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May is always a very busy month for Master Gardeners.
The trio of events for Mayfest means that around 60 Master Gardeners worked in shifts on Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday making sure all was ready for the Master Gardener Plant Sale, the Native Plant Pre-order Sale and the Mayfest gardening program sessions. Master Gardener teams unloaded a truck of tables as well as a couple of trucks of flowers, priced thousands of plants, accepted and packaged over a hundred pre-orders, arranged and rearranged the barn full of plants, enabled point of purchase sales and helped customers select the right mix of plants for their gardens.
This year, like years before, Mayfest was a success! I'm very impressed that we host such a large sale every year. Thank you. Thank you.
A special thanks also to MGs Reid Bielecki, Denise Zizzo and Linda Carlson who worked weeks and months before Mayfest to make it as seamless as it was. They liaised with vendors, selected plants, and answered many questions ahead of the sales.
Thanks to all who participated.
As you know, we are planning for our 50th year Master Gardener anniversary in 2027. The money earned from these efforts will enable us to celebrate next year. So far we have a September luncheon at a country club. Anyone want us to visit your garden? What else might we do next year? Drop me a note if you have any ideas.
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We had a perfect day for Master Gardeners honoring Caroline Kiang at Bayard Cutting Arboretum on May 17. The tree peonies were at the height of their gorgeous bloom. Caroline had planted the peony below in her mother's honor years ago. The tree peony "Yao's Yellow" was planted in Caroline's honor next to her mother's tree peony.
You shared good Caroline stories. A few of you wondered aloud when you're receiving your 30 year Master Gardener volunteer pin. I'll have to design something as Cornell Extension has no 30 year pin statewide. Of course, that's yet another Caroline legacy. So many of you remain active and engaged as Master Gardeners these many years later.
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A FEW NOTES ON THE PHOTOS BELOW.
The Class of 2026 saw the Land Ethic in practice at the SJS property in Brentwood including the waste field and recent meadow burn. LINPI staff explained their seed gathering and grow out process. Cassidy Kirsch showed us the Island Harvest plots tended by volunteers all season long. And here we are with the Eastern redbud in the gentle rain at Bayard Cutting Arboretum.
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JUNE 25 North Fork in bloom
Rain or shine
10:30 am New Suffolk Meadow, New Suffolk. Across from Legends, near Minnow Restaurant
Join us for a tour of the New Suffolk Meadow, now in its tenth year. This quarter acre meadow on the waterfront provides an impressive collection of native plants blooming in succession from late spring through fall. NO FEE.
12-2:30 pm The North Fork Flower Farm, 48455 Middle Road, Southold. (North Road or Sound Avenue) See fields of blooming seasonal flowers, a commercial venture of one of our MGs, Al Martinez-Fonts. Make a beautiful take-home bouquet of fresh cut flowers and greens picked at the Farm for arranging in quart-sized Mason jars.
$55 fee for North Fork Flower Farm. Here's the link for registration.
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AC
Master Gardener ACTION PROJECTS
What a delight to hear members of the Class of 2026 present their Action Projects as their culminating course experience. We learned about gardening as therapy, removing invasive plants, harvesting herbs and their many uses, staying fit in the garden, hoverflies as pollinators, higher yield food security, kelp as a soil amendment, promoting mindfulness in children in the garden, keeping out moles and voles, and using plants to dye fabric.
What made the class extra special? A number of current Master Gardeners joined the class and the conversation around the Action Projects. I recall seeing MGs Betty Baran, Kathy Marinelli, Mike Gornicki, Val Doyle, Linda Carlson, Susanne Jansson, Doria Hughes, Pat Garry, Jane Corrarino, Chris DeSantis, Pat and John Sperandeno.
My hope is that the dialogue continues giving new and current Master Gardeners a chance to share ideas about programs, workshops and outreach as well as an opportunity to provide additional hands to maintain Approved Master Gardener sites.
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GREEN THUMBS CAMP, Suffolk Farm Children's Garden
It takes a village of Master Gardeners to offer a summer gardening program for 5-12 year olds at the Children's Garden at Suffolk Farm in Yaphank. Although the camp is only ONE Wednesday morning a week from 10-noon, we need a changing roster of at least a dozen volunteers on site any day to engage the children during July and August.
Maybe you're a new Master Gardener who wants to offer a program to children. Maybe you're a returning Green Thumbs volunteer with a new adventure for the kids. Please contact MG Anne Margolis linked here.
Or maybe you have children or grandchildren who would like to enroll. Here's a link to details and contact information found on the Cornell Extension website.
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Calling those who completed Rain Garden Training or Composter Training
If you haven't already, please send your name to MG Joe Hinton
jchinton369@aol.com . A capstone and recognition will be planned for this summer.
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.
Remember. There are 5 categories for reporting hours: Adult Education, Youth Education, Gardening, CCE Support and Continuing Education. Gardening is the sole category that happens at an Approved MG site. Master Gardeners may volunteer at any public place in Suffolk County for the other 4 categories.
The Master Gardener reporting volunteers hours survey is linked here. https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aiagRHzCO3z8smO
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
Cornell Climate Stewards (CCS) program, styled after Master Gardener programs, empowers volunteers to support their local communities with important environmental stewardship.
The program begins with a 12-module training that includes climate science basics, climate communication, working with local governments, and mitigation/adaptation projects. Volunteers work with a county guide on a volunteer project of their choice.
NOTE: There is a 40 hour volunteer commitment in the first year.
Kayla Walsh, Coastal Climate Specialist at NY Sea Grant, will be leading Long Island-based volunteers for a hybrid training in June or July of 2026. The application includes a simple form and a short meeting with Kayla. Reach out to Kayla for more information.
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BUS TRIP
The Herb Society of America, Long Island Unit is sponsoring a bus trip to the Cloisters and Wave Hill on June 18.
Horticulturist Carly Sill will lead a private tour of the three monastic gardens at the Cloisters.
Following the Cloisters we will travel to Wave Hill for lunch and a self guided tour of the gardens.Bring your own lunch or order from the Wave Hill cafe.
There are two pick up and drop off points for the bus: Holbrook and Melville just off the LIE.
The cost is $135 which includes the cost of admission to both venues and bus fare. For details contact MGs LouAnne Rothe betrdesign2@aol.com or Dava Stravinski stravins@optonline.net
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| | Class of 2024 Master Gardeners helping with spring clean up at the Medford LIRR station. | |
MG SITE DAYS
Master Gardener sites need assistance.
Can you help fellow Master Gardeners on any of the following site work days?
MEDFORD LIRR Station
Contact MG Betty Baran elbaraness@gmail.com
GREENLAWN LIRR Station
Friday June 19 from 9-11 am
Friday July17 from 9-11 am
August 21 from 9-11 am
Contact MG Susan Matthews
susmatt3@gmail.com
HERB GARDEN: Suffolk Farm, Yaphank
Fridays
Contact MG Chris DeSantis mrtwo1@optonline.net
CHILDREN'S GARDEN, Suffolk Farm Yaphank
Wednesdays
9-noon. Contact MG Bill Weresnick billw69194@aol.com
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
Bees at The Battery:
A Thriving Urban Pollinator Habitat at the Tip of Manhattan
Tuesday, June 16, 6:30PM via Zoom
Sarah Kornbluth is a bee biologist, American Museum of Natural History.
Sean Kiely is the Park Manager for The Battery Conservancy who has worked closely Master Planner, Piet Oudolf.
REGISTER HERE
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
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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.
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