May 2020 Gardening Tips Pt 2

Dear Gardening Friends,This is a special edition of our Garden Tips to bring you up to date on a few things. First how to handle this frigid weather. This is a perfect example of NOT gardening according to the calendar, rather following natures lead.

• If you have planted anything recently or have a small tree or shrub coming into bloom, it will need to be protected on the nights frost is expected. You can use a towel, blankets, light plastic, cardboard boxes, even garden pots inverted over the plants. Covers should be removed in the morning. 
• Don’t plant or move anything now until the weather warms up. If you have purchased plants keep them in a sheltered place. You can keep them in the garage overnight and bring them out during the day.
• If you have any frost damage it doesn’t mean the whole plant is lost.  If there are browned tips on your daylilies or other plants, you can just prune the browned parts off. This works for buds that were zapped as well. On woody plants, shrubs and trees the leaves may regenerate so give them some time before pruning.
• Hang in and hopefully next week will be better!!

 
Now for some good news!!
 
The WNY Land Conservancy is offering a FREE online talk by Doug Tallamy author of Bringing Nature Home. He is one of the people who has made the biggest ecological impact on home gardening. Info and registration info is below.
 
Upcoming Plant Sale:
 
            Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
            170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.
 
Obviously, we won’t be able to have our regular plant sale due to the covid 19 restrictions. Instead we will both be having a sale by pre-order and pre-pay with pick up at my home the week of May 25-30.
 
            I will send out a list of available plants AFTER the second week of May. Due to the cold weather many things aren’t up yet! All orders will be first come first served. I will indicate which plants I have a lot of and which ones only a few. Prices vary according to the size of the division so I will include price ranges as well. Email me your order and I will let you know the cost. Then you can mail me a check and I will prepare your order. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
 Plants from Amanda’s Garden can be ordered by email or phone:You can check the website for plant lists:  www.amandasnativeplants.com
ellen@amandasnativeplants.com
(585)750-6288
 
Amanda's Garden   Native Perennial Nursery specializes in locally grown  native plants for woodlands, meadows and wetlands. These will also be available for pick up at the same week here at my home in E Aurora. Order by checking plants on Amanda's Garden website and email your order.  Ellen will email you an invoice for pre-paying.
 
All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Foltz, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths.
 
Educational Opportunity:
 
On Wednesday, May 13th from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the WNY Land Conservancy will present a very special evening with renowned writer and native plant gardening expert, Doug Tallamy, who Edward O. Wilson calls "one of the most original and persuasive present-day authors on conservation."
 
In his new book, Nature’s Best Hope, Tallamy urges homeowners to turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. During this free, virtual event, you will learn practical, effective, and easy steps for taking environmental action in your own yard.
 
There will not be a live Q&A, but if you have questions for Doug, email them to Kyle Semmel, communications manager, at ksemmel@wnylc.org prior to the event.
 
Preregistration is required. To register go to: info@wnylc.org
  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. 
We will open each day with a short 10-15 minute 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.
Our Garden Fence Chat space will be staffed by Master Gardener volunteers and our Consumer Horticulture Educator
 
Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices. They can be done with masks, outdoors and with safe distancing.
 
Stay safe and be well!!!!
           
Happy Gardening!