MAY Master Gardener events CALENDAR

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

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

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

May 6.........MG Field trip Brentwood & Bayard Cutting Arboretum

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

May 20.......Action Projects of MGs in training, Riverhead

June 25.........Field trip, North Forth Flower Farm & New Suffolk Meadow

See details below



MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE

May 2 Pole Barn open at 8 am

Suffolk County Farm, Yaphank Ave. Yaphank

As savvy Master Gardeners know, prices are 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. Cash, checks and credit cards welcome.

Native Plant Pre-order

PICK UP SATURDAY, May 2 8 am-1 pm

Suffolk County Farm

Come to the north side of the Pole Barn to pick your assembled native plant order. Bring boxes or a cart if you have a large order. Your checks won't be cashed until AFTER your pickup. Remember, we have no storage or delivery options so identify a friend to pick up if unable to get to the Farm.

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

MAYFEST Saturday, May 2 Suffolk Farm

Join us for three gardening sessions.

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

Registration for all three sessions is $25, but you may bring a guest for free if you attended Spring Gardening School or participated in the Native Plant Pre-order Sale. No added names needed.

To register, visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/Mayfest .

Mayfest classes don’t start until 9:30 am giving you time to visit the Plant Sale. Paid merchandise can remain in a secure location.

Upcoming FIELD TRIPS

MAY 6

Rain or shine

9:30 am BRENTWOOD

With the MG Class of 2026, we'll tour the Srs. of St Joseph property understanding their Land Ethic, LINPI, the recently controlled burn meadow, the vegetative waste removal field, and Long Island Harvest. Meet at LINPI Founder's plot adjacent to the large parking lots (NOT the LINPI greenhouse.)



1 pm BAYARD CUTTING ARBORETUM

Continue on this field trip to Bayard Cutting Arboretum where we'll explore the Four Season Garden and other areas together. Meet outside the new Visitors Center. Carpool to reduce State Park parking fee.

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. 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.

$45 Early-bird registration by May 15

$55  after May 15

(Class size is limited.)

Here's the link for registration.

AC

MAY 20 MG ACTION PROJECTS

423 Griffing Avenue, Riverhead 9:30 am



We're doing something different this year. All MGs are invited to hear the Class of 2026 present their Action Projects. A couple of MGs have already told me that they want to be present to congratulate the new MGs working with them.

Why might you join us?

Those in MG training have diverse Action Projects. Their topics include removing invasive plants, growing and harvesting herbs, dyes from plants, gardening as therapy, how to stay fit in the garden, food security, moles and voles, kelp soil amendments, best garden practices, as well as making the Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators and MG program more visible.

To be sure. A couple of participants in the Class of 2026 initially proposed creating new gardens for their Action Projects. I had to be the 'bad guy' and redirect them to consider different ideas. I explained the finite number of Master Gardeners who are trying trying their best to keep approved sites sustainable. Instead, seasoned and new Master Gardeners should be working together around a variety of mutual interests whenever possible.

How might members of the Class of 2026 connect with current Master Gardeners? Maybe by helping to maintain or add a dimension to existing approved MG sites. Maybe by developing educational outreach for adults and children. Or maybe by hearing about alternate strategies in support of our programs.

Please take this opportunity to meet members of the Class of 2026. Congratulate them and invite them to consider connecting with your ongoing Master Gardener efforts. Come in red and wear your MG badge. Coffee and snacks provided.

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

Here's a link to a remembrance sent a few months ago for anyone who missed it.

CAROLINE KIANG



SUNDAY, May 17, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 10 am

All names on this MG Constant Contact list should have received an electronic invitation for the tribute honoring the late Suffolk Master Gardener Program Founder Caroline Kiang.

Not to worry if the evite didn't find you. You are welcome to come. Many Master Gardeners are no longer active or on this newsletter list. Please spread the word to your garden organization and friends who want to remember Caroline. This ceremony is open to all who knew her and were trained by her. Please send me an RSVP with Caroline in the subject line.

There are two other ways to honor Caroline.

The Caroline Kiang Memorial Scholarship is for an applicant to Master Gardener Training who has a commitment to serving as a 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.

Chinese peonies and trees will be planted in her honor at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. If you want to donate in support of the Arboretum in memory of Caroline, follow this link: Donate to Bayard Cutting Arboretum — Natural Heritage Trust

 Free Soil Tests for Community Food Gardeners

Participate in the 2026 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.

to get soil tested for nutrients and heavy metals at no cost.

The Harvest NY specialists will help with resources and technical assistance. The garden must be a food-producing garden with food grown to be 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.

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

Kudos to Master Gardener Team Monarch (Aimee Kurdt, Diane Santangelo, Lynn Walsh and Liz Welch) celebrating Earth Day with 16th District Legislator Rebecca Sanin and others at West Hills County Park on April 18.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Consider the field trips or Action Projects session in this newsletter as learning opportunities.

Or join a FREE 12 week challenge sponsored by Pollinator Pathway and Less Lawn More Life for a journey of turning outdoor space into a thriving habitat, one step at a time. The challenge kicks off on May 7th with a live keynote from botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer. Here's the registration link

Class of 2024 Master Gardeners helping with spring clean up at the Medford LIRR station.

MG SITE HELP DAYS

Master Gardener Approved sites need assistance.

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

GREENLAWN LIRR Station

May 15 9-11am

Contact MG Susan Matthews

susmatt3@gmail.com

MEDFORD LIRR Station

Contact MG Betty Baran elbaraness@gmail.com

HERB GARDEN: Suffolk Farm, Yaphank

Fridays May 8,15, 22, 29 Contact MG Chris DeSantis mrtwo1@optonline.net

CHILDREN'S GARDEN, Suffolk Farm Yaphank

Wednesdays May 6, May 13.

 9-noon. Contact MG Bill Weresnick billw69194@aol.com

EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE BIOSWALE

Sunday, May 3rd (rain date May 10th) 11:30 to 2pm

18 James Lane, across from Home Sweet Home Museum.

To sign up: Wake up the Garden—Village Green: https://volunteer.surfrider.org/opportunities/4pLqfE7lBk

METHODIST LANE BIOSWALE

East Hampton Saturday, May 9th (rain date Friday, May 15th) 10- 1pm

located between the First Methodist Church & Hook Mill Road & LIRR.

To sign up: Wake up the Garden—Methodist: https://volunteer.surfrider.org/opportunities/XsBhLsi3Wf

Coffee and donuts! Contact MG Kris Liem krisliem@earthlink.net

_______________________________

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.