Wild Ones LogoHabitat Gardening
in Central New York
    Issue #17 - October 5, 2009                                                 
In This Issue
Thank yous!
Project Budburst - not just for spring
October 25 program
Prettier than a burning bush
"Where's that plant?"
Mow No More
Our sponsors

Growing Wild Perennials

Maple Hill Nursery

Phoenix Flower Farm

Wild Birds Unlimited
Thank yous!
Michelle Welcher for many years of service as our Treasurer. We wish her the best in her new career as a science teacher!
Ronda Tambasco  for agreeing to become our new Treasurer. She brings years of experience in the banking industry. Welcome!
Project Budburst isn't just for spring!

From Project Budburst:

Fall is coming soon. Celebrate the change of seasons with Project BudBurst!  Don't let our name fool you --we welcome observations of all plant phenophases throughout the year. 

Now is a great time to get outside and make observations of seeds ripening, leaf color change, leaf droop, and other interesting changes.

You can jump in to Project BudBurst at any time during the year. So, you don't have to wait for
spring to participate in this national climate change field campaign.

Help us reach our goal of 5,000 reported  observations of our new fall phenophases (leaf color change, leaf drop, and all leaves withered).

We need your help - Climate change scientists are very interested in the observations you are making.  All information necessary to participate can be found at www.budburst.org
 
Greetings!

Fall is here, and for gardeners it's time to start thinking of preparing for spring. In this edition, you'll find a variety of ways you can prepare for next year, and you can also learn how you can help scientists learn more about global warming.

Janet Allen,
President, Habitat Gardening in Central New York
October 25 program: Hands-on seed propagation
 
Our next meeting on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2:00 pm will feature a hands-on presentation about how to collect, clean and prepare seeds to grow new plants.

Joan Livingston, owner of Growing Wild Perennials, 4080 E. Milestrip Rd. in Canastota returns to be our presenter.
She presented this program in one of HGCNY's early years, and it was a very popular program.

bottlebrushBottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) grown from a plant started at Joan's first HGCNY presentation many years ago!





Our HGCNY meetings are free and open to the public. We'll be meeting at our usual Le Moyne College Library location in the Special Activity Room. (See our website for directions.) Come and bring a friend!
Prettier than burning bush

Who needs the invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatus) when there are so many native shrubs with glorious fall color (and which are so important for wildlife)? Here are a few (though photos don't do them justice):

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum):


Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet"):
itea












Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii):
dwarf fothergilla
"I thought I planted a ...."
 
"I wonder where I put that ..."
"What's that plant?"


If you're like most of us, after a long winter, you've forgotten what you planted and where you planted it.  You're more likely to know where those plants are now, so NOW is the time to take good notes (and put them where you'll remember them come spring!)

Another strategy, of course, is to use plant markers--a good idea, but sometimes plant markers heave out of the ground or become unreadable. And if you have a large number of plants, it's hard to put markers on all of them.

An alternative is to take some digital photos, print them out in pale grayscale, then label the plants right on the photo. You'll have a visual guide to where the plants are.

If you still remember where they are, you could also note the plants that bloom in the spring, but which may not be as visible now. Next spring, you could supplement your fall photos with another set of photos taken in the spring, when it's mostly bare ground with just the beginnings of plants peeking through the soil.

With a little effort now, you won't have to wonder where or what your plants are in spring!
Mow No More with No Mow

There's still time to save time mowing next year if you plant No Mow grass now. No Mow grass is a blend of six fescues designed for the northeast. (We bought ours from Prairie Nursery.) The optimal time for seeding is from August 20 to October 20. Why not experiment with a small section this year and see how it works for you next year?

The Wild Ones Journal article "So You Want a 'No Mow' Lawn" gives tips and can help you decide if it's the right choice for the location you have in mind.

No MowWe started with a small strip along the edge of a flower bed, and the next year we planted a larger amount between the road and the sidewalk. It has done very well even though it's exposed to road salt. It's drawn a lot of positive comments and interest.

This year, we're expanding that section farther along the road.

Of course, even better than a No Mow lawn is no lawn at all! Trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers are so much more interesting and provide so much more for wildlife! But in the meantime--until we revise our cultural norms--a No Mow lawn at least avoids the pollution caused by fossil-fuel powered lawnmowers, the dangers of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, and the wasteful use of water.