MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE

May 2 Suffolk Farm Barn doors open at 8am

As savvy Master Gardeners know, prices are very reasonable for the vast array of herbs, annuals, flowering plants, perennials and small shrubs offered at this event. Come early as the barn doors open at 8am for the greatest selection.

We also need Plant Sale helpers on Friday and Saturday. Please contact MG Denise Zizzo if you can assist as we need many hands-on deck to make this event as successful as it is. Denise can be reached at denisedzizzo@gmail.com . or via mobile (631) 806-0364.

Spring has arrived!

Here are several upcoming Master Gardener dates.

April 3rd......... Native Plant Sale EXTENSION. POSTMARK by April 3

April dates.... BARN-RAISING. Help needed at key MG sites

May 2..............PLANT SALE, Suffolk Farm, Yaphank

May 2..............MAYFEST garden programs, Suffolk Farm, Yaphank

May 2..............Native Plant Pre-sale PICKUP, Suffolk Farm, Yaphank

May 17............Tribute to Caroline Kiang, Bayard Cutting Arboretum

See details below

S

Native Plant Pre-order

EXTENSION

DAYS remaining for ORDERS

Postmark by Friday, April 3

Get to your nearest post office



Pickup May 2, Suffolk Farm, Yaphank

Treat your garden to more native plants to boost biodiversity and pollinator attraction. Consider these natives for a rain garden. You’ll find 20 plants in larger sizes than last year (no plugs) and still at very reasonable prices.

Here's the native plant brochure https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae79dc67ef.html

Here's the order form pdf document

Native plants still available on May 2 will be at higher prices. 

Any questions? Contact MG Linda Carlson lindalcarlson@gmail.com

MAYFEST celebration Saturday, May 2

Join us for three gardening courses at Suffolk Farm, Yaphank.

9:30 Gardening with Deer with MG Maureen Prezioso

10:30 Natives in Seasonal Bloom with MG Patty Collins

11:30 Pots for Pollinators with MG Alicia Whitaker

The 3 classes are $25. 

Here’s the link to the 3 class Mayfest registration.  If you attended Spring Gardening School, you may bring one guest when you register. Honor system. No names needed.

Mayfest classes don’t start until 9:30 am giving you time to visit the Plant Sale. We’ll put paid merchandise in a secure location.

Any Master Gardeners want to attend these classes? 

We need a couple of assistants that day. 

Please drop me a note at rz378@cornell.edu

SPRING GARDENING SCHOOL 2026

SPRING GARDENING SCHOOL 2026



We did it again this year! 



Spring Gardening School offered 16 gardening sessions, including 8 new programs. A big thank you to all the instructors and assistants on Friday and Saturday for making this such a worthwhile event for our 175 participants. On to next year!

SUFFOLK ALLIANCE for POLLINATORS

The Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators Annual meeting on Saturday, March 7 provided a good context for understanding the role of libraries in spreading information about key native plants and free seed distribution throughout the county.

Regional groups identified an array of activities and projects deserving attention for the coming year. Upcoming regional events will be noted here.

Master Gardeners enjoyed "Behind the Scenes Tour" at Nissequogue State Park on March 13 with the staff Horticulture Technicians Michelle Doran-Leute and Alexis Hoffman as they are propagating native and other plants for state parks in our region.

Caroline Kiang answering questions in the Horticulture Lab in the 1970s.

CAROLINE KIANG TRIBUTE



SUNDAY, May 17, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 10 am

There will be a ceremony honoring the late Suffolk Master Gardener Program Founder Caroline Kiang at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum on May 17. During her tenure, Caroline trained over a thousand Master Gardeners, including yours truly. 

Many of these Master Gardeners are no longer active or on this newsletter list. Please spread the word to your garden organization, garden clubs and friends who may not be reading this newsletter but want to remember Caroline. This ceremony is open to the public. Please send me an RSVP with Caroline in the subject line for additional details..

To honor Caroline, we've set up the Caroline Kiang Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is for an applicant to Master Gardener Training who has a commitment to serving as a gardening volunteer but who can not afford the program. To make a donation to the Master Gardener program of any amount in remembrance of Caroline, please click on this link. . Too, Chinese peonies will be planted in her honor at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. If you want to donate to support the arboretum in memory of Caroline, follow this link: Donate to Bayard Cutting Arboretum — Natural Heritage Trust

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250th Anniversary initiative: FREE Trees for Suffolk residents  

From the Riverhead News-Review

Suffolk County is launching the “Planting It Forward to 2276” program as part of a Suffolk 250 initiative, allowing residents to leave a legacy for when the nation marks its 500th anniversary. Beginning on Arbor Day, April 24, residents can plant trees and register them in a permanent county archive as part of its America’s 250th anniversary events.

In Riverhead, residents can pick up free red oak seedlings at Indian Island County Park on Route 105 —from April 24 through July 4 anywhere in Suffolk County and log their planting in the county’s Living Legacy Tree Registry at suffolk250.org. Each registered tree will receive an official Suffolk 250 certificate.

The county plans to distribute 2,500 red oak seedlings between April 24 and April 30, or while supplies last. For more information, call 631-853-6311 or visit suffolkcountyny.gov/311.

Free Soil Tests for Community Gardeners return

Participate in the 2026 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.

Gardeners are able to get their soil tested for nutrients and heavy metals at no cost.

 The Harvest NY specialists are available, from soil sample to results report, to help with resources and technical assistance. The garden must a food-producing garden. Food grown is shared with community members at no cost.

 Find the program rules and complete the fillable-pdf application form at  https://harvestny.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=171&crumb=urban_agriculture|7. 

Questions? Email Mallory, Program Coordinator, at mdh286@cornell.edu.

Rain Garden Training & Composter Training

Suffolk Master Gardeners who completed the online Rain Garden course or the Composter course...

Please send your name to MG Joe Hinton jchinton369@aol.com . A capstone experience and recognition will be planned for later this year.

MG Volunteer Hours

You’re responsible for keeping track of your hours: 1) the number of hours per this calendar year and 2) the number of hours since you became a Master Gardener.

Those working on the first 125 volunteer hours need to contact me directly via email when 125 hours are satisfied.

The Master Gardener reporting volunteers hours survey is linked here. https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aiagRHzCO3z8smO

CONTINUING EDUCATION

If you missed these programs, you can watch the full recordings here:

View a recording of Dr. Aaron Sexton’s presentation on Native Lawns for New York.

View David L. Wagner, PhD., renowned butterfly and moth expert in a recording on a YouTube channel.

Barn-raising MG DAYS

Master Gardener sites need help. We invite Master Gardeners to help others at some of our larger and demanding sites.

Can you help fellow Master Gardeners on any of the following work days?

MEDFORD LIRR Station April 22

10 am. Contact Betty Baran elbaraness@gmail.com

HERB GARDEN, Suffolk Farm

April 10, 17, 24. Contact Chris DeSantis mrtwo1@optonline.net

CHILDREN'S GARDEN, Suffolk Farm April 8, 22. Contact Bill Weresnick billw69194@aol.com

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This newsletter is posted on our MG webpage linked here.

If you have photos or news to share in the newsletter, you can email me at rz378@cornell.edu

Or...

Post photos, events and news on our Master Gardener facebook page.

Here's the facebook link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/106946829922350/

Happy Gardening!

Roxanne Zimmer

 423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 100, Riverhead, NY 11901-3071

631-727-7850

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is funded in part by Suffolk County through the office of the County Executive, and the County Legislature.