March 2024 Master Gardener News

March 2024

If you're looking for an early spring blooming ephemeral, consider Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica.) Yes, this native spreads, but not aggressively. Virginia bluebells can be planted among ferns that will follow, unfurling their foliage later in the spring.

MG Pat Garry shares her insight. "All wonderful garden plans must be viewed not as painting a picture, but rather as giving birth. Every baby requires years of attention and love. Every garden deserves the same commitment. Neither babies nor gardens will survive with a once-a-year care session."

SPRING GARDENING SCHOOL:

SESSIONS FULL

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Riverhead CHARTER School

Calverton

Spring Gardening School closed early this year with over 200 participants nearly entirely with Early Bird registration. The event is a celebration of what Master Gardeners do best!

A few suggestions for the day.

CARPOOL. As parking is limited to the first 100 or so cars, carpooling is a MUST at our Calverton site. Please, please, please travel with another Master Gardener.

Bring your REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION. This was emailed or sent to you from Sarah Osborn. Print a copy or take a photo on your phone as this is your "ticket' into each session this year. We won't be able to access your specific class schedule at the event, so please copy or take a photo today.

ARRIVE EARLY. Doors will open at 8:00 am.

CHECK IN. If you paid for lunch, you also need to pick up your lunch ticket.

NATIVE PLANT SPECIAL. This year you can pre-order from a collection of 25 native plants that will be ready for pick up at the Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 27. The Native Plant Special brochure is linked here. Here’s the order form. (Sorry. We can only process checks for this Native Plant pre-order Special.) The advantages of pre-ordering by April 13. Your order will be reserved for you. These plants will be available at higher prices at the Plant Sale. In addition, there are 2 garden rebate programs offering up to $500 for purchasing native plants. See the details in the brochure.

You can save a stamp and bring your order to Spring Gardening School on March 9. Or put in the US Mail to Roxanne Zimmer, CCE, 423 Griffing Ave, Riverhead, NY 11901, Attention: Native Plants

SATURDAY

APRIL 27

Master Gardener

Plant Sale

Suffolk County Farm

8am-3pm

We will have a wonderful array of plants: annuals, perennials, and small shrubs as we've had at prior MG Plant sales. This year the MG PLANT SALE will shine on its own with a couple of new features.

NATIVE PLANT SPECIAL. See the description above for the native plants offered at a discount before the PLANT SALE on April 27. Order now from the the Native Plant brochure.

We're also celebrating EARTH DAY this year with a special emphasis on NATIVE PLANTS.

To honor EARTH DAY, Master Gardeners will engage with the public at information tables to talk about pollinator gardens, rain gardens and the role of native plants.

Master Gardeners will also host short family-friendly activities in the Children's Garden and at the rain barrel demonstrations.

Thanks to MG Denise Zizzo for her efforts these many years to make the Master Gardener Plant Sale a success with her team of Master Gardeners! Thanks to MGs Linda Carlson and Bridget Nelson who are keeping us on point with Native Plant Special.

Deb Kimmelman sharing her report with those at the well attended Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators meeting on February 3 at the Cornell Extension Office in Riverhead.

Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators

The annual meeting of Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP) brought MGs and garden advocacy groups together under the SAP umbrella. A few of leaders spoke about 2023 efforts: MGs Patty Collins and Charlie Bevington, Amber Gagliardi (Seed Libraries), Jade Blennau (PEP) and Marissa Nelson (Quogue Wildlife) and Robert Treuhold, the mayor of Quogue. Regional meetings followed with action steps identified.

· Replicating the success of last year’s public garden tours/ crawls.

· Continue offering programs and workshops throughout the county.

· Engaging youth more.

· Improving social media.

· Obtaining local/town and county proclamations and recognition for the Suffolk County designated Pollinator Week, June 17-22.

· Offering a number of activities in all regions during National Pollinator Week, June 17-22 to bring more awareness to our neighbors who may not be gardeners.

· Continue working with municipalities to plant more native plants, trees and shrubs

Come to the first SAP event:

A NATIVE SEED SWAP and Invasive Plant ID Walk on March 23, under Continuing Education entries below.

Barn Raising

All Master Gardeners are invited to help one time at a different MG site. There's much to be done in early spring. Here's where you might lend a helping hand.

GREENLAWN TRAIN STATION

March 22 (Rain date, March 23) and April 26 (Rain Date, April 27)

9 am-11 am.

The Greenlawn garden stretches for 180 feet. March and April are dedicated to cutback and clean up. Bring shears and clippers. Wear long pants and gloves.

Parking available in the street on Broadway, Boulevard Avenue or one the one-way access road. Please contact MG Susan Matthews susmatt3@gmail.com if you plan to come.

MEDFORD TRAIN STATION

Saturday, March 23 & Saturday, April 6. 10 am.

As this is one of the largest Master Gardener sites in Suffolk County, there's much to be done for Spring cleanup. Please wear long pants and bring gloves and garden tools. Contact Betty Baran if you can join these Master Gardeners. baraness@optonline.net

Beyond Barn Raising:

NEED VOLUNTEERS LONG TERM?

Master Gardener Training started two days ago with 50 enrolled in the course. A very big group of promising MGs!

I'm guiding them to shape Action Projects that connect to EXISTING MG Activities and Sites, both Approved and Provisional. I need your help attracting these MGs to your effort.

What new or ongoing engaging activity might you consider bringing more attention to this year? What educational outreach could be developed and offered? Can you include ongoing site maintenance that is more than weeding and cleanup? That is, what could you plan this year in terms of greater community engagement--a short workshop on invasive weed ID removal or......?

For those of you who respond to this callout..I will be sending the MG class a list with your site/ contact name with a brief description of activity for 2024 in the next 2 weeks. If I don't hear from you by then, your MG effort/site will not make the list to be shared with the MGS in training. Please put ACTION PROJECT in your subject line to me at rz378@cornell.edu.

REPORTING VOLUNTEER HOURS

A friendly reminder to all.

Please report your MG VOLUNTEER HOURS at least 2 or 3 times a year.

Here's the link to the Master Gardener Reporting Survey.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

PLANT PROPAGATION

Cornell's Dr. Mark Bridgen is offering online courses, via Zoom in real time, for those interested in learning more about propagation. You may pay per module ($150) or get the trio of modules at a reduced rate of $400. See details here.

RESILIENT LI SYMPOSIUM

March 7-March 9

A Symposium on Invasive and Native Species for Long Island's Future. Offered at Hofstra University & other sites

LOOKING for TABLERS, POSTERS, VOLUNTEERS and SPONSORS

Tickets: $95 in person, $75 remote

More details at

https://liisma.org/resilientli-2024/

Contact resilientli@liisma.org

NATIVE SEED SWAP & INVASIVE PLANT WALK

March 23, 10-1pm (walk: 11-12pm)

with North Fork SAP and the Group for the East End

Bring native seed or come to get some. Downs Farm Preserve, 23800 Main Rd, Cutchogue

Tell a Master Gardener not receiving this newsletter that it's posted on our MG webpage:

Click here:

http://ccesuffolk.org/gardening/master-gardener-volunteers

If you have photos, events and news to share in the newsletter, please email me at rz378@cornell.edu

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.