Ear to the Ground

Orchid advice from Jim Marlow

2011-11-26T09:50:00.001-05:00

Oncidium orchid Sharry Baby courtesy kaiyanwong223 / Flickr

This is the full text of an article I published in the Democrat and Chronicle in February of 2011. Due to some inquiries on facebook I am posting it here. -- Jane

“Light is really the most important factor.”

I recently visited orchid man Jim Marlow at his greenhousein Scottsville, and this was the very first thing he impressed upon me aboutorchid care. You can mess around some with temperature and other variables, butif your orchid won’t bloom, chances are it’s not getting the correct light.

The phalenopsis, or moth orchid, is considered the easiestto grow, in part because it is among those that require the least light—about1500 candles. On a sunny day at around noon, hold your hand about 12inches above the orchid. If you see a fuzzy shadow, you have around 1500 footcandles. According to Marlow, that would be set back a little way from an eastor a south window, or a little farther back from a west window. This position,or even a little less light, would also work for the slipper orchid,paphiopedilum.

Oncidiums can take a little more light, directly in aneast or south window or set back from a western exposure. Cattyleas want alittle more, and cymbidium a little more than that. Vandas need to be in agreenhouse, under bright artificial lights or outdoors (in summer). (Vandas alsolike to be watered every day.)

You can tell if your orchids are getting enough light by theleaves. It’s counterintuitive, but dark green leaves are not good. You wantmore of a lime green color.

Orchids also have varying temperature requirements, thoughfor the most part, they enjoy a ten degree—or more—swing between day and night.Cymbidiums require cool temps, down to 45 or 50 degrees at night, in the fall,in order to set buds, which is perfect for our climate—just leave them outsideuntil it gets any colder than that. Like all houseplants, orchids benefit fromsummering outside. Just watch that they don’t get too much sun, and keep themoff the ground.

Intermediate temperatures are considered 55 or 60 degrees atnight, which is about right if you live in an old house like I do. That factor,plus a good window in the dining room, is what prompted me to risk a couple of oncidiumsfrom Marlow’s place. Fingers crossed.

A warmer home, with night temperatures around 65 degrees, isperfect for phalenopsis and certain paphiopedilum.

There is a huge amount of orchid growing information outthere, much of it conflicting. Just jump in, says Marlow, and you’ll start topick up a knack for what they need. The key is to try new things. If aparticular plant isn’t thriving the way you’d like, move it. “Growingorchids—growing anything—is anexperiment.”

New Managing Editor for UGJ

2011-07-01T08:59:00.000-04:00

We’re pleased to announce that Debbie Eckerson, who has long been our calendar editor and subscriptions manager, has taken on the duties of managing editor as of this issue. She is now responsible for maintaining our editorial calendar and working with writers to schedule stories. If you have a story idea you would like to pitch, please email deb@upstategardenersjournal.com.

Strong Spirit for a Fragile World

2011-03-31T15:46:00.000-04:00

Christine Sevilla was an extraordinary person. She was an impassioned environmentalist and a fantastic artist. I loved everything she did, from her gorgeous scanned images of invasive species to her swamp photography to her educational pamphlets, and she never failed to send me samples of everything including her calendars, which I'm so glad I saved. Please see my earlier posts about Christine here and here.

Now Christine's artwork will be offered to the public at a special event benefiting The Christine Sevilla Wetland Preserve (which happens to be in Caledonia, where I live).

From the organizers: On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at 5:30 pm, Christine Sevilla’s friends and colleagues will present an exhibition, sale and silent auction of Christine Sevilla’s visual art in the Williams Gallery of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 Winton Road South.

The event, Strong Spirit for a Fragile World: Christine Sevilla's Visual Art; Exhibition, Silent Auction and Sale, will invite guests to view and purchase pieces from a comprehensive collection of Christine Sevilla’s unique visual interpretations of the natural world, including framed photographs of regional ponds, fields, woods, wetlands and flora. All pieces are original, created by the artist in her lifetime. The exhibition, silent auction and sale are one night only.

For more information, visit christinesevilla.com.

The 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show Tour

2011-01-31T09:16:00.003-05:00

Here this year's Philly Flower Show tour information from Michael Warren Thomas.

See the largest annual indoor flower show in the world,

Longwood Gardens and the artwork of N.C. Wyeth

March 9-10 (Wed.-Thurs.) and March 12-13 (Sat.-Sun.)

The theme for the 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show is Springtime in Paris. For more details, visit www.TheFlowerShow.com. Most people come with me to see the Flower Show, but almost everyone enjoys Longwood Gardens even more. It is so peaceful and relaxing, after the bustle of downtown Philly.

In addition to Longwood Gardens, we will also visit the Brandywine River Museum which highlights the artwork of N.C. Wyeth and his family. The museum is along the banks of the river and beautifully displays the famous original paintings from books like Treasure Island.

First Day - March 9th or 12th

7:30 Depart Rochester from Bristol's Garden Center on Rt. 96 just south of Eastview Mall

11:15 Lunch included near Scranton, PA at The Inn at Nichols Village

3:00 Arrive Philadelphia Flower Show

9:00 Leave show for Hampton Inn in Wilmington, Delaware (same hotel, now a Comfort Inn/Suites

9:45 Arrive at Hotel

Second Day – March 10th or 13th

8:10 Leave for Longwood Gardens (continental breakfast at hotel)

9:00 Arrive Longwood Gardens

12:00 Leave for the Brandywine River Museum, where we will have lunch.

3:00 Leave Brandywine River Museum for dinner in Scranton.

5:30 Arrive at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel for an elegant closing dinner

11:00 Return to Rochester (Bristol's Garden Center)

The 2011 price is $395 per person (double) includes everything except dinner at the Flower Show and lunch at Longwood. Add $55 for a single. Full payment will reserve your spot. Call Michael at 585-703-9237 if you have any questions. Please send a check payable to the address below. Are you ready for spring yet?

Michael Warren Thomas

19 Trafalgar Street

Rochester, NY 14619

585-328-8300

Michael@SavorLife.com

New Building for Cornell Plantations

2010-10-30T09:50:00.002-04:00

The Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center

I had the honor of being among the first to see the new building at Cornell Plantations the other day, and...wow. It's gorgeous. It's very open and airy, but anchored with beautiful stone walls that continue from the outside in, so that when you enter the building, you feel like you're still outside. (Not the most eloquent of sentences, but there you are,) There are louvers to keep sun out in summer and in in winter, a green roof, and get this: real, flushing toilets. I'm not even kidding. Though I am going to miss the super-deluxe high-class porta-potties of yore. Cornell has applied for LEED certification and from what I overheard, will likely get at least silver and is hoping for gold.

Plantations staff hopes to have the building open to the public in January, and there will be a grand opening event May 22 (to coincide with the rhododendron collection's peak bloom time). In June we'll be bringing our usual two busloads down for a special tour. We have groups leaving from Rochester (via the RCGC) and from Buffalo/Batavia.

I'm sure I've mentioned this in the past, but I'll say it again. The garden at Plantations HQ is my all-time favorite garden, ever. Ever. So I can't help but include some gratuitous garden shots.

Fell in love with this Mexican bush sage

Gorgeous

The old building

The old building will continue to house Plantations staff. The new building has no offices, but it has a gorgeous conference room, a larger room for presentations, and a (thank God—this isn't Disney!) small gift shop downstairs. The facility and/or its parts will be available for rent for company retreats, weddings (I assume), etc.

For more images, click here.

Garden Walk Buffalo Call for Poster Artwork

2010-10-15T17:30:00.000-04:00

Submitted by Garden Walk Buffalo

Garden Walk Buffalo is looking for submissions of original artwork for use on the Garden Walk 2011 posters, t-shirts and maps. Artwork must be garden-related and it is preferable that it relate to the type of gardens, flowers, and neighborhoods found on Garden Walk Buffalo in late July.

Submission tips:
Keep it Simple: Artwork needs to reproduce well on a variety of materials. Do not put any type over your design.
Be Different: Try not to use colors or flowers "too similar" to recent artwork used by the GW
For Everyone: Artwork should be considered "wearable and salable" for both men and women

Entries are due Friday, January 28, 2011

It can come in the form of a painting (in any media), a photograph, a drawing, an illustration, or a mixed media work. If you are working digitally, the original art/photo must be 300dpi at 8x10 or larger. Please submit up to five slides, or a CD containing high quality .jpgs to:

Garden Walk Buffalo
PO Box 161
Buffalo, NY 14207

Please do not send original work---slides on CD only. Include a resume and a brief letter explaining why the imagery would be particularly appropriate to Garden Walk.

If you need further information, email your questions to GardenWalkBuffalo@yahoo.com or call at 716-228-1855.

Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden tour in the U.S., is held the last weekend of July each year. In 2010, the free event will be Saturday and Sunday, July 30 & 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 350 residences and businesses throughout the west side of Buffalo open their creative urban gardens for tens of thousands of visitors from around the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.GardenWalkBuffalo.com.

Submitted by Garden Walk Buffalo

Late Breaking Event: "Vertical Gardening" Talk

2010-10-14T10:45:00.000-04:00

Submitted by the Adirondack Chapter of NARGS

Elizabeth Zander, program chair of the Berkshire Chapter of NARGs, will speak on 'Vertical Gardening' at the October 16 meeting of the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society.

“Most alpines in nature grow wherever the wind takes the seed,” she observes. “Many times this can be in a vertical crevice or a slope with loose scree.” Zander will explore how this translates to crevices and screes in the garden.

The meeting is free and open to the public and will be held in 404 Plant Science Building (Whetzel Room) on the Cornell University campus. Brown bag lunch at noon. Program begins at 1:00 p.m.

For more information on this and other events, visit the ACNARGS website at acnargs.blogspot.com.

Submitted by the Adirondack Chapter of NARGS

Four Chances to See Amy Stewart This Week

2010-09-27T17:00:00.004-04:00

Amy Stewart

As I reported in my column this Saturday, renowned author Amy Stewart, of Flower Confidential and Garden Rant fame, is making three appearances in upstate New York this week in support of her latest book, Wicked Plants.

The first, presented by Cornell Plantations, is at Statler Hall Auditorium at Cornell University in Ithaca, Wednesday, 9/29, at 7:30. Click here for more details.

Thursday, 9/30, Stewart will appear at FLCC in Canandaigua. Click here for more details.

Both lectures are free.

On Friday night, there's something else entirely in the works: a fund-raising "Wild and Wicked" dinner for Ganondagan from 6 - 9 pm. Jan Longboat, Mowhawk healer and herbalist, will join Stewart in a presentation accompanied by a meal of native foods. There will be a book signing and, of course, the opportunity to interact with both experts in the intimate environment of a beautiful private home in Mendon. Seating is limited. Tickets are $100 for non-members and $80 for members. For more information or to register, click here.

Saturday, Ganondagan will again present the pair, this time at the Victor Town Hall from 10 am - 2:30 pm. For details and to register, click here.

GOG recap

2010-09-12T15:07:00.001-04:00

I went to the Gathering of Gardeners here in Rochester yesterday—the morning sessions only—and thought I'd relate just a few things I found interesting from each of the two talks.

Bill Hendricks, of Klyn Nursery in Perry, Ohio, is a man who knows his shrubs.

It turns out I've been a little light-handed with one of my fall favorites, Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amythest'. The plant should be cut back hard in the spring, like a buddleia. This will keep it in check size-wise, and it does bloom on new wood (not all do, so check each other species). (My image.)

I've seen sorbaria growing in public gardens in England, and I've always found it very interesting, but I never remember to look it up when I get home. (Here it is, left, at Wisley.) It's also rather large, like a sumac. Bill had images of the truly dwarf 'Sem', however (see below), and I'd love to try that. I dig the tri-colored foliage.

Below that, we have Young Lady (TM) smokebush (cotinus), special in that in blooms on new wood. We also learned that the best yellow (or chartreuse) hops is 'Bianca', and that there's an elderberry that blooms early, has red berries and will thrive in sun or deep shade, Sambucus pubens.

Next up was C. L. Fornari, who was very entertaining and had these tidbits to share (among many others):

- One inch per week is the perfect amount of rain for the standard garden. A rain gauge is a good investment.

- Put used kitty litter in woodchuck holes to repel the rodents.

- Homemade rabbit repellent: 1 beaten egg, one cup milk mixed in 1/2 gallon water.

- Good deer controls: Wireless deer fencing and the Scare Crow motion-activated sprinkler.

- Did you know you can grow beautiful dahlias from cuttings? These are bigger and better, she claims, than her tuber-grown ones. cgdahlias.com.

Dan Snow on Dry Stone Construction—September 18

2010-09-06T16:43:00.000-04:00

Here is an opportunity to learn from one of the most respected names in dry stone walling, and it's entirely FREE.

Submitted by the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society

Vermont artist Dan Snow, the author of In the Company of Stone: the Art of the Stone Wall, will give a presentation on "Dry stone construction: a 'fitting' medium for the rock garden" at the September 18 program of the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society.
Snow has been building with stone since 1972 when he worked on the restoration of a 13th century Italian castle. His dry stone constructions have included stock-proof fences, pillars, stiles, staircases, arch bridges, garden follies, grottos and grandstands, as well as environmental art and non-functional, abstract and figurative works of sculpture. His work has been featured in This Old House and Vermont Life magazines, and the New York Times. For more about Snow and his work, visit: www.inthecompanyofstone.com

The meeting is free and open to the public and will be held in 404 Plant Science Building (Whetzel Room) on the Cornell University campus. Brown bag lunch at noon. Program begins at 1:00 p.m.

For more information on this and other events, visit the ACNARGS website at acnargs.blogspot.com.

Submitted by the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society

IPM Insights - Guardian Plants in Greenhouses

2010-08-15T10:19:00.001-04:00

There's a good article in the new Northeastern IMP Center Insights newsletter about using guardian plants for pest control in greenhouses. The example they use is eggplants for whitefly; the eggplants draw the whitefly away from the greenhouse crops (e.g. poinsettias), plus provide a good place for the whitefly's natural predator, a parasitic wasp, to live. If there are still too many whitefly, major chunks of the population can be controlled just by targeting the guardian plants—the whole greenhouse doesn't have to be sprayed.

IPM Insights - Guardian Plants in Greenhouses

The Artful Gardener—Rochester's Newest & Coolest for Garden Stuff

2010-07-06T18:27:00.000-04:00

I finally stopped in to The Artful Gardener on Mt. Hope today. It's in the building formerly inhabited by ARC Floral, and Jean Westcott, the owner, has transformed the space into something quite chic and modern. Even on approach you have a feeling that what is inside will be special—her little plantings on and around the building are charming.

Inside are stunning fountains, statuary, beautiful containers, many of them quite large, some furniture and other neat items for garden & home. I was quite impressed. Scroll down for more pictures.

The new shop is at 727 Mt. Hope. Tel. 585/454-2874.

More Dry-Laid Stone Wall Classes—Sara's Garden Center

2010-06-14T12:25:00.001-04:00

Submitted by Sara's Garden Center

Stone Wall Seminars 2010

The following is the schedules for the 2010 season of our weekend-long dry stonewall construction classes. We are offering 3 sessions this season; two with local stone craftsman Scott George and one with John Shaw-Rimmington.

June 26^th & 27^th, August 14^th & 15^th and September 18^th & 19^th.

Each weekend session will take you through the entire process of constructing a stone wall utilizing the dry laid method. Each day’s class begins at 9 a.m. and goes till 5 p.m. with a break for a provided lunch each day.

June 26^th & 27^th – Class will be held at an old farm house on Gordon Road near the Ogden/Sweden border and will be led by Scott George. Scott has worked on several walls there along with a few other projects, including a rustic fire place. In keeping with the work that already exists on the property, this project will cover the basics needed to construct a simple, country wall with local stone. Class size is limited to 7 people.

August 14^th & 15^th – This class will be held at the same location on Gordon Road and will also be led by Scott George. We’re hoping to cover corner construction in this session. Class size is limited to 7 people.

We decided to change the venue and number of students for the first 2 sessions to offer some more in -depth time, really allowing you ‘one on one’ work with Scott. He has a very creative style, while still being technically in tune to the art of the construction. There is a lot to be gained from being able to work with him and glean some of his insights from working so intimately in the medium. We also felt that the atmosphere at the nursery during the busy seasons of spring and summer might be a little too intrusive.

September 18^th & 19^th – Our final class will be held at the nursery; you may have seen last year’s wall near our barn. It is incredible and it was all done by our 12 amazing students! This session will be led by John Shaw-Rimmington of the Canadian Dry Stone Wall Association. Another unique personality in the world of stone, John has traveled across the country and the world, learning, teaching and fulfilling what is truly a lifelong purpose in sharing the magic of stone wall creation. Again, times are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with a provided lunch both days and a class limit of 10. Check out the DSWA.CA site for photos of last year’s event and see more of John’s work.

Last year’s schedule was sold out very early. Each weekend is $300.00 with a deposit of $150.00 required to reserve your space. Cancellations are accepted with a full refund if notice is given at least 5 days before the event.

You will want a pair of sturdy gloves and if you have any of your own tools (chisels, hammer, etc) you can bring them as well. Classes will go on rain or shine! Best to come prepared for any weather issues: rain coat, dry socks, gloves, shorts/pants, t-shirts/sweaters, etc. We do have tents that will be utilized as needed to keep you as dry or as cool as we can. These stone wall guys are troopers and not much puts them off in terms of conditions. We will provide lunch around noon. We will also have beverages and snacks to keep you going throughout the day. You can email (kkepler AT rochester DOT rr DOT com) for more detail or to register.

Submitted by Sara's Garden Center

Another Great Chance to See Sycamore Hill

2010-06-02T09:13:00.000-04:00

Central New York Land Trust Hosts Annual Garden Tour

Submitted by CNY Land Trust—Central New York Land Trust's annual garden tour and plant sale returns to the beautiful Sycamore Hill Gardens located at 2130 Old Seneca Turnpike in Marcellus.. The gardens will be open, rain or shine, for self-guided tours on Saturday, June 19, from 11 am until 4 pm.

“These private gardens are not usually accessible to the public,” said Jeff Devine, Central New York Land Trust executive director. “George and Karen Hanford own the property and graciously open it to the public a couple times a year for non-profit organizations to hold fundraisers, so our Summer Solstice Garden Tour is a rare opportunity not to be missed.”

The event will feature live music from The Barrigar Brothers from 12:00 - 1:00, and The Oswego Valley Fiddlers from 2:00 - 3:00.

The cost for adults is $8 in advance at www.cnylandtrust.org, or $10 at the door, and children 12 and under free. Food will be available for purchase, and visitors are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunch. Proceeds from the tour will benefit Central New York Land Trust in its work to extend protection to important habitat and natural areas in Central New York and to provide proper stewardship for the 2,500 acres that it currently owns.

Key features of the gardens include several large ponds with fountains and colorful koi, which the children can feed, statuary from all around the world, an evergreen maze and more than 500 cultivars of trees. The gardens are home to a variety of perennials and an unbelievable collection of hostas making the landscape a mecca for gardeners in the Central New York area.

In conjunction with the garden tour, the organization will also hold a plant and tree sale across the street from the gardens where a variety of local plants will be available for purchase. The plants come from area gardeners who have made donations from their local gardens and consist primarily of perennials and native plants, trees and shrubs. There is no admission fee for the plant sale.

About Central New York Land Trust, Inc.
Originally established in 1972 as Save The County, Central New York Land Trust is a private, membership-supported, not for profit organization dedicated to the protection of Central New York’s vital natural areas for the health of the environment and the enjoyment of the public.

Anyone can become a member and help maintain properties through financial donations or volunteer work. Central New York Land Trust acquires land either by donation, purchase or bargain sale. The organization improves some properties to include trail systems, parking, and better public access for visitors, while protecting each property’s natural state. All properties are open free of charge for hiking, photography, nature study and other passive recreation from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.

For more information, visit www.cnylandtrust.org.

Submitted by CNY Land Trust

Dry Stone Walling Workshop

2010-05-21T08:47:00.000-04:00

Stone Wall Workshop
with Chuck Eblacker & Andy Loudon
DRY STONE WALLING WORKSHOP
At The Harley School
Saturday, June 12 and Sunday June 13, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Join local stone waller, Chuck Eblacker, of Eblacker & Stone, and his guest from the UK, awarding winning waller Andrew Loudon. A Rochester first, this hands on workshop will be instructed by two accredited and professional Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA) wallers. Chuck is one of only a handful of Americans to hold an Advanced certificate from the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain. Eblacker has taught dry stone walling workshops throughout the Northeast.
His one of a kind dry stone constructions in the Rochester area have been featured in local and national publications. Andy Loudon is the DSWA UK Chief Examiner and current winner of Britain's top honor in dry stone walling, the Pinnacle Award. He has also done some walling in conjunction with noted Environmental artist, Andy Goldsworthy. Experts in their field, Chuck Eblacker and Andy Loudon will teach a two day weekend long workshop on the art of dry stone wall building. The workshop will be held at the Harley School Veggie Garden this summer, June 12th and 13th. An evening presentation
on dry stone walls with slides for participants and friends is planned for Saturday night.

Participants will learn the basic principles of wall building, from establishing foundations, to the methods of dry laid (sometimes called dry-stacked) construction and ‘hearting’ the wall, laying of 'throughstones' and coping the wall. If desired, more advanced instruction can be provided for those with higher skill levels. Participants will work together to complete a dry stone wall from start to finish. This hands-on workshop will address not only the structure and principles behind wall building but also the aesthetic considerations of balance and proportion. Students should expect to take away a knowledge of the structural techniques involved in the building of a dry stone wall that will prepare them for there own projects and help train their eyes to identify proper walling techniques in all walls.

Participants should bring a lunch, gear for inclement weather, sturdy shoes, work gloves, safety glasses and tools, if you have them. Morning coffee, snacks and water will
be provided. The cost for the two-day workshop is $300. For more informatio: 585-233-5320.
Chuck Eblacker and Andy Loudon Walling Workshop
When: June 12th & 13th, 2010 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Harley School Vegetable Garden

Rochester Hypertufa Expert in National Magazine

2010-03-28T12:49:00.002-04:00

Check out the current issue of Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living, a Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication, for a piece on Rochester hypertufa artist Betsy Knapp. The story was written by Upstate Gardeners' Journal publisher Jane Milliman after a photo shoot last summer at Knapp’s city home.

The containers, made with a special mix of Portland cement, peat moss, vermiculite and polypropylene fibers, are perfect for creating tiny landscapes. Knapp’s intense attention to detail, artistic sensibility and vast knowledge of alpine plants combine to make the planters exquisite, perfectly proportioned little scenes.

Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living is available on newsstands throughout the country.

Buffalo National Garden Festival Debuts in ‘10

2010-03-28T12:45:00.002-04:00

Anyone who has experienced Garden Walk Buffalo knows that the there is something extraordinary going on. But Garden Walk lasts just one weekend, and the city has a lot more to offer than what can be experienced in such a short time. So a group of avid gardeners, community activists and marketing professionals have come up with a way to extend the magic—the five week National Buffalo Garden Festival.

From June 18 through July 25, 2010, the festival will feature walks, talks, tours and more, incorporating existing goings-on and adding quite a bit more. Businesses, museums, neighborhood groups and others will coordinate their events under the festival’s umbrella. Buffalo gardening expert Sally Cunningham will serve as the project’s coordinator.

For more information, visit NationalGardenFestival.com or call 800-BUFFALO.

Happy Birthday to Us!

2010-03-28T12:37:00.004-04:00

This issue marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long—I certainly don’t feel fifteen years older than when we started.

I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every advertiser, subscriber, reader, contributing writer, critic and cheerleader. We’re grateful to have learned a lot about horticulture and a little about business, and for all of the wonderful friends we’ve made over the years.

We’ve been looking back at that very first issue, and I have to say that is still makes me proud. It was only 24 pages, black and white with one spot color (green, of course), but even back then Dean’s eye for clean design set the magazine apart. Like each one since, it was painstakingly proofread by my mom, Sarah Koopus. Some of the advertisers in that very first issue are still with us today! These include the Greater Rochester Flower and Garden Show, which we now know as GardenScape, Clover Nursery and Garden Center (formerly DeVisser’s), Van Putte Gardens, Sara’s Garden Center and of course, my dad, Jeff Koopus.

In the past fifteen years we’ve grown considerably, expanded geographically, added color, put up a Web site and gone to all-digital production. Much of our growth is directly attributable to our Western New York representative, Maria Walczak. Brian Eshenaur, who has been my go-to-answer-guy since the beginning, joined up “formally” as technical editor a while back, and subscriptions management and the calendar are now under the capable supervision of Debbie Eckerson. It’s a great team. I’m very lucky.

In fifteen more years, who knows what changes technology, the weather, and life in general will bring? It’s my hope that I’ll still be publishing the Upstate Gardeners' Journal, in whatever form that takes, that you’ll still be reading it, we’ll all still love getting out and playing in the dirt, and that none of us will feel any older than when we started.

Garden Walk Buffalo Beautification Grant Application deadline approaching

2009-12-08T12:12:00.001-05:00

Image: Sixteenth Street Block Club Garden Walk Banners

Submitted by Garden Walk Buffalo

Garden Walk Beautification Grants have helped to fund 52 garden beautification projects for a total of more than $20,000 in last six years. Deadline is December 30, 2009. Applications can be found at www.GardenWalkBuffalo.com.

Award amounts are based on the overall project cost and the eligible projects were required to include matching funds from government, private contributions or volunteer sweat equity. These award projects will be highlighted during this year's Garden Walk.

"Garden Walk Buffalo is very pleased to once again partner with block club and neighborhood groups who are working on various community garden and beautification projects that help to provide a catalyst for redevelopment in our neighborhoods," said Beautification Grant committee chair, and GWB treasurer, Jeffrey Tooke. "Projects like these, performed by regular residents in the neighborhoods, are contributing to the rebirth of our urban neighborhoods in the City of Buffalo."

Current and past GW Beautification Grant recipients can be found here.

Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden tour in the U.S., is held the last weekend of July each year. In 2010, the free event will be Saturday and Sunday, July 24 & 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 340 residences and businesses throughout the west side of Buffalo open their creative urban gardens for tens of thousands of visitors from around the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.GardenWalkBuffalo.com.

High-resolution, print-worthy, professional photography of Garden Walk Buffalo is always available in the Garden Walk Press Kit, found here.

Submitted by Garden Walk Buffalo

2010 Philly Show

2009-12-03T12:12:00.001-05:00

RATS! I can never go to this, because I'm sooooo busy at this time of year my husband becomes a single parent. If I could go, however, I would go with the charming and knowledgeable Michael Warren Thomas. Details below.

Submitted by Michael Warren Thomas

The 2010 Philadelphia Flower Show Tours

Passport to the World is the theme for the 2010 show,

also visit Longwood Gardens & the Brandywine River Museum

March 3-4 (Wed.-Thurs.) or March 6-7 (Sat.-Sun.)

The Philadelphia Flower theme for 2010 is Passport to the World. For more details, please visit www.TheFlowerShow.com. The Show will transport visitors to dozens of destinations covering the globe. Among the most impressive will be India, which will come to life amid a shower of flowers in an Indian wedding scene. The Netherlands will be portrayed in a floating flower market filled with over 100,000 blooms. The natural wonders of South Africa will be depicted by the vivid colors and patterns of Zulu costumes. The Amazon jungle of Brazil will unfold in a canopy of sparkling waterfalls, tropical flora and exotic wildlife. Singapore, the “Pearl of Asia,” will have a tribute to the orchid, and New Zealand will feature the wild flora and traditions of the native Maori.

Please pass this info on to your garden club, as well as friends and neighbors that enjoy gardening. Send your deposit as soon as possible to reserve your place. In sixteen years of leading this tour, no one has ever lost a deposit because they had to cancel their reservation – even the night before. Bring family and friends for a two days of flowers. We have even had three generations attend together!

First Day – Philadelpia Flower Show

7:30 Depart Bristol’s Garden Center in Victor, bagels & cream cheese in their greenhouse

11:30 Lunch included near Scranton, PA at The Inn at Nichols Village

3:00 Arrive Philadelphia Flower Show

9:00 Leave show for Hampton Inn in Wilmington, Delaware, 9:45 arrival at hotel.

Second Day – Longwood & Brandywine River Museum

8:10 Leave for Longwood Gardens (continental breakfast at hotel)

9:00 Arrive Longwood Gardens (lunch included – the mushroom soup & cornbread are fabulous)

12:30 Leave for the Brandywine River Museum

2:30 Leave the Brandywine River Museum for dinner in Scranton.

5:30 Arrive at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel for an elegant closing dinner

11:00 Return to Bristol’s Garden Center

The 2010 price is $395 per person (double) includes everything except dinner at the Flower Show. Add $55 for a single. A deposit of $50 per person will hold your place, remainder due by January 10, 2010. Call Michael at 585-328-8300 if you have any questions. Please send a check payable to Michael Warren Thomas, 19 Trafalgar Street, Rochester, NY 14619.

Michael Warren Thomas, Host & Producer

“Naturally Green,” “For the Love of Food,”

“Discover the Finger Lakes,” “Savour Toronto” & “The Grapevine”

19 Trafalgar Street, Rochester, NY 14619 (585) 328-8300 www.SavourLife.com

Submitted by Michael Warren Thomas

Mourning the loss of a dedicated environmentalist

2009-12-02T19:40:00.000-05:00

Christine Sevilla was incredibly intelligent, passionate, and talented. The community has lost something really special.

Here is a cover she did for us in '06. I loved her scanner art, and could never quite duplicate the technique.

Here is a blog post I wrote about her calendars a few years ago. This year she had gone back to the original theme, and the new work is beautiful. I'm trying to figure if there is some way the existing stock (I'm sure she had a few) could be sold, still, to benefit her favorite environmental charity. Happy to hear thoughts on this.

For more on Christine's work, visit luminguild.us.

Help Wanted: Working Foreman

2009-11-23T09:46:00.002-05:00

Submitted by Town of Perinton Recreation and Parks

Job Posting Announcement

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Town of Perinton Recreation and Parks Department is currently taking applications for the position of full time Working Foreman in the parks division. The Working Foreman is a non-competitive civil service position. The position hourly rate may range from $ 19.33 to 22.97 per hours (annual salary range estimate is $40,000 to $48,000 per year). Benefits are included with this position.

Attached is a job description of requirements for this position. Ornamental and Turf (3A) NYS Pesticide License, NY State Commercial Drivers License class B and Certified Playground Inspection preferred.

Anyone interested in applying should submit a letter of interested accompanied by a resume and employment application to James A Donahue, Commissioners of Recreation and parks, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport NY 14450. Applications must be submitted by Friday December 4, 2009.

If you have questions please contact Commissioner Jim Donahue at 223-5050

Submitted by Town of Perinton Recreation and Parks

Vendors Wanted for Plantasia Show, Buffalo

2009-10-29T10:58:00.000-04:00

Submitted by the Plantasia management

Vendors wanted to sell garden merchandise ie., plants, flowers, statuary, gardening books & tools, pots, bird feeders. Plantasia, WNY’s premier landscape & garden show, March 25 - March 28 at the Agri-Center at the Fairgrounds in Hamburg. Contact 716-741-8047.

Submitted by the Plantasia management

An afternoon with Chuck

2009-10-14T21:18:00.004-04:00

I spent the afternoon with Chuck Eblacker checking out some of his new work and visiting an installation I've been wanting to see for quite a while.

Chuck is currently creating a dry-laid stone wall at the Harley School in Brighton, and is instructing a course on the subject this semester as well. This is Chuck's project:

This is the students':

The kids' wall looks great, and what a good skill to learn! Part jigsaw puzzle, part weightlifting, part physics, all Zen.

Next, we moved on to a storied Pittsford property to view a few installations Chuck has worked on over the past few years.

There's the moongate, best known and very cool in person:

There are a few less-complicated projects around the property as well.
A stream crossing that keeps feet just above water:

A li'l cairn thingie:

And extra stones, piled just so, that the homeowner asked him just to leave as is.

More pix here.

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper to give away rain barrels

2009-10-09T19:34:00.000-04:00

This looks like an excellent opportunity for the WNY crowd:

Submitted by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER is able to give away, thanks to a grant from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 161 rain barrels to high-visibility sites in the Buffalo and Niagara regions. These sites include, but are not limited to, community gardens, low income residential communities, public buildings, government offices and schools.

Local municipal combined sewer systems are overwhelmed during storm events and the overflow dumps raw sewage into our sources of drinking water--the Niagara River and all its tributaries and Lake Erie--four billion gallons a year from Buffalo alone! Using a rain barrel is one way that individuals can help to clean up area waterways.

Once a rain barrel donation request form is submitted (they can be found on the website, www.bnriverkeeper.org/programs/rain-barrels/) and reviewed for eligibility, the barrels are available for immediate delivery to the site with instructions about installation, maintenance, and frequently-asked questions.

Rain barrel workshops, informing the community about the uses and benefits, will be held:

Wednesday, October 14th, 6:00-7:30p.m., at RIVERKEEPER offices, 1250 Niagara Street, Buffalo
Friday, October 23rd, 10-11 a.m., 75 Michigan Street, Lockport, 14094
Tuesday,November 3rd, 1-2 p.m., 5777 Lewiston Rd., Lewiston, 14092

To learn more about rain barrels, Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, and the workshops, visit the website.

Submitted by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

2009-10-09T09:56:00.002-04:00

We’ve always thought that we controlled them.

But what if, in fact, they have been shaping us?

“We don’t give nearly enough credit to plants,” says Michael Pollan. “They’ve been working on us, they’ve been using us, for their own purposes.”

THE BOTANY OF DESIRE, airing nationally on PBS on Wednesday, October 28th at 8PM, brings Michael Pollan's provocative best-seller vividly to life, showing how human desires are an essential, intricate part of natural history.
The program explores the natural history of four plants – the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato – and the corresponding human desires– sweetness, beauty, intoxication and controlling nature – that link their destinies to our own.

The two-hour special begins in Michael Pollan’s garden, and roams the world, from the potato fields of Idaho and Peru to the apple orchards of New England, from a medical marijuana hot house to the tulip markets of Amsterdam.

One of the great conceits of human civilization is to put ourselves outside nature – sovereign, constantly shaping and re-shaping the wild for our own purposes; people as subjects, and plants as objects. Taking these plants’ eye view of the world will help viewers understand the need to restore human activity to its proper place in the matrix of nature.

Click here to see a clip from the show.

Late Breaking Event: Rose Workshop

2009-10-09T09:20:00.001-04:00

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is pleased to host a free workshop on the selection, planting, and care of roses, Thursday October 22nd. The workshop will be held at the historic Delaware Park Rose Garden and Marcy Casino (199 Lincoln Pkwy) from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Dave Swanka, the Conservancy's rosarian, will guide you through selecting, planting, fertilizing, and caring for your roses with an emphasis on using environmentally friendly procedures and products. Please join us for coffee, snacks, and an informative evening. Come early to tour the rose garden. For further information or to RSVP, please contact Dave Swanka at 833-5549 or dswanka@roadrunner.com.

Job Opening: Web Administrator (Ithaca)

2009-10-05T13:58:00.000-04:00

The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center is hiring a web administrator. The position is part-time (benefits-eligible) and will be based at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

General job description: Oversee the functionality of the Northeastern IPM Center's website, which educates people about integrated pest management (IPM). Support the Center and the region by enhancing site usability and navigation, improving design, and editing and updating content. Implement a content management system and assist staff in using it. Manage conversion of databases to new formats and migration of the website to a new server.

Details about the position are provided at the application link below and in the full position description.

Applications must be made through Cornell University's Human Resources website. The job number is 11327. http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/jobs/index.html

The closing date for applications is October 23. If you have questions about the position, please contact Carrie Koplinka-Loehr, ckk3@cornell.edu, 607-255-8879.

Perennial Plant Association

2009-10-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

The Perennial Plant Association is offering scholarships for horticulture students. Check it out here: Perennial Plant Association

The Victor Garden Club presents: "Native American Plants"

2009-09-28T13:26:00.002-04:00

Submitted by the Victor Garden Club

Master gardener and member Chris Benard will present a slide show program illustrating how Native Americans lived in harmony with nature and preserved natural places.

October 14, 2009
7:00 PM
Victor Free Library
Main Street
Victor, NY 14564

Submitted by the Victor Garden Club

Poster Contest for GardenScape ’10 Open to Student Artists Age 16-20

2009-09-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

Submitted by the GardenScape Professionals Association

Student artists, age 16-20, are invited to participate in a contest to design the poster for GardenScape 2010, the 19th annual Rochester flower and garden show set for next March 11-14 at the Dome Center in Henrietta.

At the event, the Rochester area’s most creative landscapers will take up the challenge as they interpret the theme: “Eye of the Garden." Visitors will be treated to some 20 artistically landscaped gardens that combine color, beauty and an almost mystical aura in this show produced by the GardenScape Professionals Association.

One poster will be selected for the 2010 GardenScape show. The winning poster will be featured in the media campaign to promote GardenScape 2010. The winning artist will receive media recognition and a $500 scholarship. Posters will be judged to determine the most creative, relevant interpretation of “Eye of the Garden."

The Eye of the Garden theme is drawn from trompe l'oeil, an art genre that involves creating realistic images to effect an optical illusion; causing the two dimensional illustration depicted to appear three dimensional. Inspiration is also derived from the works of M.C. Esher, Salvador Dali and others. Imagine the energy, excitement and charged atmosphere of a powerful storm, then suddenly the sky seems to clear for a brief instant and serenity is restored. This year's show is all about that "Hmmmm...Ahhhh" moment.

Each entrant should complete the poster contest application form found on the GardenScape website www.rochesterflowershow.com/gardenscape/show-poster.php. The winning poster will become the property of GardenScape and offered for auction at the GardenScape Preview Reception,” A Taste of Spring”, proceeds to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation. The winning artist awarded the scholarship at the “ A Taste of Spring,” which benefits the Epilepsy Foundation.

GardenScape is a not-for-profit organization, and proceeds from the show help support public and educational projects such as the Epilepsy Foundation, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Ronald McDonald House. For more information on the show, including ticket pricing, go to www.rochesterflowershow.com or call 585-265-9018.

Submitted by the GardenScape Professionals Association

A prior year's GardenScape poster (Laurel McManus)

Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Training Course

2009-09-27T17:22:00.001-04:00

Submitted by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension

ORLEANS COUNTY CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER TRAINING COURSE
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension is now accepting applications for the new Master Gardener Training course which will begin on October 7 at 9:30am. This popular course provides people with excellent gardening knowledge through a series of 10 weekly, 5 hour daytime classes. Attending all of the sessions will equip the registrants to share their knowledge by volunteering their time to Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Through this process you can become a certified Master Gardener.

The training will be coordinated by Vicki Jancef, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Call the office at 585 798 4265 x26 and speak with Vicki or Kim for more information or for an application form. There is a fee for the course to cover materials and speakers. This is a great way to increase your gardening knowledge and to be a part of an exciting volunteer group helping people to put gardening knowledge to work in Orleans County.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Submitted by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension

Fall “Hands on with the Harvest” Series Announced

2009-09-25T14:23:00.000-04:00

Submitted by the Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension

BATAVIA, NY – Cornell Cooperative Extension will be offering the popular Coffee and Dessert Series again this Fall. Participants enjoy a cup of coffee or tea along with desserts homemade by the Master Gardeners. This season programs will run from 6 to 8 pm at the Extension Center in Batavia and will include:

September 28 – Putting Your Garden to Bed. Your gardening tasks do not end with that killing frost. There are many things you can do in your garden to assure gardening success next spring. Let Maud Charpin, a certified Master Gardener, share her knowledge and tips with you.

October 14 – Creating a Back Yard Habitat. Join birding expert Jan Beglinger as she shows you the basics of creating a backyard habitat and helps you to create the right conditions to invite a host of birds, butterflies, and other species to your backyard.

October 28 – Growing Culinary Herbs at Home. Would you like fresh herbs through the winter? Find out how to grow them on your windowsill. Master Gardener Paul Saskowski will also be covering what herbs are good for cooking and how to incorporate herbs into your landscaping.

Cost is $10 per class and limited to fifteen participants per class. Pre-register by stopping by the Extension Center located at 420 East Main Street in Batavia, visit the website at www.genesee.shutterfly.com, or contact Amy at 343-3040, ext. 106.

Submitted by the Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension

Documentary film HOMEGROWN - Free Admission

2009-09-25T14:14:00.001-04:00

Robert McFalls documentary HOMEGROWN (www.homegrown-film.com)
will be shown for free on October 3rd at the Westcott Community Center,
826 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210

Playtimes will be at 10:30 am and again, at 12:30 pm. Film running time is approximately 50 minutes.

A Documentary About Modern Day Urban Homesteaders

HOMEGROWN (2008) follows the Dervaes family who run a small organic farm in the heart of urban Pasadena, California. While living off the grid, they harvest over 6,000 pounds
of produce on less than a quarter of an acre, make their own bio diesel, power their computers with the help of solar panels, and maintain a website that gets 4,000 hits a day. The film is an intimate human portrait of what it's like to live like Little House on the Prairie in the 21st Century.

For a short film trailer, see:

http://www.homegrown-film.com/trailer.html

Following each showing there will be a panel discussion featuring questions from the audience, reaction to the film, and talk about ongoing activities and projects in Syracuse and the CNY region. The panel will be hosted by The Alchemical Nursery with representatives from the Syracuse Permaculture and Homesteading Guild, Syracuse Grows, and Habitat/Edible Gardening CNY.

For up-to-date information and screening venue visit:
http://www.alchemicalnursery.org

Home Composting Information Day

2009-09-25T13:25:00.002-04:00

Submitted by Monroe County CCE
Home Composting Information Day
Saturday October 17th 2009

9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Auditorium

249 Highland Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620

The Master Gardeners of Monroe County CCE will host a morning of composting information in the Auditorium and at the Composting Demonstration site at 249 Highland Avenue.

The public is encouraged to come and see the variety of methods used to create a useful soil amendment out of yard and kitchen waste. The fee is $5 per person or $10 per family to cover the cost of materials. CCE is an equal program opportunity organization. Handicap Accessible.

Please call 461-1000 ext. 225 to reserve your place or register online at mycce.org/monroe.

Submitted by Monroe County CCE

September Splendor Tour a Great Day!

2009-09-21T07:59:00.008-04:00

We had an absolutely gorgeous day Saturday for our annual fall bus tour from Buffalo. The first stop was Palmiter's Garden Nursery, where there are some beautiful new plantings. Everyone wanted to know what this shrub is:

It's lespedeza, a fall-flowering pea that grows to about 6' and prefers full sun. A real beauty.

From there we drove up to Sara's Garden Center in Brockport in our luxury motor coach. Sara's was (is) having their annual 40% sale, and the bargains were pretty impressive. They were also having a dry-laid stone wall building seminar, and we got to see some wall building action.

From Sara's we headed up to Hurd Orchards in Holley, where we were treated to a fantastic lunch. It started with a fruit salad (the fruit having been picked that morning): plums, peaches, blackberries, and apples, with a creamy raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

After that, there was a puff pastry with chicken and Gruyère, plum apple sauce, tomato stuffed with herbed cream cheese, and black cherry chutney. Yum.

The meal ended with "razzleberry" pie and cinnamon ice cream.

Our final stop was Leonard Oaks winery in Medina. I didn't take any pictures there; I must have been too busy sampling the Cayuga white. Everyone had a great time. Thank you to all who attended! For the full set of pictures, visit the trip's flickr page or facebook.

Congrats to Kyle Van Putte...

2009-09-04T20:19:00.001-04:00

... president, landscape division manager, Van Putte Gardens, Rochester (Greece). He's been named one of the Rochester Business Journal's 40 under 40.

Out and About: Palmiter's

2009-09-02T10:13:00.000-04:00

Check out these beautiful peppers I picked up at Palmiter's in Avon. As Sheila pointed out, they are perfect for filling in spots in containers that need a little extra color—and I do have a few of those spots.

I love the colors.

I almost left with a kitten. They were adorable. The little orange guy definitely wanted to come home with me.

Shooting a beautiful garden ...

2009-08-11T22:19:00.002-04:00

... today and tomorrow, in Pittsford, for Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living, with my pal Andreas.

Rochester’s Flower City Garden Contest Deadline Extended

2009-08-09T11:30:00.002-04:00

The deadline for entering the City of Rochester’s Flower City Garden Contest has been extended to August 7. The efforts of hundreds of City gardeners have been recognized over the last 18 years through the contest which is part of the Flower City Looking Good Program which focuses on urban beautification, environmental stewardship and healthy lifestyles.

Any gardener may nominate his/her own garden or a neighbor’s garden. Recognition and prizes are awarded in the following categories: best container garden, best use of a water feature, best educational garden, best community garden, best wildlife/butterfly garden and new this year best urban farm.

Call 428-6770 or go to www.cityofrochester.gov for more information or to access the garden contest entry form.

Late Breaking Event news: Restoring Ganondagan's Native Beauty (Hike)

2009-08-09T10:16:00.004-04:00

Hike Explores Addition of Indigenous Grasses, Reveals Site of Ganondagan's New Arts and Education Center

VICTOR, NY—August 2, 2009-- On Sunday, August 16, Ganondagan State Historic Site will present "Ganondagan's Native Grasses," part of Ganondagan's Savor the Summer Outdoor Recreation Series. On a hike lead by Ganondagan's Site Manager, G. Peter Jemison, participants will learn about the recent sowing of indigenous grasses and discover how Ganondagan would have looked in the 16^th and 17^th Century. Participants will also get a sneak preview of where Ganondagan's Arts & Education Center will be built.

"Earlier this year, we planted grasses that would have been indigenous to this region. Although it will take several seasons for these grasses and plants to be as abundant as they'd have been in the 1600s when Ganondagan was inhabited by 4500 Seneca, participants will learn what we're doing to restore the land to its original native beauty and how that may influence other aspects of the environment."

"Ganondagan's Native Grasses" will start at 9:30 a.m., leaving from the Visitors Center at Ganondagan State Historic Site, located at 1488 State Rte. 444, Victor, NY. Participants are advised to allow about 2 hours, wear hiking shoes and bring a bottle of water. There will be some hill climbing and uneven surfaces on the trail so this walk is appropriate for adults and older children.

Non-members pay the Ganondagan State Historic Site fee of $3 for adults and $2 for children. It is free to Friends of Ganondagan Members, who show their membership card. For more information, visit www.ganondagan.org or call 585.742-1690.

Mine never looks this good.

2009-07-17T07:22:00.004-04:00

Kniphofia at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ithaca

Bedlam: way more organized than it sounds

2009-07-17T07:07:00.005-04:00

I visited Deb Lampear at Bedlam Gardens in King Ferry a couple of days ago. Everything looks good, but the hot border is stunning.

More pictures are here:
http://bit.ly/KTjTv

Hostas. And More!

2009-07-15T00:01:00.011-04:00

The RCGC garden tour on Saturday was great, but it rained for most of the day, so I compressed my visits and cut out those closest to home, hoping I could re-schedule. On Sunday I got my wish in the form of an email from Sue Buckner suggesting that I stop by, and I did, Monday morning.

Sue Buckner's Hosta's 'n' More is not two miles from my house, and I ride my bike past it a dozen times a year at least. I've stopped before and looked over what's on the tables out front, and she has some great stuff. But in viewing the sales area, there is no way to know what is held in the three and a half acres just beyond—and what's back there is pretty amazing.

Right in Caledonia NY, my humble hometown, is a collection of plants so extensive that there were a few neither Sue nor I could identify. Case in point: Syneilesis aconitifolia, a true stunner for shade, full shade, that was sending up all kinds of flower stalks on not one but several specimens. (Sue had temporarily misplaced the label, but she came up with it later on, just when I had also made an educated guess via Google.)

So pretty!

As its name would suggest, Buckner's property is home to plenty of hostas, and she
specializes in minis.

Sue was kind enough to share with me a few pieces of some of the plants I found really striking, and I'll certainly return the favor -- if I ever let her see my garden, which is sadly inadequate in comparison. If you are in or around Caledonia, definitely stop in and check this place out. 446 Middle Rd., Caledonia NY, 14423. And while you're at it, visit Quackenbush Daylily Gardens, right around the corner at 557 Sand Hill Rd. A further report on that nursery will follow.

For more pictures of Sue Buckner's Hostas 'n' More, click here.

Why why why?

2009-07-10T08:23:00.000-04:00

People are paid money to do this?

New Trip Planned for September

2009-06-30T10:44:00.002-04:00

September’s Splendor
A Harvest Tour

Saturday, September 19, 2009, please join the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal in our continuing tradition of an autumn tour of beautiful upstate New York countryside. Departing Buffalo in our luxury motorcoach, we’ll travel east to just south of the quaint village of Avon, for a stop and shop at Palmiter’s Nursery—definitely a destination for those in the horticultural know.

Next up is Sara’s Garden Center in the college town of Brockport. Sara’s is known for its remarkable perennials selection, and as a special treat, we’ll have a chance to see masters of dry laid stone masonry in action.

For lunch (and much more) we’ll be pulling in to nationally recognized Hurd Orchards in Holley for an exquisite meal prepared just for our group and featuring seasonal produce straight from the farm. We’ll have an apple tasting, too—Hurd’s grows 65 varieties!—and a demonstration on autumn flower arrangements.

Our trip home wouldn’t be complete without a visit, and some tasting,
at a local winery, and maybe an antique shop along the way.
Coach departs from Eastern Hills Mall in Buffalo.

Only $70/person. Sign up today.

EMERALD ASH BORER FOUND IN NEW YORK STATE

2009-06-18T17:08:00.000-04:00

This is a straight-up press release, folks --

EMERALD ASH BORER FOUND IN NEW YORK STATE
Surveys and Monitoring in Cattaraugus County Area To Help
Delineate Spread of Invasive Beetle

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the discovery of an Emerald Ash Borer infestation (EAB) in Randolph, Cattaraugus County. The EAB is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black and blue ash. This is the first time it has been detected in New York.

New York has more than 900 million ash trees, representing about seven percent of all trees in the state, and all are at risk should this invasive, exotic pest become established. This is just the latest in a series of terrestrial and aquatic invasive species detections across New York State, including the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Sirex woodwasp, didymo, zebra mussels, and Eurasian water milfoil. This has prompted the state to strengthen regulations, increase educational outreach, and encourage ways of limiting the unintentional spread of these potentially devastating pests throughout the state.

Commissioner Hooker said, “While this is the first reported finding of the Emerald Ash Borer in New York State, it is not surprising. This beetle has been detected on either side of Lake Ontario for several years now and there is little that can be done to stop the natural spread of this devastating pest. That being said, we will work diligently to learn more about the infestation and try to limit the artificial spread of the beetle here in New York through regulations, surveys and public education.”
Commissioner Grannis said, “This is yet another wake-up call for all New Yorkers that invasive species pose a grave threat to the health of our natural resources and ecosystems, and ultimately, our economy. Tough but practical measures, such as quarantines, firewood ” regulations, public education and other regulatory actions will continue to be needed if we are to limit the damage from EAB and other invasives.”

In 2008, New York adopted regulations that ban untreated firewood from entering the state and restricts intrastate movement of untreated firewood to no more than a 50-mile radius from its source (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html). This was done as a precaution against the introduction and spread of EAB and other invasive species because of the documented risk of transmission by moving firewood.

Commissioner Carol Ash of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said, “If not contained, this pest may cause significant ecological and economic harm. Working with our partners, OPRHP will do all we can to protect Southern Tier forests, and in particular, Allegany State Park. We strongly encourage park patrons to join us. Please do not bring firewood to our state parks. Buy it locally and burn all that you buy”

The infestation was initially reported to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on June 15, 2009, by Rick Hoebeke, an entomolologist at Cornell University, after two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service employees recognized damage to some local ash trees just off Exit 16 of State Route 17/I-86. After receiving the report and conducting an initial inspection, an adult beetle from the infested area was submitted with the identification confirmed by the USDA's Systematic Entomology Laboratory at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Photographs depicting the infestation will be posted to ftp://ftp.dec.state.ny.us/dpae/press/ Approximately 30 trees are infested or highly suspected of being infested to date.

Jonathan Staples of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said, “The detection of the Emerald Ash Borer will have a profound effect on the state’s landscape given the huge number of ash trees located throughout New York. Exotic invasive species such as this need to be closely monitored not only for its potential to spread naturally, but also, the potential for artificial spread through firewood movement and other regulated articles.”

THE EMERALD ASH BORER:

The EAB has metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen; it is small enough to fit easily on a penny (photos: http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/CAPS/pdf/Emerald%20Ash%20Borer%20Poster.pdf and
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html). Damage is caused by the larvae, which feed in tunnels called galleries in the phloem just below the bark. The serpentine galleries disrupt water and nutrient transport, causing branches, and eventually the entire tree, to die. Adult beetles leave distinctive D-shaped exit holes in the outer bark of the branches and the trunk. Other signs of infection include tree canopy dieback, yellowing, extensive sprouting from the roots and trunk (called "epicormic shoots") and browning of leaves. Infested trees may also exhibit woodpecker damage from larvae extraction.

Since its discovery in southeastern Michigan in 2002, the EAB is responsible for the destruction of over 70 million ash trees in the U.S. The beetle has been moving steadily outward from its first discovered infestation in Detroit, Michigan, and has now been found in 13 states and two neighboring Canadian provinces. The primary way this insect spreads is when firewood and wood products are moved from one place to another. Many of New York State’s forests and parklands, including Allegany State Park which is near the recent EAB finding, are high-risk areas due to firewood movement.

    New York State has been actively surveying for EAB since 2003, inspecting declining ash trees and setting traps in Western and Eastern New York, Long Island and New York City. Up until this discovery, no signs of EAB were ever detected in the state.

WHAT IS BEING DONE NOW:

A cooperative effort among USDA and New York State staff will conduct a thorough survey of trees and deploy a more intensive trapping effort in the surrounding area to assess the extent and age of the infestation. Information from this survey will help determine the response strategy, which could range from tree removals associated with eradication and safety concerns, to ash product quarantines. DEC’s firewood regulations prohibiting out-of-state transport of untreated firewood and intra-state movement of untreated firewood more than 50 miles remain in effect and are an extremely important tool to contain this damaging pest.

WHAT OTHERS CAN DO:

New Yorkers are urged to take the following steps to keep EAB from spreading to other areas of the State:

·    It is best to leave all firewood at home - please do not bring it to campgrounds or parks.
·    Get your firewood at the campground or from a local vendor - ask for a receipt or label that has the firewood's local source.
·    If you choose to transport firewood within New York State:
o    It must have a receipt or label that has the firewood's source and it must remain within 50 miles of that source.
o    For firewood not purchased (i.e. cut from your own property) you must have a Self-Issued Certificate of Source, and it must be sourced within 50 miles of your destination.
o    Only firewood labeled as meeting New York's heat treatment standards to kill pests (kiln-dried) may be transported into the state and further than 50 miles from the firewood's source.
·    Watch for signs of infestation in your ash trees. If you suspect your ash tree could be infested by EAB, go to the websites below for more information. If damage is consistent with the known symptoms of EAB infestation, report suspected damage to the state by calling 1-866-640-0652 for appropriate action as time and resources allow.

Troy Weldy, Director of Ecological Management for The Nature Conservancy, said: “The Emerald Ash Borer will have significant economic and environmental impacts, the likes of which western New York hasn't seen since the Chestnut Blight or Dutch Elm Disease. This discovery emphasizes the need to establish a national early detection network around major ports of entry so we can intercept these pests before they become established. It is also important for citizens to understand that these pests are easily transported in firewood. We ask everyone to do their part by only burning wood close to where they buy it.”

For more information, visit the following web pages:
www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/index.shtml
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/CAPS/pdf/Emerald%20Ash%20Borer%20Poster.pdf
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html

Pet rock

2009-06-16T18:32:00.003-04:00

Look at this cute rock Maria had made for me at Christmastime by Erik Jewelers. I'm actually not sure how she got it in her car since it weighs a TON. It's very sweet. Thanks!

Late Breaking Event: Open House at DerRosenmeister, Ithaca

2009-06-16T17:33:00.000-04:00

Der Rosenmeister, a specialty rose nursery, will hold its annual open house from 4-7 p.m. Friday, June 19 at 190 Seven Mile Drive in Ithaca, about 3 miles southwest of the Commons. The event is free and open to the public and features colors and fragrances of hundreds of roses in full bloom.

The nursery specializes in hardy, disease resistant roses for zones 4 and 5 and all the information needed to grow them. It has extensive display beds featuring antique, and modern roses - shrubs, climbers and ramblers.

The nursery is on the grounds of the home of owners Lee Ginenthal and Renate Schmitt. Directions/information:

Odyssey a Big Hit

2009-06-07T11:32:00.001-04:00

We had perfect weather, wonderful hosts, and a great bus driver. Pictures are here:
http://bit.ly/Z2UlK

Enjoying our Herbal Lunch at Bakers' Acres

2009-06-06T12:44:00.000-04:00

Event Reminder—Rochester Area—Tomorrow

2009-06-05T08:30:00.002-04:00

WEED WALK June 6, 2009 9:30 am
Free and open to the public
Contact: phone- 585 586 6085 email- invasive@luminguild.us

Horizon Hill Conservation Area of the Perinton Crescent Trail.
Meet at parking area, .25 mi from Harris Beach offices at 99 Garnsey Road.

-Learn to recognize six of the most significant invasive plant species affecting Monroe County on a walk of Horizon Hill.
-Experts will participate to answer questions and the pocket guide on invasive plants of Monroe County, Garden Villains, will be distributed to participants.
-To request the pocket guide, Garden Villains, call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 585-461-1000.
-Text content of Garden Villains is online at www.luminguild.com/invasive/invasivebrochure.htm.

Why invasive plants?
Non-native plants have been introduced everywhere for erosion control, as fences, for medicinal uses, to recreate a homeland environment, and for their exotic beauty. Many also arrived by accident. Lacking the natural controls that checked their growth in their native landscape, these non-native plants are able to grow in a variety of conditions, spread quickly, to displace native plants, and alter ecosystems. We need to take action to preserve a diverse ecosystem. We can start in our own back yards.

Buffalo --> Ithaca trip update

2009-05-29T13:31:00.001-04:00

Just a few seats left!

June 6: Odyssey to Ithaca, 7:30 am – 7:30 pm. Join the Upstate Gardeners’ Journal for this day-long luxury motor coach tour. Highlights include: a leisurely visit to Cornell Plantations, truly one of the most inspiring gardens in New York State; delicious herbal lunch and shopping at Bakers’ Acres, an incredible array of perennials; shopping at The Plantsmen nursery, known for its natives and beautiful setting; more shopping at BedlamGardens, a tiny nursery with huge display gardens offering the rare and unusual. $68, lunch included. Optional box dinner available for purchase. 716/432-8688; 585/538-4980. UpstateGardenersJournal.com

Flower City Days at the Public Market

2009-05-24T06:24:00.000-04:00

Hosta 'Orange Marmalade'

Rain barrels for sale to benefit Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

2009-05-06T07:15:00.003-04:00

Here is a very cool project we're working on at the UGJ. We're offering our very own rain barrels (in conjunction with Riverkeeper). ALL proceeds go to Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper to support the stewardship of WNY rivers and Lake Erie. A great product, a great price and a great cause! See details here.

Flowering currant

2009-05-04T12:57:00.000-04:00

Not sure I've ever seen one of these in person before today. At
Grandpa's in Sodus, $24.99 for a 5 gallon.

Love this comfy and cool-looking garden furniture

2009-05-04T07:51:00.001-04:00

Chair, $109.99
Table, $54.99
Loveseat glider, $209.99
Also in green (you can see a tiny hint of it at the top of the image)
At Van Putte Gardens in Greece.

Debbie and Jane's Big Adventure

2009-05-02T08:32:00.000-04:00

The May-June UGJ safely up on the presses, calendar editor Debbie Eckerson and I decided to venture out for a little much-needed R&R last Thursday. Since I published this blog post in February, the two of us had become increasingly obsessed with the idea of visiting jeweler Karen Dettinger in Clarence, and also we needed to celebrate Debbie's birthday (it was in February), so off we went.

Karen's shop, DKD Studio, turned out to be just as wonderful as we had imagined, and how often does that happen? She makes beautiful silver charms based on old jewelry, buttons, coins, etc. You can buy her jewelry off the rack, but it was a lot more fun to sift through the thousands of choices she had at the ready and let her make something custom. We both wanted one of everything.

Here are just a few.

I had gone in not sure I would buy anything for myself (yeah right!) but wanting a gift for my mom (she reads this blog, so I won't way what, if anything, happened with that). But if I were to buy something for myself, I knew I wanted a charm with my initial. Anyway, this is what I ended up with.

I love it. Debbie's is very similar, but her initial is, logically, a "D," and her other little charm is a little teeny tiny bee. And her little stone is ... something else, clear. Anyway we're both besotted and look like total dorks when together now, because we match.

While we were there, Karen was putting together an order for Craft Co. No. 6. Check it out when in Rochester.

We were practially giddy as we left, and hungry, so we went up to Noveltea Bistro, based on a couple of Internet reviews and Karen's recommendation. It had not occurred to me that one would need a reservation to have lunch in a tea room in what appeared to be a not very heavily populated area, but I thought the hostess would sever both of our heads when we asked to be seated—gasp!—without one. She did find a table for us though, and that was a good thing, because lunch was wonderful. But the scones we had for dessert, now those were beyond wonderful.

Here is my white chocolate cranberry scone, with cherry jam and clotted cream. Wowza.

And here is the sign outside Noveltea, which I did not believe going in, but did believe going out.

In case you cannot read it, I will tell you that is says "The Best Scones in the World. No, Really... The World," which I think is a very cute and clever little tag line. Attached to the restaurant is a high-end kitchen supply store where you can also buy scones, quiche, etc., to go.

Isn't this a gardening blog? OK, well our final stop was at Akron Tree Farms, which was purchased a few years ago by my good pal Ed Dore. He and his crew are doing a great job there, and the place looked wonderful. Ed is growing some harder-to-find things like stewartia and American beech.

We got the full tour, and learned all kinds of things about chicken poop, Marxism, marathon running, raw foodism, and of course, trees. Here are Ed and Deb.

A great column about bees

2009-04-29T10:21:00.000-04:00

Science and Biology - Olivia Judson Blog - NYTimes.com

Thanks to Duane Reid for the link.

Learn about Organic Gardening in Genesee County

2009-04-23T19:24:00.002-04:00

Submitted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension-Genesee County

County Vegetables should be part of everyone's diet. If you don't want to spend a little bit more for those organically grown and sold in the supermarkets, perhaps you should consider planting your own garden. It is very easy, fun, and can even be a great project for children

Join, Consumer Horticulture Educator, Gail Culver as she presents a back by popular demand second Organic Vegetable Gardening program on Thursday, May 7, at Cornell Cooperative Extension- Genesee County, 420 East Main Street, Batavia. Not only will you learn the "ins and outs" of growing vegetables organically, but you will also be treated to homemade desserts made by the Genesee County Master Gardeners. Tea and coffee will also be served.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to learn about how to grow produce organically. To register for this program, please call Gail Culver at 343-3040, ext. 132, stop by our office or check out our website at htttp://genesee.shutterfly.com.

Submitted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension-Genesee County

Late Breaking Event: Wildflower Walk

2009-04-23T19:09:00.001-04:00

Wildflower Walk at Crowfields: Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m., rain or shine. Join Carol and Dave Southby to explore a wooded drumlin filled with spring wildflowers on this privately owned land of Steve and Mary Aman in Arcadia(just outside of Newark), and leased to Sanctuary at Crowfield, a not for profit organization. The land is also protected by a Genesee Land Trust conservation easement. Directions: From Route 31 in Newark, turn north onto Route 88, go 3.5 miles, turn right onto Pulver Rd for 1.5 miles, turn left at Arcadia Zurich Road, just past 3rd house on right, look for "Sanctuary Parking" sign.Walk includes steep trails at times.

Rest in Peace, Maha Atma Singh

2009-04-20T10:10:00.001-04:00

It's with a very sad heart I report that Maha Atma Singh, a.k.a. Charles Oesterly, left us this past Saturday night. He had battled (valiantly!) cancer of the esophagus.

Any of you who knew Charles knew he was a strong man with a big heart and a great passion for his gardens, his precious Boston terriers, and his family. I will certainly miss him very much.

My daughter also loved Charles. Here they are feeding ducks in his garden in the fall of '06.

Late Breaking Event: Earth Day April 25 Clean Up

2009-04-16T11:36:00.001-04:00

Submitted by Urban Roots

Urban Roots Community Garden Center will welcome in the season with an Earth Day neighborhood clean up of the "Five Corners" or "Five Points" area 2 blocks west of Left Bank, at Rhode Island Street, Utica, and Brayton.

Community Gardens, which were planted in 2004, will be tended, mulched and planted. Litter will be picked up, and the Urban Roots lot will be raked and planted.

Urban Roots Community Garden Center
428 Rhode Island Street
10 am – 1pm, Saturday, April 25, 2009
Brink a rake, shovel or broom and gloves

Urban Roots is a community owned cooperative business. Our retail business opened in April of 2007 at 428 Rhode Island Street, in the building we purchased. We filled two lots with plants and trees, brought in exceptional soil and amendments, and are refurbishing two storefronts. The vision for Urban Roots was planted in 2005 by a group of West Side neighbors, and grew through grass roots organizing, plant swaps, the sale of heirloom tomatoes, and the labor and enthusiasm of the Buffalo community. An additional two lots were purchased by the cooperative in order to expand this year in March 2008. A well was dug during the summer of 2008 in order to sustainably maintain our plants. In April 2009 Urban Roots has more than 450 Member-Owners.

Urban Roots Community Garden Center is a consumer cooperative business whose mission is to provide quality products for gardening in the City of Buffalo and be an active and enriching member of the community.

Submitted by Urban Roots

Garden Walk Buffalo garden applications now online

2009-04-14T08:51:00.001-04:00

Garden Walk Buffalo invites gardens, and their gardeners, from the Peace Bridge to Main Street and Erie Basin Marina to Forest Avenue/Rumsey Road to be part of the 15th annual Garden Walk, to be held Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Share your garden and show your pride in our neighborhoods and city.

Enter by May 15, 2009.

Enter online at GardenWalkBuffalo.com. If a mailed, paper application is preferred, a printable .pdf application can be found here.

Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden tour in the U.S., is held the last weekend of July each year. In 2009, the free event will be Saturday and Sunday, July 25 & 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 300 residences and businesses throughout the west side of Buffalo open their creative urban gardens for tens of thousands of visitors from around the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.GardenWalkBuffalo.com.

Late Breaking Event: African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY Judged Show and Plant Sale

2009-04-10T11:18:00.000-04:00

African Violet & Gesneriad Society of WNY

Annual Judged Show and Plant Sale

Walden Galleria Mall - Lower Level

May 2nd. 12:00 pm - 8:30 pm

May 3rd. 10:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Free Admission

PROJECT BUDBREAK SEEKS CITIZEN SCIENTIST VOLUNTEERS

2009-04-07T17:23:00.000-04:00

Submitted by Cornell Plantations

Ithaca, NY -- The effects of global warming may be evident right in your own
backyard, and Cornell scientists need your help.

You are invited to join Project Budbreak -- a "weather-spotters" network for
plants -- to observe and record the first day of flowering for certain
plants in your backyard. Last year over 150 people from all over central New
York recorded more than 500 observations. The project welcomes both new and
returning volunteers this year.

Some facts:

- The annual average temperature right here in the northeastern United
States has increased by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 30 years and is
expected to continue to rise.

- Because of the temperature increase, lilacs have been flowering up to one
week earlier than they did a few decades ago.

- Increasing temperatures are affecting many of our native plant species.

Climate change may be impacting our native plants by changing the timing of
bud break, leaf emergence, flowering, fall coloration, and leaf drop.
To find out whether increasing temperatures are causing detrimental
ecosystem changes, Cornell researchers are asking people to join their
plant-spotter network.

The project is being coordinated by David A. Weinstein, in the Department of
Natural Resources.

"Recording this information is easy and fun, and takes only a few minutes a
week," says Weinstein. "We've made it possible to quickly enter your
observations into an easy-to-use website, including videos you can watch
that demonstrate how to make observations. We'll be putting all kinds of
information, maps, and tools on the website about what is happening to
plants here in central NY, so you'll be able to learn as we learn."

Once you've signed up, simply pick one, two, or more plants growing outside
your house and start watching each day for the first signs of flowers
beginning to form, branches greening up, and leaves starting to spring
forward. You'll begin to see a whole new world emerging right before your
eyes.

To join Project Budbreak, please visit the projects's website at
http://budbreak.tc.cornell.edu.

For more information, contact David Weinstein by email at daw5@cornell.edu; or by phone at 607-351-4214.

Submitted by Cornell Plantations

Garden Walk garden in Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living magazine

2009-04-04T15:34:00.001-04:00

I'll let Jim Charlier do the talking here, but want to point out that a few of our friends were involved in this story: photographer Andreas Trauttmansdorff, Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living editor Luke Miller, and—of course—Garden Walk! Way to go.

Garden Walk garden in Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living magazine

Update on Odyssey Trips

2009-04-04T09:22:00.003-04:00

Due to popular demand, this year we're adding a Buffalo route to our Odyssey to Ithaca tour on SATURDAY, JUNE 6. This is in addition to the ever-popular Rochester route. For more info, click here.

Help Wanted -- Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

2009-03-26T07:41:00.001-04:00

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is hiring for the following seasonal park and golf course positions:
Zone gardeners,
Rosarian,
Turf crew,
Golf course rangers,
Golf course starters,
Concessions workers,
Lifeguards

Hours of operation are weekdays, weekends and evenings.
Experience and valid driver’s license required.
More info: www.buffaloolmstedparks.org

Resumes:
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Parkside Lodge
84 Parkside Ave
Buffalo NY 14214

Email: info@buffaloolmstedparks.org

Deadline: 4/15/09
EOE. No calls please.

Late Breaking Event: Vegetable Gardening Information Night

2009-03-26T07:33:00.000-04:00

April 20th, 2009, Monday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

An information night for beginner and experienced home vegetable gardeners. Come and learn about how to amend your soil, the best way to plant, and the tried and true vegetable and herb varieties for our area. The evening will end with a roundtable discussion. Hosted by Monroe County Master Gardeners. Cost is $5.00 per adult, children of participants (under 18), FREE. Space is limited; please call 461-1000 x 225 to reserve your place.

Come to Plantasia...

2009-03-25T17:18:00.000-04:00

... or Dave gets it!

Help Wanted - SALES

2009-03-19T10:10:00.000-04:00

Help is needed immediately by a Rochester-area pond installation company. They are looking for a salesperson -- pond experience is not absolutely necessary, but sales experience would be very helpful. Duties include: Educating customers about ponds and the company's services, selling ponds and services, some pond maintenance, and organizing one or more special events per year.

Candidate must be organized and outgoing.

If you are interested, email jane AT janemilliman DOT com.

GardenScape: Landscaper's Design Challenge

2009-03-14T11:10:00.002-04:00

Today and tomorrow at 11am, Waterford Tilling's Pietro Furgiuele hosts a quick-draw design challenge here at the dome. The first challenge -- live -- has the competitors creating an entrance to the gardens at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester. Here are Pietro, Tim of Twin Oaks and Mike Tanzini of Ted Collins Tree and Lanscape. Also competing, Karl Nagler of R. J. Shickler and Bruce Zaretsky (Zaretsky Associates).

If you want to find us at GardenScape

2009-03-13T16:12:00.000-04:00

Look for the giant flower arrangement. Hard to miss! A Pat Mead
creation.

Eden Station

2009-03-13T12:04:00.000-04:00

R. J. Schickler's gardens always remind me of movie sets -- they're
like little worlds. This one is a depot coffee house. Very cool.

Report from GardenScape

2009-03-13T11:39:00.000-04:00

Here is an absolutely terrible picture of what's in person a lovely
garden (I blame the camera). It's Waterford Tilling's "Deconstructing
Eden," best of show this year. Very cool in person!

Gearing up for GardenScape

2009-03-11T08:28:00.000-04:00

Thursday through Sunday at the Dome Center in Henrietta.

The show looks really good -- I stopped in yesterday for setup and will be back today. Regular hours begin tomorrow morning. Please stop and see me in the welcome court. I hate to rave, but I do think the show will be particularly special this year.

It appears that more companies than usual are bringing in these gorgeous forced perennials—there were quite a few at CNYBlooms last week as well. Above, Canterbury bells, white bleeding heart, and some giant delphinium—gorgeous.

I'd like to give credit to Bristol's Garden Center in Victor, who supplied these two non-profits with some beautiful plants and décor. First, the Rochester Civic Garden Center. It's their first time back in the show after a few years away, and Christine Froehlich, the E.D., has done an amazing design job. They are in the dome this year, right beside the Genesee Valley chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. Betsy Knapp was working on her tiny, incredibly detailed display yesterday. I love her work and am writing a profile of her for the Meredith publication Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living.

More as it happens... .

Love this -- Garden spheres

2009-03-05T12:11:00.000-05:00

I have these in three sizes at home, in terra cotta. Have never seen
these ornate ones before. Very cool. At the Greenscapes booth.

What's the hot new trend in containers this year?

2009-03-05T11:21:00.001-05:00

Why, it's echeveria! Seen everywhere ... this one in particular at the
Ballantyne Gardens retail booth.

Help wanted

2009-03-05T10:45:00.001-05:00

P/T office help for Landscape Co. in Alden

Bookkeeping & general office help. Quick Books and Computer skills helpful. 20-30hrs per week

J&L Premier Landscape

11,490 Genesee

Alden, N.Y. 14004

ph.937-7300 fx 937-3318

Good advice from Mueller Farms

2009-03-04T19:19:00.000-05:00

CNY Blooms

2009-03-04T16:56:00.000-05:00

Here 'til Sunday. Stop by!

Help Wanted: Landscape Contractor

2009-03-02T16:54:00.001-05:00

Beau Enterprises Inc.
Landscape Contractor

Seeking reliable, motivated, Hard working

Landscaping foreman/crew leader
Landscape laborers
Design and sales

Seasonal and year round positions Available
Must have drivers licenses, CDL a plus

Generous compensation, health ins, 401

Send resume w/salary requirements
4250 Williams Rd Ransomville NY 14131
Ph: (716) 791-3000 Fx: (716) 791-3003
Beauent AT aol.com

New ED at BECBG

2009-03-02T16:09:00.002-05:00

We've been waiting for this announcement. (Straight-up press release to follow.)

Submitted by The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc. welcomes David S. Daehnke as executive director. Professionally educated as well as skilled and experienced in overseeing a successful nonprofit public gardens and arboretums, Daehnke brings a wealth of horticulture and business knowledge to the position.

As a new Western New Yorker, Daehnke sees this position as an opportunity to live in a tremendous regional city and lead an extraordinary botanical gardens with rich history. Focusing on the mission and future of The Botanical Gardens, Daehnke isdedicated to creating, sustaining and interpreting a museum of living plants while upholding its purpose to promote an enduring harmony between people and the natural world.

Most recently, Daehnke held the position of executive director of The Montclair Foundation and Van Vleck House and Gardens inMontclair, New Jersey. He directed successful restoration efforts, fund-raising campaigns and educational programs. In his tenure, he made the Van Vleck House and Gardens a central destination that encouraged community and unity. Daehnke is widely known from his weekly radio show "The Gardening Guru" on WGHT 1500 AM, broadcasting from Wayne, New Jersey that has been broadcasting for over 15 years, on Martha Stewarts' Sirius Radio Show "Morning Living". He is also horticultural consultant onwww.thegardeningguru.com and a staff writer for The Gardener News, New Jersey's only monthly gardening newspaper.

Daehnke's previous experience includes holding the executive director position at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, New Jersey. He executed successful capital campaigns and directed, coordinated and supervised all operations of the Arboretum. Prior to the Arboretum, Daehnke was landscape supervisor at the Bergen County Department of Parks James A. McFaul Environmental Center. He managed a ½ acre nursery, supervised an 81 acre county park, was the chief grant writer for horticultural projects and created the largest public collection of ornamental grasses in New Jersey. David was also general manager of Ramapo Landscape Supply and owned his own successful landscape design, maintenance and build firm for over 10 years. In 1984, he received his Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture from Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Sumbitted by The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society, Inc.

Why?

2009-03-02T16:05:00.002-05:00

Why is there no Blogger for iPhone app?

Today's Column...

2009-02-28T07:28:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note about today's column for you industry types. Green Living Technologies is mentioned in the latest Green Profit (the article is online too), and in the same issue, UGJ friend Trish Gannon of Wayside Garden Center is quoted extensively. I'm sure you all subscribe to GP; it's FREE to green industry pros and a good read.

Wow. That's a lot of links.

More Beer in Rochester?

2009-02-23T10:32:00.002-05:00

This just in from the Rochester Business Journal:

BREAKING NEWS

KPS agrees to acquire Labatt USA, launches North American Breweries

KPS Capital Partners L.P. has reached an agreement to acquire the U.S. operations of Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd., setting the stage to potentially move Labatt USA beer-making to High Falls Brewing Co. LLC in Rochester. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hard to get overly excited about this. It's good for Rochester but for bad for Buffalo, where Labatt USA is currently based, so it's a wash in my book.

I did like this line though:

"We intend to continue to grow North American Breweries aggressively, both organically and through acquisition of new brands and exceptional breweries," said Raquel Palmer, a KPS partner.

No doubt. In hard economic times, what lines of business continue to thrive? Board games, gardening and alcohol, to name a few. Now, to find a way to combine the three....

Karen Detinger Jewelry -- Love This

2009-02-18T08:47:00.001-05:00

We're deep in production on the March-April issue (which is going to be fabulous, by the way), so I'm spending the majority of my waking minutes hunched over the keyboard—thank goodness for yoga—and not taking too much (as much?) time for facebooking, surfing, blogging, etc. But this morning, Debbie sent me a link to a site that has me coveting everything on it. Everything. It's DKDStudio.com, featuring the jewelry of Clarence designer Karen Detinger. Why talk about it here? Many of the pieces feature images of the natural world. There are suns, bees, rabbits, flowers, leaves, and even what looks like a Japanese beetle, which I find oddly appealing—in silver if not in person. In some ways it reminds me of the work of the late Helen Woodhull, which I also love but which is somewhat out of my reach at the moment. Rather than read me blathering on about them, it's best if you just go look, but here are some of my faves:

Flowers all Around Bracelet, $295

Simple Flower Necklace, $149

Honey Bee and Hive Earrings, $98

Now -- back to work for me!

Help for Bill Valavanis

2009-02-07T15:34:00.061-05:00

William Valavanis is a very well-known bonsai expert from Henrietta (a suburb of Rochester). He's respected the world over and people come from pretty much everywhere to learn from him at his International Bonsai Arboretum. Even if you're not into bonsai, if you've ever been to GardenScape you can't help but to have noticed his work—his displays are stunning. I don't have many great pictures, but here's a Naragansett crabapple in full bloom from I think two years ago:

A few days ago, Bill's house caught on fire. No one was hurt, but there was a lot of loss and it's going to be a heck of a mess to clean up—I'm not even sure the house itself is salvagable. Luckily, Bill's studio and greenhouses were unharmed. The majority of Bill's 40,000 slides are gone, however, as are 30 years of back issues of Bill's magazine, International Bonsai.

Many people want to help Bill and his family, and in case you're one of them, here's how:

1. You can bid on this hand-made bonsai planter by Ron Lang here.

2. You can bid on this 80-year-old ponderosa pine donated by Golden Arrow bonsai, here (scroll down 'til you find it).

3. You can send a check (made out to William N. Valavanis) via the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York to:

Ron Maggio

30 Green Pine Lane

Webster, NY 14580

or via the GardenScape Professionals Association:

GPA
PO Box 1113
Webster, NY 14580-1113

I am certain that Bill and his family will appreciate any help we can give them.

Job Opportunity at Canterbury Woods, Williamsville

2009-02-06T10:25:00.001-05:00

Here's a job opening for a full-time grounds assistant at Canterbury Woods, Williamsville, NY.

Job Summary: Canterbury Woods is hiring one full-time grounds assistant and two part-time seasonal assistants.

General Duties: Grass cutting, planting, weeding, pruning, and various grounds maintenance tasks.

Requirements:
• Must have landscaping experience.
• Available some evening and weekend hours.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Excellent communication and people skills.

Canterbury Woods is an equal opportunity employer. We provide a team-oriented environment, a competitive benefits package; including medical, dental, 401k and retirement plan.

If you are interest in the positions email your resume to jdinehart AT echa DOT org or mail your resume to:

Jeff Dinehart
Grounds Superintendent
Canterbury Woods
705 Renaissance Dr.
Williamsville, New York 14221

Vendors Wanted for Lewiston Garden Walk

2009-02-06T10:21:00.003-05:00

From the Lewiston Garden Walk:

Vendors are wanted for our 4th annual Gardenfest, June 27-28 on Center Street in Lewiston, NY. If you have a product dealing with the outdoors we have an event for you. Merchandise examples would include: plants, landscape, statuary, irrigation systems, illuminated lighting, rod iron, garden/yard enhancements, fences, pools, spas, curbing, pavers, sod, etc. The festival is free to the public, as well as 6 local gardens for viewing and noted garden expert speakers and educators over the 2 day period. Thousands of people are roaming Center Street partaking in vendor sales. Rental space prices include: 10x10 for only $100 over the 2 days. Larger spaces available. Center Street will be closed to car/truck traffic enabling vendors to place product on Center Street (between 4th-5th) and leave overnight. Setup will be on Sat 27 from 5am-10am, Please, call for information at 716/754-2084.

Today's Column...

2009-01-31T07:52:00.028-05:00

In today's column, I talk about hops. Here's a picture of the ornamental Humulus lupulus 'Aureus', the golden hop vine.

Today's column is about hops for home brewing (briefly), and I interview Fausto Angotti. Fausto does beer tastings—that's where I met him, at a private tasting at a friend's house—that are fascinating and make for a party that's both fun and educational. If you're interested check out his site: TheBruHaus.com.

Call for Work

2009-01-13T20:53:00.000-05:00

From Jim Charlier at GardenWalk Buffalo:

Garden Walk Buffalo is looking for artwork to use on the Garden Walk 2009 posters, t-shirts and maps. Artwork must be garden-related and it is preferable that it relate to the type of gardens, flowers, and neighborhoods found on Garden Walk Buffalo in late July. It can come in the form of a painting (in any media), a photograph, a drawing, an illustration, or a mixed media work. Please submit up to five slides, or a CD containing high quality .jpgs to Garden Walk Buffalo, PO Box 161, Buffalo, NY 14207. Do not send original work—slides on CD only. Include a resume and a brief letter explaining why the imagery would be particularly appropriate to Garden Walk. If you need further information, email your questions to GardenWalkBuffalo@yahoo.com or leave a message at 716-879-0123. Entries are due Friday, March 13.

Garden Walk Buffalo, an annual tour of more than 300 urban gardens, is the largest garden tour in the U.S. The 15th annual Garden Walk Buffalo will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 25 & 26, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.GardenWalkBuffalo.com

DEADLINE: Friday, March 13, 2009

Interior Plant Specialist/Gardener

2009-01-13T20:38:00.001-05:00

I apologize—I'm posting this very late.

Job Summary: Ecology and Environment, Inc. is a fully integrated environmental consulting firm whose underlying philosophy is its worldwide commitment to supporting sustainable development through responsible environmental stewardship. We are seeking a part-time Interior Plant Specialist/ Gardener for our Lancaster, NY office.

Responsibilities:
Hands on maintenance and care of tropical interior plants in a corporate business environment.
Watering, cultivation, pest and disease control within an Integrated Pest Management ( IPM) program.
Maintaining interior planters, tools, and equipment associated with the interior landscape program.
Determining the need for and schedule maintenance and care projects including watering, trimming, pruning, feeding, insect and plant disease control.
Assisting Horticulturist in planning and executing plans for seasonal moving or transplanting.

Requirements:
3+ years of experience.
Associates Degree and or/ combination of horticultural training and experience with tropical and subtropical plants.
Some evening and weekend hours.
Excellent communication skills and people skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Experience in IPM, organic gardening or natural pest and disease control propagation is a plus.
New York State DEC Pesticide Application Certification is a plus.

E & E offers opportunities in a team-oriented environment, competitive benefits package; including medical, dental, 401k and retirement plan. Please visit our website at www.ene.com to apply online. Join our team and make a difference!

Help Wanted - Nursery Manager

2008-11-25T11:32:00.001-05:00

Established nursery/garden center in a busy and affluent eastern suburb of Rochester seeks an experienced manager for the coming season.

Primary duties will involve buying, maintaining and selling annuals, perennials and a limited number of shrubs. In the near future the nursery will also expand into growing its own material, plus landscape design and installation.

This is a rare opportunity to build your own dream job from the ground up.

Please send résumé and cover letter to jane at janemilliman dot com.

We're in Spree!

2008-10-28T09:45:00.001-04:00

OK, so it's not so much "we," it's more "Maria." She was seen out at the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame Awards last month, and her picture—and a line identifying her association with the UGJ—is on page 157 of the new issue. Hey, any way we can get our name in print, we like.

Today's Column...

2008-10-25T07:46:00.006-04:00

Thought I'd post some pictures to go along with today's column in the D&C.

Lo & Behold Blue Chip, courtesy Spring Meadow Nurseries

Lantana Luscious Citrus Blend, in my garden

Diamond Frost euphorbia, with poinsettia, courtesy Proven Winners

Mt. Hope in October - wow.

2008-10-19T13:12:00.001-04:00

Saturday I visited Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester to take pictures for
a story Michelle Buckstrup is working on for a future issue. (Here she
is, above, interviewing Ed Olinger.)

It was actually pretty tough to get good images, as beautiful as it
was, because the shadows were just a little harsh.

If you're looking for great fall foliage, this is the spot.

Chautauqua Country Trip a Big Success

2008-10-02T13:45:00.002-04:00

IMG_0297.JPG, originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

I can't believe I haven't posted to the blog in over two weeks. I didn't realize it had been that long. Well, we've been busy here at the UGJ. Our trip through Chautauqua County was awesome. The trip SOLD OUT and everyone seemed to have a great time despite somewhat cramped quarters! We'll definitely be doing this again—something slightly different for next year, perhaps. If you are interested in seeing the pictures, click here.

Late Breaking Events - The Wild Ones CNY

2008-09-29T15:20:00.002-04:00

Submitted by the Habitat Gardening Club of Central New York (www.hgcny.org), the CNY chapter of Wild-Ones (http://www.for-wild.org/aboutsit.html).

Meetings are at 2 pm at the LeMoyne College Falcone Library in the Special Activities room on the following dates and include invited speakers on habitat garden-related topics.

Meetings are free and open to the public!

DATE:Sunday, October 26
TOPIC: Rain gardens and rain barrels
SPEAKER: Amy Samuels from Cornell Cooperative Extension

DATE: Sunday, November 30
TOPIC: Native Plant Jeopardy (a fun way of educating ourselves on CNY native plants)

Submitted by the Habitat Gardening Club of Central New York (www.hgcny.org), the CNY chapter of Wild-Ones (http://www.for-wild.org/aboutsit.html).