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This Month at Mass Hort | |
SEPTEMBER LINE UP
September is filled with upcoming events for you to enjoy and participate in.
Garden Tours: Tuesdays, 10am through October
The Gardens at Elm Bank are vibrant with color, and our weekly Tuesday tours at 10am will continue through October. Enjoy walking the property and get some good exercise too!
Perennial Plant Association Symposium: Wednesday, September 11, 2013, 8am- 5pm
Exploring Design and Perennial Selection for the Landscape
On Wednesday, September 11, Mass Hort and the Perennial Plant Association are teaming up to offer a day-long seminar titled, 'Exploring Design and Perennial Selection for the Landscape'. Some of the best writers and creative plant people in the business will be here, and you're invited to listen, learn and ask questions. Learn more
Downton Abbey Garden Party
Sunday, September 15 2013, 3:00pm - 7:30pm
Downton Abbey fans will have something to celebrate as they await the arrival of the show's next season: a Downton Abbey-inspired Garden Party at Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Elm Bank in Wellesley! This fundraiser will support Mass Hort's Garden to Table program, from which you can learn about growing, cooking, and preserving healthy food. Downton Abbey-inspired fashions are encouraged!
Learn more
Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Fifteenth Anniversary at Elm Bank
Sunday, September 22, 2013, 10am- 6pm
Join Mass Hort with your family for this community day at Elm Bank. Free admission and lots of activities for the whole family: children's scavenger hunt and art projects - all day; Cake and ice cream at 1pm with Dover State Representative, Denise Garlick and other community officials; Art Show of paintings done at Elm Bank by the Wellesley Society of Artist (10 am - 6pm); Champagne and Strings in the Italianate Garden (4-6pm). Learn more.
Harvest Moon Flower Show
Thursday, September 26 from 10 am to 3 pm
The Noanett Garden Club and Fox Hill Garden Club are co-hosting a joint Harvest Moon Flower Show on Thursday, September 26 from 10 am to 3 pm in the Hunnewell Building at Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Elm Bank Horticulture Center. This Garden Club of America (GCA) sponsored show is open to the public and is presented free of charge. On display will be a stunning variety of GCA judged exhibits of floral arranging, horticulture, and photography by exhibitors from Massachusetts and surrounding states.
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| Book Review | By Maureen Horn
Mass Hort Librarian
The Flower of Empire: an Amazonian Water Lily, the Quest to Make It Bloom, and the World It Created by Tatiana Holway, 2013 (Oxford University Press) This book is a wonderful story of exploration, discovery, and appreciation for the botanical world. It begins in the Amazonian jungle of British Guiana, which, even though it had been explored by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595, was a late and isolated addition (in 1831) to the British Empire. Intrigued by the mystery of the new acquisition, curious geographers in mid-nineteenth century Britain wanted to know what exotica it contained. Tatiana Holway plunges us into a world of highly competitive botanists and map makers. She is an expert historian of the period and introduces us to some of its travelers, but mostly to its stay-at-home promoters who financed expeditions out to the edges of the Empire with the hope that the explorers would return to Britain bearing gifts. Many were imbued with a unique characteristic of the times, the love of flowers, and they would risk their safety and health to satisfy the scientific organizations and wealthy patrons who wanted to be the first to introduce newly discovered plants. One such partnership was established between a young German, Robert Hermann Schomburgk and the Royal Geographical Society, which sent him into the land that Sir Walter Raleigh called El Dorado. Its riches evaded him, but in 1837, he inadvertently found himself in a mire of enormous water lilies, brilliantly colored and unforgettably scented. His first attempts to transplant samples back to England were frustrated, but botanists, because they expected eventually to see them, produced illustrations. Holway's account of the controversy over the name of the gigantic flower is one of the many light moments in the narrative. All the contenders agreed that it must be named after the new Queen Victoria. Schombreck's nomenclature was the winner, so it's known today as Victoria regia. The author gives much information about technological improvements, such as the Wardian Case, which was used to transport plants, and the hot houses that nurtured them. In the heart of The Flower of Empire is the rivalry between two bright lights among horticulturists, Joseph Packer and William Hooker, as they struggled to acquire seeds and cultivate them. We get to know them, their histories and their families, so the story has a vivid human element. There is a suspenseful mood as we follow both of their fortunes and wonder who will accomplish the goal: Paxton, backed by the Duke of Devonshire, or Hooker, backed by the Duke of Bedford, and, ultimately, who will be most pleasing to the Queen? The general public who followed the drama more than 150 years ago, focused on the result of their quest at the Great Exhibition of 1851, where the outer design and inside ornaments of the Crystal Palace reflected the Victoria regia. Contemporary flower lovers can be caught up in the story again when Tatiana Holway comes to Mass Hort on Wednesday, October 9, at 1:30, to give an illustrated lecture on her book. At that time, she and the librarian will tell how the Massachusetts Horticultural Society wrote another chapter in the story of Victoria regia's journey from the tropics to this society's exhibition halls. The MHS website, www.Masshort.org, and the lecture announcement in this newsletter provide opportunities to register for the lecture and to make an advance purchase of the book.
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| Volunteers | |
Volunteer today! Mass Hort is looking for volunteers to help run programs, events, and join committees. Use your management, marketing, and people skills to help Mass Hort deliver its mission.
Learn more about volunteering at Mass Hort
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Letter from the President
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Kathy Macdonald, President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Photo by Andy Caulfield
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Dear Friends,
September is a very busy month, with events and programs for everyone to enjoy.
September 11th: The Perennial Plant Association Symposium will feature impressive lecturers and authors bringing new horticulture knowledge to attendees.
September 15th: Our Downton Abbey Day will be a fun occasion to dress up, watch cricket, and enjoy the gardens as part of a fundraiser to support our Garden to Table program.
September 22nd: Mass Hort's Fifteenth Anniversary is an open celebration on the grounds at Elm Bank to pay tribute to our history and our wonderful community.
September 26: The Noanett Garden Club and Fox Hill Garden Club are co-hosting a joint Harvest Moon Flower Show, which is open to the public.
Check out the side bar This Month at Mass Hort to learn more.
With summer winding down, September is the perfect time to reflect on our growth. The bounty that our Garden to Table gardens contributed to two local food pantries, the efforts of our Garden Keepers, Master Gardeners and other volunteers on behalf of our Gardens at Elm Bank, and the tireless hours put in by our hard-working staff. Whether in the gardens, on the grounds, in the classroom, or in the office, the dedication of our staff and volunteers makes it possible to realize Mass Hort's important mission, and sustain this beautiful landscape in Dover
Our Anniversary celebrates the many people who had the vision that made it possible for Mass Hort move to this wonderful place, and build a new organization to sustain our mission into the 21st century.
Thank you!
Kathy
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August in the Vegetable Garden
 by Susan Hammond Master Gardener Finally it's been tomato season in the garden. Not only are our "production" Food Pantry beds yielding many pounds each week, but our "New and Unusual" bed, sponsored by Not Your Average Joe's, is producing Tomatoberries. These are proving to be a sturdy tomato that's meaty and sweet, and we'll be adding them to the Production garden next year.  We are being very careful to watch for late blight in our tomatoes, as it has been found in nearby counties in Massachusetts. Since we manage the Garden to Table garden organically, we are using preventative treatments like OxiDate (an organically approved spray based on hydrogen dioxide). If you grow tomatoes in your garden, and want to know what to look for, you can learn more about late blight here.
This is a wonderful time of year to be a vegetable gardener. We are getting abundant, beautiful harvests twice a week and several times have sent over 100 pounds of fresh, local, organic produce to local food pantries. But we know that fall is not far away. Even as we harvest, we are thinking about how many days we have until the first frost of the fall and planning what we (and home gardeners) can plant that will mature before the end of the season. Possibilities are lettuce, spinach, Japanese turnips, beets, and radishes. Our volunteers are busy every week harvesting, planting, and tending the garden. We will be offering guided tours on Sunday, September 22nd, as part of the Elm Bank 15th anniversary celebration. If you have never visited the Garden to Table garden, this would be a great day to do it. See you in the garden! |
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Cheney Estate and Massachusetts Horticultural Society- A Celebration of Fifteen Years of Stewardship
On Sunday, September 22, from 10:00 to 6:00, Massachusetts Horticultural Society will celebrate its move to Elm Bank and the transformatin of the abandoned Cheney Estate to the Gardens and Horticultural Center of today.
On that day, staff and volunteers will remember their predecessors who, in the summer of 1998, ventured out from their headquarters in Horticultural Hall at 300 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston to reclaim the beautiful Cheney-Baltzell estate, which had been nearly abandoned for about 25 years. Armed with historical photographs and creative ideas, professional landscape designers and dedicated volunteers turned the first soil to set change in motion.
Massachusetts Horticultural Society leases the 36-acres Cheney Estate in Dover from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Conservation and Recreation. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some of our honored guests include:
Representative Garlic at our 1 pm cake cutting
Senator Rush at the 4:00pm Champagne and Music in Italianate Garden |
Wellesley Farmers' Market is Online
Access to local products has gotten even more convenient. The Wellesley Farmers' Market, a program of Mass Hort, is partnering with Yourfarmstand to offer selected items from local vendors on-line. Consumer availability will include: - Produce from Natick Community Organic Farm
- Fresh cut flowers from Stow Greenhouse
- Prepared meals from Healthy Habits Kitchen
- Salsa from In Good Taste
- Gourmet spreads from Guy's Healthy Home Cooking
Vendor items can be ordered up until midnight each Wednesday for delivery on Thursday to the market in the parking lot at Whole Foods. Pick up your order at the market any time between 2:00 to 6:00PM or, for a fee, use the home delivery service available within a 10 mile radius from the market. Check out how simple this system is to use and the What's for Sale page for the Wellesley market Better yet, come by to find even more local items, such as fruit from Carlson Orchards, produce from Dover Farm and Renegade Gardens, honey from Golden Rule Honey, preserves from Coutts Specialty Foods and baked goods from Swiss Bakers. Hope to see you at the market and please stop by the Mass Hort tent to chat.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Suzanne Higham
 As most of the summer tasks abate, everyone at Mass Hort is aware of how much we owe to Suzanne Higham, this year's Garden Keeper in Bressingham, who made her garden a visitor destination. She admits that she enjoyed the comments of people as they walked away, but she affirms that what she enjoyed most was the educational benefits from working with other Master Gardeners and carrying on discussions as their days went by. The Society's gratitude to Suzanne began in earnest when she and Dan Stephens co-designed the School Yard Movement vignette for this past year's Mass Hort exhibit at the Boston Flower & Garden Show. Recently, she has extended her interest and outreach from children's gardens to helping elders maintain their gardens. She believes that by knowing that their yards are in order, the seniors can validate their independence. Her most satisfying landscape achievement during recent months is the installation of plantings around the foundation of the clubhouse and next to the street adjoining an historic golf course, which was designed by Donald Ross during the 1920's. As in Bressingham, Suzanne was inspired by the volunteers who worked with her on the project. Her Elm Bank gardening will continue at least until November, when she will be already deep into the managing responsibility for Mass Hort's next Flower Show exhibit, charged with setting guidelines for the other designers as they come up with a concept for the overall theme and coordinate with each other to carry it out. |
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Victoria regia comes to Mass Hort
 On October 9, 2013 at 1:30 pm, Tatiana Holway will come to Elm Bank to give a fresh perspective on a story that excited the members of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society 160 years ago. Ms. Holway will give an illustrated lecture based on her acclaimed book, The Flower of Empire: an Amazonian Water Lily, the Quest to Make It Bloom, and the World It Created (Oxford University Press, 2013), which recounts the astonishing discovery of an eight foot wide bloom in the jungle of British Guiana. As a scholar of 19th century Victorian society, she captured in print the excitement engendered in Britain by rumors that gigantic plant had been unexpectedly encountered by Robert Hermann Schomburgk, while in the employ of the Royal Geographical Society. The year was 1837, when a new queen had just ascended the throne, so Schomburgk's gift to her was its name, Victoria regia. The trouble was that no one in Britain had yet laid eyes on this wonder. The heart of the book is the many attempts by leading horticulturists to transport and cultivate the plant and bring it to the attention of the general public. From the chilling moment when it was first found, through years of hope and disappointment, their quest never flagged, and the author celebrates their dedication. On October 9, she will show us a trail that ended in Massachusetts in 1853.
At the lecture, we will expect to hear more than the story of Victoria regia because a reviewer in the New York Times in March said that "what's most fascinating about this tale is the way Holway twists and turns through other botanical developments.."
Light refreshment will be offered at the event, and books will be available for purchase. To preorder a book or register for the lecture, click here . Questions should be directed to Maureen Horn at 617-933-4912 or Mhorn@Masshort.org.
Library Book Group Can Formulate Questions
Interested readers and questioners are invited to gather at the Mass Hort Library on Wednesday, October 2, from 10:30 to noon to discuss Tatiana Holway's compelling book, The Flower of Empire: An Amazonian Water Lily, the Quest to Make It Bloom, and World It Created (Oxford University Press, 2013). It tells the story of the discovery of Victoria regia in the mid-19th century and of the individuals who made it happen. The book is filled with fascinating characters and technological revelations, so there will be something for everyone.
The author, when she comes to give a lecture on Wednesday, October 9, at 1:30, will answer any questions you may formulate in advance. The program is free and open to past and future members of the Library Book Group.
To register for the event, please contact Maureen Horn at 617-933-4912 or MHorn@Masshort.org.
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Marathon Daffodils 
Marathon Daffodils is a grassroots project to bringing beauty where there was unfathomable loss, mayhem and sadness. Diane Valley organized a coalition of partners who wanted to create an act of hope and rebirth for the City of Boston and to restore the positive spirit of the historic and world-renowned Boston Marathon.
The project's founders are excited about the prominent partners we have aligned thus far:
The Tower Hill Botanic Garden
The Garden Club Federation of MA
Massachusetts Horticultural Society
The Emerald Necklace
The Charles River Conservancy
Weston Nurseries
Friends of The North End Parks North End Beautification Committee, Massachusetts Master Gardeners
Mass. Nursery & Landscape Association plus many others.
To support Boston Strong at The Boston Marathon 2014, we are building a team of thousands to help in our effort to plant "Marathon Daffodils" from Hopkinton to Boston.
The 26.2 mile route lined with bright yellow, cheerful flowers will serve as an inspiration to runners, residents, participants and visitors.
Our goal is to raise $1000 per mile, approximately $26,500 is needed to launch this great tribute.
We hope you join us in this project to promote our unified community and to inspire peace, hope, and rebirth through "Marathon Daffodils."
Wellesley Route: Massachusetts Horticultural Society is helping to organize volunteers along the Wellesley route. If you are interested in the Wellesley route (work days in October and November to be published), please send your contact information to: volunteers@masshort.org.
How to Help: To find out how you can help in general and participate, please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/marathondaffodils
Click to see the brochure
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Jessica Googan Named Director of Events at Mass Hort
Massachusetts Horticultural Society is pleased to announce that Jessica Gogan has joined Mass Hort as Director of Events. Jessica will be responsible for booking weddings, corporate outings, meeting, and social events at our country estate - garden venue.
Jessica is a Babson College graduate and comes to Mass Hort from the University of South Carolina Upstate where she was Director of Special Events. In this capacity, she served as the University's official contact for all event planning and coordination. Prior to that, Jessica was with Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah where she served as Catering Services Coordinator and helped plan, execute, coordinate and oversee weddings, social events, banquets and other group related functions. Jessica previously worked in New England for The Perfect Plan as a wedding and event specialist in East Sandwich, MA.
Massachusetts Horticultural Society's 36-acre Elm Bank Estate is one of the top function rental facilities in the Metro West. The Knot noted it as one of the best wedding venues west of Boston. Massachusetts Horticultural Society's property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Our rental facilities include the Hunnewell Carriage House with attached three season tent, manicured grounds and 12 gardens. Specialty tents can be added to the grounds. The property is a wonderful venues to host a wedding; Bar/Bat Mitzvah, corporate outing, fundraiser, or social events.
You can reach Jessica at 617-933-4921 or by email at jgogan@masshort.org.
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 Exploring Design & Perennial Selection for the Landscape Northeast Region Perennial Plant Symposium September 11, 2013 Elm Bank Horticulture Center in Wellesley, MA Presented by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society & The Perennial Plant Association Massachusetts Horticultural Society is thrilled to partner once again with The Perennial Plant Association for "Exploring Design and Perennial Selection for the Landscape", held at Elm Bank on September 11, 2013. Featured lecture topics include: mixed borders: perennials and shrubs, garden design, American residential landscapes, new ideas about edibles, container gardening, problem-solving for the perennials we love, what's new and what works in perennials in Massachusetts, and more. While you are here, enjoy The Gardens at Elm Bank! We have twelve gardens for you to tour. Don't miss the Bressingham Garden, a one acre magnificent four-season display perennial garden. Bressingham contains a mixture of perennials, trees, and shrubs with a specific focus for creating functional and beautiful residential landscapes. Designed by Adrian Bloom, horticulturist and English garden designer of the Bressingham Gardens in Norfolk, England. REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE! Registration Fee: $99/person before August 25. $109/person after August 25. This price includes lunch. Please join us at Mass Hort for this great PPA Symposium! Register today by clicking here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e7v6zd8oae2b0c87&llr=8swoa7cab SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE: 8:00 am - 8:45 am - Registration 9:00 am - 10:00 am - The Layered Garden: Design Lessons for Year Round Beauty David Culp Sunny Border Nurseries Downington, Pennsylvania Brandywine Cottage is David Culp's two-acre garden where he has mastered the design technique of layering interplanting many different species in the same area. David will illustrate a basic lesson in layering: how to choose the correct plants, how to design a layered garden, and how to keep it maintained. 10:00 am - 10:30 am Break and Visit to the Elm Bank Gardens 10:30 am - 11:30 am The Path to an Exciting Mixed Border: Perennials and Shrubs Stephanie Cohen Perennial Diva Collegeville, Pennsylvania Creating a garden for four seasons is always Stephanie's goal. In recent years, adding flowering shrubs that play nicely with perennial plants has added a new dimension. Interesting flowers, lovely bark, fall color, berries, interesting shapes make shrubs and perennials perfect buddies in the border. "The Perennial Diva," is not only opinionated about perennials, but she has added shrubs to her love'em or leave'em list. 11:30 am - 12:30 pm American Home Landscapes Dr. Denise Adams Stony Point, New York American landscape design certainly has evolved over the years--from Colonial subsistence gardens to Victorian gardens of excess to 1980s backyard barbecues. This lecture will provide a survey of American residential landscape history. Learn about the major landscape design trends and most popular plants since our country's establishment to the present with special emphasis on the New England landscape. 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Enjoy networking during lunch. 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Bringing the Awesome Every Day Lloyd Traven Peace Tree Farm Kintnersville, Pennsylvania When you go shopping before a fancy party, do you say to yourself, "I hope I can find the same dress as everyone is buying."? Do you want your living room just like everyone else's? Of course not! Your garden should be no different. All want their garden to stand out, to shine, to stop traffic. We all need fresh ideas, new choices, different methods and a whole new design concept. Water-friendly, edibles, foliage, container combinations--the rules have changed and a new world awaits. Come along with Lloyd as he shows some of the best of the new and fantastic ideas. 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Break and Visit to the Elm Bank Gardens 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Perennials for Problem Areas Jennifer Brennan Chalet Nursery and Garden Shop Wilmette, Illinois Whether it is for our own gardens or for clients and customers, there are always those problem areas that need recommendations of perennials that do not just survive but thrive. Heavy clay soil and deep shade are also included. Whatever the conditions, there are perennials that will work. Expand your problem-solving palette with these selections. 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Tell Me What's New! Tell Me What Works! John Friel Emerald Coast Growers Lancaster, Pennsylvania The growing zones of Massachusetts and region encompass great diversity. John will present a roundup of perennials and ornamental grasses, new and known, that will provide great punch to the landscape. Come learn what's new and what works! |
The New Neighbors
by Neal Sanders
Leaflet Contributor
New next-door neighbors moved in a few weeks ago. Yesterday, glasses of wine in hand, we took them on a tour of our garden. It was an unexpected educational experience for all of us.
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hey moved to our town from the South End where they lived in a condo at the corner of Mass Ave. and Columbus. Now, they have two acres in the suburbs, a toddler, a second child on the way, and a hyperkinetic dog with a worrisome attachment to its chew toys.
They were drawn to our town by the sense of community. When they were driving around, looking at places they'd like to live, one of our neighbors took the time to talk with them about our little cul-de-sac. They also say they took a long look at the part of our garden that is visible from the road and liked what they saw.
Now, they have the opportunity to put their stamp - in reality, the first-ever
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stamp - on a 17-year-old home's landscaping. The house's previous owners - financial services professionals who both worked long hours and were frequently out of town - left all landscaping decisions to a firm that apparently believed that it was a sin to spread anything less than a dump truck full of mulch on a bed. What our new neighbors bought is basically two acres of over-fertilized grass.
I expected we'd be asked a lot of questions and we would provide sound information. What I didn't expect was to discover that the questions they asked us would be as interesting to us as the answers we gave them.
Here's what I learned: as gardeners, we take far too much for granted. We use an intimidating shorthand and jargon that we should securely lock away in a vault when we talk to someone who is just getting started. We believe that pointing in the general direction of a plant from fifty feet away is as useful as walking up to the plant and touching it. No, it isn't. Touching is a very good thing.
Here's what else I learned: sometimes, we're inadvertent snobs. We assume that everyone has long since sorted through the false marketing claims and emotional appeals that bombard consumers, and can filter facts from hype. No, we can't. Never assume that the person you're speaking with has read a certain article or heard 'that expert' speak.
Nowhere does this insider/outsider gulf become more evident than when talking about 'organic'. At the top of our neighbors' wish list for their lawn is having a safe, pesticide-free environment for their children's long-term health and well-being. But what, exactly, is 'organic'? My somewhat cynical answer is that 'organic' is a more expensive version of whatever a marketer is already selling; a means of picking the pockets of unwary homeowners.
So, for two hours, we explored the garden. We talked the benefits of 'natives', of compost and of water barrels. We said it was OK to have clover in the lawn and that a modest amount of insect damage to trees and shrubs means moths, butterflies and beneficial insects are finding food. We talked drainage and plants that hold hillsides in place. We went shrub-by-shrub through one bed, talking about each one's virtues and limitations.
Along the way I learned that 'forest pansy redbud' is a lot easier name to remember than 'cercis canadensis' but that 'oxydendrum' is a much more appealing name for a tree than 'sourwood'.
It has been thirty-five years since Betty and I purchased our first home, a brownstone in Brooklyn with a concrete front yard and a back yard that had been used as a dog's 'convenience' for more years than any bib of grass should be asked to endure. I think about everything we didn't know and all the misconceptions we brought to those first projects. A number of houses later, we know a lot more than we did in 1978. The wonderful thing is, we're still learning.
I like our new neighbors. They bring energy and enthusiasm to a big job. Fair from being naive, they understand that theirs is a long-term undertaking and they're going to tackle it one project at a time. Watching and helping will be fun.
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Neal's next mystery, No Good Deed, will be published in October. You can learn more about it here . That book, plus his six other mysteries, can be ordered through Amazon.com.
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September Horticultural Hints
by Betty Sanders
BettyOnGardening.com
Hurricanes sound exciting... right up until they hit.
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Some areas of New England suffered greatly last year from Sandy's fury, but even those of us not along the shore are susceptible to damage from the winds and rain. September is hurricane season in the Northeast and now is the time to survey your property. Trees should be pruned if they are too densely packed with branches and leaves. A thinner canopy allows wind to blow through. Diseased and dead wood should always be cleared out, but also look for trees too close to your house or overhanging buildings, parking areas or electrical wires. Call in a certified arborist to do the work; don't try to handle anything you can't reach from the ground yourself.
 Trees & Shrubs. It's a great time to buy and plant new trees and shrubs if you remember two things. One, the selection may be limited and buying something that doesn't fit your needs (or space) isn't a bargain. Second, the plants you buy now have likely been in the nursery all summer. Plant correctly - removing all wrappings, spreading out roots in the hole, even if you have to break a few roots to do so, planting no deeper than the flare of the plants and watering new plantings until the ground freezes. After the ground has started to freeze,
add a layer of mulch, not for protection from the cold, but from warm spells, which are more dangerous to the newly planted in the winter.
Vegetable Garden. Last call to plant lettuce, spinach, oriental greens, quick turnips ( like Tokyo Cross) in the ground. Pull root crops carrots, beets and such only as you need them. A light frost will not hurt them. If you have a cold frame, plant it now also. With a little luck you will have fresh vegetables for your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's dinners.
If our dry weather continues, don't forget to water ongoing crops to keep them producing. And water strawberry plants. They are now setting the buds that will become next year's berries, but they can't do that if they are suffering with dry conditions.
Once an area of the garden is empty of crops, do a thorough clean-up
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removing (to the dump, not the compost pile) any plant material that may have been infected by disease or insects. Corn borers will winter over in corn stalks and tomato diseases live on in the soil. Once the area is clean, consider putting in a cover crop of annual rye, oats or professional mixes designed to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil when you turn them under in the spring.
When the vegetable garden is finished for the year, a layer of half-composted manure from cows, sheep, horses, chickens or other vegetarians can be placed directly on the garden. Winter sun and cold, rain and snow will finish aging the manure so it is ready to be planted in next spring. Manure applied in the spring should not be planted in for at least one month because "fresh' manure can burn seedlings with excessive nitrogen.
Insects.
It would seem with the end of the growing season approaching, insects would be less of a problem, but that is not always the case. Wasps, including the yellow jackets that are often misidentified as bees, are
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particularly aggressive. Beware of hives in trees, shrubs and in the ground.
Snails and slugs continue to mar hostas and other susceptible plants (I found a snail this weekend on a branch of a leopard lily (Iris domestica) five feet above the ground). Kill them now with an iron phosphate based product (such as
Sluggo) which, unlike older remedies, is harmless to pets, other wildlife and the environment. When cleaning your garden, remove and destroy all potentially infected plant debris because slugs leave behind eggs to hatch next spring.
Be on the lookout for Asian long-horned beetles or signs of their activity. Perfectly round, dime sized holes in the trunk of maples, birches and other hardwood trees indicated their presence. Report any suspected infestations to www.massnrc.org/pests/albreport .
And beware of ticks, they continue to be active even as the temperatures drop. The list of tick-borne diseases grows each year. Moreover, ticks do not die with the first frost: they survive to hop onto the unwary any day the temperature is above freezing.
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Look for more gardening tips at BettyOnGardening.com.
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