company—then and now?

The Crosman Company was founded in 1938, by Charles F. Crosman (1802-1865). Crosman grew up in Vermont but moved to the New Lebanon, New York Shaker community in Columbia County when he was just 16.

Originally, he sold seeds grown by his fellow Shakers. (He remained in Shaker community for 22 years, until 1840.)

He was the author of the Shaker Gardener’s Manual (1836), a guide to growing kitchen vegetables.

He also wrote the luxuriantly titled The Gardener’s Manual: Plain and Practical Directions for the Cultivation and Management of Some of the Most Useful Culinary Vegetables: To Which is Prefixed a Catalog of the Various Kinds of Garden Seeds Raised in the United Society … With a Few General Remarks on the Management of a Kitchen Garden. (The expression “United Society” refers to Shaker community.) This utterly charming and informative booklet can be read online at archive. org. I especially enjoyed the section in which he introduces the reader to the tomato and gives advice for those “who may wish to try the experiment [of cooking and eating tomatoes].”

When Charles F. Crosman died in 1865, his sons Charles W. and George—both under 20 years old— assumed the helm and changed the name to Crosman Brothers. By 1880, they were running one of the largest seed companies in the world. They oversaw production of seeds on 1,200 acres, including plots near their 903 Monroe Avenue headquarters.

According to the Crosman Seed website, “The two sons maintained seed beds in the Rochester area, as well as in Canada and Michigan, to be used as trial grounds to test seeds. The Crosman Brothers produced large quantities of seeds by distributing choice varieties to farmers of Monroe County and taking the pay in a part of the crop. As the business continued to expand, various wholesale and

retail outlets were opened in the heart of the City of Rochester.”

In addition to selling local seed, Crosman Brothers began importing varieties from Europe. By 1888, they had more than 150 employees and in 1901, they were honored with a gold medal at the Pan-American Exposition.

In 1927, under new management and now named Crosman Seed Company, the enterprise moved to its current location at 511 West Commercial Street in East Rochester. Its new headquarters (50,000 square feet) had been the factory buildings built in 1900 by Rochester native, philanthropist, and engineer Kate Gleason (the first woman to study engineering at Cornell) for the manufacture of trailer cars.

By 1928, Herbert William Mapstone, who had started out as a sales manager in the company, acquired ownership and became president of Crosman Seed Company and served as such for 52 years until his death in 1979. During this period the business moved away from seed growing and began to specialize in wholesale packet production, supplying national chain stores such as Kmart, along with Ben Franklin and independent stores. Gradually H.W. Mapstone’s son, Bill H. Mapstone, took over running the company.

Today, the Crosman Seed Corporation continues to be family-owned, with Bill H.’s sons, twins William R. and Craig Mapstone, as operational directors.

Crosman continues to specialize in packet production, purchasing seed from growers and working with clients’ designs and Hammer Packaging printing services in Rochester to create lines of custom-made seed packs.

I spoke with Justine Mapstone, Bill H. Mapstone’s wife and William R. and Craig’s mother, about the company’s more recent history. Her husband Bill H. grew up in the business, jumping into piles of bean seeds in the warehouse when the opportunity presented itself.

In 1957, Bill got a degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, then came back to work with his father at Crosman. However, shortly thereafter he was drafted by the Army and served two years at Aberdee, Maryland Proving Grounds doing stress research on airplane wings.

In 1970, Justine, whose family lived three blocks from the Crosman complex, started working after school and summers for the seed house. She earned a degree in elementary education and ended up marrying the boss’s son, Bill. The twins followed shortly thereafter as did daughter Tabitha. When her kids were a little older, Justine came back to the business full-time. Bill and Justine have retired from full-time involvement, but Bill still picks up and delivers local seed racks and Justine comes in to the office to help out. Daughter Tabitha helps too.

Craig does the seed ordering for vegetables, flowers, and herbs, from trusted suppliers like Western Hybrid Seed Company, Wild West Seeds, Charter Seed Company in Idaho, and HEM Zadem in Holland. His

brother William orders a wide range of grass seed from DLF International and Lebanon Seaboard with specialty reclamation seed from Ernst Conservation Seed.

The business sells seeds and lawn supplies from their location in East Rochester and to 175 or so independent garden centers and other small businesses in the Mid-Atlantic States and New England.

Kathy Woolsey of Farmers Seed & Supply Company in Lynchburg, Virginia says, “My family has been selling Crosman Seeds for as long as I can remember.

Crosman Seeds cost less but are just as good as those from more expensive seed companies.”

Justine Mapstone explains how the company’s relationship with the big box store world changed two decades or so ago, reinforcing its commitment to the smaller independents. “When we disengaged from Kmart in 1991, we were selling to nearly 1000 stores.

We always had a handshake agreement with them.

They’d send us inventories and we would supply their needs. But in 1991 they insisted we service the stores and send salesmen around, which was not economical for us. Luckily by that time our grass seed depart-

TOP: Crosman sign, courtesy Michelle Sutton BOTTOM: Seed rack, courtesy Farmers Seed & Supply Company: farmersseed. blogspot.com

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 17

ABOVE: Seed catalog, courtesy Crosman Seed

ment had grown, so we decided to walk away from the high demands of Kmart.” That severing with Kmart is one of the reasons Crosman has so many leftover vintage seed packets, the ones that received so much attention at Rochester’s Gardenscape show last year.

In addition to supplying seed packs to stores, Crosman does custom, high-end seed packaging for customers like Disney’s Epcot Center. To promote an upcoming movie, Disney/ Epcot wanted to distribute a marigold from Pan-American seed. Disney provided Crosman the seeds and pack design. Crosman arranged for Hammer Packaging to print up packs, and Crosman then did the filling and shipping. Crosman also provides this service to nonprofit organizations like Seed Programs International, which brings seed to developing countries. And they have some preprinted packs of wildflowers mixes and forget-me-nots that can be used for weddings and other events (there is room on the pack for customers to affix a label specific to the event; see the website for more info).

Most seed pack filling is mechanized, but for very small, very large, or very expensive seeds, the packs have to be done by hand. For very small seeds, the filling is done by spoon size. Justine says, “The spoon size correlates with the weight of the seed variety. So for tiny seeds like those of impatiens, geraniums, coleus, or expensive seeds like those of the hybrid tomatoes, we use a spoon of given size. For really big seeds that vary a great deal in size, like scarlet runner beans, we also hand-fill those packets.” By contrast lima beans, while large, do not vary much in size, so they can be automated.

In her home garden, Justine’s been growing vegetables in earnest since 1992, undaunted by the many woodchucks, squirrels, and chipmunks who abide there. I asked her what her favorite seeds are.

For direct seeding, she likes ‘Salad Bowl’ lettuce, a leafy type that she says gets crispy in the fridge. She also likes the compact and tasty ‘Blue Lake’ bush beans, and the sweet snap peas (number 827 on Crosman website) because the pod remains edible and tasty no matter how big it gets.

For more information, visit crosmanseed.com.

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As an Artist, I use light to evoke emotion!

Frustrated by your home and garden being invisible when you come home at night? Feeling a lack of ambience?

Concerned about the safety of your family and visitors?

You deserve Lighting By Ken

Almanac

Where Do I Start?

A Little Advice For New Gardens (and New Gardeners)

By Mary Ruth Smith

“

ABOVE: If you’re lucky, your new garden will look something like this.

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H

elp! We’ve just moved into our new house, and the beautiful garden that was created by the Master Gardener who lived here previously was sadly neglected during her illness. I want to save it, but I don’t know a pansy from a weed. Where do I start?” That was the plea for help I received from my niece in Seattle last spring. Since I couldn’t run out to see the garden in person, I gave her a few bits of advice, the most helpful of which, she said, was “Don’t panic!”

Later in the spring, my granddaughter asked me for the same kind of advice. Fortunately, she lives nearby so I was able to walk around her yard with her and make suggestions to get her started. That got me thinking that perhaps my years of experience as a

gardener and a landscape designer might give me the perspective to offer a little advice in general to anyone with a new garden, whether it be the sea of mud around a newly-built house or the established garden that comes with an older property.

With a blank slate, you can skip this step.

Otherwise, the first thing is to clean up the yard/ garden, so you can see what you have. Rake the leaves, pull the weeds, and get rid of dead plants. If you can’t tell a weed from a flower, you may need help for this part. Good garden helpers, like good baby-sitters, are hard to find; if you do find one, don’t tell anybody. You can start with the Master Gardeners, who may be contacted through your local Cooperative Extension. They

may have some members who hire out or may even be willing to do a consultation. You can ask at a local nursery for references, look in the local penny saver for ads, or ask your neighbors. Or your grandmother, but don’t expect her to pull your weeds.

Simply tidying up the place will make a world of difference.

Now comes the hardest, but really necessary, piece of advice. Don’t do anything major for a full year. If it’s a new house, you will, of course, need to plant some grass or do something to cover the mud. That’s the only exception I make to the rule. Why wait a year?

Because you need to get to know your garden—and I use the term “garden” to mean your entire property, not just the flower beds or vegetable garden. I know it sounds extreme, but it will save you from expensive mistakes and help you to enjoy your garden more in the long run.

So what should you be doing during this year? If you are new to gardening, it will give you an opportunity to learn. Read gardening books, go on garden tours, attend garden seminars or classes, visit nurseries, walk around your neighborhood and get to know the neighbors with gardens you admire. The Rochester Civic Garden Center is a great resource, with a huge library of garden books and lots of classes, as is the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens and Ithaca’s Cornell Plantations. The object is not to learn everything there is to know about gardens—that’s impossible—but to start to develop your own ideas and preferences. Get a notebook dedicated to your garden and start making notes. You can get a fancy garden journal, but I find a simple steno pad works fine for this (although I do keep a garden journal, too, and recommend it, but that can come later). If you see a plant you like or an idea you want to copy, write it down.

Trust me: you won’t remember it otherwise.

If you’re an experienced gardener and itching to start planting, I still urge you to wait. You need to live with a garden through all four seasons to really know it. Here are some of the questions you will be asking – and jotting down the answers in your notebook: How much sun/shade is there and at what times of the day and the growing season? Are there wet spots? Where does the snow pile up in winter? Is there a wind tunnel? Are there views that appear in the winter that you would like to see in the summer, too? Are there views you want to hide completely?

Keep track of what blooms and when. Get your soil tested to find out its composition and pH. Do you have clay or sand or something in between? Is it acid or alkaline? The Cooperative Extension will guide through the steps to get a complete soil analysis, including what nutrients you need to add for vegetables and flowers.

You also need to think about how your family wants to use the garden. Do you want to grow veg-

etables or fruit? Do you need a large play space for children? Do you like to grill or want to entertain outdoors? Does your yard need to be enclosed for the safety of pets or children?

How much privacy do you want? How long do you plan to live in this house? Would expensive hardscape installations price you out of the neighborhood? What kind of budget do you have for your garden?

What windows do you look out of most frequently, and what would you like to see there? How many gardeners are there in your family, and how much time do you have to devote to gardening? These questions need to involve the entire family if the end result is to be enjoyable for everybody.

Another set of questions involves your personal idea of the perfect garden. Do you remember your grandmother’s garden fondly? Is it a garden you saw on your travels or in a book? What style do you prefer – formal, cottage, modern, whimsical? What kind of front entry would be most welcoming for visitors?

Then you need to consider the style of your house, the size of your lot, and the type of neighborhood in which you live. For example, I live in a log house in the country—a formal English garden would be out of place. The best gardens complement their house while expressing the personality of their owner. The front yard needs to make some concessions to neighborhood standards, I believe, but the back yard is yours to do with as you please.

In the course of that first year, you will start to learn how your family uses the yard/garden. You’ll find out where your dog habitually runs – don’t put a flower garden there. You’ll see what parts of the yard the children prefer. You’ll learn where the grill is most convenient, where you walk to take out the trash. And you’ll start to see what you like and don’t like about what you have.

So that’s how you start. You’re not really doing nothing. You’re doing the background work that will pay off in years of garden enjoyment. You might also call in a landscape professional to get ideas of what you might want in the way of hardscape – decks, patios, fencing. Perhaps you’d like a greenhouse or a potting shed – they can’t be dropped in at the end. A good landscape designer can help you sift through your list of wishes and make suggestions for a design that will be pleasing. In the end, that’s all that matters, that it pleases you.

Don’t worry about making mistakes. That’s how gardeners learn - I can’t tell you how many plants I’ve moved or killed. No garden is perfect, and no garden is ever finished. They are always a work in progress with new ideas and plants to try, and what gardener would want it otherwise?

“In the end, that’s all that matters, that it pleases you.”

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 23

Calendar BUFFALO REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS 8th District Federated Garden Clubs of New York State Inc. Adrienne Pasquariello, District Director: 716/681-1047; gardenclubsofwny.com.

African Violet and Gesneriad Society of WNY meets the third Tuesday of each month, September - June, at 7:30 pm, LVAC Building, 40 Embry Place, Lancaster. avgswny@verizon.net; gesneriadsociety.org/chapters/wny.

Alden Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of the month (except July & August) at 7 pm, Alden Community Center, West Main Street, Alden.

New members and guests welcome. Plant sale each May. 716/937-7924.

Buffalo Area Daylily Society. East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora. March 10: Souper Bowl. May 19: May Mecca. 716/ 6498186; buffaloareadaylily@hotmail.com.

Streets. 716/941-6167; h8staman@aol.com; wnyhosta.com.

Western New York Hosta Society Breakfast Meetings, a friendly get-together, first Saturday of the month at 10 am, Gardenview Restaurant, Union Road, West Seneca.

Western New York Iris Society meets the first Sunday of the month in members’ homes and gardens. Information about growing all types of irises and complementary perennials. Shows.

Sale. Guests welcome. Pat Kluczynski: 716/6339503; patrizia@roadrunner.com.

Western New York Rose Society meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm, St. Stephens-Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 750 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville. March 20: Planting Bareroot Roses & Pruning. April 17: Silent Auction & Spraying and Fertilizing. May 15: Early Preparation for Exhibiting Roses. wnyrosesociety.org.

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

Wilson Garden Club generally meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm, Community Room, Wilson Free Library, 265 Young Street, Wilson. Meetings open to all, community floral planting, spring plant sale, local garden tours.

716/751-6334; wilsongardenclub@aol.com.

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

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

Hamburg Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at noon, summer garden tours, Hamburg Community Center, 107 Prospect Avenue, Hamburg. 716/648-0275; droman13@verizon.net.

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

Orchard Park Garden Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 12 pm, Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park. President: Beverly Walsh, 716/6627279.

Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club meets the second Saturday of the month at 2 pm, First Baptist Church, 32 Main Street, Silver Creek. May 18: Garden Faire. Sue Duecker, 716/934-7608; duke. sue@roadrunner.com.

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

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

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

716/827-1584; buffalogardens.com.

BMAC: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY 14113.

585/457-3228; 800/377-1520; buffaloaudubon.org.

COOP: Chicken Coop Originals, 13245 Clinton Street, Alden. 716/937-7837; chickencooporiginals.com.

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

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

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

ZTL: Zittel’s Country Market, 4415 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, NY 14075.

716/649-3010; zittels.com.

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

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

S- Indicates plant sales.

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

• Ongoing: After-School Escape, Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 pm. A different, fun, outdoor activity each week. Grades K-5. No registration required. REIN

Western New York Hosta Society. East Aurora Senior Center, corner of Oakwood & King

March 9: Starting Annuals & Vegetables from Seed, 10 am. Sally Cook will discuss materials,

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T- Indicates garden tours

when to start seeds and transplanting seedlings.

She will also talk about some of the newest seed selections available. Free. Registration required.

MENNE March 15: Taste of Paradise, 6 – 9 pm. Enjoy the gardens in a festive setting. Refreshments and music. $25 members; $28 non-members; $30 after March 6. BECBG March 16: Walk at Knox Farm State Park: Trees Speak, 9 am. Listen to the trees and nature.

Donations. BMAC March 16: How to Grow Cool Season Vegetables, 10 am – 12 pm. Includes starting seeds indoors, planting frost tolerant veggies outdoors, moving seedlings outside, season extenders. Instructors: Sally Cunningham, Julie Emerling, Master Gardener Fran Evans. $10. Registration required.

LOCK March 16: Medicinal Garden Special Feature, 10 am – 2 pm. Presentations about the benefits of foods from plants containing health-promoting compounds. Botanical displays of edible plants that are good for health and common local plants that may be toxic to humans and pets.

Included with admission. BECBG • March 16: Growing Garden Series for Kids: Plants from Seeds (Part 1 of 3), 10:30 am.

Learn how plants grow from seeds and make recycled seed starters. Participants are encouraged but not required to register for Sessions 2 & 3 (see April 27 & May 18). Ages 6-8.

Registration required. REIN March 16: Granny’s Favorite Cold-Crop Flowers, 2 pm. Sally Cook will discuss which flower seeds to plant in early spring including larkspur, poppies, sweet peas, calendula and more. Free.

Registration required. MENNE March 16 – 17: Maple Harvest Festival, 9 am – 4 pm. See maple sugar made with red-hot rocks the Native American way, taste “Sugar-on-Snow” (Jack Wax), pancakes, raffle, nature walks, scavenger hunt and more. $8 adults; $6 ages 12 & under; 3 & under free. BMAC March 16 – 17: Federated Garden Clubs of NYS Annual State Meeting and Installation.

Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga.

• March 16 – April 7: Spring Flower Show, 10 am – 5 pm. Enjoy spring colors and fragrances. Kids visit Farmer Brown’s animals. BECBG March 16 – April 7: LifeCycles, an Orangery and Demonstration Garden Exhibit. A sampling of results from a collaboration with the Department of Architecture at UB. Fashionable in 19th century Italy, an Orangery was a building, greenhouse or conservatory where citrus trees were wintered and moved outside in the warmer months to provide an event space to host parties. Included with admission. BECBG March 16 – June 15: Horticulture III – Certificate Classes, 4 Saturdays, 11 am – 1 pm. Classes may be taken individually or as a series. March 16: Native Plants in Your Landscape. April 13: Shade Gardening. June 1: Gardening in Small Spaces.

June 15: Landscape Design 3 / Landscape Architecture. Series: $80 members; $100 nonmembers. Single class: $22 members; $27 nonmembers. Registration required. BECBG March 21: Canada Blooms Bus Trip. Hosted by

8th District Federated Garden Clubs of NYS. Adrienne Pasquariello, District Director: 716/6811047; gardenclubsofwny.com.

March 21 – 24: Plantasia. Backyard Oasis. Garden displays, seminars, vendors, Children’s Discovery Garden. Fairgrounds Event Center and Expo Hall, 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg. plantasiany.com.

March 21 – 24: Flower Show. Hosted by 8th District Federated Garden Clubs of NYS and 8th District Judges Council. Plantasia, Fairgrounds Event Center and Expo Hall, 5820 South Park Avenue, Hamburg.

March 23 – June 22: Horticulture IV – Certificate Classes, 4 Saturdays, 11 am – 1 pm. Classes may be taken individually or as a series. March 23: Four Season Gardening. April 20: Container Gardening and Raised Beds. June 8: Herbs and Medicinal Gardening. June 22: Gardening for Wildlife. Series: $80 members; $100 nonmembers. Single class: $22 members; $27 nonmembers. Registration required. BECBG March 27: Easter Arrangement Workshop, 6:15 pm. Create your own arrangement using fresh materials. $30 members; $35 non-members.

Registration required. BECBG March 27: Easter Basket Workshop, 6:30 pm.

Design a centerpiece in a basket with bulb plants and Easter decorations. Instructors: Mary Gurtler, Mary Trifunovic. $35. Registration required.

LOCK • Ongoing April - September: Trail Tuesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Assist with projects to maintain and improve ecosystems at Reinstein Woods. All ages and abilities. Refreshments provided. Registration required. REIN • April 5: Garden Crafts for Kids, 1 pm. Enjoy some garden crafts during spring break. Ages 8-10.

Registration required. REIN April 6: Walk at Knox Farm State Park: Spring Awakenings, 9 am. Look for signs that winter is losing its grip and spring is getting a foothold.

Donations. BMAC April 6: Terrarium Workshop, 10:30 am. Design a miniature, low-maintenance plant world. Bring your own container, up to 14 inches, or purchase one before class ($10). Materials included. $25.

Registration required. LOCK April 6: Houseplant How-to, 10 – 11 am.

Demonstration will cover lighting and watering requirements, planting techniques, fertilizer application and pest troubleshooting. Free.

Registration required. ZTL April 6: How to Make a Terrarium, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Learn what is needed to plant your own terrarium. Free. Registration required. ZTL April 6: Make & Take Terrarium, 1 – 2 pm. Select glassware, plants, ground covers and ornaments to assemble your own terrarium. Ages 6 and up.

Fee based on plants & materials. Registration required. ZTL April 10: Make & Take Terrarium, 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

See description under April 6. Ages 6 and up.

Fee based on plants & materials. Registration required. ZTL April 13: Seed Starting at Home, 10 – 11 am. Learn the best ways to start seeds, when and how to transplant and how to prepare a garden or con-

tainer to ensure a bountiful harvest. See Seed Starting at Home – Optional Project (below).

Free. Registration required. ZTL April 13: Hedgerows & Habitat, 10:30 am. Join Sally Cunningham to learn about plants that can be used to create a barrier and wildlife habitat at the edge of your yard. $12; $20 if combined with Pruning Review (below). Registration required.

LOCK • April 13: Garlic Mustard Challenge Kick-Off, 11 am. Organizations, scout troops, science clubs compete to see who can remove the most garlic mustard from the woods, April through June.

Only a group representative need attend this session, additional group members welcome.

Registration required. REIN • April 13: Seed Starting at Home – Optional Project, 11 – 11:30 am. Select seeds to plant with your children. Materials provided. See Seed Starting at Home (above). $5. Registration required. ZTL April 13: Pruning Review, 11:45 am. Join Sally Cunningham in a review of how and when to prune shrubs and small trees from hydrangeas to roses to rose of Sharon. $12; $20 if combined with Hedgerows & Habitat (above). Registration required. LOCK April 13: Success with Square Foot Gardens, 1 – 2 pm. Get acquainted with this method to get a large yield from a small space. Good way to garden with kids, requires no digging. Free.

Registration required. ZTL April 14: Hypertufa Workshop, 1:30 pm. Make your own lightweight cement-like container to use for miniature hosta, succulents or miniature annuals. Instructor: Becky Watts. $30. Registration required. LOCK April 18: Tour Guide Training, 9 am – 12:30 pm. No experience necessary, just a love of nature and the desire to share it with others. Registration required. REIN S- April 19: Spent Spring Bulb Sale, 8 am. Bag provided, you fill. $7 per bag. BECBG April 20: Rose Care Seminar, 10 – 11 am. Learn how to care for this popular flower. Free. Registration required. ZTL April 20: Fruits & Berries, 10:30 am. Learn how to grow blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, as well as pear, apple and peach trees. $10.

Registration required. LOCK April 20: Flower Folklore, 10:30 am. Take a closer look at local wildflowers on this guided walk.

Discover little known tidbits such as dandelions were used to tell time and buttercups were a sign of good luck. Registration required. REIN April 21: Growing and Re-blooming Orchids, 1:30 pm. David Clark will take the mystique out of orchid growing. $10. Registration required.

LOCK

6-8. Registration required. REIN May 3 – 5: Spring Open House. Hand-painted primitives, country artwork, herbal wreaths & arrangements, collectibles. COOP May 3 – 5: Can-Am Daylily Classic. Mississauga, Ontario. ontariodaylily.on.ca.

May 4: Walk at Knox Farm State Park: Ephemerals, the First Flowers, 9 am. Learn about the spring plants that peek through before all others in the woods. Donations appreciated. BMAC May 4: Organic & Sustainable Gardening Symposium, 9 am – 1 pm. Topics will include growing mushrooms, backyard honey bees, companion gardening with vegetable, herb and flower combinations, and more. Guest speakers, regional food tastings. Registration after March 15. LOCK May 4: English Garden Trough, 10 am. Make your own. $35. Registration required. COOP May 4: Gardening in Containers, 10 – 11 am. Learn the basics of container gardening as well as how to choose and arrange the plants. Free.

Registration required. ZTL • May 4: Earth Day in May, 10 am – 1 pm.

Celebrate Earth Day by planting native wildflowers and improving trails at Reinstein Woods.

Families, scout groups and students needing service hours welcome. Refreshments provided.

Registration required. REIN May 4: Container Garden Make & Take, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm. Choose from a variety of planters and plants to assemble your own container garden.

Materials included. $40. Registration required.

ZTL May 4: Perennials for Color and Interest, 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Learn about selection, location and maintenance of perennials. Free. Registration required. ZTL • May 4 – 5: Spring Open House, 10 am – 4 pm.

Classes, flowers, food, garden art, kids’ activities. ZTL May 4 – 5: African Violet Show & Sale, 12 – 6 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Presented by African Violet and Gesneriad Society of WNY. Galleria Mall, Galleria Drive, Cheektowaga.

716/636-0934; judith.niemira@gmail.com.

May 5: Make it with Mom, 1:30 pm. Make a planter with cold-hardy annuals. $35. Registration required. LOCK May 8: Container Garden Make & Take, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. See description under May 4. Materials included. $40. Registration required. ZTL May 10: English Garden Trough, 10 am. Make your own. $35. Registration required. COOP May 10 – 12: Spring Open House. See description under May 3 – 5. COOP

April 27: Fun with Herbs, 10 am – 12 pm. Master gardener Lee Schreiner will discuss how to use and preserve kitchen herbs plus growing herbs in gardens and containers. Free. Registration required. ZTL

S- May 11: Plant Sale, 8 am – 2 pm. Presented by Orchard Park Garden Club. Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, accent plants, hanging baskets. Orchard Park Railroad Depot, behind OP Library.

• April 27: Growing Garden Series for Kids: Transplanting Plants and Composting (Part 2 of 3), 10:30 am. Learn how to use compost and transfer plants from pots to a garden bed. Ages

May 11: Mother’s Day Make it for Mom, 10 am – 2 pm. Choose a container and plants, guidance will be given in the assembly process. Fee for materials. ZTL UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 25

Calendar BUFFALO continued

more than 60 gardens. See also Starry Night Garden Tour (below). Free. 716/851-5116; brrtourofgardens.com.

which seeds to start when, techniques to extend the season, and more. $5. Registration required.

CCE/TOM

May 14: Container Workshop, 6:30 pm. Design a container while learning about lesser known annuals and tender perennials. Instructors: Mary Gurtler & Marge Vogel. $35. Registration required. LOCK

T- August 3: Starry Night Garden Tour, 8 – 10 pm. Self-guided, features more than 20 well-lit gardens. Part of Black Rock & Riverside Tour of Gardens (above). Free. 716/851-5116; brrtourofgardens.com.

March 20: Grow Your Own Spuds, 6 – 8 pm. Learn to dig an Irish ‘lazy bed’ plus information about common diseases and pests of potatoes and how to manage them organically. $5. Registration required. CCE/TOM

Save the Date…

T- August 10: Member Garden Tour, 10 am.

Presented by Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club.

Tour 5 member gardens, refreshment served at each garden. Free members; $10 non-members.

716/934-7608; duke.sue@roadrunner.com.

March 22 – 24: Spring Open House, 9 am – 5 pm.

Easter flowers, pansies, seeds, fairy garden accessories. Bakers Acres, 1104 Auburn Road (Route 34), Groton. 607/533-4653; bakersacres. net.

S- May 18: Garden Faire, 9 am – 3 pm. Plants, herbal delights, educational speakers, crafts, bird houses & feeders, drawing, children’s activities and more. Presented by Silver Creek-Hanover Garden Club. Silver Creek Park & Gazebo, Main Street & Central Avenue, Silver Creek.

May 18: Plant for Hope, 10 am – 4 pm. Fundraiser to benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Bedford’s Greenhouse, 6820 Cedar Street, Akron.

716/542-6110; bedfordsgreenhouse.com.

• May 18: Growing Garden Series for Kids: Crafts for our Plants (Part 3 of 3), 10:30 am. Create three different recycled crafts to use in a garden bed. Ages 6-8. Registration required. REIN S- May 18 – 19: The Great Plant Sale, 9 am – 4 pm. Hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, ornamental trees & shrubs, rare and unusual plants, deer resistant plants & flowers, natives, tropicals, Japanese maples, herbs and more.

Administration Building. BECBG May 18 – 19: Bonsai Show, 10 am – 5 pm.

Presented by Buffalo Bonsai Society. BECBG S- May 24 – 25: Plant Sale, 9 am- 2 pm. Presented

by Master Gardeners of Erie County. Large selection of sun and shade perennials from the gardens of Master Gardeners. 1071 Amherst St., Buffalo. 716/652-5400.

June 1: Odyssey to Ithaca. Join UGJ staff us as we travel by motor coach to the Ithaca region. Contact the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal at 585/538-4980, 716/432-8688, or upstategardenersjournal.com.

S- June 1: Plant Sale, 10 am – 3 pm. Presented by Kenan Herb Club. Plant sale & demonstrations using herbs in cooking. Kenan Gardens, 433 Locust Street, Lockport.

T- July 13 – 14: Lockport in Bloom, 10 am – 4 pm.

Self-guided walking/driving tour of more than 40 historic homes and gardens. Maps available after June 30 at various local businesses. Free. Rain or shine. Facebook; lockportinbloom.com.

T- July 20: Landscape Bus Tour, 9 am – 4:30 pm.

Guided tour of landscapes, plantings, patios, and water gardens. $48. Registration required.

MENNE T- July 20 – 21: Ken-Ton Garden Tour, 10 am – 4 pm. Self-guided. Free. kentongardentour.com.

T- July 20 – 21: Saturday Night Lights, 8:30 – 10:30 pm. Part of Ken-Ton Garden Tour (above). Selfguided. Free. kentongardentour.com.

T- July 27 – 28: GardenWalk Buffalo, 10 am – 4 pm. gardenwalkbuffalo.com.

T- August 3: Black Rock & Riverside Tour of Gardens, 10 am – 4 pm. Self-guided, features 2 6 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

ITHACA REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS Adirondack Chapter, North American Rock Garden Society (ACNARGS). Meets in the Whetzel Room, Room 404, Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca. Free and open to all. March 16: Rock Garden Soils & A Future in the Garden without Peat, 1 pm. April 20: Ferns in the Garden & seedling swap, fee for non-members, 1 pm, Kenneth Post Lab, Tower Road, Cornell University campus. acnargs.blogspot.com; facebook.com/ acnargs.

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

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

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

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

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- Indicates garden tours

• March 9: Worm Composting, 10 am – 12 pm.

Hands-on workshop will teach how to care for an indoor vermicomposting bin. $10 per household; includes starter bin and worms. Registration required. CCE/TOM March 9: Sustainable Landscaping, 10 am – 12 pm. Dan Segal, owner of Plantsmen Nursery in Lansing, will talk about native plants for the home landscape. Free. Watkins Glen Library, North Decator Street, Watkins Glen. 607/3879224.

March 14: Veggie Gardening Beyond the Basics, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Learn about less common vegetables, maximizing the crop, seed starting tricks,

March 23: Ireland: Gardeners’ Paradise, Travel Slide Show, 2 – 3:30 pm. Chrys Gardener recently lived, gardened, and traveled in the Republic of Ireland for over four years. She will show photos from her time there, as well as some garden photos from trips she took to Barcelona and Finland. Free; $3 suggested donation. CCE/TOM March 28: Fruits for the Home Gardener, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Learn about easy to grow small fruits and tree fruits. $5. Registration required. CCE/ TOM March 30: Winter Garden Tour, 1 – 2 pm. Enjoy a guided walk through the Mullestein Family Winter Garden. Raised sandstone beds were designed as a showcase for plants with winter interest such as evergreen foliage, colorful bark, persistent fruit, and unusual growth habits. Meet: Nevin Welcome Center. Free. CP April 6: Spring into Gardening, 10 am – 4:30 pm.

Talks and hands-on workshops on popular gardening topics including vegetable gardening, home fruit production, ornamental plants, composting, permaculture and school gardens. $60 until March 15; $75 after March 15. Registration required. Dewitt Middle School, Warren Road, Ithaca. CCE/TOM April 16: Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Tips for garden success for beginning gardeners. $5. Registration required. CCE/TOM April 26 – 28: Arbor Day Weekend. Fruit trees & shrubs. Potted fruits including blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, currant, gooseberry, grape, raspberry, black raspberry, rhubarb. Bakers Acres, 1104 Auburn Road (Route 34), Groton. 607/5334653; bakersacres.net.

April 27 – 28: Arts in Bloom – Steuben County Arts Trail. Celebrate spring exploring the studios and galleries of Steuben County artists. Maps available at all participating locations. Locations: 607/569-3767; artsinbloom.net.

• April 28: Compost Fair, 12 – 4 pm. Teams of Master Composters will be on hand to answer questions. Music, food, interactive displays, activities for kids, tours of compost demonstration site. CCE/TOM April 28 – May 26: Wildflower Walk, Sundays, 1 – 2 pm. Sapsucker Woods. Meet: Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center, 254 Sapsucker Woods Road. Free.

No registration required. CP May – October: Herbal Apprenticeship, 6 weekends. An informative and experience-based foundation for the life-long journey of becoming a practitioner of herbal medicine. Heartstone Herbal School, Van Etten. 607/589-4619; heartstone.com.

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Calendar ITHACA continued Save the Date…

S- May 18: Spring Garden Fair & Plant Sale, 9 am – 2 pm. A wide variety of vendors offering specialty annuals and perennials, rock garden plants, organically grown & heirloom vegetables, annuals, herbs, hanging baskets, small flowering shrubs, hardy roses, fruit crops, evergreens.

Free soil pH testing. Rain or shine. Ithaca High School, Cayuga Street, off Route 13. CCE/TOM T- June 9: Garden Tour, 1 – 5 pm. Captivating Country Views. Tour six gardens in Genoa.

Presented by Southern Cayuga Garden Club. $10, day of: Smith’s General Store Museum, Route 90, Genoa. socayugagardenclub.org.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Garden Club of Brockport meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7 pm, Clarkson Schoolhouse, Ridge Road, east of Route 19.

Speakers, hands-on sessions. Kathy Dixon: 585/431-0509; kadixon@excite.com.

Garden Path of Penfield meets the third Wednesday of the month from September through May at 7 pm, Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Road, Penfield. Members enjoy all aspects of gardening; new members welcome. gardenpathofpenfield@gmail.com.

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

Genesee Valley Chapter of the North American 2 8 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

Rock Garden Society (GVC NARGS) meets monthly from March through October. March 21: James Locklear, Phlox, 6:30 pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue.

Information: jsamolis@rochester.rr.com; gvnargs. blogspot.com. Newsletter: jhoeffel@aol.com.

Genesee Valley Hosta Society meets the second Thursday of the month, April – October, at Monroe County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. 585/538-2280; sebuckner@frontiernet.net.

Genesee Valley Pond & Koi Club meets the first Friday of the month at 7 pm, Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester. bobwheeler58@gmail.com.

Gesneriad Society meets the first Wednesday of each month, September – May, at 6:30 pm, St. John’s Home, 150 Highland Avenue, Rochester.

All are welcome. Bob or Linda Springer: 585/413-0606; blossoms002@yahoo.com.

Greater Rochester Iris Society meets Sundays at 2 pm, dates vary, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. March 10: Beginners Corner, iris cultivation. Judges’ training, Floral Design. April 14: TBA. Public welcome. 585/599-3502; eschnell@ rochester.rr.com.

Greater Rochester Perennial Society (GRPS) meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 pm, Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester, except in summer when it tours members’ gardens. March 7: Rock Gardening with Conifers, Jerry Kral. April 4: Propagation, Master Gardener John Cologrosso.

585/889-4864; laburt@rochester.rr.com; rochesterperennial.com.

Greater Rochester Rose Society meets the first Tuesday of the month, April through November, at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. July & August meetings in members’ gardens, December meeting at a member’s home. 585/377-0892; 585/621-1115; info@rocrose.org; rocrose.org.

Henrietta Garden Club meets the third Wednesday of the month (except July & August) at 6:45 pm, Riparian lecture Hall at Rivers Run, 50 Fairwood Drive, Rochester, 14623. Open to all interested in gardens, flowers, and sharing information about plants. March 20: Irises, presented by Greater Rochester Iris Society. April 17: Container Gardening, presented by Elaine Isman. henriettagardenclub.org; henriettagardenclub@gmail.com.

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

585/638-6973.

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 meets the third Thursday of each month (except December and February) at 10 am, First Baptist Church, Hubbell Hall, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. 585/872-0678; 585/586-0794.

Kendall Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm, Kendall Town Hall. 585/6598289; justadesignabove@hotmail.com.

Rochester Dahlia Society meets the second Saturday of most months at 1 pm, Trinity Reformed Church, 909 Landing Road North, Rochester, except in the summer, when it tours members’ gardens. Visitors welcome. 585/249-0624; 585/865-2291; gwebster@rochester.rr.com; rochesterdahliasociety.com.

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

Rochester Permaculture Center, meets monthly to discuss topics such as edible landscapes, gardening, farming, renewable energy, green building, rainwater harvesting, composting, local food, forest gardening, herbalism, green living, etc.

Meeting location and details: meetup.com/rochesterpermaculture.

Soil, Toil & Thyme Garden Club. 585/589-1640; elfreda.stangland@gmail.com.

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

Frequent hosts BRI: Bristol’s Garden Center, 7454 Victor Pittsford Road, Victor, NY. 585/924-2274; customerservice@bristolsgrdencenter.com; bristolsgardencenter.com & Facebook.

GLT: Genesee Land Trust, 46 Prince Street, Suite LL005, Rochester, NY 14607.

585/256-2130; info@geneseelandtrust.org; geneseelandtrust.org.

IBA: International Bonsai Arboretum, 1070 Martin Road, West Henrietta, NY. 585/3342595; internationalbonsai.com.

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

WAY: Wayside Garden Center, 124 Pittsford-Palmyra Road (Route 31), Macedon, NY 14502. 585/223-1222 x100; trish@waysidegardencenter.com; waysidegardencenter.com.

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

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- Indicates garden tours March 7: Natural Easter Egg Dyes Workshop, 6 – 7:30 pm. Learn which items from your garden and pantry can be used to naturally color Easter eggs. Materials included. $7. Registration required. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 5435A County Road 48, Belmont. 585/268-7644 x12; cc746@cornell.edu.

March 7: Soils, 6 – 9 pm. Andy Joss will discuss soil basics including types, chemical composition, common problems, amendments, etc. Bring a pint of soil from your yard and learn to test it for texture and pH. $36 members; $46 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 7: Natural Easter Egg Dyes Workshop, 6 – 7:30 pm. Learn which items from your garden and pantry can be used to naturally color Easter eggs. Materials included. $7. Registration required. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 5435A County Road 48, Belmont. 585/268-7644 x12; cc746@cornell.edu.

Join the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal on our annual Buffalo

Odyssey to Ithaca

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

SATUrdAy, JUne 1, 2013 Highlights of our itinerary on this day-long luxury motorcoach tour include: Cornell Plantations, truly one of the most inspiring gardens in New York State Delicious Herbal Lunch and shopping at Bakers’ Acres—they have an incredible, vast array of perennials The incomparable Bedlam Gardens, a private property in King Ferry Cayuga Landscape, a large garden center with a wide selection of plants Wine tasting and more!

Depart Buffalo, Eastern Hills Mall, rear of Sears store, 7:30 am/return approx. 7:30 pm Depart Batavia, location to be determined, 8:00 am/return approx. 7:00 pm

Only $70/person. Sign up today.

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

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

Name____________________________________________Email:___________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________________________________ # of tickets________X $70 = __________ (Please enclose check or money order) Please mail to: Upstate Gardeners’ Journal, 3200 East Ave., Caledonia, NY 14423

Your favorite gardening magazine is online.

We have a shiny new website!

Check us out at UpstateGardenersJournal.com.

Calendar ROCHESTER continued March 7: Soils, 6 – 9 pm. Andy Joss will discuss soil basics including types, chemical composition, common problems, amendments, etc. Bring a pint of soil from your yard and learn to test it for texture and pH. $36 members; $46 non-members. Registration required. RCGC

March 9: Spring Symposium, 9 am – 3:30 pm. W. Gary Smith: two lectures based on his latest book, From Art to Landscape: Unleashing Creativity in Garden Design. Designing for Beauty: how we can create gardens that are first and foremost about beauty and artistic expression, without compromising important environmental values. Nature’s Patterns: the elemental patterns found in the natural world and throughout the human arts and sciences.

Pietro Furgiuele, The Concept Garden - Where Amazing Garden Concepts Sprout: Pietro will examine how his concepts evolve and relate to planting choices, hardscape elements and all the other inspiring things we seek to incorporate into our gardens. Mark Bayer of Bayer Landscape Architecture will present a slide show of the Museum’s 2013 Centennial Sculpture Park. $48 RCGC members; $58 non-members. Ticket allows all-day access to Memorial Art Gallery exhibits.

Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue, Rochester. RCGC

March 9: Make & Take – St. Patty’s Day Planter, 1 pm. Registration required. BRI March 9 – 10: Bus Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show. Travel by motor coach with Michael Warren Thomas to see Longwood Gardens and the Philadelphia Flower Show, 2013 theme: Great Britain. All expenses included except dinner at Flower Show & lunch at Longwood. $395 double; $450 single. 585/703-9237; savourlife.com.

March 9 – 10 through Feb 2014: Four Seasons Permaculture Design Certification, one introductory weekend, March 9 – 10, followed by monthly Sunday sessions, 9 am – 5 pm. This 72-hour course will give participants a comprehensive understanding of permaculture principles & ethics; design processes, methodologies & tools; and how they can be applied to create regenerative human systems. $900-$1000, sliding scale. Registration required. Rochester Permaculture Center, PO Box 18212, Rochester.

585/506-6505; patty@barefootpermaculture.com; barefootpermaculture.com.

March 13: Make an Everlasting Wreath, 6:30 – 8 pm. Sue Lang and Sheryl Roets will guide participants in creating a large everlasting wreath using a base of salal (lemon leaf) and baby’s breath (depending on availability). Embellish with a selection of dried, fresh and silk floral materials.

Materials included. $65. Registration required.

RCGC March 14: Herbaceous Perennials, 6 – 8:30 pm.

Marcella Klein will focus on perennials that provide a long season of color while requiring minimal upkeep, plus those that flourish under difficult conditions through slide presentation, discussion of planting and maintenance techniques, 3 0 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

handouts and bibliography. $30 members; $40 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 14 – May 2: Botanical Drawing, 8 Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Deb VerHulst-Norris, a horticulturist with a B.S. in Fine Arts, will teach participants to draw plants and flowers in accurate detail. Drawing skills will be developed by closely observing the structure and textures of plants and flowers. Class will explore the use of graphite pencils, with colored pencil added to give depth and definition to drawings. No previous experience needed. $99 members; $120 nonmembers. Registration required. RCGC March 15 – April 19: Botanical Drawing, 6 Fridays, 9 am – 12 pm. See description under March 14. $99 members; $120 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 16: Hydrangea Care and Pruning, 11 am.

Registration required. BRI March 17: DIY Garden Design, 2 – 3 pm. Create your own landscape design, with instruction, then determine how much and what to do yourself. WAY March 20: Basics of Backyard Composting, 6:30 – 8 pm. Elizabeth Whitehouse of Compost International will discuss how to create your own compost, as well as why, from both a personal and global perspective. Free. Registration requested. RCGC March 21: Woody Ornamentals, 6 – 9 pm Christine Froehlich will share her method of categorizing woodies according to shape, structure, growth habit, color and scale to help simplify choices and allow for more effective designs. She will discuss landscape values as well as how to buy and plant them. $36 members; $46 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC March 23: Pruning – The Basics, 9 am – 12 pm.

Mike Tanzini of Ted Collins Tree & Landscape will cover the basic principles of pruning trees and shrubs, including techniques, timing and proper equipment. Outdoor demonstrations, weather permitting. $36 members; $46 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC March 23: Make & Take – Grass Basket, 1 pm.

Registration required. BRI March 23: Seed Starting, 1 pm. Registration required. BRI March 23 – June 15: Pruning Certificate. Three-part program will cover principles and techniques of pruning shrubs and small trees in the home landscape. Classroom instruction supplemented with in-field demonstrations at the appropriate time of year. March 23: Pruning Basics (see above). April 20: Dormant Season Pruning. June 15: Summer Pruning. $94 members; $130 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC March 24: Cuckoo 4 Kokedama, 2 – 4 pm. Learn this unique technique in which any type of plant can be used to create a container-less arrangement to hang or display anywhere. Registration required. WAY March 26 – May 14: Regional Master Gardener Training, Tuesdays, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.

Instructors include Cornell University staff, CCE educators, area experts and Master Gardeners.

Some classes will be viewed using distance learning technology; participants will have the choice to either drive to the presenter’s location or view

the class at a CCE office through live webinar presentation. Contact your local CCE office for more information, cost and to register.

March 26 – May 14: Allegany County Master Gardener Volunteer Training, Tuesdays, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. Master Gardener volunteers answer horticultural inquires, present programs, teach classes, diagnose plant disease and pest problems. Trainees must attend all classes. Fee. 585/268-7644 x12; cc746@cornell.edu.

March 27 – April 24: Residential Landscape Design Certificate, 5 Wednesdays, 6 – 8:30 pm. Landscape designer Mike Tanzini will cover analyzing the site, the plant palette, principles of landscape design and renovation, hardscaping, and techniques for drawing out a plan.

Participants will receive guidance on their drawings and leave with a good start on their project. $210 members; $260 non-members. Registration required. RCGC March 30: Stand Up and Garden, 2 – 4 pm. Author Mary Moss-Sprague will discuss space-saving containers and vertical techniques to use for vegetable gardening. Book signing. Registration required. WAY April 1 – May 6: Introductory Bonsai Course, five Mondays or Wednesdays, 7 – 10 pm. Emphasis on theory and techniques of bonsai design, pruning, wiring and potting. Each lesson consists of slide program, demonstration and workshop.

Five bonsai will be created by each student with the assistance of bonsai artist and educator William N. Valavanis. Materials not included. $90.

Registration required. IBA April 3: Spring Silk Wreath, 7 – 9 pm. Floral designer Alana Miller will guide participants in creating a long-lasting wreath using their choice of silk flowers, ribbon and enhancements. Materials provided. $37 members; $47 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC April 6: Create Your Own Greens Container Garden, 2 – 4 pm. Bring your own container or purchase one before class to fill with a special seed combo that includes many types of greens plus edible flowers like viola and nasturtium.

Registration required. WAY April 6 – 7: Open House, 10 am – 4 pm. BRI April 6 - 7: Flower & Garden Showcase, 10 am – 4 pm. Representatives will be on hand from companies specializing in horticulture, lawn care, organic gardening, patio furniture, grills and more. New plants and products for 2013. Special two day pricing on certain items while supplies last. Free. The Garden Factory, 2126 Buffalo Road, Rochester. 585/ 247-6236; gardenfactoryny.com April 6 – 7: Orchid Show & Sale, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Displays, seminars, vendors. Presented by Genesee Region Orchid Society. $7; children under 12 free.

RMSC Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Avenue, Rochester. geneseeorchid.org.

April 6 – 7: Ikebana Exhibit, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Japanese flower arrangements with orchids, showcasing the styles of various schools of Ikebana. In conjunction with Genesee Region Orchid Society Show & Sale (above). $7; children under 12 free.

RSMC Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Avenue, Rochester. ikebanarochester.org.

The Art of Lighting...

Epitomized!

Luminated Landscapes, Inc. 1216 Quaker Road | East Aurora, NY 14052 | 716-655-7319 | luminatedlandscapes.com

Calendar ROCHESTER continued April 7: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. Tours conducted by Community Forester Volunteers of Monroe County Cooperative Extension. Moderate hills, wooded trails. Meet: kiosk, Zoo Road. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@gmail. com.

April 9: Bonsai Workshop, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Joe Gallea will cover the basics of caring for bonsai.

Participants will receive a starter plant to transplant, trim and artistically landscape. Materials included. $60. Registration required. RCGC April 9 – 25: Basic Professional Floral Design Certificate, 6 sessions, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30 – 9 pm. Professional floral designer Alana Miller will guide students through the basic principles and techniques of floral design. Each class will include lecture and hands-on workshop.

Styles discussed will include round, triangular, vase, symmetrical, elongated, corsages and more. Students will create one or two arrangements to take home at each class. Materials included. $395 members; $495 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC April 10: Volunteer Organizational Meeting & SignUp, 6:30 pm. Meet: Carriage House. Sonnenberg Gardens, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua.

585/394-4922; volunteers@sonnenberg.org; sonnenberg.org.

April 10: Planting and Watering 101, 6:30 pm.

Registration required. BRI April 11: Fun & Funky Art in the Garden, 6:30 – 8 pm. Christine Froehlich’s slideshow will illustrate how ornaments in the garden convey a sense of their owner’s style and personality while developing focal points and adding the element of surprise. Free with new or renewed membership.

Registration required. RCGC April 13: Thousand Acre Swamp Work Day, 9 am.

Volunteer to help keep Thousand Acre’s trails in good condition. Refreshments provided. 158l Jackson Road, Penfield. 585/425-9561; 585/5866677. facebook.com/thousandacreswamp.

April 13: Volunteer Organizational Meeting & SignUp, 10 am. Meet: Carriage House. Sonnenberg Gardens, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua.

585/394-4922; volunteers@sonnenberg.org; sonnenberg.org.

April 13: Make & Take – Spring Living Wreath, 11 am. Registration required. BRI April 14: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. See description under April 7. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@ gmail.com.

April 16: Workshop: Start your Herbs, Veggies & Flowers from Seed, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Joe Gallea will walk participants through the process of planting a variety of herbs, vegetables and flowering annuals in a domed seedling tray to take home. Leave with all the information needed to grow them on, transplant and grow them outside. $40. Registration required. RCGC April 17: Spring Garden Preparation, 6:30 pm.

Registration required. BRI April 18: Combining Plants for Year-Round Color, 3 2 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

6:30-8:30 pm. Garden designer Marcella Klein will spotlight combinations of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs and introduce favorite “All-Star” plants that will brighten the garden all year. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC April 20: Pruning – Dormant-Season Pruning, 9 am – 12 pm. Mike Tanzini will discuss and demonstrate renovation of overgrown shrubs, pruning small trees, and corrective pruning. Prerequisite: Pruning – The Basics (see March 23) or similar pruning class. $36 members; $46 non-members.

Registration required. RCGC April 20: Brookdale Preserve Spring Work Party, 10 am – 1 pm. Work will include spreading mulch and clearing brush. RSVP requested: landprotection@geneseelandtrust.org. GLT April 21: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. See description under April 7. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@ gmail.com.

April 24: Planting and Watering 101, 6:30 pm.

Registration required. BRI April 27: Wake up the Garden for Spring, 10 am – 12 pm. RCGC director Christine Froehlich will discuss assessment and repair of winter damage, pruning, early staking, planting, division and more. Class will take place outside. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required.

RCGC April 27: Warbler and Wildflower Walk, 10 am – 12:30 pm. Join Bob Cooper, retired naturalist at Cumming Nature Center, on a walk to explore everything that’s spring. Alasa Farms, overlooking Sodus Bay. Reservation requested.

GLT April 27: Make & Take – Fruits in Containers, 11 am. Registration required. BRI April 27 – 28: Ikebana Exhibit, 10 am – 5 pm Saturday; 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Demonstrations & arrangements from the various Ikebana schools. Presented by Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53. RIT Barnes & Noble, 100 Park Point Drive, Rochester. ikebanarochester. org.

April 28: Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tour, 2 – 4 pm. See description under April 7. Free; donations appreciated. 585/261-1665; bob.bea@ gmail.com.

April 28: Create Your Own Container Garden, 2 – 4 pm. Bring your own container or purchase one before class, select decorations and get ideas.

Soil provided. Registration required. WAY April 30: Create a Flowering Container Garden, 6:30 – 8 pm. Joe Gallea will bring containers and a wide selection of flowering annuals and accent plants to choose from. Materials included. $40.

Registration required. RCGC S- May 4: Victor Garden Club Plant Sale, 9 – 11 am. Perennials, ground covers, herbs and more grown by members or donated by community members. Victor Free Library, 15 West Main Street, Victor.

May 4: Spring Wildflowers, 10 am. Led by Carl Herrgesell & Frank Crombe. Thousand Acre Swamp Sanctuary, 158l Jackson Road, Penfield.

585/425-9561; 585/586-6677. facebook.com/ thousandacreswamp.

May 4: Edible Landscaping, 2 – 4 pm. Create a unique and beautiful landscape by combining fruit trees, edible fruit vines, herbs, berries and greens with current or new landscape plantings.

Registration required. WAY May 5: Medicinal Edibles Walk, 10 – 11:30 am.

Learn about medicinal properties of local plants.

In conjunction with May Day Celebration at Peacework Farm (below). Arcadia. GLT • May 5: Mother’s Day Combination Planter, 2 – 4 pm. Choose from herbs, annuals, perennials, grasses, orchids and houseplants. Bring your own container or purchase one before class. For all ages. Registration required. WAY May 5: May Day Celebration at Peacework Farm, 2 – 6 pm. Join the Peacework farmers and members of Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture for a day of farm fun.

Maypole dance. Guided walk, 3 pm, will explore Kraii Preserve’s creek-side woods and wildflowers. Potluck supper. Arcadia Zurich Norris Road, Arcadia. gvocsa.org.

May 6 – 7: Hypertufa Garden Troughs, Monday 7 – 9 pm; Tuesday 7 – 8 pm. Alana Miller will guide participants through the creation of their own hypertufa planter. First class: mix and mold the hypertufa. Second evening: unmold your container, discuss wintering it over, and see how Alana uses these planters in the landscape.

Materials included. $65 members; $75 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 8: Miniature Magical Dish Garden, 7 – 9 pm.

Alana Miller will guide participants as they plant a shallow pot with miniature plants and tiny ground covers then landscape it with hardscaping, stones and other ornaments fit for a fairy.

Materials included. $42 members; $52 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 9: Creating Pots with Pizzazz - Using Dwarf Shrubs in Containers, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Learn about new varieties of dwarf shrubs that will work well in containers, with tips on how to choose and combine them. Using slides and hands-on demonstration RCGC director and landscape designer Christine Froehlich will show how to put together combinations that last well into the fall. $22 members; $32 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 10 – 19: Lilac Festival. Highland Park, Rochester.

May 10 – 19: Visit Ellwanger Garden, 10 am – 4 pm. Open during Lilac Festival. Historic landscape originally planted in 1867 by nurseryman George Ellwanger. Few blocks from Lilac festivities. $5 suggested donation. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester. Landmark Society of Western NY, 585/546-7029 x15; landmarksociety.org.

S- May 10 – 19: Master Gardener Plant Sale, 10 am – 8 pm. Locally grown lilacs, organic vegetables and herbs. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and help with selections. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester.

S- May 11: Plant Sale, 8 – 11:30 am. Plants provided by local nurseries and from Master Gardeners’ private collections. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County, 1581 Route 88 North, Newark.

CLOVER

NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER

Est. 1927 www.CloverNursery.com Monroe County’s Oldest Nursery Located near Ellison Park Open 7 Days a Week

485 LANDING ROAD NORTH (585) 482-5372

Large Selection of Hardy Trees & Shrubs

rs & 74 Yea ! g Growin 3100 Niagara Falls Boulevard Amherst, NY 3 miles north of I-290 Niagara Falls Blvd North Exit www.mennenursery.com Annuals, Perennials, Alpines & Herbs Trees, Shrubs & Evergreens Patio Furniture, Weber Grills, Outdoor Living Accessories Paving Stones, Decorative Mulches & Stone Full Service Florist & Greenhouse Bonsai, Orchids, Tropical Plants Home Décor, Gifts, Fine Collectibles

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

Annuals • Perennials • Fertilizer Seed • Bulk Mulch Bagged Mulch • Stone Large Selection of Fine Pottery We offer a variety of lawn and landscaping services.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

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Installation Walkways/Patios Flagstone Unilock Brick Paverstones Keystone Foundation Planting Retaining Walls Excavation & Grading Water Gardens Water Features

Gardening Mulching Topsoil Rototilling Tree Planting Tree Removal Stump Grinding Shrub Pruning Theme Gardens Perennial Gardens Lawn Care Lawn Maintenance

DELIVERY & PLANTING SERVICES AVAILABLE For an estimate please call (585) 244-1626 www.CloverNursery.com

Foundations  Perennial Plantings  Water Gardens Stone Walls, Walks & Patios  Privacy Plantings Rock Gardens  Pond-less Waterfalls Moonlight Gardens  Fairy Gardens

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Calendar ROCHESTER continued S- May 11: Webster Arboretum Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Perennials from standard to uncommon, annuals, lilacs, dwarf conifers, geraniums, dahlias, various garden club offerings and more. 1700 Schlegel Road, Webster. websterarboretum.org.

S- May 11: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Webster Arboretum Plant Sale, Kent Park, 1700 Schlegel Road, Webster.

May 11: Planting the Fittest: Survival in the Darwinian Garden, 9:30 am – 12 pm. Master class with Karen Bussolini. Explore the many adaptations plants have developed to survive various challenges, out-compete other plants, conserve moisture, and avoid being eaten. Learn how to use these principles in landscapes and gardens. $25. Registration required. RCGC May 11: Smell the Roses, 2 – 4 pm. Rose Department will answer questions and make suggestions. WAY

S- May 18: Plant Sale, 9 am – 5 pm. Presented by Henrietta Garden Club. Gro-Moore Farm Market, 2811 East Henrietta Road, Henrietta. henriettagardenclub.org; henriettagardenclub@gmail.com.

September 14: Gathering of Gardeners. Presented

by Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County. gatheringofgardeners.com.

May 18 – 19: Upstate New York Bonsai Exhibition & Sale. Presented by Bonsai Society of Upstate New York. $5. Monroe Community Hospital, corner Westfall & East Henrietta Roads. 585/3342595; bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org.

October 5: Fall Garden Symposium, 10 am – 4 pm. Keynote speaker: Ken Druse. Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua. 585/394-4922; sonnenberg.org.

May 18 – 19: Spring Open House & Sale, 10 am – 5 pm. Displays, bonsai, supplies and unusual plants for sale. IBA May 19: Succulents Container Workshop, 2 – 4 pm. Learn how to combine succulents and other compatible plants into long-lasting container gardens. Winter-hardy for year-round color and easy to bring indoors to enjoy in winter. Bring a container or purchase one before class. Registration required. WAY S- May 25: Proud Market Plant Sale. RCGC S- May 25: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 8 am – 12 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Proud Market Plant Sale, Rochester Civic Garden Center, 5 Castle Park, Rochester.

May 11 – 12; 18 – 19; 25 – 26: Linwood Tree Peony Festival of Flowers, 10 am – 4 pm.

Historic gardens feature a distinguished collection of Japanese and American tree peonies. $8; $12 guided tour. Linwood Gardens, 1912 York Road, Linwood. 585/584-3913; linwoodgardens. org.

S- May 26: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 7 am – 1 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Flower City Days at the Market, Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street, Rochester.

S- May 12: Rochester Dahlia Society Plant Sale, 7 am – 1 pm. Dahlia plants and tubers. Flower City Days at the Market, Rochester Public Market, 280 North Union Street, Rochester.

June 1 – 2: Peony Weekend. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester. Landmark Society of Western NY. 585/546-7029; landmarksociety. org.

May 12 – June 9: Flower City Days at The Market.

Sundays May 12 – June 9; Memorial Day weekend May 24 – 27. Over 250 local nurseries and growers selling plants and garden accessories.

Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union Street, Rochester.

June 2: Iris Show. Presented by Greater Rochester Iris Society. Marketplace Mall, Center Court.

585/599-3502; eschnell@rochester.rr.com.

May 14: Spring Blooms Stroll at Michael Hannen’s Nursery, 6 – 7:30 pm. Michael grows over 800 varieties of plants at his urban home-based nursery. Tour will highlight unusual spring-bloomers.

Arrive early to shop or preview the gardens. $10 members; $15 non-members. Registration required. RCGC May 14 & 16: Intermediate Professional Floral Design Certificate – Bouquets, 6:30 – 9 pm.

Styles covered will include vegetative, landscape, botanical, Biedermeier and bouquets. Students will take home all arrangements created during class. Prerequisite: Basic Professional Floral Design (see April 9-25) or floral shop experience. $150 members; $225 non-members. Registration required. RCGC

June 1: Odyssey to Ithaca. RCGC

June 6 – 9: International Bonsai Colloquium.

Lectures, demonstrations, workshops, sales, special 50th Anniversary exhibition of William N. Valavanis. Registration and fees. Holiday Inn Rochester Airport, 911 Brooks Avenue, Rochester. 585/334-2595.

T- June 19: Garden Tour, 3 – 8 pm. Tour gardens in the Palmyra/Macedon area. Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County Master Gardeners. $10. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County, 1581 Route 88 North, Newark.

315/331-8415.

T- June 22: Backyard Habitat Garden Tour, 9 am – 4 pm. Self-paced, self-guided. Featured gardens in Rochester, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport and along the shore of Lake Ontario. Learn how you can attract and protect wildlife. $12 members; $15 non-members. GLT T- July 13: Summer Garden Tour. RCGC

Save the Date…

S- May 17 – 18: Plant Sale, 10 am – 5 pm Friday; 9 am – 3 pm Saturday. Annuals, home-grown perennials, herbs, hanging baskets, raffle.

Bloomfield Historical Building, South Avenue, Bloomfield. 585/257-5013.

S- May 18: Native Plant Sale, 8:30 am – 2 pm.

Native plants, shrubs, trees, herbs. Brighton Town Hall, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester.

GLT 3 4 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

S- July 29: Iris and Daylily Sale. Greater Rochester Iris Society. Cornell Cooperative Extension Monroe County, 249 Highland Avenue, Rochester. 585/599-3502; eschnell@rochester. rr.com.

S- August 3: Daylily Sale, 9 am – 1 pm. Presented

by Finger Lakes Daylily Society. Choose from nearly 1000 plants, from Webster Arboretum as well as member grown. Bristol Farm Market, 7454 Route 96, Victor. dschlossnagle01@yahoo. com; flds.weebly.com & Facebook.

SYRACUSE REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS African Violet Society of Syracuse meets the second Thursday of the month, September – May, Pitcher Hill Community Church, 605 Bailey Road, North Syracuse. 315/492-2562; kgarb@twcny. rr.com; avsofsyracuse.org.

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

315/633-2437; cnyos.org.

Gardeners of Syracuse meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm, Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Avenue. 315/464-0051.

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

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

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

Koi and Water Garden Society of Central New York usually meets the third Monday of each month at 7 pm. See web site for meeting locations. 315/458-3199; cnykoi.com.

Syracuse Rose Society meets the second Thursday of every month (except December and February) at 7 pm. Public welcome. Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Avenue, Syracuse. Enter from Melrose Avenue. Club members maintain the E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden, Thornden Park, Syracuse. crbau@aol.com; syracuserosesociety.org.

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

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

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

CCE/ONE: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Oneida County, 121 Second Street, Oriskany. 736/3394 x125; counties.cce.cornell.edu/Oneida.

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

S- Indicates plant sales.

T- Indicates garden tours

March 7: Time for Herbs, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Master Gardener Linda Sturtevant will discuss planting, caring for and harvesting herbs focusing on both garden and wild varieties. $5. Registration required. CCE/ONE March 9: Maple Sugaring Workshop, 1 – 3 pm.

Learn tips of the trade from seasoned backyard maple syrup producers and get hands-on experience tapping trees in the Baltimore Woods sugar bush. Includes start-up kit. $25 members; $40 non-members. Registration required before March 7. BWNC March 23: Planning Nature’s Tapestry, 9 am – 12 pm; registration 8 am. Rita Randolph will feature unusual and eye-opening combinations in her talk, Container Tapestries. Claudia West, Wild and Neat, will explore the aesthetic value of native plant species and their highly attractive cultivars, using regionally appropriate native plants. Sponsored by The Men’s Garden Club of Syracuse & Maple Hill Nursery. $40 members; $45 non-members. Registration required. Justin’s Grill, 6400 Yorktown Circle, East Syracuse.

315/428-8256; mensgardenclubseminar@gmail. com.

March 24: Cultivars of Native Plants: Thanks But No Thanks, 2 pm. Dan Segal, owner of native plant nursery The Plantsmen in Ithaca, will discuss the importance of selecting native plants that are not cultivars. Sponsored by Habitat Gardening in Central New York. Free. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool. hgcny. org.

April 10: All-America Selections Vegetable Varieties, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Master Gardener Margaret Murphy will give a brief history of the All-America Association, discuss AAS vegetables, tips on growing from seed and where to purchase seeds. $5. Registration required. CCE/ ONE April 20: Earth Day Event, 10 am – 1 pm. Volunteer pulling garlic mustard or sprucing up the grounds, gardens, or trails. Volunteers will be treated to lunch featuring garlic mustard as the special ingredient. Registration required. BWNC April 20: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm.

Join caretaker Audrey Loewer for a walk through the woodland wildflower garden. Each week new species will bloom, Audrey will reveal their medicinal and culinary uses. Garden is handicap accessible, call ahead if assistance is needed.

Donations appreciated. BWNC April 21: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC April 24: Insects: the Good, the Bad, the Interesting and the Unseen, 2 pm. Presented by Jim D’Angelo, director of Sterling Nature Center.

Program will start with the basics of insect identification and classification then will take a closer look at a few insects: some that threaten our ecosystems as well as those that play vital and interesting roles in our environment. Sponsored

by Habitat Gardening in Central New York.

Free. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip Street, Liverpool. hgcny.org.

April 27: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC April 28: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC May 4: Monarch Butterflies and You, 10 – 11 am.

Join Janet Allen to learn simple steps you can take to create a Monarch way station plus how to provide for the needs of other butterflies. $5 members, $15 family; $8 non-members, $25 family. Registration required. BWNC

& BEYOND Frequent host PINE: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, the best remaining example in the world of an inland pine barrens. 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. 518/456-0655; albanypinebush. org

May 4: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC

Classses / Events

May 5: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC

• Indicates activities especially appropriate for children and families.

May 11: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC T- May 12: Mother’s Day Garden Tour at Sycamore Hill Gardens, 11 am – 4 pm. Enjoy over 25 acres of landscaped gardens and ponds with over 500,000 flowering bulbs and 700 flowering trees and shrubs. Proceeds benefit Baltimore Woods. $5 through May 4; $10 after. BWN May 12: Weekend Wildflower Walk, 2 – 3 pm. See description under April 20. BWNC

Save the date…

Ongoing Last Week of May through August: Pick Your Own Lavender, 10 am – 5 pm. Over 2000 plants, 20 different varieties. Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles.

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

S- May 18: Native Plant Sale, 9 am – 2 pm.

Plantasia. Shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, many native plants. Regional vendors, garden and nature related items. Garden volunteers and master gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension Onondaga County will be on-hand to offer gardening advice. Rain or shine. Free.

BWNC May 22: Berries in the Home Garden, 6 – 8 pm.

Topics will range from selecting berry crops for season-long enjoyment to maintaining established plantings, managing weeds, diseases, pests and wildlife. Plus an in-depth look at establishing strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, along with a review of home berry gardener resources. $10. Registration required.

CCE/ONE S- June 22: Herb & Flower Festival, 9 am – 3:30 pm. Vendors. Classes covering beneficial insects, container gardening, herbs, growing berries, ornamental grasses, growing natives. Parker F. Scripture Botanical Gardens. $3 donation. CCE/ ONE July 13 – 14: Finger Lakes Lavender Festival.

Lockwood Lavender Farm, 1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles. 315/685-5369; lockwoodfarm@aol. com; lockwoodfarm.blogspot.com.

March 21: Mapping & Reporting Invasive Species in NY, 7 – 8 pm. iMapInvasives provides an online mapping tool for sharing invasive species data. Learn how to be a citizen scientist and make contributions to help conservation professionals. Free. Registration required. PINE March 22 – 24: Capital District Garden & Flower Show. Garden Escapes. Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, NY. gardenandflowershow.com.

March 31: Discover the Pine Bush, 1 – 2 pm.

Journey into the Albany Pine Bush, experts will guide a one mile hike over rolling sand dunes. $3 per person; $5 per family. PINE April 12 – 14: Great Gardens & Landscaping Symposium. Nine lectures & panels led by nationally and regionally renowned professionals in their fields. Lectures include: The Art of Shade Gardening - Seeing Your Way Out of the Dark; Design Strategies for Great Gardens; The Benefits of Beneficials; Sensational Flowering Shrubs for the Landscape and Their Care; Successful Gardening in Deer Country; The Dazzling NEW Perennial Line-Up for 2013; Forgotten Garden Combinations with Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs and Bulbs; The Heirloom Life.

Garden Marketplace. Day-only: $49. Overnight packages: $288.87 single; $412.74 double.

Equinox Resort, Manchester, VT. pyours.com/ symposium.

Save the date…

May 18 – 19: Trade Secrets, Saturday 10 am – 3 pm; Sunday 10 am – 4 pm. Saturday: Rare plant and garden antiques sale, $35. Sunday: Tour four privately owned gardens, $60 advance; $70 day of. Proceeds benefit Women’s Support Services.

Tickets on sale April 1. Sharon, CT. 860/3641080; tradesecretsct.com.

Deadline for Calendar Listings for the next issue (MayJune) is Friday, April 12, 2013. Please send your submissions to deb@upstategardenersjournal.com.

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 35

Spring...a Blooming Gift!

Easter Plants Azaleas, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilies, Hydrangeas, Reiger Begonias, Mini Daffs, Violets, Regal Geraniums, Mini Spring Gardens, Mini Roses Decorated Floral Gifts & Much More!

Great Gardens Start at Galley’s!

Large Selection of Spring Bedding Plants Annuals • Hanging Baskets • Perennials Herbs • Vegetable Plants 2722 Clinton Street between Harlem & Union (Gardenville) West Seneca, NY 14224 (716) 822-9298 • Open year ‘round

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Perennials • Roses • Groundcovers • Vines • Houseplants • Pottery • Fountains • Garden Art • Specialty Foods • Gift Baskets • Gift Cards Annuals • Geraniums • Specialty & Combo Pots Home Grown Fruits and Vegetables In Season

Look for the Red Barn!

4415 Southwestern Blvd. Between South Park & McKinley Hamburg, NY 14075 • www.zittels.com (716) 649-3010

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Announcing the 4th Annual

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

A Family Tradition Since 1854

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10” Hanging Baskets—Thousands to choose from Annuals & Perennials—Gallons & 4½” Pots Proven Winners Geraniums Vegetable Plants for Home Gardeners Seeds Gift Certificates Available Don’t forget our Senior Discount every Wednesday!

Open April 19 - October 31, 2013 Open Monday - Saturday 8 am - 8 pm Sunday 8 am - 5 pm

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Higbie Farm Supplies, Inc.

from our family to yours

3440 South Union Street North Chili, NY 585-594-8300 Open year-round Closed Sundays & Mondays

www.higbiefarmsupplies.com

Come visit our new glass greenhouse!

Opening the week of March 18th...

Stop in for your Easter plants Over 6000 square feet of

• Annuals

• Perennials • Tropical Plants • Houseplants • Herbs

Murray Bros. Nurseries & Garden Centre Corner of Transit and Rt. 20A, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Member, Western New York State Nursery & Landscape Association Certified Nursery & Landscape Professionals on staff

Your garden is getting ready to turn over a new leaf.

We’re growing them in spades for you to chose from.

We also have spades.

Opening April 21

23 Pannell Circle • Fairport, NY 14450 (585) 223-8951 • Fax (585) 486-1551 Hours: Mon-Sat 8-7 • Sun 9-4 www.lucasgh.com

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

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Hosta, Hellebores, Herbs, Perennials Unusual Trees & Shrubs, Roses, Annuals Huge Selection of Glazed Pottery

PALMITER’S GARDEN NURSERY 2675 Geneseo Road, Rt. 39 s Avon, New York 14414 (585) 226-3073 s palmitersgardennursery.com

Create the backyard of your dreams!

Bring in your used plastic trays, pots, and hanging baskets for 10¢ per pound in credit to spend on plants!

We will pay for up to 40 pounds but you’re welcome to bring as much plastic as you would like to recycle.

9855 Heroy Road, Clarence Center NY 14032 716/741-3976 lavocatsnursery.com Visit us on Facebook!

Poly-wood all weather furniture • Made in uSa from recycled milk jugs • Comes with a 20-yr warranty against fading, chipping, cracking • resists mildew • uV stabalized to prevent fading • all hardware is stainless steel • 20 color choices available

The Farmer’s Daughter 5870 davison rd., akron, ny 14001 www.thefarmersdaughtergifts.com 716-472-4673

rejuvenating nutrient rich beneficial microbial activity produced on a local family farm available in bags or bulk, or mixed with mulch

Branch out or specialize!

Cultivate your horticulture skills.

Whether you want to refresh your skills or pick up new ones, FLCC’s Horticulture classes are designed to offer the experience and education you need to take your career to new heights.

To get started, get in touch with FLCC! call: 585.785.1000 email: onestop@flcc.edu visit: www.flcc.edu/horticulture

Call 585.739.3761 for more information 7058 Lamont Road, Portageville, NY 14536 www.bessiesbestcompost.com

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Specializing in Hanging Baskets

Carrying the new blight resistant Devine impatiens A huge array of Vegetable Plants,

41/2” crops, Flats, Patio Tomatoes, Seeds,

Potted Planters, Pottery, & much more…

Nothing tastes better than veggies picked from your OWN garden!

We still believe in old fashion customer service For a sneak peek and gardening tips, visit

bedfordsgreenhouse.com Friend us on Facebook

Our Season Opens May 1st Exclusive grower of the “Plant for Hope” hanging basket!

Bedford’s presents Plant for Hope fundraiser, May 18th, 10-4.

All proceeds to benefit patients at Roswell Park.

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Spring

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Cross Point Studio 132 Cross Point Road, Edgecomb ME 04556 jskoopus.com • 207/687-2108

BOSTON HILL NURSERY

& Garden Center Trees

Saturday April 6 from 10 AM to 4:30 PM at Dewitt Middle School, Warren Road, Ithaca

Shrubs Perennials

Talks and hands-on workshops on organic vegetable gardening, growing herbs, seed saving, beneficial insects and pests, home fruit growing, deer-proofing your garden, native plants, pruning, school gardening and more! The Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand for soil and pH testing, and the Ithaca Children’s Garden staff will provide children’s gardening activities.

Early bird registration (until March 15): $60.00 After March 15 registration: $75.00 Registration includes your choice of five workshops, a box lunch, soil testing and children’s activities.

For more information or to register, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County at (607) 272-2292 or go to www.ccetompkins.org/garden

Bulk soils and mulches Bagged soils and mulches

Free Catalog 7421 Old Lower East Hill Rd. • Colden, NY 14033 (716) 662-7411

visit us at www.bostonhillnursery.com

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

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

Spring Open House

March 22 - 24 Open 9 - 5 Nursery Open Monday–Friday: 8–5:30 Saturday & Sunday: 9–5

Closed Easter Sunday Mail: 1104 Auburn Rd., Groton, NY 13073 (Rte. 34 in N. Lansing bet. Ithaca & Auburn) Tel: 607-533-4653 email: info@bakersacres.net www.bakersacres.net Visit Rae’s Roost Nature Shop While at Bakers Acres

TOURS & LUNCHEONS OR TOURS & TEAS Celebrate Chautauqua County with an outing at the historic Cherry Creek Inn and its lovely gardens. Tour the “Currier & Ives” Old Order Amish country or sites on the “Bicentennial Passport” (included with all tours).

Amish-style luncheon includes baked chicken, salads, Amish homemade bread & pies, coffee/tea/lemonade.

Tours & luncheons are usually from 10 am to 2 pm ($32 pp).

Teas include delectable sandwich, savory, and sweet courses.

Tours & teas are generally scheduled 1 - 5 pm ($32 pp).

For reservations: Carol Lorenc 716 962-3412 • lorencfoxefarm@netsync.net

Cherry Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast 1022 West Road (Cr 68) Cherry Creek, NY 14723 (716) 296-5105 Luxurious accommodations in Amish country for a day, weekend or longer getaway. Garden parties & events.

505 FILLMORE AVENUE TONAWANDA 716-743-8007

Natural selections

Impatiens — Opportunity or Impasse?

by Colleen O’Neill Nice

L

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SunPatiens Vigorous Magenta is fast growing and impressive in large beds. © Sakata Ornamentals.

SunPatiens Spreading White is dramatic with variegated foliage. © Sakata Ornamentals.

4 4 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

ast summer, after spending a few days out of town, I returned home to find my impatiens severely wilted. While watering them, I noticed that most of the leaves were yellow and distorted. By the next morning, the stems collapsed into a heap of yellow mush. Of course I blamed my husband. What could he have done to them while I was gone?

A few weeks later I received an email describing the now infamous impatiens downy mildew. This fungal-like organism had been attacking common garden impatiens all summer long, spreading to thirty-three states. Impatiens walleriana, both vegetatively propagated and seed-raised, were susceptible. Fusion, Fiesta and Patchwork interspecific hybrids with I. walleriana parentage were all affected. Fungal spores overwinter in the soil, so if you had it last year, you very likely will again. Why not embrace this unexpected opportunity to try something new?

Your Options for Bedding and Hanging Bags “Seed grown” annuals in flats are economical and offer endless foliage and flower color combinations.

Fibrous or wax begonias are available with shiny green or bronze foliage. Keep in mind that the bronze-leaved plants prefer full sun, while the green-leaved plants

thrive in partial shade. Flower colors include white, scarlet, deep rose and light pink. Wax begonias are tough and compact, bloom from spring until frost and form a solid mass of color if spaced twelve inches apart. The Garden Factory in Rochester will suggest wax begonias to their customers as one of the many substitutes they offer for impatiens. It will continue to sell flats of I. walleriana, which is a very popular shade plant in our area, but they will be cutting back on the number of impatiens they grow and plan to educate both their employees and their customers about downy mildew.

“Try heat and humidity-loving torenia,” suggests Christopher Lavocat, of Lavocat’s Family Nursery.

He grows the Kauai series and describes it as “a phenomenal performer in the garden.” Trumpet-shaped flowers with vivid bicolor and tricolor combinations include yellow, blue, burgundy, magenta, rose, purple and white. Torenia spreads from one to two feet, forming an eight-inch tall mound. Blanketed with blooms from spring until fall, it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Coleus offers awesome, all-season color in a shady garden. “We grow the Fairway series in flats. They seem to be the best in our trials,” explains Lavocat. This series includes a wide range of colors,

grows eight to ten inches tall and has a multi-branching habit. Be creative when planning your beds. Plant a coleus ‘mix’ in one section of your garden, then use a complimentary single-color coleus in another area.

In a third bed, try two contrasting coleus to create a tapestry of color. Your garden will look and feel more cohesive with the use of repetition in both color and plant material.

At Weeks Nursery and Greenhouse in Clarence, owner Tom Pfentner is trying something new in flats.

He will be growing the New Guinea Divine impatiens (I. hawkerii) in 32-cell flats so the larger cells can accommodate the larger root system. Low maintenance and heat tolerant, Divine has a mounded upright habit and blooms from spring until late summer. Deep green foliage is the perfect contrast for cherry red, white, lavender, orange, light pink, violet and scarlet blooms. Pink pearl and orange bronze have green/ coppery leaves. Divine grows ten inches tall and wide in partial sun to shade. Pfentner is also increasing his flat production of vinca (Madagascar periwinkle).

According to Pfentner, “Vinca has a very similar flower to garden impatiens and grows well in partial shade.”

It blooms from spring until fall and is drought tolerant once established. Plants grow six to twelve inches tall and eight to ten inches wide. Colors include apricot, orange, blush, icy pink, deep pink, cherry, orchid, lilac, lavender blue, red, cranberry, ruby, rose, and white.

It thrives in hot, humid summer weather, if provided excellent soil drainage.

The delicate and dainty blooms of lobelia and browallia are great options for your shade garden. “We offer both the upright and trailing Lobelia erinus in flats”, says Sally Cook, manager of annuals and perennials at Menne Nursery in Amherst. Shades of sky blue, rose, white, midnight blue, violet and lilac are enticing. Plants grow six to eight inches tall with a twelve inch spread and prefer a cool location with a north or east exposure. “Lobelia does benefit from a trim after the first flush of blooms,” adds Cook, “and thrives in evenly moist, rich soil.” Browallia speciosa is a low maintenance, long blooming charmer also sold in flats. A tidy, mounding plant, it flowers in shades of blue, deep indigo and white from June to September. Growing just a foot tall and wide, browallia requires consistent moisture (mulch is recommended) and compost-rich soil.

“Many gardeners plant their impatiens in part or full sun beds,” says Lavocat, “so we suggest SunPatiens.” They have a vigorous root system that allows them to thrive in heat, without wilting in full sun or part shade. Flowers, available in myriad colors, are two to three inches wide and bloom from spring until frost. Three distinct plant habits are available and recommended for various uses. “Vigorous” is fast growing, forms an upright, V-shape and provides a mass of color in large beds. It grows three to four feet tall and just as wide. “Compact” grows in a tight mound,

dense and bushy, just two to three feet tall and wide.

And “spreading,” recommended for landscape beds as well as hanging baskets, grows 30 to 40” tall and up to three feet wide. Since the SunPatiens are grown from cuttings, rather than seeds, they are not grown in flats.

Lavocat notes, “The cost of SunPatiens is substantially more, but each plant covers the same area that eight or more walleriana would cover.”

Your Options for Containers and Hanging Baskets In containers, window boxes, vertical gardens and hanging baskets, you can, of course, use any of the bedding plants mentioned above. But sometimes you don’t need an entire flat of just one cultivar for mixed containers. Experimenting with new colors, forms and textures can give your garden a fresh look and more flexibility. Look for annuals in four and a half inch pots, primarily grown from cuttings.

Begonias have taken the stage, front and center, with amazing trailing hybrids perfect for hanging baskets and containers. The Million Kisses series includes ‘Honeymoon’, ‘Amour’, ‘Elegance’ and ‘Devotion’ with blooms of yellow, dark red, blush pink and velvety red, respectively. Last summer, Wisley, a world-class garden in Great Britain, used award winning ‘Devotion’ extensively for their summer displays. Double blooms adorn the Bon Bon series of begonias in ‘Cherry’ or ‘Sherbet’ (pale yellow with a blush of pink). They are great performers in the garden, blooming from June through September. Bon Bons tolerate both hot, dry conditions and prolonged wet conditions. Self cleaning flowers are low maintenance and do not require deadheading.

Experiment with Begonia Bonfire for a profusion of exotic blooms from spring until fall. Three colors are available. Bright red-orange flowers compliment rich

ABOVE: Redhead Coleus makes a bold statement when used as a bedding plant. © Ball Horticultural Company

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 45

Plants that Work for You

Amanda’s Garden Native Perennial Nursery

Spring Wildflowers Days Saturday and Sunday, May 4th & 5th 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Celebrate Native Plants: Come tour our gardens, many spring wildflowers will be in bloom. Rare native wildflowers in a garden setting. Large selection of potted native perennial plants available.

Open weekends from 9 am to 5 pm beginning April 6, 2013 Amanda’s Garden • 8410 Harpers Ferry Road, Springwater, NY 14560 (585) 750-6288 • amandasgarden@frontiernet.net www.amandagarden.com

Franklinville – Machias Area Enchanted Herb Gardens 9294 Route 16 Machias, NY 14101

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Specialist Nursery in Deer Resistant Plants ................................

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Sonnenberg Volunteer Informational Meetings Wednesday, April 10 at 6:30 PM or Saturday, April 13 at 10:00 AM at Sonnenberg’s historic Carriage House (use Fort Hill Avenue entrance)

Many options available: regular weekly or monthly hours, or one time event or project support!

From year-round horticultural and maintenance help to seasonal support in the mansion, wine center, gift shop, admissions, transportation and special events areas, Sonnenberg needs your skills and service! Volunteers of all ages will find a bevy of ways their helping hands can benefit Sonnenberg.

We always welcome newcomers!

volunteers@sonnenberg.org www.sonnenberg.org 585-394-4922 151 Charlotte Street Canandaigua

Join us in celebrating

Wayside’s 40 Years of Growing – Thanks to YOU!

1973

2013

farm market & nursery, inC. 5353 W. Lake Rd. • Burt, NY 14028

716-778-5733

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Call on Us Year-Round for All Your Gardening Needs

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: The intriguing blooms of Romeo Orange Basket Diascia. © Ball Horticultural Company The low maintenance, Sherbet Bon Bon Begonia, has self cleaning blooms. © Ball Horticultural Company Dark bronze foliage offsets bright orange blooms on Sparks Will Fly Begonia. © Ball Horticultural Company 4 8 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

green serrated foliage, chocolate plum leaves highlight deep reddish-orange flowers and scarlet flowers dance above red edged, green foliage. Plants grow 20 inches tall and wide, display a rounded growing habit and can be used in garden landscapes as well as hanging baskets and containers. Bonfire blooms in full sun, partial shade and full shade. It tolerates both dry and wet weather conditions.

Create an impressive container with tropicallooking Begonia hybrid ‘Gryphon’. Large, showy, deeply serrated leaves of dark green are accented with silverstreaks. Easy to grow indoors or out, ‘Gryphon’ is water efficient and reaches two and half feet tall and wide.

Try pairing it with Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ and Euphorbia graminea ‘Diamond Frost’. Gryphon also harmonizes well with Kong Coleus, Divine New Guinea impatiens, plectranthus and DragonWing begonias.

Vigorous and heat tolerant, the DragonWing series performs exceptionally well in my garden, providing drama to mixed containers and window boxes.

Try these gems in your garden beds too! They have stunning, large angel wing leaves and red or pink cascading flowers that bloom continuously. They grow from twelve to fifteen inches tall with about the same spread. DragonWing begonias are not fussy or demanding and get my kudos for low maintenance. BabyWing, the compact version of DragonWing grows twelve to fifteen inches tall with a twelve inch spread. Pink or white blooms complement green foliage. New this year is a white blooming variety with deep bronze foliage.

Begonia x hybrida ‘Sparks Will Fly’ flaunts bronze foliage to showcase its tangerine-orange blooms that transition to yellow in the fall. It has a mounding habit, growing fifteen to eighteen inches tall and wide.

Use this blazing begonia at the front of your border or in containers in partial to full shade. My last begonia to extol is the big, bold and colorful Whopper series.

This vigorous plant grows 34 inches tall with a 22 inch spread and flourishes with extra large flowers from spring until fall. BallSeed recommends “creating 55 MPH drive-by color” with the Whopper in garden beds or large containers. Both red and rose are available with bronze or green leaves.

Why not invigorate your shade with a redhead or two? Solenostemon scutellariodes ‘Redhead’ is a new coleus with bright red leaves and an upright growth habit. Maryjo Bedford of Bedford’s Greenhouse in Akron suggests, “Try pairing up ‘Redhead’ with ‘Wasabi’, which has brilliant chartreuse, serrated foliage. Both are durable and robust.” Also new this season is ‘Sultana’ with burgundy and lime green scalloped foliage, ‘Henna’ featuring stunning scalloped yellowgreen to copper foliage with deep burgundy undersides, and ‘Mint Mocha’ with mottled, ducksfoot-shaped foliage of green, yellow and red. The preceding coleus thrive in full sun and shade and grow 18 to 28 inches tall and 16 to 28 inches wide, depending on the cultivar. “The Kong coleus with large, patterned leaves, are great for part to full shade” recommends Bedford, “where they retain their bright foliage colors. You can sustain a robust, bushy habit by pinching coleus back regularly throughout the summer.” Colors include red, scarlet, rose, mosaic and salmon pink. Plants grow eighteen to twenty inches tall and fifteen to eighteen inches wide.

For coleus chocoholics, try ‘Chocolate Covered Cherry’, which blends a rose-colored leaf center with deep mahogany edging and lime green margins,

‘Chocolate Splash’, which spotlights chartreuse leaves with chocolate spatterings, and ‘Chocolate Mint’, which combines a rich mocha shade with mint green edges.

Growing twelve to sixteen inches tall and ten to sixteen inches wide depending on cultivar, the chocolate series flourishes in full sun or shade There is definitely a size, color and growth habit for every garden situation.

Do you need more ideas? Sweet potato vines are incredible in shade and Proven Winners offers a complete line for any garden situation. The Ipomoea batatas Illusion series consists of ‘Emerald Lace’, ‘Midnight Lace’ and ‘Garnet Lace’. This trio is compact, with dissected, delicate foliage in shades of chartreuse, purple/ black and burgundy. They grow six to ten inches tall and trail up to four feet. Use in window boxes, containers and landscape beds. The Sweet Caroline series includes nine varieties with three distinct growth habits. ‘Bewitched’, is the most compact with an upright, mounding growth habit. It grows six to eight inches tall and trails up to two feet. ‘Sweetheart’ has a moderately compact habit heart shaped leaves, and grows six to eight inches tall and trails up to five feet. ‘Sweet Caroline’ has a trailing habit with three-lobed leaves and five color choices. Use these interesting vines in hanging baskets, mixed containers or as an annual ground cover in borders. They are easy to grow, vigorous and perform well in heat.

Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ and ‘Emerald Falls’ offer a truly cascading habit in hanging baskets and containers. Tiny, rounded leaves on long, delicate stems trickle down on these very drought and heat tolerant plants. ‘Silver Falls’ has a metallic look with silver green foliage, while ‘Emerald Falls’ is a clear, deep green. Just three to four inches tall with a spread of

three to four feet, this foliage favorite spreads rapidly, rooting at nodes along the stems. It can be used as a ground cover in well draining beds and prefers sun or part shade.

For a whimsical blast of color, adopt Hypoestes phyllostachya, commonly called the polka dot plant.

Green leaves are splashed with red, pink, rose or white.

This indoor/outdoor plant grows four to eight inches tall and four to six inches wide, perfect for a sheltered fairy garden. Hypoestes prefers moist soil and can be pinched back to promote branching. Take cuttings in late summer to overwinter as houseplants.

Often mistaken for coleus, Perilla frutescens ‘Magilla Purple’ combines striking colors of green, pink and burgundy on large leaves. A vigorous grower, it fills in quickly, especially in landscape settings. Grown in sun or shade, it is low maintenance, heat tolerant and a thrilling garden performer.

Free-flowering Plectranthus x hybrida ‘Mona Lavender’ features velvety green foliage with purple undersides and spikes of dark lavender flowers. I grow this plant in part shade as a cut flower in hanging baskets and containers. The blooms are long-lasting in a vase. With an upright habit, it grows twelve to sixteen inches tall and two to three feet wide. Plectranthus roots easily, so take cuttings before frost to overwinter indoors. Plectranthus coleoides ‘Nico’ (green foliage), ‘Nicolleta’ (woolly silvery gray foliage) and ‘Variegata’ (green with cream scalloped edges) grow just eight to ten inches tall with a semi-prostrate habit spreading one to three feet. Use it as an accent plant in containers or as a ground cover.

Diascia barberae, a relative of the snapdragon, is a delicate, frothy plant perfect for part shade. The

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Stand back! The amazing electric-green foliage of Wasabi Coleus is intense. © Ball Horticultural Company The abundant blooms of Mona Lavender Plectranthus complement the dark green leaves of this shade-loving plant. © Ball Horticultural Company Lemon yellow flowers blanket Million Kisses Honeymoon Begonia in this hanging basket. © Ball Horticultural Company

UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 49

Romeo series, which was bred specifically for hanging baskets, is vigorous and mounding. Dazzling flower hues offer a colorful display. Plants grow seven to nine inches tall and eight to ten inches wide. The compact, upright habit of the Juliet series is suitable for window boxes and containers. Just six to eight inches tall and four to six inches wide, this is another great plant for a fairy garden.

For a tropical look in the shade, try Porphyrocoma pohliana, commonly called Maracas Brazilian fireworks.

Magenta flower bracts are highlighted with purple flowers that sit atop deep green leaves embellished with silver veins. Hummingbirds love the vivid flowers on this eight inch tall and wide plant. I grow mine in a part shade, offset by the glossy green foliage of Asarum europaeum. My plants get overwintered indoors under grow lights. When flowering, they thrust tiny black seeds into neighboring pots or on the floor. Seeds will germinate at temperatures above 64˚F. So you decide. Will you take this opportunity to

INSET: Henna Coleus is brilliant in a container all season long. © Ball Horticultural Company

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try some new plants in your garden? Or will you create an impasse and continue to grow garden impatiens?

According to Bedford, “The plant breeders are asking growers like ourselves to stop growing and selling I. walleriana. We can sell our customers healthy, diseasefree impatiens, but once they get the plants home in their gardens, the disease can attack within a week or two.

It can travel by wind or water splash from a neighbor’s garden or reside in your soil. We were advised that downy mildew disease could persist in the soil and air for three to five years.”

The Bedfords’ original strategic plan for the 2013 growing season included cutting their crop of impatiens by fifty percent. Since doing research and attending a growers’ conference, they have decided not to grow any I. walleriana. To put this into perspective for the home gardener, the Bedford’s have grown 10,000 hanging baskets of impatiens yearly, not to mention flats for bedding. “We are doing this for our customers,” they say.

Colleen O’Neill Nice is a passionate gardener in Clarence, NY and specializes in fern propagation. Visit her web site at gardensbycolleen.com.

From the garden

Buttermilk Pancakes with Maple Syrup Apples Serves 4 Apples 2 T. unsalted butter 3 large Golden Delicious apples (1 1/2 pounds), peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 1 T. plus 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples and 1 T. maple syrup.

2. Sauté until apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in remaining 1/2 cup maple syrup and cinnamon.

Pancakes 1 cup all purpose flour 2 T. yellow cornmeal

2 T. golden/light brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt 1 large egg 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1.Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl; whisk to blend.

2. Whisk buttermilk, yogurt, and egg in medium bowl to blend; add to dry ingredients and stir until just blended but still lumpy. Gently mix in 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter.

3. Heat griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spread thin coating of butter over griddle and let melt. Working in batches, drop batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto

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griddle, spacing apart. Cook pancakes until brown on bottom and bubbles form on top, about 3 minutes. Turn pancakes over and cook until bottoms are brown and pancakes are barely firm to touch. Transfer to plates.

4. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter to griddle as needed.

Serve. Spoon apples and additional maple syrup over pancakes.

Recipe courtesy Marion Morse, Allyn’s Creek Garden Club

Join us in celebrating

Wayside’s 40 Years of Growing – Thanks to YOU!

1973

2013

Acres of Trees,Shrubs, Perennials & Annuals Hundreds of Hydrangea Varieties

Carol’s Homemade Hanging Baskets

Open Daily Year-Round

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

Call on Us Year-Round for All Your Gardening Needs UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 51

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Rooted

Natural egg dyes, simplified

by Christina Le Beau

W

e moved right after Easter last year, so I hadn’t been looking forward to my usual habit of making from-scratch egg dyes. It’s not hard. It’s not even time-consuming. But when your house is turned upside down and you’re purging most of what you own, well, who needs one more thing to do, you know? So I caved and bought a natural eggdyes kit. Except I never used it. We never even dyed eggs. Things just got too nuts.

But this year we’re back in a groove, (mostly) re-settled, and ready to once again break out the cooking pots. The web is awash in tutorials for homemade natural dyes, one more elaborate than the next, with detailed instructions and fancy techniques and killer photography. And kudos to all those kitchen-crafty 5 6 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

people who make things so darn pretty.

But here’s what we do, egg dyeing at its simplest: 1. Hard-boil a bunch of eggs. Doesn’t matter if they’re white or pastel or brown. Each one lends itself to great color variations. (But choose local, pastured eggs if you can. Farmers’ markets and natural-foods stores are great places to find those.)

2. On your stove, set out four pots* with two cups of water each.

3. To one pot, add a hefty teaspoon of turmeric powder (that’s your yellow). To another, add a couple handfuls of chopped red beets, either fresh or jarred (that’s pink). To a third, add two cups of frozen blueberries or blackberries (your blue). Bring the pots to boiling, then let them simmer five minutes.

4. For the fourth pot, boil the water separately, then turn off the heat and add the contents of six chlorophyll capsules, which can be found in natural-foods stores (that’s your green).

5. After everything has cooled, strain out the chunky bits, then add a teaspoon of vinegar to each the beets (pink) and berries (blue).

6. Dunk eggs. Maybe mark them with crayons for fun designs. Keep dunking and cross-dunking and letting them soak a bit until you get colors you like. Be happy.

Finally: Why bother with natural dyes? It’s fun, for one. But it’s also safer. Artificial food colors are linked to long-term health problems. They can have devastating effects on children’s behavior and ability to learn.

And government regulators and food manufacturers have failed to prove dye safety, despite their rampant use in our food supply. In short: All risk. No benefit.

And who needs that in their Easter basket? *If you don’t have four pots, use a teapot to boil the water for the chlorophyll capsules. That one doesn’t need to simmer, so you can easily pour out two cups of water and mix the green in a separate bowl.

Christina Le Beau lives in Rochester. She blogs about raising food-literate kids at www.spoonfedblog.net. A version of this essay originally appeared on Spoonfed.

A mystery grows at Chimney Bluffs Chapter 4: “Trespassers in the conservatory”

by Jonathan Everitt Illustration by Steve Smock High-school seniors Sean and Brett were cutting class for a good cause. They had a history paper due.

This freezing February morning, Brett pulled up to a coffeehouse on Monroe where his partner in crime was waiting. The pair slipped out of Rochester in Brett’s Honda, and flew down the expressway toward Canandaigua. The expedition would lead them to a castle built by a banker long ago—now a sprawling museum and grounds.

“So. Why this place?” Sean asked, peering out the passenger window as they pulled into the snow-covered estate.

Brett turned off the car, grabbed his backpack, and stared back at Sean through his black shades.

“Old story I heard from my aunt,” Brett said. “At least two papers’ worth of material.

Seriously.”

“I’m supposed to write about Great Lakes sailors,” Sean objected.

“That’s why we’re here,” Brett teased, popping open his car door.

The two stepped out into the empty parking lot. Sean tightened his wool scarf, blinked in the morning light and studied their destination. He’d expected a mansion of stone.

But this was a palace of glass.

“Last of its kind,” Brett said with a curator’s air.

The vast conservatory gleamed in the glaring sun, a colorless cathedral worthy of Oz. “C’mon,” Brett said, gesturing toward the structure. “I know a way in.”

Inside, hazy sunlight filtered in through the ceiling. Tall palm trees and lacy ferns nodded quietly in the moist climate. Lost in awe, Sean fell behind as Brett went deeper into the labyrinth. He soon heard Brett’s voice bounce off glass somewhere ahead.

“Think I heard a car,” came the warning in a stage whisper. “Gotta make it quick.”

Sean followed the sound and found Brett stopped in his tracks in another wing. The space glowed, paint-thick with golden daffodils. Everywhere, yellow trumpets burst up through terra cotta pots.

“Whoa—” Sean gasped as he began to wade into the sea of color.

Brett grabbed his arm.

“The Chimney Bluffs,” he said as Sean turned to him. Then, looking back, murmured, “So it’s true.”

A distant, creaking door broke the room’s spell.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice called timidly.

By the time she reached the wing where the boys had stood in wonder, they were gone. Now her own eyes widened at the out-of-season spectacle. A day ago, the room had been bare.

Outside, a Honda sped out, kicking up gravel and ice. The woman shook her head. Reached for her phone. Glanced downward. At her feet, a battered leather journal rested, freshly dropped. Embossed on it: “1926.”

Brett would soon reach for it in his backpack—and discover it gone.

To be continued UPSTATE GARDENERS’ JOURNAL | 57

Events

Plantasia “Backyard Oasis” Seminar Schedule THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

11 AM: Edible Wild Plants for Landscape Use, Ken Parker/Joint Venture with Nature Consulting Noon: Landscape Design Made Easy, Mike Frank, Chevalier Outdoor Living

1 PM: Sustainability, What Does it Mean to the Home Gardener, Lynn Chimera, Lessons from Nature

1 PM: Plant Projects for Children, Julie McDonald – Grower, Erie County Botanical Gardens

2 PM: Things Gardeners Should Know but Don’t, Ken Brown, Host, WBEN Radio (930 AM Dial)

2 PM: Think Green! It’s Spring, Dorothy Julius, Along Gardens Path

3 PM: All you Wanted to Know About Plant Parenthood, Terry Ettinger, Greenhouse Manager for SUNY Department of Environmental & Forest Biology, YNN TV Garden Expert

3 PM: Summer Bulbs, Elizabeth Licata, Editor, Buffalo Spree and Horticulture Speaker 4 PM: Small Fruit Growing, Vicki Jancef, Orleans County Cooperative Extension

4 PM: Hydroponically Speaking, Dave Clark, Horticulture Speaker and Instructor at Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013

5 PM: Ornamental Grasses, Sharon Webber, CNLP. Niagara County Community College & Earth Lines

11 AM: Insects in the Landscape and Their Control, Tom Mitchell, Niagara County Community College Noon: Gardens of the Garden Walk, Jim Charlier, JCharlier Communication Design 1 PM: How to Prevent Deer and Other Critter Damage, Lynn Chimera, Lessons from Nature 2 PM: 45 Gardening Tips in 45 Minutes, Connie Oswald Stofko, Publisher, Buffalo-Niagara Gardening.com 3 PM: Basic Floral Design, Judy Tucholski, 8th District Garden Club Judge 4 PM: How and Why to Light Up Your Landscape, Phil Colarusso, Luminated Landscapes 5 PM: What You Always Wanted to Know About Soils, Mike Gallo, CNLP, SUNY Buffalo State

The letters CNLP after a speaker’s name indicate that he or she is a Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional

5 8 | ma r c h - ap r il 2 0 1 3

Noon: Pruning 101, Sally Cunningham, CNLP & Author, Lockwood’s Greenhouses

6 PM: The Right Plant for the Right Place, Dan Robillard, McKinley High School Horticulture Department SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013

11 AM: What Hosta Where, Mike Shadrack, British Horticulture Speaker and Author (Books available for purchase and signed.)

6 PM: Raised Beds and Container Gardens … Beyond the Box, Dave Clark. Horticulture Speaker and Instructor at Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2013

11 AM: Vegetable Gardening, Tom Mitchell, Niagara County Community College Noon: The Dirt on your Lawn, Terry Ettinger, Greenhouse Manager for SUNY Department of Environmental & Forest Biology, YNN TV Garden Expert 1 PM: WNY’s Fabulous Gardens (and what they teach us) Featuring the Best of the 2012 National Garden Festival Season, Sally Cunningham, CNLP & Author, Lockwood’s Greenhouses 2 PM: Landscape Maintenance, Mike Frank, Chevalier Outdoor Living 3 PM: Well-Designed Container Gardens: Annuals, Perennials and Tropicals, Carolyn Stanko, CNLP, Educator, Niagara County Community College

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