Articles & Tips

Reducing Lawn

9/1/2021

By: Lyn Chimera

Whether you live in the city, suburbs or in a rural area, lawns are a big part of the landscape. People have treated lawns as a status symbol for centuries. The movement began in Europe where having a manicured lawn was only available to the wealthy who could afford the workforce to keep it looking good.

Unfortunately having that perfectly manicured lawn is still a status symbol for many people. They want their lawn to look like a golf course. Anyone who has tried to have that perfect lawn realizes what a lot of work it is to keep it that way. Not only is it time consuming but costly as well. There’s the lawn mower which needs gas and yearly maintenance, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides which are not only tough on the pocketbook but very hard on the environment
Let’s look at a few facts. Lawns across America use about 9 BILLION gallons of water a DAY! That’s the main reason during the drought out west watering lawns has been banned. The EPA reports that 50% of that water is wasted through evaporation and run off. According to 1971 NASA report lawns take up 3 times as much space as the next irrigated crop, corn. On top of that around 90 million pounds of fertilizers and about 75 million pounds of pesticides are used per year.
Just why do we have all this lawn? What do we actually use it for? Some turf is productive like athletic fields, golf courses and recreational areas. We have to ask ourselves if this is the best use of our landscape space.

There has been much written about habitat loss and the reduction of much needed pollinators, birds and other forms of life. Lawn doesn’t support any of that. Nature needs our help and that’s why so many people are reducing their lawn and developing more sustainable landscaping. This movement has been dubbed “unlawning”. There are many ways to reduce your lawn and have that space contribute to nature.

One of the fastest growing ways to reduce lawn is to grow vegetables, fruit trees and berries. Many people have vegetable gardens in their back yards, but front yard gardens are gaining in popularity. Often the front or side yard is the only place that has enough sun to support growing food crops. Growing some of your own food not only enables your garden to be productive for nature but provides your family with fresh pesticide free fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables need pollinators so you’re supporting nature.

There are many ways to incorporate food crops; raised beds, in ground garden, containers or interspersed among your perennials. Meanwhile you won’t have so much lawn to take care of.
Another option for unlawning is to transform some of the lawn space to meadow or pollinator gardens. This doesn’t mean you have to have an unkept field in your front yard. A section of lawn could be parceled out to be a pollinator garden/meadow. These sections could be shaped and mowed around to make it look more purposeful. The same effect can happen with wide mowed paths through the area. Organizing like species of plants rather than a general mixture also makes the meadow look more organized and like a garden if that is the look you prefer. Using native plants that support nature are the most effective plants to replace some lawn. They are beautiful and are the easiest way homeowners can help support nature and be sustainable. For ideas on how this might look check out: https://unlawningamerica.societyrne.net/unlawning-strategies.html

I’m not trying to suggest everyone eliminate their lawns. Rather rethink areas that you don’t use that might be more sustainable for your families and nature. If you don’t want to reduce the amount of lawn, at least consider not using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Lawns will do just fine without them. Also you don’t have to water the lawn. Grasses naturally go dormant when it’s dry. They will green up with the first rain.

Happy Gardening!

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July 2021 Gardening Tips

7/3/2021

Dear Gardening Friends,

Summer is definitely here, and on steroids. Thank goodness for the few cool days and rain once in a while. In this heat watering is the biggest issue. Time to get out the hoses. The following are
some tips for July:

- Watering has to be a priority and the way you water is important.
Most pots in the sun will nee watering every day. If it is a very full pot possibly 2/day. Ones in the shade probably less. Watering until the water runs out the bottom of the pot insures the whole pot is moistened. The way to tell if a pot needs watering is to poke your finger into the soil down a few inches. If the soil is moist you don’t have to water. Overwatering in pots can be as
harmful as underwatering.

For vegetables, annuals, and perennials in the ground watering long once or twice a week is better than daily short watering. The water needs to soak into the soil down where the roots are. To check take a trowel or shovel and make a divot. If it’s moist in the root zone (5-6 inches) you don’t need to water. The standard is an inch a week but in this heat that may not be enough especially in a sunny area.
The amount of watering will depend on the amount of sun and wind the area gets and how porous the soil is. In my garden some places in this extreme heat need watering every 4 days others in the shade maybe once a week or less.
For those recently planted perennials and annuals, they will need water more often that established plants as their roots aren’t well established.

- Bad news, I’ve already found a few Japanese beetles. If you get the first ones you will decrease the total amount that find you. Check the plants you know they prefer. Get out a container with a few inches of soapy water and knock the little buggers in. Gives me great satisfaction. For more info: https://blogs.cornell.edu/willow/files/2014/10/Japanese-Beetle-Popillia-japonica-fact-sheet-16vi6b4.pdf

-Another insect I’ve had a lot of evidence of is 4 lined plant bug. It’s a small yellow and black striped true bug that has a piercing mouth part that leaves small round dark circles in the leaves. Fortunately, this doesn’t kill the plants, but it is unsightly. They
lay their eggs in the stems of the effected plants so at the end of the season cutting down those stems helps reduce the infestation next year. For more info: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/four-lined-plant-bug/

- I’ve also seen signs of powdery mildew. This is a whiteish coating on the leaves. For plants like phlox that are susceptible to fungal disease you can start treatment before it shows symptoms. Treat with an environmentally safe fungicide specific to your problem. Remove affected leaves and disinfect your pruner and hands before moving to another plant. For more info: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/powdery-mildew/

- If you fertilize your plants, it’s best to do it when the soil is moist. Natural fertilizers are much better for the plants and soil than chemical ones. Chemical fertilizers contain salts which kill the natural microbes in the soil which are what feed the plants.

- Moving plants this late in the season is not advised. Wait till the fall which is an ideal time for moving and adding plants, trees, and shrubs.

- If any of you are having problems with the lily leaf beetle (a small red beetle on true lilies) try a squirt of Dawn dish liquid in a spray bottle of water. A few people have said that helps. I’ve seen them on tricyrtis (toad lily) this year so check out those as
well. For more information check:
http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2001/07/cornell-cooperative-extension-master-gardeners-spot-invasive-unpleasant-beetles-new
A squirt of Dawn & water works well for aphids as well.

- Then there’s weeding… Just when you think you’re finished more pop up. Try and keep up or at least remove or deadhead weeds before they drop seed. If you haven’t mulched this will help control the weeds.

Gardening events in July:

Garden Walk Buffalo, Open Gardens and the weekend community garden walks are up and running. Open Gardens are every Thursday and Friday in July. My gardens are open on Fridays from 10-2. Please stop by.

For information and schedules go to https://www.gardensbuffaloniagara.com/ or
buffaloniagaragardening,com. The Open Garden books which include all activities are also available at select nurseries and some of the Open Gardens.

Lessons from Nature events:

I have started hypertufa and concrete birdbath and steppingstone classes. I apologize to any of you who signed up at my plant sale as I have misplaced the signup sheet. Contact me and we can
set up a class of up to 4 people.

Lessons from the Garden:

People have suggested I offer some gardening classes in my gardens so here we go. There will be 2 sessions of a mid-summer class on good gardening practices, Wed. July 14 th at 7 PM and
Saturday July 17 th at 11 AM. The classes will include seasonal gardening tips, what to do about pests and diseases along with answering any questions you may have. The Garden session will
last about an hour followed by 1/2 hour of refreshments and conversation on the porch. There will be a limit of 5 per class so everyone can see and have the opportunity to ask questions. The
cost will be $25/person. Your reservation will be honored when payment is received. If you have any questions just give a call or email – contact info is below.

Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices as well as save you time and money! It’s not too late for improvements.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052

lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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June 2021 Gardening Tips

6/1/2021

Dear Gardening Friends,

Hard to believe it’s June but here we go!

Thanks to so many of you who came to my plant sale. It was such fun to see everyone, and it was a perfect day after a very hot week.
The weather continues to be challenging. Looks like we’re in for more high heat and dry weather. Because of the forecast I have stopped dividing and moving pants except for ones located in the shade. It’s just too stressful on them. Planting potted plants from a nursery is still OK.
You often read about shading newly planted plants or waiting to plant for a cloudy day with rain forecasted but that’s been tough lately. A way to improve success is to cover the plant with a box or bushel basket for 2-3 days depending on how sunny/cloudy it is. An old umbrella put at the right angle works as well. This is the first year I’ve done this, and the results are amazing. Bushel Baskets or cardboard boxes work well as they don’t hold in the heat as much as a plastic tote would.
If you do divide or plant a perennial, it’s best to cut off any blooms. This gives the plant energy to set in roots as opposed to trying to keep flowers going.
Pinch back perennials that get very tall to reduce the final height and promote branching and increase bloom. Common plants for this are phlox, asters, mums and sedum.
Watch out for slugs and snails. There are many products on the market that are not toxic, yet effective at getting rid of slugs and snails. I hand pick everyone I see but with gloves or a paper towel. The slug slime is extremely difficult to wash off your hands. I can attest to this firsthand! Once you make that mistake you won’t do it again.
Be alert for any insect issues you have had in the past. As soon as you notice damage, take action. Identify what the insect is and research the best and most ecological way to deal with it. It’s much easier to control at the onset than once a lot of damage is done.
I’ve been hearing a lot about aphid invasions. Luckily, they are easily taken care of. Wait a few days and see if ladybugs and other insects that eat aphids come and take care of them. If not squirt them with a strong hose nozzle and that will knock most of them off and kill them. You will need to repeat this every few days. If that doesn’t take care of it put a squirt of Dawn in a spray bottle and spray the little buggers. This combination has always worked for me.
Any newly planted or moved plants should be watered almost daily depending on how much sun they are in. It’s best to water them before they get droopy as drying out saps their strength and makes them weak. Early morning or evening are the best times to water. Once their roots are well established, they will be more tolerant of dry periods.
Weeding is a huge priority. Don’t let them get ahead of you. Once they are well established weeds are much more difficult to remove and they drop seeds to make more weeds for you to deal with. Once you weed, a good layer of mulch will help hold down the weeds and keep moisture from evaporating as quickly.
The deer tick population is increasing as has the incidence of Lymes disease. People are finding them in their gardens. Wherever there are deer and black footed mice there is a chance of ticks. For complete information and suggestions check out the Department of Health in Erie County’s website: http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=ticks-lyme-disease. It has a video of how to remove a tick and info on how to prevent as well as identify.

I’m happy to say we are starting up classes for making hypertufa planters and concrete birdbaths, stepping stones, and draped concrete containers. The cost is $30 and you get to make 2. If interested contact me and we can work out a convenient time.

Now is the time you may be having problems or questions about your garden. Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can answer your questions and help improve your garden and gardening practices Which will save you time ad money.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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May 2021 Gardening Tips

5/1/2021

Dear Gardening Friends,

We’ve had a year’s worth of weather during April. We had winter, then spring then summer and back to winter again. As I write this it’s a lovely, sunny fall temperature day. Hopefully spring is here for good now.

If nothing else April has taught us how resilient nature is. Most plants will be just fine. This type of weather is also a good reason to grow native plants. They are used to this changeable weather and will survive. You may notice frost damage on the tips of some plants, trees & shrubs. The leaves or tips of leaves turn black and crunchy. They can be pruned out or just left to drop off if it’s just a leaf or two. It looks like the only plant I have that was severely damaged was a rare hydrangea from Japan. Am hoping the roots will be fine and send up new shoots. Don’t give up on a frost damaged plant. Cut back the damage and hope for the best.

The following are a few tips.

Patience is still the best approach. The soil is quite cold and it’s way too soon to even think about planting annuals. Many greenhouses have perennials and annuals out for sale. If you by an annual keep it in a sheltered place until it’s time to plant.

If you leave a footprint on the soil that’s a sign the soil is too wet to work in. It’s easy to compact the soil with every footfall so stay off until things dry out.

It’s helpful to have paths or steppingstones in gardens so you can navigate without harming the soil. If a path isn’t appropriate a few rocks or steppingstones placed appropriately are practical and attractive.

-     If you left the leaves down in the fall lightly rake them away from the crowns of plants so the plants don’t get smothered. The leaves can be left on the ground and will make an excellent mulch as well as weed suppressant and habitat for beneficials.

-     Weeding should be a priority. Perennial weeds are up now and will be much easier to remove when small. If removed now you also prevent the weed from developing seeds and spreading even more.

-     The soil is still much too cold to plant greenhouse grown perennials, annuals and vegetables. Wait until the soil is above 50 degrees. As an example, tomatoes planted too soon don’t do as well as those planted at the end of May. Remember Patience! The final average frost isn’t until late May so don’t get fooled by a few warm days.

-     Perennials currently coming up in your garden that need to be moved or divided can be moved since they are used to the current soil temperature. However, don’t move them until the soil is “workable” which means the soil will break apart easily after you make a ball of it in your hand. Clumpy soil won’t settle around the roots well and cause air pockets which can dry out the roots.

RECYCLE pots, treys & blinds here. I can use pots 4 inches and up and flat carrying treys. No 6 packs. Also, if you are discarding any Venetian blinds or see some in the garbage, please save them for me. I use the blinds for price tags for the plant sale and won’t have many left after this year. Just drop them off in front of the garage. The address is below.

NOTE: For those of you in Amherst who are used to dropping things off at 37 N. Union, The property has been sold so please don’t drop pots off there. THANKS!!!!

Now is the time to make changes and improvements in your garden. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices and guarante to save you time and money. Also check out my website for past Garden Tips and articles: lessonsfromnature.biz.

Upcoming Plant Sales & Events: Put them on your calendar now!

            Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
            Saturday, May 22^th, 9:00 – 2:00. 170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.
Clients and those of you who get my tips can come at 8:00 and beat the rush. We will have a larger variety of native plants on that one day than anywhere in WNY. All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Fultz, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths. A partial list of what plants is at the end of these tips. Since it’s been so cold and rainy, I’ve only started potting up and some plants haven’t even come up yet. So, in addition to the list there will be more surprises.

            Note: all my plants will be potted in soilless potting mix due to the threat of the Asian jumping worm. If you’re not aware of this threat you can get information at: http://ulster.cce.cornell.edu/environment/invasive-pests/jumping-worm

Master Gardener Plant Sale, Friday May 228, 8:30 – 3:00, Saturday May 29, 8:30 – 2:00, First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, across from Kleinman’s. Perennials for sun and shade, natives, annuals, succulents, hypertufa and draped concrete pots, vegetable starts, herbs, shrubs and garden art. Plants are from MG gardens and donated by local nurseries.

East Aurora Garden Club Perennial Sale, Saturday, May 29^th 8:30 – till sold out.
In the Village plaza on Grey Street where Tops is. The sale is located under the roof overhang between TJ Max and Pet Smart. Plants from Garden Club member’s gardens, great selection.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

Partial Plant List for Perennial Sale 2021

Some varieties there are only 1 or 2 of, others quite a few. A few items aren’t even up yet so additional plants will be added during the weeks to come. First come first served.

Shrubs:


Purple leaf sandcherry                                     Potentilla, Gold Drop
Lynwood Gold Forsythia                                 Hydrangea – Anabelle
Viburnum alnifolium



Sun:

Monkshood                                                     Siberian iris (white & blue)
Perennial geranium                                          Shasta daisy                                         Sundrops                                                         Zig-zag goldenrod
Variety of asters                                              Tansy
            Phlox                                                               Obedient plant
Black-Eyed-Susan                                           Coreopsis
Filipendula                                                      Graceful sedge

Part Sun:

Forget-Me-Not                                                Anemone – white, pink, & ruffled
Dwarf Solomon’s seal variegated                   Candelabra primrose
Ladies Mantle                                                  Kirengeshoma
Astilbe (dwarf)                                                Corydalis –Yellow & white
Astilbe – Ostrich                                             Blue lobelia
Astilbe – variety of colors                                Sundrops
Golden ragwort                                               Bouncing Bet
Bachelor buttons

Shade:

Dwarf Comfrey                                               Hosta – a few varieties, minis
Persicaria                                                         Primrose
Toad Lily – 2 varieties                                     Pulmonaria – a few varieties
European Ginger                                             Lenten Rose, white, pink & deep purple
Curley Ginger                                                  Native ginger
Epimedium – pink & yellow                           Primula kisoana – rare variety
Twinleaf                                                          Ajuga
Corydalis                                                         Astilboides tabularis
Candelabra primrose                                       Soloman’s Seal - 3 varieties





            Natives:

Evening Primrose                                            Tall Meadow Rue
Solomon’s Seal                                               Twinleaf
Ginger                                                             Golden Ragwort
Gold Star                                                         Amsonia
Viola - purple                                                  Big leaf aster
Wood anemone                                               Early Meadow Rue
Jack-in-the-pulpit                                            Ostrich fern
White Wood Aster                                           Wood Poppy
Snakeroot                                                        Creeping phlox
Tickseed                                                          Bloodroot
Filapendula                                                      White violet
Flowering raspberry                                        Lobelia – blue
Northern Sea Oats                                           White wood anemone
Waterleaf                                                         Zig-zag goldenrod
Carolina Phlox                                                 Field goldenrod
            Asters – many varieties                                   Monkshood
Waterleaf                                                         Graceful sedge
Broad-leaf sedge
Shrub – viburnum alnifolium

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Home for a Gnome

4/29/2021

By: Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature

Would you like to have a healthier lawn and help the environment at the same time? The Safe Home for The Gnomes project is for you.

The Erie County Environmental Management Council (EMC) is an advisory board to the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning. Council members advise county government on local environmental concerns; and provide a liaison between the community and county government.

Reducing the overuse and misuse of chemicals in Erie County is a priority concern for the EMC. Launched in 2017, Safe Home for The Gnomes is a campaign to reduce the use of lawn chemicals. Homeowners pledge to maintain a pesticide-free lawn that is safe for children, pets and pollinators and receive a free lawn sign to let their neighbors know that their lawn is healthy and safe.

Garden chemicals when overused or misused can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife and waterbodies. Collectively, residents control about 900,000 acres of lawn in New York alone - 75% of the managed turf in the state. The good news is there are many ways to care for your lawn that avoid putting family and neighbors at risk.

Ten EMC tips for a healthy pesticide free lawn:

Say no to pesticides – Make sure the products you choose are pesticide free - read the label - if the product says it’s a hazard to humans or the environment, it’s best to avoid it.
Check your soil - Get a soil pH test. Kits can be found at garden centers or you can contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners for info on how to get a test (652-5400, ext. 137).
Know what feeds your weeds – Different weeds prefer different soil conditions. Use your soil test to make conditions favorable to lawn and unfavorable to weeds.
Feed your lawn only lightly – Use slow-release fertilizers like compost or organic fertilizers. Fall, not spring, is the best time to feed.
Plant a variety of grasses – Mixtures grow better in different sun, shade and traffic conditions. Fall is the best time to overseed bear patches.
6. Don’t cut grass too short, mow high – 3 inches or higher will help the grass outcompete weeds and better withstand drought and is more resistant to pests and disease. Also leave clippings on the lawn, it’s natures fertilizer.
Water less often but deeply – You may not need to water at all. Grass naturally goes dormant with drought and greens up when the rain returns. If you do water, water deeply (down to the roots) about 1 inch/week.
Aerate to open the soil surface – Over time the soil under grass can become compacted and may become crowded with a layer of thatch. Thatch looks like a thick layer of brown roots above the soil level. In lawns with a thatch layer of more than 1/2-inch core aeration in late summer is recommended.
Eliminate grubs with nematodes – Lawn grubs are rare in a healthy lawn but if you have more than 10/square foot you can treat with beneficial nematodes. These are naturally occurring microscopic worms that are not harmful to humans or pets but eat grubs. They are available at garden centers in a powder form which is mixed with water.
If you use a lawn service make sure their treatments are pesticide free – More lawn and landscape companies are offering natural, chemical free treatments. Ask the company t to explain their methods and check references.

Having a pesticide free lawn will save you time AND money as well as eliminate harmful effects on the environment. For more information about Safe Home for the Gnome and managing a pesticide free landscape please visit the Healthy Lawns page at: ERIE.GOV/HEALTHYLAWNS.

NOTE: Our Native Plant and Perennial Sale will be Saturday, May 22, 9-2. Between Amanda’s Garden and Lessons from Nature we will have the largest selection of native plants in WNY along with a good selection of perennials for sun to shade. A GREAT place to get healthy plants at a reasonable price.

Annual native and perennial plant sale
Saturday, May 22, 9-2
170 Pine Street, E Aurora

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May 2021 Gardening Tips

4/29/2021

Dear Gardening Friends,

We’ve had a year’s worth of weather during April. We had winter, then spring then summer and back to winter again. As I write this it’s a lovely, sunny fall temperature day. Hopefully spring is here for good now.

If nothing else April has taught us how resilient nature is. Most plants will be just fine. This type of weather is also a good reason to grow native plants. They are used to this changeable weather and will survive. You may notice frost damage on the tips of some plants, trees & shrubs. The leaves or tips of leaves turn black and crunchy. They can be pruned out or just left to drop off if it’s just a leaf or two. It looks like the only plant I have that was severely damaged was a rare hydrangea from Japan. Am hoping the roots will be fine and send up new shoots. Don’t give up on a frost damaged plant. Cut back the damage and hope for the best.

The following are a few tips.

-       Patience is still the best approach. The soil is quite cold and it’s way too soon to even think about planting annuals. Many greenhouses have perennials and annuals out for sale. If you by an annual keep it in a sheltered place until it’s time to plant.

-       If you leave a footprint on the soil that’s a sign the soil is too wet to work in. It’s easy to compact the soil with every footfall so stay off until things dry out.

-       It’s helpful to have paths or steppingstones in gardens so you can navigate without harming the soil. If a path isn’t appropriate a few rocks or steppingstones placed appropriately are practical and attractive.

-     If you left the leaves down in the fall lightly rake them away from the crowns of plants so the plants don’t get smothered. The leaves can be left on the ground and will make an excellent mulch as well as weed suppressant and habitat for beneficials.

-     Weeding should be a priority. Perennial weeds are up now and will be much easier to remove when small. If removed now you also prevent the weed from developing seeds and spreading even more.

-     The soil is still much too cold to plant greenhouse grown perennials, annuals and vegetables. Wait until the soil is above 50 degrees. As an example, tomatoes planted too soon don’t do as well as those planted at the end of May. Remember Patience! The final average frost isn’t until late May so don’t get fooled by a few warm days.

-     Perennials currently coming up in your garden that need to be moved or divided can be moved since they are used to the current soil temperature. However, don’t move them until the soil is “workable” which means the soil will break apart easily after you make a ball of it in your hand. Clumpy soil won’t settle around the roots well and cause air pockets which can dry out the roots.

-     If you have problems with deer, rabbits and other critters start your spraying, fencing, caging or whatever you do. I’ve already had damage and quickly put up some caging. Will spray on a non-rainy day. Since the plants are growing fast now I spray susceptible plants every week until they reach full size then cut back to every 3-4 weeks.

RECYCLE pots, treys & blinds here. I can use pots 4 inches and up and flat carrying treys. No 6 packs. Also, if you are discarding any Venetian blinds or see some in the garbage, please save them for me. I use the blinds for price tags for the plant sale and won’t have many left after this year. Just drop them off in front of the garage. The address is below.
      NOTE: For those of you in Amherst who are used to dropping things off at 37 N. Union, The property has been sold so please don’t drop pots off there. THANKS!!!!

Now is the time to make changes and improvements in your garden. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices and guarante to save you time and money. Also check out my website for past Garden Tips and articles: lessonsfromnature.biz.

Upcoming Plant Sales & Events: Put them on your calendar now!

            Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
            Saturday, May 22th, 9:00 – 2:00. 170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.
Clients and those of you who get my tips can come at 8:00 and beat the rush. We will have a larger variety of native plants on that one day than anywhere in WNY. All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Fultz, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths. A partial list of what plants is at the end of these tips. Since it’s been so cold and rainy, I’ve only started potting up and some plants haven’t even come up yet. So, in addition to the list there will be more surprises.

            Note: all my plants will be potted in soilless potting mix due to the threat of the Asian jumping worm. If you’re not aware of this threat you can get information at: http://ulster.cce.cornell.edu/environment/invasive-pests/jumping-worm

Master Gardener Plant Sale, Friday May 228, 8:30 – 3:00, Saturday May 29, 8:30 – 2:00, First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, across from Kleinman’s. Perennials for sun and shade, natives, annuals, succulents, hypertufa and draped concrete pots, vegetable starts, herbs, shrubs and garden art. Plants are from MG gardens and donated by local nurseries.

East Aurora Garden Club Perennial Sale, Saturday, May 29th 8:30 – till sold out.
In the Village plaza on Grey Street where Tops is. The sale is located under the roof overhang between TJ Max and Pet Smart. Plants from Garden Club member’s gardens, great selection.


Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

Partial Plant List for Perennial Sale 2021

Some varieties there are only 1 or 2 of, others quite a few. A few items aren’t even up yet so additional plants will be added during the weeks to come. First come first served.

Shrubs:


Purple leaf sandcherry                                     Potentilla, Gold Drop
Lynwood Gold Forsythia                                 Hydrangea – Anabelle
Viburnum alnifolium


Sun:

Monkshood                                                     Siberian iris (white & blue)
Perennial geranium                                          Shasta daisy                                         Sundrops                                                         Zig-zag goldenrod
Variety of asters                                              Tansy
            Phlox                                                               Obedient plant
Black-Eyed-Susan                                           Coreopsis
Filipendula                                                      Graceful sedge

Part Sun:

Forget-Me-Not                                                Anemone – white, pink, & ruffled
Dwarf Solomon’s seal variegated                   Candelabra primrose
Ladies Mantle                                                  Kirengeshoma
Astilbe (dwarf)                                                Corydalis –Yellow & white
Astilbe – Ostrich                                             Blue lobelia
Astilbe – variety of colors                                Sundrops
Golden ragwort                                               Bouncing Bet
Bachelor buttons

Shade:

Dwarf Comfrey                                               Hosta – a few varieties, minis
Persicaria                                                         Primrose
Toad Lily – 2 varieties                                     Pulmonaria – a few varieties
European Ginger                                             Lenten Rose, white, pink & deep purple
Curley Ginger                                                  Native ginger
Epimedium – pink & yellow                           Primula kisoana – rare variety
Twinleaf                                                          Ajuga
Corydalis                                                         Astilboides tabularis
Candelabra primrose                                       Soloman’s Seal - 3 varieties


            Natives:

Evening Primrose                                            Tall Meadow Rue
Solomon’s Seal                                               Twinleaf
Ginger                                                             Golden Ragwort
Gold Star                                                         Amsonia
Viola - purple                                                  Big leaf aster
Wood anemone                                               Early Meadow Rue
Jack-in-the-pulpit                                            Ostrich fern
White Wood Aster                                           Wood Poppy
Snakeroot                                                        Creeping phlox
Tickseed                                                          Bloodroot
Filapendula                                                      White violet
Flowering raspberry                                        Lobelia – blue
Northern Sea Oats                                           White wood anemone
Waterleaf                                                         Zig-zag goldenrod
Carolina Phlox                                                 Field goldenrod
            Asters – many varieties                                   Monkshood
Waterleaf                                                         Graceful sedge
Broad-leaf sedge
Shrub – viburnum alnifolium

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March Gardening Tips

3/13/2021

Dear Gardening Friends,

The few sunny days with mild temperatures we’ve had lately are signs spring is in the air. It is March, however, so we have to be realistic. March can be wintery OR spring like. The following are some ideas of what you can do now to prepare for the gardening season.

Now is the perfect time to prune non spring flowering shrubs. Spring flowering shrubs should be pruned after they bloom.
When pruning be sure not to leave stubs. Make cuts just over the place where a bud is coming out or if it’s a branch make the cut just outside the branch collar. (a rough section of bark where one branch joins the trunk)
Dead branches can be removed anytime along with branches that are in the way.
Before starting any pruning projects clean and sharpen your tools. It makes a huge difference. If the plant has had a disease, disinfect your pruner/lopper before moving to another plant or branch if just one branch is affected.
I have noticed a lot of black knot fungus on flowering cherry and plum trees. It can affect ornamental and fruit bearing trees. The affected sections look like swollen black knots on the branches and should be pruned out 8 inches away from the “knot”. This is a highly contagious fungal disease so don’t ignore it. For information go to:

http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/blackknot.pdf

Once the soil dries out a little you can rake or sweep up the road grit from driveway and road edges. If you do it when the soil is very wet the grass will be damaged. The same goes for raking leaves blown onto the lawn. Patience is the basic recommendation. We’re all anxious to get going but doing things under the wrong conditions can cause damage.
Gently rake up mulch/leaves that may be over areas where bulbs and early perennials like daylilies are poking through. I always leave some leaves as protection for late season snow & frost. We are bound to have some of both before consistently warmer weather arrives.
Grasses should be cut back before the new growth starts so now is a good time. Wear long sleeves as they have “razor” edges which is why deer don’t eat them.
This is a perfect time for “wishful thinking”. What changes do you want to make, plants to add, move, divide, or remove? First consider the site, light, type of soil etc. THEN research plants suited to that site.
The soil should be above 50 degrees and form a loose clump in your hand before you start any moving or dividing. Again, patience pays off in the end. It’s doubtful we will be able to do anything other than clean up by the end of the month.
If you’ve left plants up from last fall don’t be in a hurry to cut them back. Many beneficial insects overwinter or lay their eggs in the stems and litter around the crown. The same goes for leaf litter in the garden. There are a lot of insects and larva living in the ground litter. Just let it be.
If you need advice on how to transplant, divide, prune, what to plant etc. contact me for a consultation. If, like me, you still have lots of areas of snow cover in your yard, wait until it’s gone to arrange a consultation.

Upcoming Plant Sales: Put them on your calendar now!

Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
Saturday, May 22nd, 9:00 – 2:00. 170 Pine St., E Aurora,
corner of Pine & Lawrence.

Clients and those of you who get my tips can come at 8:00 and beat the rush. We will have a larger variety of native plants on that one day than anywhere in WNY. All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Fultz, the owner. A listing of what plants will be available will be in the May Garden Tips and on my web site – lessonsfromnature.biz

Master Gardener Plant Sale, Friday May 21, 8:30 – 3:00, Saturday May 22, 8:30 – 2:00, First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, across from Kleinhans. Perennials and annuals for sun and shade, natives, succulents, hypertufa and draped concrete pots, vegetable starts, herbs, shrubs and garden art.

Educational Opportunity:

Master Gardener Education Day, Saturday, March 13 from 9:00am – 12:45pm.
You won’t want to miss this great opportunity to hear 2 outstanding speakers from the comfort of your own home. This past week I had the opportunity to have a “test run” with both presenters and am really excited about their presentations.

This year’s Education Day will be a shot in the arm for the winter blahs as well as being very entertaining and educational. There will be 2 presentations:

Rick Darke - Co-author with Doug Tallamy of The Living Landscape will present Dynamic Design and Stewardship of Living Landscapes.

Paul Zammit, professor at Niagara College in Ontario, past Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens and international speaker will present: Planning and Planting for All Seasons.

If you haven’t registered yet you need to do so by this Wed..
Fees: Erie County Master Gardener - $25; Other Master Gardener &CNLP - $30; Public - $35
Registration is required! Register at erie.cce.cornell.edu/events.

Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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February Garden Tips

2/1/2021

Dear Gardening Friends,
Our weather has been anything but consistent. We have snow cover here in the south towns while the north towns have very little. For those of you longing for spring there are some great gardening events coming up. Details are at the end of this newsletter.

Garden Chores:
- Due to the lack of consistent snow cover, it is important to protect your tender and newly planted perennials. If you didn’t gather pine boughs after Christmas, you can use leaves or get some straw.
- With all the temperature fluctuations this winter there is bound to be some heaving of plants. Do not just step on the root base to reposition them. If the soil is not frozen carefully dig the uprooted plant back into the soil and cover with mulch for added protection. If the soil is too frozen to replant use a thick covering of mulch (leaves work well) to protect the roots until replanting is possible.
- If you are having ice build-up in driveways and sidewalks be cautious of what you use to melt the ice. Salt can be very damaging to the soil and plants.
- It would be wise to shovel the black nasty salt laden “gunk” in the driveway somewhere other than garden beds. My back garden abuts the driveway so this is always an issue for me. I used to wonder why the plants along the drive never did well! It’s a little more effort, but worth it.
- It’s a good time to pick up sticks and debris.
- If you didn’t clean and sharpen your tools last fall now is a perfect time. They will be ready to go when you need them in the spring.

Pruning:
- Usually this would be a good time to prune but with the probability of more freezing weather I would suggest waiting till the temperatures moderate a little, especially for shrubs. If you prune now and we get a bout of freezing temps it may cause some die back on the newly pruned stems which you would need to be pruned back come spring.
- The exception to this is any tree or shrub that has been damaged or broken. Those branches should be removed.
- The ideal time to prune non spring blooming trees & shrubs is while they are still dormant and their buds have not begun opening.
- For details on pruning specific plants check online or contact me for a pruning consultation.

Houseplants:
- Now is a good time to spend some time with your houseplants. A mid- winter “shower” in the sink or bathtub would wash off the accumulated dust and make for a healthier plant.
- Now that the days are getting longer you can resume a light plant food application. If you use fertilizer look for a natural rather than chemical formula. Just read the ingredients.
- You can also start spring repotting houseplants that have become pot bound. If the water drains right through when you water it or if the roots are pushing the plant out of the pot, those are good signs that the plant is pot bound.
- Another sign to indicate repotting is crusty salt build up on the top of the soil. This residue may be on the outside of terra cotta pots as well. The pots can be scrubbed off before repotting.
- Also check for aphids, mealybugs and other houseplant pests. A good soapy water bath is a solution to many problems.

Educational Opportunities: There are lots of events coming up that will
help you learn and get into the mood for spring.

MG Education Day:
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program Presents Virtual 2021 Education Day Saturday, March 13 from 9:00am – 12:45pm. This year’s Education Day will be a shot in the arm for the winter blahs as well as being very entertaining and educational. There will be 2 presentations:

Rick Darke - Co-author with Doug Tallamy of The Living Landscape will present Dynamic Design and Stewardship of Living Landscapes.

This richly illustrated talk will present ideas for plant selection, design and care of home landscapes that are beautiful and joyfully livable. Our garden is our home habitat. For most of us, it is the landscape we spend the most time in. When designed to support a great variety of life, it will be full of surprise, and add intrigue, beauty, and interest to every day. The presentation will feature Rick's own high-resolution photos of gardens and designs that have proven to be practical, durable, conserving, and affordable.

Paul Zammit, professor at Niagara College in Ontario, past Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens and international speaker will present: Planning and Planting for All Seasons.

Who puts a garden to bed, and why would you? For Paul, gardens do not have a yearly start or end date. He believes that they transition from one season of display to the next, including winter. Each season has its shining stars and Paul will highlight some of his favorites during his lively and energetic presentation. Join Paul, as he shares his passion for plants and other possible garden additions while taking us on a journey through the seasons where he will remind us how we can all plan and plant a garden with year-round appeal.

The schedule for the day will be:
9:00 – 9:15: Welcome and introductions
9:15 – 10:30: Paul Zammit presentation
10:30 – 11:00: Q&A for Paul Zammit
11:00 – 12:15: Rick Darke presentation
12:00 – 12:45: Q&A for Rick Darke, Closing comments

Fees: Erie County Master Gardener - $25; Other Master Gardener &CNLP - $30; Public - $35
Registration is required! Register at  erie.cce.cornell.edu/events .

Communities in Bloom Spring Garden Classes
These classes will also be held virtually via ZOOM. There are 3 sessions, you can attend one or all three.

Dates:
Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 – 8:00 pm - What Gardeners Need to Know About Insects and Diseases – Covers the most common insect and disease problems and what to do about them.
Thursday, February 18, 6:30 – 8:00 pm  - Growing Fruits and Vegetables. Whether you are a beginner or well experienced vegetable gardener this program is for you.
Saturday, February 27,   10:00 – 11:30 am - Meatballs, Volcanoes and Other Garden Malpractices – How to avoid the most common and damaging gardening practices.

Fees are: $15 for an individual class and $40 for all three. Registration is required. Check the website to register: http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/events

Since both programs will be virtual, we are not bound by space limitations. Please share this information on Facebook or other social media. The more the merrier!!

If you want to learn how to prune or get a jump on planning for this season’s garden, contact me for a garden consult. We would meet outside and wearing masks. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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Fungus Gnats

12/17/2020

By: Lyn Chimera

Not sure about you, but about a month or so after I bring my plants in for the winter there are tiny pesky flies flying about. They often go right in front of my face which is annoying because they are impossible to catch between your hands.

These tiny flies may well be fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.). They are small dark flies about 1/8” long, blackish grey with long dangling legs. Their antennae have many segments and are longer than their heads. These gnats and have a single pair of greyish transparent wings with a Y-shaped vein near each wing tip. You definitely need a hand lens or microscopes to see these details.

Fungus gnats thrive on plenty of moisture and decaying plant matter. The adults can be a nuisance, but it’s the larvae that are the damaging stage of this insect. Larvae are usually concentrated in the top 1-2 inches of the so. The 1/4 inch larvae are translucent, legless, with a black head. Larvae prefer to feed on fungi rather than healthy plant tissue, as they need fungi for optimal survival. Larvae feeding below the soil surface on root hairs, small feeder roots and fungus can cause stunted growth, off-color leaves or even leaf drop.

To control the gnats, avoid overwatering and water from the bottom if possible. Fungus gnats breed in the moist top 2 inches of the soil so keeping that dry will interrupt that process. Using a sterile potting mix and removing plant debris from the soil surface is helpful. For monitoring adults, yellow sticky traps are effective.

An interesting fact is a female’s offspring will either be all male or all female. Female fungus gnats lay about 200 eggs which hatch in 3-6 days. The four larval instars then feed for about 2 weeks and usually pupate near the soil surface within a thread chamber. After 3-7 days in the pupal stage, adults emerge and live for up to 8 days. They can develop from egg to adult in 3-4 weeks. A generation of fungus gnats (from female to female) can be produced in about 17 days depending upon temperature. The warmer it is, the faster they will develop and the more generations will be produced in a year.

I battle these pests every year and have had success just keeping the plants on the dry side for the first month or so after they are brought in.

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December Gardening Tips

12/1/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

I hope all of you have a HAPPY and SAFE and HEALTY Holiday season. This is a very different year for all of us and we can only hope with the new year will come happier times.

Luckily, we have our gardens to distract us and the following are some things you can do now.

With the lack of consistent snow cover, it’s important to protect your plants from temperature fluctuations. An easy way to do this is to lightly cover plants that were new this year or have shallow roots. A few options are:

- Pine boughs – they make an easy and excellent winter mulch. As soon as people discard their Christmas trees I go around and clip the larger branches from the bottom then place them over plants that needed protection. You can also check out your local the dump (where the village/town takes all the trees) and cut enough for the whole yard in a short time. It’s a wonderful way to get some quick and easy mulch. So, take advantage of this free resource. (Just don’t collect from my neighborhood!)
-- Straw – can be used in the same way and purchased at a garden or farm supply store. The important thing is not to use hay which would drop seeds and turn your garden into a hayfield. Trust me, I speak from experience!
-- This is a good time to prune away any branches that have been or might be damaged from winter wind. Make sure to trim back to a branch join and not leave stubs.
-- Picking up downed branches and debris is always a good winter job. Just be mindful of walking on soft garden or turf.

Houseplants: This is the time of year when some houseplants are probably needing a little attention.

-- Trim off yellowing/ browning leaves or branches.
-- Give your plants a shower to wash off the dust. Either in the sink or tub. The aves of larger plants can be wiped down with a natural sponge or soft cloth.
-- Check for insects. If there is sticky residue on leaves or areas under a plant that is a sign of scale, aphid or white fly. Check online at a”.edu” site for what to do.
-- If your plant has a white crusty residue on the soil or water runs righty through the pot when you water, the plant should be repotted. Use a good lightweight potting mix.
-- By mid-February you can start repotting and taking cuttings of overwintering annuals or houseplants.

Misc.:
- This is a good time to look through catalogues and plan for the upcoming season.
- Don’t just look at the pretty flowers in catalogues, be sure to match any plants you plan to use to the growing conditions you have and consider adding a few natives.

Educational Opportunities: What better way to spend a winter’s day than attending a gardening class. It will help you improve your gardening and get you in the mood for spring. There are 2 excellent Master Gardener events coming up via Zoom.

Annual Spring Bloom Classes:
Dates: Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Thursday, February 18, 6:30 – 8:00 pm and
Saturday, February 27, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Topics:
- What Gardeners Need to Know About Insects and Diseases
- Meatballs, Volcanoes and Other Garden Malpractices
- Growing Fruits and Vegetables.
Fee: $15/class, $45 for all three

Check the website for which date each topic will be presented. When I’m writing this tips,
matching dates with topics has not been determined based on presenter availability.
http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/events

MG Education Day:
Master Gardener Education Day, March 13, 2021
Those of you who have attended MGED in the past know what a worthwhile event it is. Each speaker will present one session.
Rick Darke - Co-author with Doug Tallamy of The Living Landscape will present:

Dynamic Design and Stewardship of Living Landscapes.
This richly illustrated talk will present ideas for plant selection, design and care of home landscapes that are beautiful and joyfully livable. Our garden is our home habitat. For most of us, it is the landscape we spend the most time in. When designed to support a great variety of life, it will be full of surprises and add intrigue, beauty, and interest every day. The presentation will feature Rick's own high-resolution photos of gardens and designs that have proven to be practical, durable, conserving, and affordable.

Paul Zammit, professor at Niagara College in Ontario and past Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens and international speaker will present:

Planning and Planting for All Seasons.
Who puts a garden to bed, and why would you? For Paul, gardens do not have a yearly start or end date. He believes that they transition from one season of display to the next, including winter. Each season has its shining stars and Paul will highlight some of his favorites during his lively and energetic presentation. Join Paul, as he shares his passion for plants and other possible garden additions while taking us on a journey through the seasons where he
will remind us how we can all plan and plant a garden with year-round appeal.

MGED will begin at 9:00 AM and run until 12:45 PM via Zoom. The cost will be $35 for the public and $30 for out of county Master Gardeners and CNLP’s. Registration will begin on January 1 st . To register go to http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/events

Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing and fun day.

Garden Presentations:

There is a full listing of the presentations I offer on garden related topics on my website: lessonsfromnature.biz, or let me know and I will send you the listing.

Winter Garden Consultations: Yes, I do winter consultations. If you’re planning changes in your landscape this coming season getting an early start planning now will be helpful. Having a Garden Consultation in the winter is a good way to start. Just call me for an appointment. Appointments can be done virtually during the current restrictions.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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Home for a Gnome

May 2021 Gardening Tips

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Dear Gardening Friends,

Upcoming Plant Sales: Put them on your calendar now!

Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
Saturday, May 22nd, 9:00 – 2:00. 170 Pine St., E Aurora,
corner of Pine & Lawrence.

February Garden Tips

Fungus Gnats

December Gardening Tips

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Dear Gardening Friends,

Dear Gardening Friends,

Dear Gardening Friends,

Upcoming Plant Sales: Put them on your calendar now!

Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale. Saturday, May 22nd, 9:00 – 2:00. 170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.

Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
Saturday, May 22nd, 9:00 – 2:00. 170 Pine St., E Aurora,
corner of Pine & Lawrence.