Master Gardener Visit to Broccoli Hall
By Tory Klose, Friend of the Master Gardeners
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On a clear but somewhat windy day that had a slight chill to it, a group of Master Gardeners of Dutchess County gathered at Broccoli Hall in Amenia, New York. The 1935 Cape Cod cottage is home to Maxine Paetro, a best-selling author in her own right and currently has a best seller on the New York Times list with coauthor James Patterson. (It’s The 23rd Midnight, the twenty-third novel in the Women’s Murder Club series.)
We chatted for a bit and discovered that Maxine is a quick-witted and witty host. She first told us something of the history of her property—that when she saw it in 1985, the Cape was sitting in the middle of bulldozed land, that the house was a wreck but that she fell in love with it anyway.
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Maxine set out to create English-style gardens and spent a lot of time researching what that would entail. English-style gardens use straight lines and borders, have pathways and a centerpiece, as well as a place to sit and admire the view and have a touch of whimsey. Maxine set up her English garden with an invisible north-south-east-west orientation, yet within that somewhat rigid framework, there is a sense of wildness and abundance. Perhaps because English gardens are overplanted—as many plants as possible are crammed into the boxes and squares. They use old-fashioned plants, such as peonies, hydrangeas, roses, foxglove, hollyhocks, daisies, and cosmos—many of which graced Maxine’s garden. We were a bit too early for the three-hundred-foot-long June border with roses, peonies and tall bearded irises. Her centerpiece is a small water feature in the middle of the courtyard that is home to a few lily pads and a couple of resident tiny frogs. Some MGs swore they also saw a small turtle. Her creations have taken thirty-five years to plan, plant and nurture, and she initially had help in laying out the gardens from Tim Steinhoff, a well-known horticulturist. | |
But to get to the courtyard we first walked through a tunnel of espaliered crabapple trees, which got us in the mood to be wowed by what lay beyond. Adjoining the courtyard and helping to frame this garden room is the guesthouse, whose bookshelves are lined floor to ceiling with James Patterson-Maxine Paetro collaborations! (She’s written thirty-four books with Patterson, who was once told by Maxine that he didn’t have what it took!) | |
On the other side of the guesthouse is a gravel-covered courtyard that is shaded by very old and very tall trees. Nestled in one of those is a fabulous treehouse—think Ritz not Motel 6—that has views of the ponds, forest and rolling hills and is comfortably furnished. (Many of us wanted to move in immediately!) Wooden gates and fences designed, hand-crafted and installed by artisan by Hoppy Quick blend in naturally and help delineate their surroundings.
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Before we headed to the next surprise, we were served water, iced tea and a variety of cookies and fruit by the Bear Family in their gazebo lair. A mama, a papa and two babies, also crafted by Hoppy Quick.
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In 2009, Maxine decided to raise and breed Ki Shisui (koi), and she has created three koi ponds that have about 600 koi! She feeds them twice a day and was good enough to do so when we were there, so we got to see them bob to the top for their treats. She swears that they know the sound of her voice and that that alone will bring them to the surface. Each year, the three ponds are drained till only about three feet of water is left in each pond. She and a fish expert from Rhinebeck surround them all with a net and Maxine says which ones she’ll keep (she’s pursuing the ideal phenotype) and which ones the fish expert can take to sell. Some were yellow with blue stripes along the spine; others were bright orange. Their faces look somewhat like catfish because of whiskers (aka barbels) on either side of their mouths.
We know how much research, time, effort, manual labor, TLC and pure dumb luck go into creating something as beautiful as these gardens. I’d wager many British gardeners would be green with envy if they saw what Maxine has done at Broccoli Hall.
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SPONGY MOTHS. YIKES
By Joyce Tomaselli, CCEDC Community Horticulture Resource Educator
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Spongy moths are present in large numbers this year throughout Dutchess County. They are annoying. Their frass (aka poop) falls like rain and as they get older, they climb out of trees onto decks and into pools. Some people have allergic reactions to the hairs of the caterpillars. The damage caterpillars cause is frightening. Scraps of leaves fall for weeks. Some trees become totally defoliated.
Be calm. Populations build up quickly and then crash. Be patient. Trust that the trees will leaf out again. Be vigilant. If the drought continues, consider watering your trees.
Lymantria dispar (Spongy Moth) is an invasive species in North America - a serious pest of the continent's forests. Formerly called gypsy moth, the Entomological Society of America renamed L. dispar the spongy moth in reference to its fluffy porous egg casing.
The pest first came to the U.S. from Europe in 1869 imported by entrepreneurs in Boston who were interested in developing a silk industry. They were skilled in entomology and experimenting with various species of moths, even some which were already considered a pest in Europe. Soon some moths escaped. Aggressive measures to control them, including DDT, failed. Read more on their history. Extensive local outbreaks in the early 1970’s and 1980’s are still memorable to many of us. Parts of the northeast U.S. and eastern Canada are now having the biggest outbreaks of L. dispar in decades.
The caterpillars feed on over 300 species of trees and shrubs but especially like oak trees. Young caterpillars are black and fuzzy. As they get older, they get pairs of blue and red spots on their backs. They are most active during the months of May and June. Their feeding produces noticeable remnants of leaves on the ground as well as piles of pebbly frass. Adult moths emerge in late June through the middle part of July and can persist into August. They are tan in color.
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Although the caterpillars are very annoying, a healthy tree can withstand defoliation for 2-3 years. A tree’s strength is in its trunk and roots. They will usually send out a second set of leaves in reaction to the “leaf pruning”, just like they send out new twigs after a “branch pruning”. (It’s called indeterminate growth when the plant adds needed new organs (leaves, stems, roots) as long as it has access to the necessary resources). Plants are able to continue growing indefinitely like this due to specialized tissues called meristems.) Read more about how trees recover from pests like spongy moths from PSU’s “Seasonality of Defoliation and Refoliation Matters”
Spongy moth populations rise and fall in cycles, specifically caused by the interactions between spongy moth, small mammals, and acorn production. Natural causes such as fungal and viral diseases usually knock down populations in a few years. Weather is also a factor.
Read more about the pest and NYS IPM suggestions for control. Burlap banding the young and/or special trees and any nearby oaks is probably the most effective. (Young spongy moth larvae feed mostly during the day. Older larvae usually feed at night, then move down the tree to hide in bark crevices, leaf litter or other dark, protected locations during the day. The banding catches them as they move back up the tree to feed.) Trap detail is at this link. As adults the female moths cannot fly. To avoid attracting male moths keep outside lights off. Bug zappers do not work. Read more at NYS DEC’s Spongy Moth page.
Repeated defoliation over several years can weaken trees and eventually kill them. To help these stressed trees rebound, it can be beneficial to water the trees if there are dry spells over the summer. Water them deeply and slowly to get to all the roots, every few weeks. Frequent shallow watering is not helpful.
So stay calm, sweep your deck, and wear your garden hat when the sun is shining but the sky still seems to be “raining”.
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Remaining 2023 Schedule
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July 7: Pest of home berry plants | Spiders in the home
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August 4: Groundhog management | Bat exclusion
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September 1: Right plant, right place | Transplanting trees/shrubs
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October 6: Jumping worms | Roof gutter pests
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November 3: Winter garden prep | Tick check reminder
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December 1: Houseplant IPM | Firewood pests
Click to Register
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The Garden Conservancy presents
Digging Deeper: Shabby Chic Maintenance for Garden and Grounds
Location: Lithgow Cottage Farm, Millbrook, NY
Sat, Jul 29, 2023, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Can't find garden help (or don't want to foot the bill for it)? Bindy Kaye has wrestled with this issue for more than 45 years of gardening at Lithgow Cottage Farm. In this Digging Deeper event, she will show-and-tell how a less-than-neatnik approach helped evolve her garden from a labor-intensive parterre to a low-maintenance landscape that integrates this and other features with a quarter-acre pond. Register for event
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Innisfree Garden
Innisfree Garden
362 Tyrrel Rd, Millbrook, NY 12545
Innisfree is open Wednesdays through Sundays, and holidays: 10 am – 5 pm
Sign up for our e-newsletter to receive information about upcoming events and what’s happening in the garden. Reservations are not required but are strongly encouraged.
Upcoming Events:
Annual Innisfree Benefit | Mid-Century Modern in the Landscape
June 24, 2023, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
This year’s theme is Mid-Century Modern in the Landscape. This event provides vital operating support and allows us to continue our ongoing restoration and education efforts. There will be cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music, plus inspirational moments in the garden.
Independence Day: Garden Open In Observance of the Holiday
July 4, 2023, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Innisfree Garden will be open in observance of the holiday.
Looking at Nature Walks: Great Plants at Innisfree
July 15, 2023, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Spend an hour investigating some of Innisfree’s exceptional plants, native and otherwise, with noted horticulturist, teacher, and Innisfree trustee, Brad Roeller. Drawing on his work at the New York Botanical Garden, Cary Institute, and noted private estates, Brad will share what makes these plants so special as well as tips on how to successfully incorporate them into your own landscape.
Innisfree Inspires + Upstate Art Weekend: Fine Art Embroidery Workshop with Richard Saja
July 22, 2023, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Join fine art embroiderer Richard Saja for an exclusive two-hour, hands-on workshop exploring his process and creating “embellished toile.” Richard embroiders over toile de Jouy, a traditional textile form of densely printed, typically monochrome landscape vignettes.
Upstate Art Weekend Curator's Tour
July 23, 2023, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Join landscape curator, Kate Kerin, for a lively 1.5 hour tour exploring Innisfree, a powerful icon of mid-twentieth century design now recognized as one of the world’s ten best gardens and listed at the highest level—exceptional national significance—on the National Register of Historic Places.
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College Hill Park Lown Memorial Rock Garden
Every Wednesday until August 30th, 9 am - 12 pm
Interested in gardening, helping pollinators, or contributing to a local historic landmark? Join us at the College Hill Park Lown Memorial Rock Garden, from 9am to 12pm, every Wednesday this summer. No experience needed, tools will be provided, and transportation is available to Vassar students. The Lown Memorial Garden is a wonderful historic rock garden on the east side of College Hill Park in the City of Poughkeepsie.
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SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS
Would you like information on an upcoming gardening event to be shared in this newsletter?
Please include the date, time, location, a short description, cost and contact information for more details.
Send an email to: Francheska Kuilan at [email protected] by the 20th of each month to be included in the next month’s newsletter.
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MASTER GARDENERS SPEAKERS BUREAU
Master Gardener Volunteers offer lectures on a wide array of subjects for gardeners. Favorite topics include: Vegetable Gardening; Pollinator Gardens; Home Composting; Sustainable Gardening Best Practices; Gardening in Small Spaces; Deer Defense; Bulbs for All Seasons; Spotted Lanternfly; Jumping Worms, Putting the Garden to Bed in Fall; and Nature in Winter. Additional topics can be prepared to meet a particular group’s needs or interests. Most of these topics are available to be delivered in person or online.
The talks are 45 minutes in duration, followed by 10-15 minutes for questions from the group. A fee of $75 per lecture (or 3 for $200) helps support our numerous community projects.
To arrange for a speaker, and details of offerings, contact Francheska Kuilan at [email protected]
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UPCOMING LIBRARY & GARDEN CLUB TALKS:
Saturday, July 8, 10am, Millbrook Library, 3 Friendly Ln, Millbrook, NY 12545. “Deer Defense” by CCEDC Master Gardener Mary Nisley. MillbrookLibrary.org
Saturday, July 8, 10-2, Amenia Garden Club, "The Real Gardens of Amenia” tour (rain or shine) will feature six private gardens: Broccoli Hall, Neverest, Teeniepaw Cottage, The Durbridge Garden, Jade Hill and the Garden of Nancy Link. Gardens may be visited in any order. Tickets are $20. www.ameniagardens.org
Thursday, July 13, 6pm, Beekman Library, 11 Town Center Blvd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, “Become a Gardening Detective” by CCEDC Community Horticulture Resource Educator Joyce Tomaselli. MillbrookLibrary.org
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ASK A MASTER GARDENER
Did you know ??? Where to look for our booth this month...
July 16 Rhinebeck Farmers' Market 10am - 2pm
July 29 Pawling Farmer's Market
Aug 13 Rhinebeck Farmers' Market 10am - 2pm
| Kim Collett and Tori Rolfe at Rhinebeck Farmers' Market 5/21 | |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Need Soil pH Testing? Need Lawn or Plant Diagnosis?
Have any gardening questions?
The Horticulture Hotline, (845) 677-5067 is open April to October, each Wednesday from 9am to noon. Diagnostics questions can also be submitted to our website at https://ccedutchess.org/gardening/horticulture-diagnostic-lab or you can use this quick link Ask Horticulture Diagnostic Lab/Hotline Questions Here. If a photograph is included, please ensure it is focused and as close up as possible.
Our office is open to the public with staff occasionally working from home. Please call before bringing soil or diagnostic samples to the office at 845-677-8223 or email [email protected] to arrange sample drop-off.
For more information:
Visit our Horticulture Diagnostic Lab website for reliable resources and information on our services.
Cornell University Diagnostic Services:
Gardening Information:
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Visit the Cornell Garden Based Learning Website to learn more about vegetables, fruits, lawns, trees, shrubs, houseplants, soil, composting and pests.
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New York State Integrated Pest Management for Communities for structural and garden pests.
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Websites for Gardeners - many topics, including bees, nuisance wildlife, mushrooms, invasive plants, certified arborists and weed ID.
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Join Our Farmers' Market!
We are seeking vendors for our Outdoor Summer market! Interested? Contact [email protected] for more information.
LEARN MORE
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VISIT US
Hours:
Open year-round
Monday*: 8 AM – 6 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 8 AM – 6 PM
Thursday: 8 AM – 6 PM
Friday: 8 AM – 8 PM
Saturday: 8 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 7 PM
*Monday Holidays: 9 AM – 6 PM
We are currently in the process of building a new restroom facility. While that takes place, we will have portables located in the park and ride for public use.
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Shop Local NY Products
Every product on our store comes from a farm, vendor, or producer in New York. Many of our items are from the Hudson Valley region and all of your purchases help support local businesses!
Order Taste NY products online!
shoptasteny.com
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A large woodpecker was observed digging in a lawn. Do you know which one and why?
Answer: Pileated woodpeckers are the largest we enjoy locally. This one was foraging for carpenter ants, one of its favorite meals.
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This is a native vine to our area.
Do you know what it is?
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Websites mentioned in Dutchess Dirt are provided as a courtesy to our readers. Mention of these websites does not imply endorsement by Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension or by the author.
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.
The programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the County of Dutchess.
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