Susan Latoski Exits RCGC

ETTG is sad to report that Susan Latoski, long time Executive Director of the Rochester Civic Garden Center, has left in order to take a position with the Landmark Society. She will be sorely missed.

Given the untold hours I have spent with Susan over the past ten years, often with camera in hand, it amuses - and frustrates - me to not be able to come up with a lot of images of Susan in the Garden. I have plenty of shots of Susan's garden, and many of Susan on a Bike and Susan on Skis, but of Susan in the garden, this is the best I can come up with...and she's not even in focus (the bigleaf magnolia flower is!). I took this slide in '02 at one of our frequent visits to one of our favorite spots, Cornell Plantations.

I know Susan will knock 'em dead in her new job, and I wish her the best of luck and send her off with lots of love.

A new way to find the UGJ

Looking to pick up a copy of the latest UGJ? Check out our new map of distribution locations, updated with each issue (keep in mind that some outlets are only open seasonally).
UGJ Distribution Locations

Brian Eshenaur's New Gig

Brian Eshenaur is the UGJ's esteemed, essential, beloved Technical Editor. And whew! Even though he has a great new job, he's going to STAY our T. E. For the past couple of issues he's been concentrating on getting used to being an IPM Ornamental Educator for the (statewide) Cornell Cooperative Extension, so Judy Hubbard, who is also great, filled in (she'd been filling in for Brian at his old job at Monroe Extension, Horticulture Program Leader, as well).

Congratulations to Brian.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

That's right, folks. It's apple harvest season! Nirvana.

I'd like to report on two new varieties I discovered this week. Out at Burnap's Farm Market in Sodus, I picked up a single Zestar, and I could kick myself for not buying out their stock. This apple was so sweet, so juicy and crunchy, it had me talking to myself in the car. According to Mark at Whittier Fruit Farm in Gates, who also grows Zestar, "the side of the fruit facing the sun develops a sweet spot that’s brighter red and wildly flavorful." (Read Mark’s Guide to Apple Varieties.)

What I did pick up a bag of, at Burnap's, was another new one, Sansa. Not quite as sinfully sweet at Zestar, it is nontheless very sweet and juicy, with a lovely texture (I hate mealyness in apples) and perhaps a little more complexity to it, a little tartness.

Also, I understand this summer's been good for the Honeycrisps, which is a relief after last year—they were done at the end of September, it seemed! At least the Crispins were in good supply.

It's HERE!

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

I've been waiting for ages to see this plant in the flesh. Terra Nova teased me with a slide and a press release a few years ago, but when I asked them please to send a plug, they were all out. Grrrr. So yesterday, I'm taking a quick trip around the back gardens at Sara's in Brockport (quick because it's raining and I'm cold), when this little guy leaps out at me.

Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans' is a petite groundcover for shade (yes, it will grow under trees—I've seen the green version doing well there at Cornell Plantations). I won't describe the foliage as you can see it for yourself here, and I haven't seen flowers or pictures of flowers, but being that it's a close relative, I image they're similar to that of garden saxifrage.

I didn't see Kathy to ask her whether she had any in stock, but if it's in her display garden, it can only be a matter of time.

Bargains Abound

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Ah, September. The air cools, the energy soars, and the prices drop. I went around this weekend delivering magazines and found that pretty much everywhere I stopped there were bargains to be had. At the Garden Factory in Gates, there is a whole section of shrubs and grasses that are five dollars and change—I saw some good-looking Panicum 'Heavy Metal' in what I think were #15's. Towards the front they were offering the chelone pictured here, 'Hot Lips', for eight bucks, in gallons. Not exactly cheap, but not too bad, and the plants were healthy and fresh. Up at Harris Gardens on 250 in Penfield, Rosy's having a "yard sale," getting rid of some of the leftover stuff from the previous owners. Some excellent deals there on hard goods.

More Fall Garden Faire News

I want to post this update because I'm getting a lot of hits here from people searching for the Fall Garden Faire. It IS still on, it's on Saturday, NOT SUNDAY, September 9, and it's at the Cooperative Extension, NOT Knox Farm or Hamlin Park, 21 Grove St. East Aurora.

I won't be there this year. I can't believe it! It conflicts with the Gathering of Gardeners. Waaa. But Maria will. Stop and see her at the entrance, and pick up the latest UGJ.

What's Blooming Now

I got this clematis, 'Mrs. Robert Brydon', from the great plantswoman Joan Hoeffel, probably ten years ago. I've never seen it for sale in person since. In fact, until I visited Bluegrass Lane at Cornell earlier this month, I hadn't seen it at all in person since. It interested me that they had it in the test plot there. Does that mean it's being evaluted for market? I hope so. This is an excellent plant.

Mrs. Brydon isn't a climbing clematis. She's more of a sprawler. I like to prop her up on things. In one of the above images, she's propped up on the heptacodium, whose bloom time overlaps hers. In my old garden I used to encourage her to laze about in the Hosta plantaginea. Verrry pretty.

OK. Enough with the anthromorphizing. What's really cool about Mrs. Robert Brydon is the color of the flowers. They are little bells, perfect little baby blue bells. Powder, baby-boy blue. And we all know how tough it is to find true blue for the garden.

It's not the toughest plant; it took a couple of years to recover from its move across the street, and it doesn't spontaneously root at the nodes the way I wish it would (like some ground creepers do). Also, it's brittle, so you have to be careful not to step on it. In the early spring I cut back the woody stem, leaving a few sets of nodes, to get rid of all the dead stuff and to try to encourage branching.

Oh yum

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

OK, these tomatoes don't look too purple. But they are, in fact, 'Cherokee Purple'. They were pretty tasty, but of the 5 heirlooms I grew this year, I hate to say it, but...'Brandywine' is the best tasting. I know, I know. Brandywine this Brandywine that. It's just a good tomato.

Cherokee Purple is prettier though.

Come with me to the Chelsea Flower Show & More!

May 19 - 27, 2007, Publisher Jane Milliman will accompany a group of Western New York garden lovers to England, to visit some great gardens (Sissinghurst and Great Dixter, for starters) and attend the Chelsea Flower Show.
If you are interested in joining the group, please e-mail jane AT janemilliman DOT com for more information.

Perfectly, Naturally Elusive

I wrote about this product, Perfectly Natural Weed Killer, in my D&C column a while back, and yes, it's very good and I do use it myself around the house. (The kids always think someone is making applesauce. Or pie. Or pickles!) My readers have had a really tough time finding it though. I am sorry about that! Wal-Mart did carry it in the spring but didn't re-order when (or should I say EVEN THOUGH) it sold out. Home Depot doesn't carry it in the East. And they don't quite have the independent garden centers lined up yet, either.
So. To buy it, for now, you have to order it at this Web site:
uniquenaturalandorganicproductsrus.com
Sorry for the inconvenience.

...And We Have a Few More!

I'm not worthy.

That's really how I felt on Tuesday, at Bluegrass Lane at Cornell University in Ithaca, judging the Kathy Pufal memorial container competition put on by the Cooperative Extension in conjunction with its annual Field Days. I mean, in comparison to the talent that was on display, my own home containers are pretty lame. Not to mention the two pros on my team: Donna Moramarco from martin Viette, and Cornell Plantations's Liz Brown (have you SEEN the containers at Plantations?), who knew exactly what they were doing. I learned a lot.

Our team judged the Unlimited category, which basically is anything other than a hanging basket or a 16 inch patio pot. I'm not sure how the images will stack up on this post, but the wagon was first place and the chest second, and they were both submitted by Wallkill View Farms in New Paltz. Third place was captured by first-time entrant Country Power Products out of Greenwich.

Here is the total line-up of winners as announced by Cornell:

Basket
3rd: (Tie) B1, Lockwood’s Greenhouses, Hamburg, NY, and
B4, Adams Fairacre Farms, Poughkeepsie, NY
2nd: B7, Mischler’s Florist, Williamsville, NY
1st: B9, Little York Plantation, Little York, NY

Unlimited:
3rd: N9, Country Power Products, Greenwich, NY
2nd: N1, Wallkill View Farms, New Paltz, NY
1st N2, Wallkill View Farms, New Paltz, NY

16-inch
3rd: P3, Wallkill View Farms, New Paltz, NY
2nd: P2, Wallkill View Farms, New Paltz, NY
1st: P12, Zema’s Nursery, Stephentown, NY

We Have a Winner!

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Actually, we have quite a few.

Way back in July I was on a team that made the "Celebrity" (gotta love that) pick at the Monroe County Fair Flower Showw. We could choose among any of the entrants (except flower arrangements), and among them all (there seemed to be hundreds, but I don't know how many), interestingly, we all three had this charming lily stem in our top three. So it was a no-brainer. Turns out the entrant was a kid, which made me smile.

The actual, trained, certified judges chose something else entirely (shows how much WE know). The Fair's press release follows, edited:

Diane Magin of Irondequoit, NY was this year’s winner of the Julia Meister Memorial Trophy for Best of Showat the 2006 Monroe County Fair Flower & Vegetable Show. Ms. Magin‚s entry, an Annabell hydrangea, first won the Best of Section for Cut Flowers, then was selected Best of Show among the Best of Section winners by a panel of certified
judges.
This year the Fair had a Celebrity's Pick for Best of Show. This award was selected by the following panel of judges: Katrina Irwin (WROC/WUHF), Jane Milliman (D&C/Upstate Gardeners‚ Journal), & Joe Peters (Legends 990 AM). A lily submitted by Jake Futter of Hemlock, NY won the Celebrity's Pick for Best of Show. Jake’s lily also won Best of Section for Cut Flowers (Youth Division).

Dolores Sibs of Greece, NY won the Adult Gardener of the Year, with a total of 84 points. Ms. Sibs also won the Best of Section for Roses with her Double Delight Spray which also was selected as the People’s choice Award for Flowers & Roses by fairgoers.

In the 3rd Annual Florist Exhibition-People’s Choice Award, Kittelberger’s Florist of Webster, NY won First Place in the under $50 class and Schum‚s Florist of Rochester, NY won First Place in the unlimited class. These awards are also selected by the fairgoers.

For the second year in row Adam Goldsmith of Brighton, NY won Best of Section for Vegetables/Fruits with his
Green Beans entry.

In the Genesee Valley Hosta Society Show, Donna Lowry’s ‘Minuteman’ entry won Best of Show.

Other Winners were:

Libbie Rosati of Rochester, NY- Best of Section for dahlias with her ‘Duet’ entry; Judith Ledgerwood of Macedon, NY- Best of Section for African violets with her Violet in a Decorative Pot; Angie Centola of Irondequoit, NY- Best of Section for Container Plants with her crown of thorns; Theresa Madonna of Penfield, NY- Best of Section for Hanging Plants with her impatiens entry; John Futter of Hemlock, NY- Best of Section for Vegetables/Fruits (Youth) with his leaf lettuce; Rachel Yuhas of Henrietta, NY was named Junior Gardener of the Year with 51 points.

For further information please contact Sal Madonna (787-9153) or Mike Centola (467-3809).

Correction—The Show Will Go On

After we went to press I heard from Sally again. She caught wind that there will, in fact, be a FGF this year, "...apparently adopted by Roycroft Campus Corporation, and a combination of Knox Farm State Park and Cornell Cooperative Extension." So I guess we'll just wait and see on this one.

Fall Garden Faire No More

Update -
For folks who have found this entry via a Web search, please note it is dated and no longer applicable. The Faire is on for 2007.

ETTG is sad to report that one of upstate New York’s finest gardening events, East Aurora’s Fall Garden Faire, will not be taking place this year.

Traditionally held the second weekend in September, the event was formerly hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, with volunteer management. In 2005, lacking county support, it was produced by volunteers and funded privately.

Co-chair Sally Cunningham said, “It was painful to see this end, as it was so loved by both the public and the vendors…. The final 'Faire' in East Aurora's Hamlin Park was a real pinnacle for us, just the perfect setting, a magical aura, the feeling of a country gardening festival—beauty and joy all around—but there aren't enough hours or financial [resources] to do it, volunteers are exhausted, and sometimes things have to change. It was wonderful—ten years, quite an achievement—and I am proud we ended it on such a glorious note. Cngratulations to all who helped!”

Cunningham and co-chair Kathy Guest Shadrack thanked all of the volunteers, industry participants, vendors, and attendees who have been active with the Faire over the past ten years.

Free Business Analysis Service Available to Greenhouse Operations

ITHACA - Cornell University is offering business analysis services for greenhouse operations through the Greenhouse Business Summary Program. The program helps greenhouse operators evaluate financial performance of a business in relation to industry benchmarks and use this information to improve bottom-line and make management decisions involving pricing, investment, and more.

Supported by a grant from the New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI), this program is free to New York greenhouse growers in 2006 and 2007. A Cornell greenhouse business specialist will work with the greenhouse operator to conduct a profitability analysis for the business. The business will receive a customized financial analysis report and a performance comparison with others in the industry.

More information is available on the Cornell Greenhouse Summary Program at http://hortmgt.aem.cornell.edu/programs/hortbusiness.htm.

Another Great Odyssey

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Saturday we conducted our 3rd annual, and best ever, Odyssey to Ithaca. Despite some minor navigation errors and, well, the constant rain, a good time was had by all. Money was spent. Items aquired. Chocolate eaten. Next year, insstead of 12 hours, should we just go straight for the whole 24?

Check out the peonies

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

I never miss the Linwood Tree Peony Festival in Pavilion. The past three years, I've combined my love for the peonies with my love for the LeMond, and ridden down there with a group of friends. It's becoming a tradition. Afterwards, we have a little party.

To see more images, click on the flickr sampler in the right column. There's still one more weekend to get down and see the blooms! For details, visit linwoodgardens.org.

Crab apple blossoms

It was a good spring for the bloosoms. This is one of our crabapples in bloom. 

Where the hell have I been?

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Originally uploaded by Jane Milliman.

Well, I'll tell ya. I've been out delivering the UGJ, which is one of my favorite things to do, because I get to visit wonderful nurseries and garden centers and gardens, and see lots of my favorite people. This here scene is from Holmes Hollow on Turk Hill Road. Exquisite.