Tag Archives: Gardening in Orange County

Educational Opportunities, Horticulture History

Celebrating Fredrick Law Olmsted

by Karen McCarthy, Newburgh Master Gardener Volunteer

Logo: Olmsted 200, Celebrating Parks for All People (The 0s in the number 200 are trees.)Last year, 2022, marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of the father of American landscape architecture, social reformer, and author Fredrick Law Olmsted. For Olmsted 200 events were planned by the National Association of Olmsted  Parks, The Garden Clubs of America and many local garden groups. This year, the celebration continues.

Photo: Sepia photo of Olmsted in 1855
Frederick Law Olmsted in 1855

Olmsted was born to a family of wealthy merchants in Connecticut over 200 years ago on April 26, 1822.  He had a varied work career, eventually becoming passionate about gardens after a walking tour of the British Isles in 1850.  Exchanging ideas with Andrew Jackson Downing of Newburgh, New York, and his business partner, the English-born architect, Calvert Vaux was a turning point for Olmsted.  At the time Downing was the foremost writer on gardening and a promoter of public parks in America.   These men rejected the geometric gardens with formal, compartmentalized flower beds that conveyed the idea of man over nature.  They proposed instead the English garden style that had a more natural, informal flow of plants.  Rather than “conquer” they wished to “enhance” the beauty of a site.  They believed that free, open public parks could be a healing space, could combat the stress of the growing industrial cities and “civilize” individuals in a new nation.  Such parks would allow for healthy recreation and the quiet contemplation of nature.

Map of Central Park circa 1879
Map of Central Park circa 1879

Following the tragic death of Downing in 1852 in a steamship fire, Olmsted and Vaux teamed up to put these then innovative ideas into the many parks they designed, starting with Central Park in Manhattan.  Ponds were dug, swamps were drained, areas were flattened for open meadows, hills were built up and boulders were exposed or moved to make everything look “natural”, as if it had always been there.  Meandering pathways and carriage roads led up to views of informal gardens or groupings of trees, tying the park together. The design of plantings created an illusion of space and removed the visitor from the sights and sounds of the bustling city.  When possible, trees formed a natural periphery instead of fences.

A major part of the American park concept was “communitiveness”, a term Olmsted coined, meaning that the park was to serve the needs of the community. Parks were not intended only for the rich with carriages, as so often they had been in Europe.  Parks were planned as a democratic space where all society could meet and feel welcome. This “social democracy” of American parks is reflected in ”Parks for All People”, the theme of Olmsted 200.

Photo of an engraving of Olmsted in 1893. It is a profile of Omsted sitting wearing a dark jacket. He is an old man, bald on the top of his head with long white bear.
Fredrick Law Olmsted in 1893

In his lifetime Olmsted worked on some 500 commissions, including 100 parks,  200 estates and 40 academic and other institutions. Besides Central Park, Olmsted is associated with Prospect Park in Brooklyn, as well as parks in Boston, Albany, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Montreal, Louisville and so many other cities.  He was also a prolific writer although he claimed not to enjoy that part of his legacy.

During the Civil War Olmsted served as the Director of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, overseeing the health and medical supplies for the Union Army.  Much later in his career Olmsted worked as the site planner in the Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.  His work emphasized the importance of collaboration between engineers, architects, and landscape architects.

Photo: Various types of trees including a weeping willow on the grassy bank of a pond. The pond extends to the edge of the photo. Half of what you can see is reflecting the trees, the other half is covered with green algae.
Downing Park – Newburgh, NY

Central Park in Manhattan, designed in 1857, was Olmsted’s first park.  His last design was Downing Park in Newburgh, in 1895, also done with Calvert Vaux, Vaux’s son, Downing Vaux and Olmsted’s stepson, John Charles Olmsted.  This small (35 acres) park, set on a former farm acquired by the City of Newburgh, is the only park designed for free as a memorial to Olmsted and Vaux’s acknowledged mentor, Andrew Jackson Downing.  It includes all the features of Central Park in miniature:  a water feature, meandering pathways and roads that lead to views of the Hudson River, hills, boulders, informal gardens and a “great lawn” for informal recreation and community events.  In recent years Downing Park has been a “stand in” for Central Park in several films.

Photo: Trees on the grassy bank of a pond. The trees are varying shades of green with one dark purple colored tree. A bright blue sky with several white clouds takes up the top half of the photo. The runs to the bottom of the photo and the trees and sky are reflected in it.
Downing Park – Newburgh, NY

Once maintained by 30 gardeners, Downing Park now is a completely volunteer effort.  The Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties has been working with the Downing Park Planning Committee through a grant to restore the area of the amphitheater by trimming healthy trees and removing dying trees. A thousand daffodils were planted by adults and school children in the fall of 2021. These daffodils bloomed in time for the Olmsted 200 Celebration in Downing Park on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

The celebration continues, learn more about Olmsted and upcoming events that celebrate his legacy.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

Webinars

Thursday, February 9, 2023 @ 6:00 pm

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 @ 2:00 pm

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Guided Tours and Exhibition
Uncategorized

Gardening Clubs and Independent Community Gardeners of Orange County

By Becky Stage, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer

This article appeared in the July 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.

A black woman stopping to smell the flowersJuly is a beautiful time of year and the high season for garden tours.  The pandemic has canceled many garden tours, but we can experience a small dose of beauty walking down the streets and parks in many of the local villages.  These islands of horticultural artistry are designed and planted by of local garden clubs and comprise dedicated groups of people love to garden and take pride in their communities.  The garden clubs are not just spring and summer events, providing winter holiday decorations and learning events for their members.

While the initial inspiration for this article was garden clubs, specifically garden tours, I discovered there is so much more to garden clubs than the pretty gardens and planters we see in our communities and the garden tours they sponsor.  These clubs provide scholarships for young people continuing their educations in garden related areas.  Their members teach children about gardening and how to grow plants.  They provide companionship and joy to our senior citizens and senior gardeners.  There are also the independent community gardeners who are active in their communities planting gardens, flower boxes and planters.  One of those gardeners uses the garden to support medical research.

The Federated Garden Clubs of New York State ClubsThere are organizations at the national and state level which support garden clubs. In New York State there is The Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc. which was founded in 1924 and incorporated in 1930.  Orange County is part of the Tenth District.  According to the Tenth District’s website, member gardening clubs in Orange County include the Artful Gardener’s Club (Port Jervis), the Cornwall Garden Club, The Pine Bush Garden Club, The Garden Lover’s Club (Middletown) and the Warwick Valley Gardeners.

The Garden Lover’s Club of Middletown was one of the first clubs to be established in Orange County.  It was established on June 5,1924 and is just three years shy of being one hundred years old!  It plants and maintains the gardens at Thrall Park in Middletown, the Herb Gardens at Hill Hold Museum in Montgomery and the gardens at Morrison Hall at SUNY Orange. In addition, for the past 25 years the Club has decorated Morrison Hall to provide beautiful displays for the college’s Open House and Staff parties.  In 2019 it won the top National Garden Club Award for its efforts.

Floral Arrangement with purple and yellow flowersThe Garden Therapy Committee provides monthly workshops to the local Nursing Homes and Rehab Facilities to help residents create seasonal flower arrangements and crafts.  In late November, the members create Holiday and Hanukkah wreaths and table-top arrangements for all nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the Middletown area.

Continuing education for members is provided by monthly presentations from local nurseries, horticulture specialists, and Master Gardener Volunteers.  Each year its Horticulture Chair offers a special garden workshop in combination with its Artistic Crafts Chair.  This year the Chairs will be focusing on an artful presentation using local mosses.  The members also have the opportunities to attend Field Trips throughout the area and sometimes out of state.  Plans to visit the NY Botanical Gardens, the John Jay Homestead, Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, NY and the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park are in the works for this year.

The newest project for the Garden Lovers is a plan to begin a Junior Gardeners Program in conjunction with the Middletown Recreation and Parks Department.  This program will work with preschoolers to promote love and respect for nature, flowers, animals and the environment.  The Garden Lovers’ also sponsor two students each year to attend Camp DeBruce, a NYS DEC camp that teaches environmental education.

Warwick Valley Gardeners LogoAccording to its website, the purpose of Warwick Valley Gardeners is “to create a love for and an interest in gardening, horticulture, conserving natural flora, beautifying public grounds, …” as well as working with community leaders and the Tenth District.

As part of its mission, the Warwick Valley Gardeners maintain nine community gardens including the Doc Beers Memorial at Memorial Park, the Flagpole at the Town Hall, the Local Heroes memorial at Warwick Grove, the Pine Island Butterfly Habitat, the Railroad
Green Park, the Village Hall flower beds, the World Trade Center Memorial at Memorial Park, and the Welcome to Warwick signs located at two entrances to the village. In celebration of Arbor Day, it coordinates planting trees with youth and local officials. In November the Club dresses up Railroad Green by designing, creating and installing holiday decorations. Among other projects, it provides a Garden Therapy program at Mount Alverno Assisted Living Facility.

A collage of garden photos including one surrounding a 'Welcome to Warwick' sign

The Club works with the youth in the community by providing a yearly scholarship to a high school student.  The 2015 youth project established a naturalized Pollinators Garden the Warwick Village’s historical Woodlands.  This Club also works with children from several Town of Warwick elementary schools planting and maintaining gardens.

In addition to this exceptional display of community spirit and love of gardening, Warwick Valley Gardeners sponsor three community events in the year.  There is an annual Wine & Cheese Membership Drive, a Harvest Tea, and a Garden Tour.  Selections of the gardens for the tour are based on diversity with the emphasis on a sampling of different types of gardens and properties such as a shade garden, pool/pond garden, and small and large gardens. Participants are always sought and there are pre and post tour day celebrations.

The Goshen Garden Club was established in March 1985.   Its primary objective is to plant and maintain the landscaping for three monuments in the Village of Goshen: The Orange Blossom monument which honors the civil war soldiers from Orange County; the Henry Wisner Memorial Obelisk which honors the statesman who voted for the Declaration of Independence and the Harriman Fountain in memory of Edward Henry Harriman who was instrumental in developing the Goshen racetrack.

The Club makes and delivers wreaths to eight Goshen organizations: the Harness Museum, the Goshen Library, the Goshen Senior Center, the Goshen Town and Village Halls, the Valley View Nursing Home, the 1841 Courthouse and the Goshen Volunteer Ambulance Corps building.

The interesting aspect of this garden club is that it recognizes the social implications for many of its members that are older.  Many of the “normal” activities of a gardening club, such as holiday decorating and garden tours are handled by other community organizations.  The club has one workshop a year and two meetings – attendance not required but recommended.  The club has an annual fundraiser.  The fundraiser include bake sales, flower sales and “Split the Pot” at village concerts.

A stone path running through the APline Gardne full of color and texture
The Alpine Garden at the Orange County Arboretum

Additionally, this Club has an annual June picnic at the Orange County Arboretum surrounded by the beauty of the gardens there.  They try to visit a different garden every year.  When they feel the need to socialize, they have luncheons.  In November, they have a “Girl’s Shopping Night” when they go to a local shop and then out to dinner.  They end the year with a Christmas party and gift exchange.  The camaraderie of fellow gardeners clearly nourishes their souls.

The Community Garden Club of Pine Bush was established in 2006.  The purpose of the club is to create an interest and love of gardening, to cooperate with the community in beautifying public grounds and to educate members in horticulture and garden design. Its first endeavor was to create a garden in front of the Town Hall which is on Route 32 and has no sidewalks.  For that reason, it is known as a “drive by” garden.  Low maintenance was one of the key focuses for this garden and includes a variety of spring flowering bulbs, shrubs, lilies, grasses and other perennials.  It is most popular in the fall when the club designs and dresses scarecrows for the garden with all the colorful castoff clothing and accessories they can find.

In addition to the Town Hall garden, The Community Garden Club also mains gardens at Verkeerderkilll Park in Walker Valley, the gardens surrounding the Pine Bush Area Public Library and the Blue Star Memorial Garden at the Crawford Community Center.

Crawford Garden of Hope

With some help from the Pine Bush Community Garden Club and others, independent gardeners Donna and Bernie conceived of and planted, a Garden of Hope on the Town of Crawford’s north park.  Donna is a cancer survivor and was involved in the Relay for Hope for many years.  Tiles can be purchased to support the garden and research.  Although initially limited to supporting cancer research, tiles can now be purchased to support any illness research.

The Cornwall Garden Club was established in 1929, over 90 years ago!  In addition to planting flowers in public areas, the Club also plants and maintains container gardens along the main street.  It provides garden therapy activities for senior groups in the Cornwall area.  In collaboration with the local library, the Club provides gardening books and activities for young people.  Every year an environmental or garden related talk is advertised and open to the public.  A plant sale is held every May.

Serving the Otisville area is the Country Garden Club. It was established on October 7, 1958.  Starting each spring, members plant and maintain twelve flower boxes on Main Street, one flower box in Howells, NY, and a large box at the Veterans Memorial Park. In the winter, these boxes are decorated with evergreens.

In conjunction with the Otisville Village Department of Public Works, the Country Garden Club organizes an Arbor Day ceremony and tree planting at the Veterans Memorial Park.  Trees for the ceremony are donated by the residents, the Village of Otisville, and the Club.  There is also a program called “Flowers for Friends”.  Flowers are planted in pots and distributed to the Senior citizens in the area.  Recently, local Brownie and Girl Scout troops have assisted with this endeavor.

Gardening - Pots, plants, gloves, plant signs

Trying to locate the garden clubs in Orange County proved to be a challenge but a rewarding one.  I contacted Marie Pulvirent who was listed on the Monroe-Woodbury Garden Club website.  Sadly, Marie informed me that the Garden Club had disbanded in 2019.  However, undaunted, Marie, either by herself or with the help of approximately seven of her fellow gardeners, have continued several of the former Garden Club’s projects.  At the Senior Center in Woodbury-Highland Mills, her gardening band maintains three raised vegetable beds and decorates the front of the building.  At the Central Valley Library in conjunction with a library assistant, they run a gardening with young children program.  Independently, she plants five garden boxes at the Monroe Millpond Library and plants and maintains the Monroe Veteran’s Garden and the 9/11 garden.

It is notable that in addition to beautifying the municipalities they serve, most of the garden clubs also seek to nurture the senior citizens and youth of their communities.  All the garden clubs welcome new members, providing people with joy and companionship.

Out in the Garden, Vegetable Gardening

Patience is a Virtue in Planting Outdoors

by Joyce Tomaselli, Community Horticulture Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County

A version of this article appeared in the Times Herald-Record in May of 2017.

Tray of cabbage seedlingsMany sources provide great advice on sowing seeds.  Key factors include sufficient light and temperature for growing the seeds.  But the question inevitably arises when to transplant them outdoors. Don’t rush.  Cold soil and air temperatures can stress plants.  Wait at least a week or two after the last frost.

The latest map from the National  Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the last spring frost date for the Hudson Valley to be between New York, which indicates April 16th and May 15th. But of course these dates are only guides.  In 2020 we had a hard frost on May 15th that severely damaged many plants.  There is no guarantee that frost will not occur after the last date shown.  This map does not tell you the best time to plant tomatoes or other frost-sensitive crops. That date is usually several weeks after the last frost, after the soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures are reliably well above freezing.

  • Map of the showing soil temperature in the nOrtheastern US on May 10, 2021Nighttime temperatures should be consistently above 45°F, and the soil should be warm, about 70°F.  You can use black plastic mulch to warm soil and/or row covers, hot caps or other protection to keep plants warm early in the season. Remove covers whenever temperatures exceed 85°F.
  • Harden off plants before transplanting by reducing water and fertilizer, not by exposing to cold temperatures, which can stress them and stunt growth.
  • Remember that microclimates have a tremendous effect. Some valleys and low-lying areas can be plagued by late frosts on clear, cold nights when there is radiational cooling.  Large bodies of water (such as the Hudson) may moderate air temperatures at some sites, reducing the chances of frost.

Since plant development is temperature-dependent, rather than depending on specific calendar dates we can make decisions based on Growing Degree Days, a measure of accumulated heat or by observing phenological events of plants.

A branch of forsythia in full blloom - yellow flowersPhenology is a branch of science that studies the relationships such as the life cycles of plants and animals and environmental changes. Seasonal changes such as weather or temperature can be correlated with natural events such as bird migration, plant budding, flowering or fruiting and insect activities.  For example, in the Hudson Valley migrating hummingbirds usually arrive when forsythia bloom. Centuries ago, Native Americans began planting corn when oak leaves are the size of a Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis).

University of Wisconsin Extension has provided some examples of phenological correlations:

  • Dandelion with a bright yellow flower growing in the crack between two paversPlant peas when forsythia blooms.
  • Plant potatoes when the first dandelion blooms.
  • Plant beets, carrots, cole crops, lettuce and spinach when lilac is in first leaf.
  • Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear.
  • Light purple lilac bloomsPlant bean, cucumber, and squash seeds when lilac is in full bloom.
  • Plant tomatoes when lily-of-the-valley plants are in full bloom.
  • Transplant eggplant, melons, and peppers when irises bloom.

So watch the calendar, but also watch for other clues from nature when you’re making decisions about planting and transplanting outdoors.

Gardener's Checklist, May

Gardener’s Check List

May 2021

Garden Maintenance

  • Remove dead leaves from flower and vegetable beds.

When can I clean up my garden…and still protect beneficial insects? – Biocontrol Bytes, NYSIPM

  • Divide perennials so they have more space to grow.  Give extras to family and friends.
  • Light purple lilac blooms
    Lilacs

    Remove flowerheads after lilac bloom.

  • Plant a cutting garden to create beautiful flower arrangements all summer long.

WORKSHOP: Growing and Selecting Flowers for Floral Arrangements –  Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County

  • Remove emerging weeds before they take over your garden.
  • A short wooden tub set next to a tree overflowing with plants: a tall grass with red leaves, a bright green plant with white viens and a dark pruple plant spilling over the edge.Consider using container gardening to beautify your home, create a privacy screen and/or grow vegetables and herbs.

WORKSHOP: Creating Beautiful Container Gardens – Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County

Pest Watch

Get your ticks tested for free! – Upstate Medical University

  • Watch out for snails and slugs in the garden.

Spotted Lanternfly Look-alikes – Virginia Cooperative Extension

  • Scout your stone fruit trees(i.e. cherry, peach, plum, etc.) for black knot.

Vegetable Gardening

  • Install supports for climbing vegetables such as peas and beans before planting seeds
  • Seed or transplant hardy vegetables such as kale, beets, peas, radishes, chard and carrots.

Vegetable Planing Guide – Cornell Cooperative Extension

  • Transplant warm weather vegetables and tender annuals after the last frost.

Patience is a Virtue in Planting Outdoors – Times Herald-Record

Play out in the rain!

A small child in yellow rain boots jumping in a puddle

Uncategorized

The Story of Kudzu

The Story of Kudzu: From Exotic Rarity to Unwanted Invasive

By Cecille Jones, Monroe Master Gardener Volunteer

This article appeared in the December 2020 / January 2021 Issue of Gardening in Orange County.

Kudzo blanketing a natural area covering bushes tall trees and open ground
Without natural pests and plants to keep its growth in check, the non-native, invasive kudzu has overtaken this swath of land, destroying biodiversity and altering native habitats.

Today, we know kudzu (Pueraria montana) as an invasive vine, an unwanted interloper.  Nicknamed the Vine That Ate the South or the foot-a-night vine, poet James Dickie labeled it a vegetable form of cancer.

This climbing vine flourishes in the Southeast, where heat and humidity provide a paradise for the perennial legume. Today, kudzu has covered millions of acres of land, trees and abandoned buildings and has been spotted as far north as New York and Massachusetts. Non-native and aggressive, kudzu can lead to the extinction of native plants, destroy biodiversity and permanently alter habitats.

Map of kudzu range
Kudzu’s current range

As reviled as it is today, kudzu’s reputation didn’t start out that way. Kudzu made its American debut in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Thirty-seven countries participated in the 100-year celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and nearly 10 million people showed up. At the Japanese pavilion, people admired the exotic rarity called kudzu.

Purple flower of the kudzu plant
Kudzu flower

From there, kudzu was marketed in the Southeast as an ornamental vine meant to shade porches with fragrant flowers. By the 1920s, Charles and Lillie Pleas of the Glen Arden Nursery in Florida discovered that animals would eat kudzu and so they promoted it as forage as well.

A decade later, severe drought and incorrect farming methods helped to create the Dust Bowl. Turning to kudzu to control soil erosion and feed cattle, the government distributed up to 85 million seedlings and paid farmers as much as $8 an acre to plant kudzu. By 1946, there were three million acres of kudzu.

Meanwhile, Channing Cope became the plant’s most famous advocate. Through his daily radio program, he promoted the virtues of “the miracle vine.” At the height of its popularity, there were kudzu beauty contests, clubs, and even recipes.

Much to Cope’s disappointment, in 1953, the USDA removed kudzu from its list of recommended cover plants. By 1970, it was classified as a weed. Seven years later, kudzu made the Federal Noxious Weed List.

Herd of goats grazing on kudzu. THe trees are still coered, but the ground is bare.Today, the cost to control and combat this invasive plant runs in the millions of dollars annually. From herbicides to persistent clearing, scientists have also discovered that Angora goats take to kudzu like candy. Perhaps it’s time to call in the goat busters?

Read more about Kudzu

Kudzu – New York Invasive Species Information

Lessons Learned from Six Years of Kudzu Research – New York State Integrated Pest Management Program

The True Story of Kudzu, the Vine That Never Truly Ate the South – Smithsonian Magazine

Out in the Garden, Vegetable Gardening

Need a Spot to Garden? Join a Community Garden!

by Keith Riddick, Middletown Master Gardener Volunteer

Just Plant It, NY! Food Gardeing for all. Boost Morale & Food Supply with a Garden! gardening.cals.cornell.edu / Cornell Garden Based Learning Logo / Master Gardener Cornell Cooperative Extesnion LogoWith all the uncertainty in the world right now, many people have turned to gardening as a  way of growing their own food as  well as a way to cope with stress and anxiety.   This isn’t the first time that people have turned to gardening during a time of societal upheaval.  Most of us weren’t around, but many families started their own gardens during World War II.  Back then, they were called Victory Gardens.  Food and money were short during the war years, and fresh fruits and vegetables were sometimes hard to come by.   Victory gardens gave people more control over their access to fresh produce and allowed more food to be sent to the troops that were keeping our country free.

A garden trowel stuck in the the soil of a raised garden bedWait! Isn’t gardening a lot of work? It can be, but doesn’t have to be. If you are starting a garden from scratch, it will involve work to prepare the soil (removing sod, large rocks and testing the soil for fertility).  However, if you want a garden bed already prepared for you, consider renting a garden bed at a local community garden.  There are several community gardens located throughout the Orange County with raised beds full of soil and ready for planting.  Chances are there is one not too far from where you live!  There is a short list of community gardens at the end of this article, but there are many more located throughout the county.

During this time, community gardens are taking precautions that allow members to safely grow food.   Although community gardens usually have communal garden tools, at the moment, you should bring your own tools.  Other considerations include limiting the number of people in the garden at one time and finding safe ways to water your garden plot with the communal water source.  When you join a community garden, make sure you are aware of and follow all the rules set in place to keep you and your fellow gardeners safe.

Another perk of community gardens are community plots, like an herb garden, for all to share.  Many also have compost bins for recycling organic material like vines, stems and leaves leftover after you have harvested the edible part of a plant.  This debris decomposes and is then returned to the garden beds as a type of fertilizer.

Pile of cucumbers, a red, yellow and green pepper, green onions, tomatoes, a bunch of parsley and a sprig of rosemaryMaybe a community garden isn’t right for you at this time and you don’t have any space in your yard either.  In that case, you can grow vegetables in containers.  Whether you put them on your patio, your deck, or even your balcony, as long as the plants get enough sun and water you should have a bountiful harvest.  You just can’t beat the terrific taste of fresh produce picked straight from the garden, so grow a garden this summer!

Community Gardens in Orange County New York

Blooming Grove Community Garden

Location: 6 Old Dominion Road
Blooming Grove, NY 10914

Cost: $25 per plot

Contact: Joseph Sciortino
(845) 774-9993
jsciortino49@gmail.com

Middletown Community Garden

Location: David Moore Heights Apartment Complex (off of Genung Street)

Cost: $20 for 4 ft x 16 ft plot
$10 for residents of David More Heights or Summitfield)

Contact: Jackie Hale
(845) 343-1168
jackie@middletownhousing.org

Montgomery CAC Community Garden

Location: Benedict Park
Rte 17K
(one mile west of the village of Montgomery, NY)

Cost: $25 for 20 ft x 20 ft plot

Contact: Richard Phelps
rlphelps@frontiernet.net

Newburgh Armory Unity Center Community Garden

Location: Newburgh Armory Unity Center
321 South William Street
Newburgh, NY 12550

Cost: $20 for 4 ft x 10 ft plot
$40 for 4 ft x 40 ft plot

Contact: Lisa Rittweger
(845) 978-8845
lrittweger@newburgharmory.org

Warwick Community Garden and Orchard

Location: Warwick Valley Community Center
11 Hamilton Avenue
Warwick, NY 10990

Cost: $35 per year (includes garden and orchard)
There are no individual plots.  All members work together to plant, maintain, and harvest the entire garden.

Contact: Kelly Collins
(845) 978-8845
colli642@gmail.com

 

 

Out in the Garden, Vegetable Gardening

Out in the Garden

As the days get warmer and the sun sets later and later, I hope you all have the opportunity to spend more and more time outside.  Sunshine and fresh air are good for the soul!

If you happen to have a garden or have decided that this is the year to start one there are lots of things to keep you busy at this time of year!

Perennial Beds

A mantis egg mass, straw colored foam like mass the size of a golf ball, on the branch of a forsythia bush covered with yellow flower buds
Mantis ootheca on forsythia

Hopefully you waited until spring to clean up your garden to allow beneficial insects and other arthropods such as bees and butterflies to overwinter.  Now that spring has sprung you should leave debris as long as you can to give these creatures a chance to emerge from their winter hiding places.  You should start carefully removing debris from around blossoming plants.  If you must cut back hollow stems, bundle them so any pollinators overwintering inside have a chance to emerge.   As you are cleaning up be on the look out for praying mantis egg cases know as ootheca.   This is one time when you should leave things till tomorrow!

Freshly mulched garden bed in front of a house
Freshly mulched garden beds

Mulching is another spring time activity.  There are many different types of organic mulch that will not only suppress weeds, but also add organic material to the soil as they break down.  You don’t have to mulch everything, in fact many ground nesting bees such as bumble bees need a bit of bare earth to make their nests.  And if you are mulching your trees make sure to keep the mulch at least 3 inches away from the base of the tree so that it is not touching the bark.

And it is never to early to start weeding!  Lots of winter annual weeds such as common chickweed and prickly lettuce have already sprouted!

Vegetable and Herb Gardening

Starting Seeds Indoors

It is not to late to seed one more round of cool season crop such as cabbage, kale,  and lettuce, but it is also time to start seeding warm season crops such as eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes.

To start seeds you will need:

      • seeds
Several flats of seedlings
Flats of seedlings

There are lots of places online where you can purchase seeds. If you still have seeds left over from last year and don’t know if they are still good, don’t throw them out, try this simple home germination test.

      • sterile potting mix

It is important to use sterile potting mix to avoid disease issues like damping off.  Do not reuse potting mix and do not use garden compost.

      • container
20 or 30 chard seelings sprouting in a small plastic container filled with soil
Rainbow chard seedlings in a supermarket salad container

You don’t need to buy a fancy container to start seeds.  Just make sure the container has been sterilized and has drainage holes.

      • water

You want to keep the soil moist, but be careful not to over water or you may have a problem with damping off.

      • light source
A bookcase converted into a light frame for seedlings -grow lights above seed trays placed on the shelves
Bookcase converted into a grow frame

Some seeds need  light to germinate, but all seeds need light after they germinate. Once your seeds sprout  a light source will help prevent them from becoming leggy.  You can purchase grow lights or just use a soft white fluorescent bulb.  Here are directions on how to build a Low-Cost Grow-Light Frame.

      • heat
Mini greenhouse made from areused plastic container covering a small tray with 8 small cups of soilEight small cups of soil
Mini greenhouse

Most seeds will germinate between the temperatures of 55°F and 75°F,  but the optimal temperature for each type of seed varies.  You can create a mini-green house to trap heat and moisture.  You can also buy heating mats to warm the soil.  Click here to see  Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination.

Out in the Garden

A small child in a jean shirt, teal skirt and bright yellow rain boots put seeds in the ground
Planting peas

Gardening is an activity for the whole family!  Children love helping plant seeds!  Right now you can be direct seeding cool season crops in your garden such as beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips.  If you want to have a continual harvest, consider succession planting or  seeding several smaller plantings of the same crop at timed intervals, rather than all at once.

Chive plant in a raised garden bed
Chives

While most people are busy seeding, some perennial plants are already coming up or even ready to harvest!  Chives are a great example of a perennial that allows you add something fresh and green to your meals in the early spring.  If you planted chives in your garden last year, they are probably already making their way to your table.  This perennial of the onion family begins growing in early March and is able to be snipped with scissors and eaten soon after and throughout the growing season right up until the fall frost.

Crinkly green and dark purple leaves with bright pink stems sticking out ogf the soil
Rhubarb

Another perennial making an appearance is rhubarb!  Rhubarb is a great addition to any vegetable garden and as it is deer resistant and highly attractive it can also be used as part of your edible landscape.  Although the leaves of rhubarb are considered poisonous, the stems of this spring crop that can be used to make the classic strawberry rhubarb pie as well as many other delicious snacks.

Click here for vegetable gardening resources! 

And as always, if you are having any issues in your garden, need help identifying the cause of a problem or figuring out a management strategy give us a call.  Our Garden Helpline phones are staffed April – November, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.  But you can always leave us a message or send us an e-mail.

Call (845) 343-0664 or e-mail your questions to mghelpline@cornell.edu.

Whatever kind of garden you have, spend some time enjoying its beauty!

A hanging ball of greens and fuzzy pussy wilow branches
December’s Kissing Ball transformed into a ‘Kitty Ball’ by the addition of Pussy Willow branches

Thanks to all of the Master Gardener Volunteers who provided their thoughts and photos for this post!

What's in Bloom?

What’s in Bloom?

Bright red flowers on the branch of a red maple tree
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

by Susan Ndiaye, Community Horticulture Educator

Signs of spring abound!   Bird songs fill the air.  Buds on the trees are starting to unfurl.   New shoots are breaking through the soil.  And flowers are beginning to bloom!

Here are some of the flowers to look out for as you venture outside for a breath of fresh air.

When most people think of maple trees, flowers aren’t the first thing that comes to mind.  Red maples are native to the eastern United States and happen to be one of the first trees to flower in the spring.  Their bright pink to red flowers result in the production of thousands of winged fruits called samaras, colloquially referred to as helicopters.  After ripening on the trees for several weeks they will fill the air and litter the ground.

A branch of forsythia in full blloom - yellow flowers
Forsythia spp.

Although many people equate the yellow blossoms of the forsythia with the beginning of spring, the forsythia is not native to New York; it actually native to eastern Asia.  This fast growing shrub is a favorite among homeowners, because it is tolerant to deer, resistant to Japanese beetles, and rarely has disease problems.   If you are looking for a native alternative to forsythia, try spicebush (Lindera benzoin).  This medium sized multi-stemmed shrub has fragrant yellow-green flowers in early spring and supports 12 species of butterflies and  provides berries for the birds.

Snowdrop - small white flower held between someone's thumb and forefinger
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
Bunches of white ane purple crocuses
Crocus spp.

One of the many joys of spring is the emergence of all the spring flowering bulbs.   Some of them are already blooming: snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils (my favorite flower!).   Despite its sometime unsightly appearance, make sure you leave  the foliage alone until it turns yellow and dies back.  This allows the leaves of the plant to produce food through photosynthesis.  This food is stored in the bulb and will be used  to produce even more beautiful flowers next spring!

Hellebores are also flowering! This evergreen herbaceous perennial is native to Turkey, but does well here in Orange County.  It grows well in full or partial shade and has beautiful white to pink to purple flowers that bloom in late winter into  early spring.  Hellebores are rarely damaged by deer and as they are evergreen, after their flowers fade, they make an attractive ground cover

Pink Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)
Varigated pink and with flowe with stringy yellow stamens in the center
Varigated Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)
White flowers with bright yellow stamens in the center
White Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)

As you are out enjoying the sunshine, what other signs of spring do see or hear or smell?

Thanks to all of the Master Gardener Volunteers who provided their thoughts and photos for this post!

Uncategorized

Color, Color Everywhere – or maybe not!

By Brooke Moore, New Windsor, Senior Master Gardener Volunteer

This article appeared in the September 2019 Issue of Gardening in Orange County. Click here to subscribe!

We live in a colorful world filled with plants, animals, and objects that are brightly colored or, in some cases, patterned, or even singular in color.  As humans we often think that the rest of the world sees itself and its surroundings in the same way that we do. But nothing could be further than the truth.

A cirlce filled with dots of varying sizes all in arying shade of red except for the green dots, of varying shades, that form a large 'W' spaning the width of the circle.
An Ishihar plate, used by optometrists and ophthalmologists to test for color blindness.
As a teenager I had a wonderful friend, John, who was the first person I knew who was colorblind.  Not just color insensitive, as many are, but truly and completely unable to perceive any color at all.  His experience of the world was totally opposite to mine, as I am one of the lucky or in some ways unlucky people who perceive way more color than most people do.  His daily view of things was more like that of a rabbit, who see in shades of darkness and light and contrast.

Close up of a blue human eye.
Human eye

Learning more about how he saw the world and experienced paintings, gardens and simple things like traffic lights began my interest in color and how we can manipulate our surroundings based on adding or subtracting colors from a situation.

Close-uo of the head of a fly - white head, lots of black hairs and large red eyes in which you can see teh individaul lenses
Fly eye

The animals who live among us and in our gardens perceive color in many different ways, and they interact with the plants we grow depending on what they see and how they see and interpret light.

All eyes use reflected light to create images that are the basis of sight.  As humans, we have sight that can determine the shape, size and special relationship of objects, and we have sight that is color-based.

Close up of an owl eye - bright yellow eye surrounded by white, brown and black plummage
Owl eye

The same is true for animals.  Birds have keen color sight that helps them with foraging for food, identifying prey and recognizing others of their species.  Many scientists have been astonished to discover that some birds may not be able to see all the colors of their own plumage, while other birds can see more than enough colors to find and attract a mate.

Bird Vision
A graph with absorbance on the y-axis (0-1.0) and wave length (330 nm - 700 nm) on the x-axis. There are four lines on the graph, all of them bell shape-esque. The grey line peaks at 370 nm, which falls in the ultraviolet range. The blue line peaks at 445 nm, which falls in the blue range of the visble light spectrum. The green line peaks at 508 nm, which falls in the green range of the visible light spectrum. The red line peaks at 565 nm, which falls in the yellow/orange range of the visible light spectrum.
Humans usually have three types of cones allowing them to perceive light in the visible spectrum.  Some animals , including birds, have four types of cones which allows them to see ultraviolet light.

Birds see more colors than humans as they are able to use ultraviolet (UV) light due to having four types of cones in their retinas – in contrast to humans who have three types of cones.  Different species of birds have more or fewer cone cells in their retinas and thus different ability to see colors.  The ability to determine subtle differences in shades of colors is an evolving ability in birds and thought to be something that aids in adapting to change in environment and availability of food sources.

Color Vision
State Types of cone cells Approx. number of colors perceived Carriers
Monochromacy 1 200 Marine mammals, owl monkey, Australian sea lion, achromat primates
Dichromacy 2 40,000 Most terrestrial non-primate mammals, color blind primates
Trichromacy 3 10 million Most primates, especially great apes (such as humans), marsupials, some insects (such as honeybees)
Tetrachromacy 4 100 million Most reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects, rarely humans
Pentachromacy 5 10 billion Some insects (specific species of butterflies), some birds (pigeons for instance)

The UV reflection from the waxy surface of fruits and berries makes them stand out from the green of foliage – and birds are better able to find them.  Red berries are seen  best and will be eaten first, so also growing some plants that produce orange or yellow fruit will extend the feeding season.

Top picture: A sinlge stem with two flower buds and one small yellow flower with four petals. Bottom: The same photo taken in UV light. The flower is now white with a black center.
Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) photographed in visible light (top) and ultraviolet light (bottom).

Many insects also reflect UV light, making them more attractive to birds as a food source.  Certain bird eggs reflect UV light and help birds to identify their own eggs and reject those put in the nest by other birds.  Many flowers have nectar guides  that reflect UV light.  These  marking are visible to bees and butterflies allowing them to easily find the nectar at the center of the flower.

Deer have poor color vision limited to short (blue) and middle (green) wave lengths of color.  They may have some UV sensitivity but not much compared to birds.  Foxes do not see green and have little ability to see blue, red or yellow.  So, these animals are not using color in the garden to find or choose what they eat!

The head of a deer standing with its face brushing up againsta purple flower.Understanding which animals use color to find and choose food can help us in identifying plants to put into our gardens, and plants to leave out.  It also can put to rest myths like deer choosing red tulips over yellow daffodils -because they are making a choice based on taste and smell, not sight.

Master Gardener Volunteers

Urban Sanctuary

Urban Sanctuary

By Cecelia Lillard, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer and James Alton Thomas, Greenville Township Senior Master Gardener Volunteer

This article appeared in the August 2019 Issue of Gardening in Orange County. Click here to subscribe!

This article profiles an urban lot that was transformed into an oasis for body, mind and soul as well as for wildlife.  This lot belongs to a local Master Gardener and illustrates how much privacy, beauty and biodiversity can be created with thoughtful design and considered plant choices.  We’ll review the design principles employed in this yard and then take a look at the ecological needs fulfilled through the design and its implementation.

A bright green garden - houses in the background and bright lush green garden in the foregroundFirst and foremost, this design provides privacy and the sense that the space is an outdoor room.  The lot is 50′ wide and faces southeast.  The edges of the property are bordered by deciduous and evergreen trees.  The tall Norway Spruce provides a strong anchor for the southern border and creates a shade garden for almost half of the yard, while the mature deciduous trees provide both frame and boundary for the property.  Given that this garden is in shade much of the time, plant textures are emphasized in throughout the space.  Since the plants are in groups instead of individual plants, the various textures become harmonious and interesting rather than chaotic to the eye.  The repetition of plants by massing gives the design a simplicity that helps quiet the mind and gives one an opportunity to linger in areas and simply enjoy the beauty of a plant’s texture and color.

A beautifully green garden with trees in the background and a small grassy area with a large planter in the foreground
The central planter provides the main focal point of the yard and is the only place where we find a traditional lawn.  The repetition of red in the plants helps to unify the yard and gives the focal point additional structure.  The use of evergreen boxwoods around the base of the container ensures that the focal point will be held even in winter when the planter is moved indoors and allowed to go dormant.

The lawn around the focal point draws the eye to the back of the circle where a stone path peeks between the low shrubs and groundcovers.  The curving shape of the path gives the landscape a sense of movement and entices one into the farther spaces.  The copper birdbath provides another focal point that draws the viewer’s eye and invites the viewer to another part of the garden that is more private.  The red pole, which supports an unseen, yet occupied birdhouse, gives us a hint that there is more to that part of the garden than we can see and provides a touch of mystery.

A lush green gardenThe yard evokes a feeling of balance with the shrubs softening the borders of the property and the understory trees filling the gaps between the shrub layer and the canopy of the deciduous trees.  The varying heights of the plants provide visual interest and contribute to the feeling of privacy that is created in such a small space.  The repetition of color throughout the garden contributes to the sense of balance, with the yellow-greens contrasting with the darker greens, yet not competing with them.

Seasonal interest was also a major consideration in the design of this space.  There is year-round interest provided by many elements of the garden.  The plants were chosen not only for their texture, but for their bloom times and flower colors as well.  There is a continuous supply of flowers in the garden throughout the spring and summer and into fall.  The changing color of the leaves of the trees and shrubs during the autumn supplies the visual interest that flowers provided the rest of the season.  In the winter, the evergreens take center stage, furnishing a stark contrast to the more delicate structures of the deciduous plants.

Overall this garden creation has a feeling of unity, where all of the parts work together to create a coherent whole.  The massing provides a rhythm that is relaxing and the multiple textures provide interest within that rhythm.  The reiteration of certain colors also unifies the space by visually connecting different areas of the property.

green stripped caterpillar with a red head on a leaf stem
Rosy Maple Moth Caterpillar  (Dryocampa rubicunda)

Looking at the yard from an ecological point of view, the property provides all the layers of a forest garden:  tall tree layer, low tree layer, shrub layer, herbaceous layer, ground cover layer and, of course, the root layer.   The tall tree layer consists of both deciduous and evergreen trees.  These trees provide food in the form of seeds and shelter within their branches to birds and squirrels.  The leaves of the deciduous trees also supply an important habitat for insects, including butterflies and moths, providing spaces to lay eggs and food for growing larvae.

A back beetle with orange stripes and long antenna on the white florets of a Queen Anne's Lace flower
A longhorn beetle on the umbelliferous flower of Queen Anne’s Lace

Since the garden was designed to be in continuous bloom for more than half the year, it can be considered an insectary.  There are various flower shapes throughout the garden, providing food for many different types of insects.  Some insects prefer umbelliferous flowers, while others prefer flowers with central florets like asters.  The diversity of flower shapes and bloom times helps ensure that beneficial insects will have a continuous food supply and will help keep invasive and/or problem insects at manageable populations.

As we have spent much of this issue discussing soil and the soil food web, we need to look at our garden through that lens.  In addition to providing mulch and habitat for overwintering insects, fallen leaves contribute to the soil structure and organic matter content in the soil.  These photos were taken in spring and we can see how full and lush the vegetation is early in the season.  This verdure is due not only to the care of the gardener, but more so to the health of the soil where these plants are growing.  The soil food web is very dynamic in an environment like this and the result is the beauty that we see in these photos.  May you be inspired to use these design principles and nourish your ecosystem to build a beautiful garden of your own.Drawing of a carm with icons highliting different management practices, soil health benifits, and soil organisms that are important to soil health. Click on the picture to learn more.

For links to resources that will help you design your own urban sanctuary, check out Cornell University’s “Site Assessment for Better Gardens and Landscapes“.

Click here to learn more about Backyard Conservation.