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LEARN + GROW
Free demos at Nasami Farm in May
May 4 Native Bulbs for Spring Planting
May 11 Edible Native Plants
May 18 Garden Consult
May 25 Groundcovers Go Native
Fee - based program at Nasami
May 3 Low Maintenance Design with Native Plants
For more information on classes and demos at Nasami Farm and surrounding area over the coming months, click here. |
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A LETTER FROM BILL CULLINA
Don't miss Bill's advice on plants for the Pioneer Valley. His new book Native Ferns,  Moss & Grasses is full of great tips. Click here for Bill's letter and book ordering information. | |
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Dear Members and Friends,
Thanks for sharing in the excitement and for your interest in native plants and the Society. Nasami Farm has expanded  offerings with more free native plant demonstrations on Sundays at 1 p.m. in spring and fall, and lots of new native plants. We open for the spring season Thursday, April 17 at 10 a.m. and are open each week, Thursday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. through June 8. Please join us for free refreshments at our Open House, Sunday, April 20 at 1 p.m., when we introduce the new members of our nursery staff. |
| IN REMEMBRANCE
Bob August, Honorary Trustee and Society friend, died Monday after a long battle with cancer. Bob and his wife Nancy entrusted their beloved Nasami Farm to the Society in 2004. Their vision ensures that Nasami will be open space forever, available for the enjoyment of generations of nature lovers. Bob will be missed by all of us at New England Wild Flower Society, but his memory and his legacy will live on at Nasami Farm and Sanctuary. |
NEW PLANTS FOR 2008
Two of our favorites include Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans 'Touch of Class'), a variant of our patented 'Stairway to Heaven.' It's identical to the latter in stature and habit but has leaves edged in pure white rather than cream. The blue flowers against the variegated foliage are great for brightening up a shady spot. The little-known Carolina bugbane (Trautvetteria caroliniensis) is a must for the perennial border, with airy meadow rue-like flowers that abound in late summer. It performs well in a wide range of soil types and moisture levels.
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NEW USES FOR OLD FAVORITES
Planting woodland ephemerals is a great way to add some spring flare to your sunny garden. Many species typically found under a forest canopy can be even more impressive in a higher light situation. Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is a perfect candidate to include in a new or existing sunny border that holds phlox, indigo, and other later season beauties. They  spring to life and flower long before the others emerge, and store enough energy to flourish for years to come. Even the shade-loving stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum) benefits from substantial levels of light. Nursery Director Ron Wik had a specimen for five years in a shady location that produced only two flowering leaflets. Two years after moving it to a bright eastern exposure, it transformed into a stately clump of more than 17 flowering stalks. The leaves may brown at the edges but are quickly over-shadowed by later-emerging neighbors. |
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BIRDS AT NASAMI
Our plants aren't the only wildlife getting attention. As many of you may know, Nasami Farm is a great place for birds. To help our feathered friends, we constructed many nest boxes, including 23 for Eastern bluebirds, 12 for tufted titmice/chickadees, and one for American kestrels. Constructed in a single afternoon with the help of dedicated staff, volunteers, as well as Honorary Trustee Bob August and family, these houses will be placed throughout the Sanctuary and Nursery. We thank Rugg Building Solutions, West Hatfield, MA, for donating the lumber for this project.
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Your interest in New England Wild Flower Society means a lot to us. If you're already a member, we thank you for supporting plant conservation and native plant education. This has been a great year for protecting rare plants in the wild and expanding nearby native plant education programs -- and we couldn't have done it without you. The Nasami Staff is looking forward to meeting you, so please come by and say hello!
Karen Pierce Debra Strick
Director of Membership Director of PR and Marketing
& the whole New England Wild Flower Society Staff |
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