Friday, February 26, 2010

Picture Speaks a Thousands Words ~~~


Office Closed Today ~
I look forward to re-opening on Monday, March 1. Until then, visit the website for more information







11 p.m last night



9 a.m. this morning



Photos taken less than 2 miles from The NPC Office. It's not hard to see why we're closed!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Office Closed due to Snow

Although the office is closed, you can still register for the Spring Landscape Conference, as well as Spring lectures. If you need to renew or purchase a membership this feature is available with pay online also. Forward all plant questions to me at wcc.nativeplantcenter@sunywcc.edu, I'll reply when the office re-opens.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee: Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich.

Today's Committee Member:

Cece Fabbro, a Steering Committee member since The Native Plant Center's inception in 1999, is its current Chairman. Professionally, she is a nature and wildlife photographer. Her work has appeared in books, magazines (local and national including "Wildflower," the magazine of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center), and newspapers. Her images can be found in both public and private collections, and viewed on her website, http://www.cecefabbrophoto.com/. In 2008, one of her images was a top winner in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. Other awards include those from the National Wildlife Federation and the North American Nature Photography Association. Other community activities include: Board member of the Bronx River Sound Shore Audubon, and member of Teatown Lake's Wildflower Island Steering Group.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Now that You've Ordered Plants ~

It's Time to Sign Up for the 2010 Lecture and Learn Series & Make the Most of Your Purchases

Lectures run from March 26 through April 16, and the Annual Spring Landscape Conference is Monday, March 15 (snow date Friday, March 19). The lectures and conference are suitable for all levels of participants. But, the great news is if you are a Landscape Architect or Designer in need of Professional Development Hours (PDHs), they are available.

Lastly, we've made the Registration process a bit easier for sign up with pay online.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee: Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich.


Today's Committee Member:
Ursula LaMotte was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 1995 and served for 6 terms. She was the Chair of the Committee on Technology and was a member of the Budget and Appropriations, Environment, Energy, Families and Education Committees. Prior to serving as a County Legislator, she was appointed by the County Executive in 1988 to the Westchester County Planning Board and was appointed by the Governor in 1989 to the State Conservation Corps. She was the Bedford Town Supervisor from 1984 to 1987 and also served two terms as Bedford Town Councilwoman. An expert on environmental issues, Ursula is currently a member of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation and previously served on the Pound Ridge Conservation Board. Ursula has a long and distinguished record of community service. She has served on the Board of the Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley and as President and 1st Vice-President of the United Way of Northern Westchester. She is a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester, the Children's Aid Society of New York, Friends of John Jay Homestead and serves on the President's Council of the Northern Westchester Hospital. Ursula has been a resident of Westchester County for 47 years. She has lived in Bedford for the past 37 years and prior to that she lived Pound Ridge for 10 years. She is married with three grown children and six grandsons. She attended Smith College, earned a BA degree in history from Pace University and is a Member of the History Honor Society.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

2010 Pre-Sale Comes to a Close ~
Great Response Received!


This year's Pre-Sale is the most successful ever! If you placed your order, you should have received an e-mail confirmation by now. If you have not, contact me at wcc.nativeplantcenter@sunywcc.edu and I'll check into it.

Thanks to all of you that ordered this year. The Plant Sale is our Spring fundraiser, and your participation is greatly appreciated!!

If you didn't get a chance to order ahead in the Pre-Sale, you'll have another chance to buy native at the Regular Sale. This year's Wildflower and Native Plant Sale is being held on Saturday, April 24th.

You may also be interested in meeting Carolyn Summers on Sale Day. As Chair of the Plant Sale, she has done a fabulous job researching and ordering native plants for us. Carolyn's new book, Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, is being released this Spring. Order your copy today. She'll also be speaking at a lecture on April 16th Designing Your Garden with Northeastern Flora: A Personal View. Be sure to attend this lecture. It may be especially helpful to you if you want a better perspective on what plants to buy at the Plant Sale. To learn more about Carolyn's expertise in the field, read her bio below.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee: Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich. Today's Steering Committee Member

Today's Committee Member:
Carolyn Summers is an adjunct professor for Continuing Education at Westchester Community College and a technical assistant to The Native Plant Center. She holds a Landscape Architecture degree from City College of New York and works with government and non-government organizations on environmental/landscape projects. Carolyn maintains native plant demonstration gardens that she has created on her two family properties. Her first book hits the shelves in April.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Pre-Sale Orders are Still Piling In!

Due to the blizzard, our mail was held up. So, this morning I just received over 30 plant orders!!

There's going to be some great color around the County this Spring. Not only are individuals ordering plants, but so are schools for their demonstration gardens.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee: Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich. Today's Steering Committee Member

Today's Committee Member:
Brad Roeller is Manager of Outdoor Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden. A 1973 graduate of Cornell University; B.S. in Environmental Conservation.

His work experience includes: 1973 to 2009 worked at the Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum of the New York Botanical Garden. From 1984 to 2009 served as Manager of Grounds, Display Gardens & Visitation at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (formerly Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum). July 2010 until present, Manager of Outdoor Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden.

Areas of interest: Low maintenance perennials; investigating and evaluating environmentally sound gardening and landscaping practices; testing a wide range of landscape plants for Northern gardens; gardening with native plants; deer resistant plants and methods of minimizing deer damage; ecologically-driven and sustainable landscaping.

Supplemental information:

Brad has been a featured speaker at many large industry forums. He has presented at New England Grows annual conferences; the Perennial Plant Association’s annual meetings; UConn’s Perennial Plant Conferences; Vermont Association of Professional Horticulturists annual meeting; NYS Turf & Landscape Association annual conferences; UMaine’s annual Garden Day conferences; NYS Turf & Landscape Association annual meetings; Empire State Green Industry Shows annual conferences; and Northeast Organic Farming Association annual conferences.

Brad’s broad body of horticultural work and knowledge has made him one of the most popular lecturers with regional garden clubs. He has been a featured speaker at several GCA and Federated Garden Clubs zone conferences.

Brad has been published in several magazines including Fine Gardening and Audubon, as well as dozens of newspapers, including the NY times and the Wall Street Journal, and other periodicals.

Brad has been an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden for over 25 years; the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies since it’s inception in 1983; and the Berkshire Botanical Garden for the past several years. He has participated in numerous professional forums, especially with his work with whitetail deer, organic landscape care, landscaping with native plants and his life-long work with perennials and trees and shrubs.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pre-Sale Winding Down ~
Orders Being Accepted Until Next Week


Due to Wednesday's blizzard, the Pre-Sale deadline has been extended. Be sure to mail in your orders by Monday, February 15.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee: Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich.

Today's Steering Committee Member
Brooke Beebe retired in 2008 from her position as the first Director of The Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY. In November, 2009, she joined Teatown Lake Reservation’s Board of Trustees. She is a member of Briarcliff Manor’s Conservation Advisory Council as well as ELLA (Environmental Leaders Learning Alliance). In June, 2009, she was awarded the 2009 Conservation Award from the Rusticus Garden Club in Bedford, NY.

In addition to her conservation work, she has written two books for parents, Best Bets for Babies and Tips for Toddlers, and has created many educational media products for The Society for Visual Education and McGraw-Hill Films. She lives with her husband Tyler in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010






Snow Got You Down?!



Not To Worry ~
Pre-Sale Order Deadline Extended



Yes, as you might have guessed the office is closed today. But, that's good news for you if you're ordering from the Pre-Sale.

The order deadline has been extended to Monday, February 15.
The fax is turned on, and I left plenty of paper in it yesterday.
The number is (914) 606-6143.

If you prefer to mail the order send it to:

The NPC at WCC Library
75 Grasslands Road
Valhalla, NY 10595




Check out our other events, we have lots planned for the Spring.

If you're in the mood to travel, join us in May for a Garden Tour of Washington, DC

Have you had a chance to read the current NPC Newsletter?

Annual Landscape Conference ~ Monday, March 15 (Snow Date ~ Friday, March 19).

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Words Getting Out!!
Natives are the Best Pick

What has been most interesting about this year's Pre-sale is the customers. There are quite a few new names from all over the county. So, it's safe to say, the words getting out there! It just may be that more and more natives are popping up in the landscape, and their beauty is attracting a new audience. I know I've begun to see a lot more wildflowers since our Sale began in 1999.

Did You Know:
The NPC received an award for Best Plant Value from the Best of Westchester Magazine.


2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee:
Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich.


Today's Steering Committee Member


My interest for trees has directly influenced all aspects of my life, both in career and leisure activities. I have been performing arboriculture for nearly 30 years in multiple facets of the industry. I hold certifications as an ISA arborist, ISA utility vegetation specialist, Cornell Municipal Tree Stewart as well as being DEC certified pesticide applicator for turf and ornamentals. Which when given the opportunity, I have applied to educating not only clients, but the public as well in the value that trees bring to our futures. The times that I am not promoting the health of our urban forests, I can be found crossing a mountain peak or camped in some forgotten stretch of river valley. Whether it be karma or destiny my introduction into tree care began with my name which translated means "guardian of the forest."

Guy Pardee
Arborist Representative
The Care of Trees®
57 Valley Avenue
Elmsford, NY 10523
Phone #: 914-345-8733Fax #: 914-345-3340
http://www.thecareoftrees.com/

Serving Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and
Washington, D.C.

Our Business is People and Their Love For Trees ®

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Phone is Ringing off the Wall . . .

Well, it's been an exciting weekend around here ~ The NPC website got 413 visits! I came into a fax full of orders, the mailbox was full too, and people are using the new pay online feature. As I type this blog, the lines continue to ring!

We seem to have a lot of people interested in the Plant Pre-Sale and lectures this Spring. Not that I'm surprised, native plants are a hot topic, and well worth the investment, not only to your property value, but also to the environment. I hope to hear from a lot more of you.

I thought some of you may need clarification on the Annual Plant Sale, so here it is . . .

The Native Plant Sale is held in 2 parts ~
Pre-Sale and Regular Sale
:

Pre-Sale (order now and pick up plants between April 20 -24)














Regular Sale is held for 1 day on April 24














You do not have to be a member to participate. However, NPC members receive a discount on Pre-Sale orders, and enter the Regular Sale early.




Question of the Day:



Question for the Garden Guru:
I have a lot of areas in my yard that have dry soil and are underneath Oaks and Maples. I have been successful with lily of the valley and white wood aster. What other native plants would you suggest that I try to plant?


ANSWER:
Dear Shady Lady,

You are off to a good start with those two selections and the good news for you is that there are lots of other native plants that will also grow well in dry shade. Please keep in mind that regardless of their ability to survive dry environmental conditions, new additions in this area of your garden will need to be well-watered through their first growing season. In later years give them an occasional drink during periods of severe heat and/or drought. Remember that soil amendment and mulching goes a long way in keeping all of your plants healthy and happy during dry periods.

Here are a few to consider, some of which may surprise you:
Anemone (Hepatica) acutiloba – sharpleaf hepatica
Anemone (Hepatica) rotundiloba – roundleaf hepatica
Aquilegia canadensis – columbine
Athyrium felix-femina – lady fern
Carex pennsylvanica – Pennsylvania sedge
Comptonia peregrina - sweetfern
Dennstaedtia punctiloba – hay-scented fern
Dicentra cucullaria – Dutchman’s breeches
Dicentra eximia – wild bleeding heart
Dryopteris intermedia – interrupted fern
Dryopteris novebaoracensis – New York Fern
Erythronium americanum – trout lily
Eupatorium rugosum – white snakeroot
Fragaria virginiana – woodland strawberry
Gaultheria procumbens - wintergreen
Gillenia trifoliata – bowman’s root
Heuchera americana – common alumroot
Hexastylis (Asarum) shuttleworthii – evergreen wild ginger
Ilex opaca – American holly
Iris cristata – crested iris
Kalmia latifolia – mountain laurel
Magnolia virginiana – sweetbay magnolia
Maianthemum canadense – Canada mayflower
Maianthemum (Smilacina) racemosa – false Solomon’s seal
Mertensia virginica – Virginia bluebells
Morella pennsylvanica – bayberry
Onoclea sensibilis – sensitive fern
Ostrya virginiana – American hop hornbeam
Oxydendron arboreum – sourwood
Pachysandra procumbens – Allegheny spurge
Parthenocissus quinquefolia – Virginia creeper
Phlox divaricata – woodland phlox
Podophyllum peltatum - mayapple
Polygonatum canaliculatum – Solomon’s seal
Polystichum acrostichoides – Christmas fern
Polystichum goldiana – Goldie’s fern
Sanguinaria canadensis - bloodroot
Sedum ternatum – wild stonecrop
Solidago caesia – wreath goldenrod
Symphotrichum (Aster) acuminatus – whorled aster
Symphotrichum (Aster) macrophyllus – blue wood aster
Vaccinium angustifolium – lowbush blueberry
Viola anadensis – Canada violet
Waldstenia fragaroides – barren strawberry
Woodwardia areolata – netted chain fern



If you have garden questions please forward them to me, at wccnativeplant@sunywcc.edu and I'll get you an answer.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Welcome Back to The Blog!

We know you're ready for Spring ~ we are too!

Over the next few weeks, I will introduce you to members of The Native Plant Center's Steering Committee. Introductions will be in no specific order because each of the Committee Members is invaluable to the organization's success! It would be impossible for me to choose who goes first since they all bring something unique to the organization, as well as our events.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee:
Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich.

Heather Sandifer
is a textile designer whose botanical art has been featured in many and varied private and public venues, including Holly Hunt/Chicago, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, and David Winter Works on Paper. In addition to her art, Heather has written on garden subjects for various publications, and has taught at the New York Botanical Garden. She has been a volunteer assistant curator of the herbarium at the Bruce Museum, a Pen Women in both Arts and Letters, and an active member of The Native Plant Center.

Have you heard? The Plant Sale is underway!!

For your convenience, the Pre-Sale Order Deadline is extended to Monday, February 15.
Order now ~ pick up begins April 20 - 24.

To get you started on your order … here are the

Weekly FAVs
Nature's Splash of Color


#1 Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine DR DT BF H - One of the most popular wildflowers with a profuse show in April-May of red & yellow flowers shaped like little Japanese lanterns. Though individual plants can be short-lived, it self-sows prolifically. Average soil, part shade, 12" tall.



#11 Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot The first harbinger of spring, snow-white petals surround deep gold centers. Deep green, deeply notched leaves make an excellent groundcover, but may become summer dormant if too dry. Red sap oozes from cut roots, hence the common name. Moist soil, light shade, 6-12” tall.

#23 Monarda punctata - Spotted Bee Balm DR DT H - This annual bee balm relative sports fragrant whorls of snapdragon blossoms layered on straight stems. Blooms have lavender bracts over soft yellow flowers with purple spots. Self-sows in sunny, well-drained gardens alongside companions like blazing star & penstemon. Average to dry soil, full sun, 12-18” tall.


#28 Aster laevis - Smooth Aster - DR DT BF Give blue-violet “daisies” a starring role in meadows and sunny borders in the summer and into fall. Lovely blue green leaves clasp the upright stems, which rarely if ever require staking. Average soil, sunlight shade, 1-3’ tall.



#33 Liatris spicata - Dense Blazing Star - DR DT BF BD H - Purple, tufted flower heads are arranged in a long, dense spike blooming from the top down. The protruding styles give the flower an overall feathery appearance. A Monarch butterfly magnet. The linear, grass-like leaves form attractive basal clumps and extend up the flower stalk. Moist to average soil, sun, 3-4' tall.

#37 Dryopteris marginalis - Evergreen Woodfern - DR - A tall, handsome, vase-shaped fern with deep green leathery evergreen fronds (leaves). Moist soil, part shade-shade, 1 - 3' tall.


# 40 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry - DR DT BD - This charming, woody groundcover thrives in harsh conditions. Small glossy leaves, flowers in April-May followed by red berries. Closely resembles non-native cotoneaster. Slow growing but durable once established. Average to dry soil, full sun, 4” tall.

#41 Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper - DT BD - A woody deciduous climber that is often used to decorate trees, buildings and as a groundcover. This plant attaches with self-adhering suckers (not roots) that do not infiltrate structures. Small greenish flowers in spring are followed by dark blue fruit that are relished by birds. Elegant, medium green, 5-parted leaves turn blazing red in very early autumn. Average to moist soil, sun to full shade, 30’+ if given support.

#46 Asarum (Hexastylis) shuttleworthii - Evergreen Ginger - DR Native to the southeast, this handsome evergreen (in mild winters) forms clumps of rounded to heart-shaped aromatic leaves which are usually mottled with silvery gray markings. Small vase-shaped, purplish brown flowers with reddish purple spots in spring. Average, well-drained soil, part to full shade, 6-8" tall.

#54 Senecio aureus - Golden Ragwort * DR DT - Cheerful yellow daisy-like blossoms light up the early spring shade garden and will also bloom in full sun, given adequate moisture. After the spring show, glossy evergreen basal rosettes slowly spread to make an attractive groundcover. Moist to average soil, part sun-shade, 12-18” tall.

Pre-Sale Order Deadline ~ Monday, February 15
Regular Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, April 24.


The NPC is a project of the Westchester Community College Foundation located on the Valhalla Campus at Westchester Community College. The Center is also the first national associate of The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.

Personnel
Beth Roach ~ NPC Special Programs Coordinator

Nancy Inzinna ~ NPC Assistant Director
Darrin Duling ~ NPC Director
John Fellas ~ WCC Foundation Director of Operations

Plant photos compliments of The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the Smithsonian Institute.