CHAPPAQUA
gARDEN CLUB

Submitted by Karen Bazik

Submitted by Judy Leheny

NOW!  a tip for preserving Hydrangea flowers: Cut the stem, strip off any leaves, place in about two inches of the following solution: 2T lemon juice , 1T sugar, 1/4 T Chlorox dissolved in 1 quart warm water. Leave it alone out of direct sun.  The flowers will slowly dry and you will have a bouquet for the winter.

Keep watering your pots and keep fertilizing them every two weeks.  The way the weather is going, they will probably bloom till mid-November.  The job of the annuals is to set-seed for next year so keep cutting those flowers and frustrating the plant’s attempts to set seed.

Don’t do any major pruning now - it’s too late and the shrub/tree will produce new wood  that hasn’t had a chance to “harden” off therefore leading to death of the new growth.  Wait till after bloom time in the spring.

Beware when ordering plants online!  My daughter bought me two hybrid Heucheras from Plant Delights Nursery in North Carolina. They were not inexpensive . Package shipped Monday, supposed to arrive Tuesday but didn’t arrive till Wednesday.  One plant was dead, the other was very badly wilted.  Daughter complained to the Nursery and they agreed to ship a replacement for the dead plant.  Which arrived, again, nearly dead.  I complained and was told that the bushy plants were shipped in their 3” nursery pots filled with a non-organic medium and were watered daily in the nursery.  When I pointed out that their business was shipping plants online and should have been shipped in a moisture retentive medium because they were not going to be watered by Federal Express, the woman shrugged it off. So if you do order online (and I have done so before) take care to unwrap the plant immediately and re-hydrate it in a bucket of water overnight.

We had lots of fun planting at the Chappaqua Library with the juniors program. This project helped to fulfill our mission of enlarging a pollinator garden that is funded in part by a Plant America Grant.

We saw many beautiful wild flowers and plants on our Wildflower Island trip, guided by the amazing Mathew McDowell. Thank you Nancy Chung for the photos!

Submitted by Gwinne Porter

Our Spring Plant Sale has been an even bigger success than last year, thanks to selective offerings and enthusiastic sales! Thank you to all who came out and helped!

Submitted by Judy Leheny

There has been a glorious display of Daffodils this year.  To keep them healthy for next year, de-bud them as they fade.  Not hard - Using your thumb and index finger, simply snap off the heads behind the swollen seed pod and throw them in the dirt.  The leaves will then divert their energy to building up the bulb instead of the seed. Prune your roses to an outward-facing bud to facilitate an open plant. The rule on roses: “Feed ‘em like hogs and water ‘em like elephants!"  Weed and mulch. Now you can see where you will plant the annuals and perennials that you will just have to have from the Plant Sale.  If you think a plant is over-crowded separate it and donate the off-shoot to the Plant Sale. Then take time to sit and admire the results off your hard work!

On the subject of compost/mulch.  There are lots and lots of ways to make compost.  Herewith, the lazy man’s way:  Take a pile of leaves about 4 feet high and wide, throw some dirt and a little grass clippings on it, empty about three buckets of compost from the dump (think of it as a sour dough starter) and water it well. Once or twice a year turn it over  (stir it).  In a year or two you’ll have delicious soil for your plants.

Submitted by Judy Leheny

New faces have joined our merry group and they have reported that they have had a great time.  Some members are not able to make it each week but that’s the whole point of the “schedule.” We meet every Thursday at 10 - if life intervenes, so be it.  Come next week.  We look forward to seeing you -  and catching up.  Positive feedback from the passersby make it all worthwhile.

Congratulations Mary Lynn McRee for receiving People's Choice Award - 3rd place - at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art 40th Annual Fine Arts and Flowers.

Submitted by Judy Leheny

Now is the time to fertilize - not only your lawn - but your garden beds as well.  If you have a compost pile, that is the best “medicine” for your garden. Next best is fish fertilizer. Otherwise, a good, balanced fertilizer (5-10-5)  sprinkled around your plants and shrubs will get them off to a good start this season.  

Fertilize your bulbs as soon as they come up (now) and again as the foliage dies down.This may help your tulips come back next year. Prune your roses now to shape them and remove crossing branches. Cut just above an outward facing bud. This will direct the growth away from the center of the plant. Peonies should be sprayed now with a fungicide every week for three weeks to prevent botrytis fungus. 

If you have a slug problem and use slug bait, place it now where slugs tend to do the most damage (Hostas). This kills the adults before they lay eggs that will produce the slugs that will take off in your garden during the summer. Spring in the garden means that everything must be done yesterday. But your efforts will be rewarded come May!