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                                                  

Dear Gardening Friends, 
​
First, I want to thank all of you who ordered plants from my plant sale last month. It was very successful, but I missed seeing everyone at the sale. Hopefully, next year we will be back to normal.
 
It’s JUNE How did that happen?! I know this cold snap is temporary, but it still feels like March to me. One of the lessons learned from the extreme weather swings we’ve had over the last 3 months is that nature survives. We may have lost some things to the heavy freeze in May and had transplants wilt in the extreme heat last week, but overall plants survive.
 
I was fascinated at how fast the trees leafed out during that hot week. Some of my ferns grew seemingly overnight. Others are not even up yet, and I’m concerned. Yet, looking at gardens they seem lush and green. We are lucky we have our gardens to distract us during these difficult times.
 
The following are some tips for this time of year.
 

• There are quite a few things happening in the garden based on all the rain we’ve had. One of which is the plants are growing lush and large. Good air circulation is helpful in preventing fungal disease so you may need to cut back on some plants that are crowding each other.

 

• Another resulting factor of the moist soil is slugs. In my garden I have been experiencing an over abundance of the little buggers. There are many products on the market that are not toxic, yet effective at getting rid of slugs. 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.

 

• Watch out 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.

 

• With the cooler weather I am still dividing and moving some perennials. Once they get large or form flower buds it’s best not to disturb them. This will probably be my last week for moving plants.

 

• If you do move a plant, protect it from the intense sun for a few days to prevent the plant from wilting. It’s a major shock for a plant to be uprooted and in combination with the intensity of the sun this time of year, shade helps reduce the shock. Bushel baskets work well, empty plastic planting pots, boxes, even an umbrella works.

 

• 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.

 
 
 
Educational Opportunity:
 Master Gardener Online Garden Fence Chats 
Join our CCE Erie Master Gardener hotline volunteers as we host virtual hotline hours or ‘Garden Fence Chats’ Monday –Friday via Zoom from 10:00 am to noon.
REGISTER FOR GARDEN FENCE CHATS HERE    https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpYvcu6trTspMthpDqjMUzrOiSoFqWp1eQ?fbclid=IwAR3qWjL-oua5i7Sjqm6y6lXaanBXl1inS_GOQu3wfjUjA0KaGwZSTrsvGdU
This will be an opportunity to chat with Master Gardener hotline volunteers real time and share your gardening questions either by phone or the computer. The link above will also list the topics for the week. They are also listed on Buffalo-niagaragardening.com.
We will open each day with a short presentation covering a timely topic or frequently asked question and then keep the line open for people to call-in or virtually stop-by with questions. Come hear from your garden friends what is happening in their gardens and what they are learning.
 

• We reuse pots so please drop off left over pots and trays at my home, 170 Pine St (driveway on Lawrence) or 37 N. Union in Wmsvl. (behind the house by back door). I do not use 6 packs or pots smaller than 4 inches. THANKS!

 
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!