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July 2024

Master Gardener Class of 2024


This year's Master Gardener Class was clearly a dynamic one as the photo above is missing an additional 14 of its newest members. We enjoyed our morning tour at the Landcraft Foundation followed by graduation lunch at Lenz Winery as the photos below suggest.


As I told the graduates recently, the end of the Master Gardener Training marks the beginning of the Master Gardener journey. The course experience and relationships with class members serve as a foundation for relationships with other Master Gardeners and gardening activities that will take shape over time. 


Maybe you can guide a newbie MG in finding the path that's a good fit. You might have ideas about an approved site in need of an extra hand or two. You might have suggestions about adult or youth education projects in your community. The Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators may have an upcoming event or project of interest. Thanks to this year's six Teaching Assistants MGs Linda Carlson, Deb Davenport, Mary Greiner, Carol Holmes, Rita Moloney, and Bridget Nelson, the new class had excellent MG leaders to guide them. You might drop any of the teaching assistants a note about possible connections with members of this year's class. (Email addresses are linked to TA names.) A complete list of the MGT Class of 2024 is found in this newsletter with home towns.



JUNE POLLINATOR GARDEN TOURS


The Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP) offered the first three of this summer's garden tours in June. These were successful in providing educational outreach around better garden practices for our pollinators. Please consider joining other SAP tours in July and August for MG continuing education hours.


Westhampton/Quogue

Over 60 people registered at the Quogue Library for the first SAP garden tour including Master Gardeners as well as a few visitors from Nassau County. The docents at each site informed guests drawing on available plant lists. Plant or seed giveaways were offered at some sites. Scout Adelina Scott grew common milkweed starts as part of her Gold Project and handed them out to tour participants. Garden owners and tour goers were happy!  As MG Alicia Whitaker noted, the event required a good deal of prep work, but very well worth the pollinator teaching moment the tour provided. Here's a link to an article about the tour in 27 East.


Southampton/Water Mill

About 30 joined the SAP Southampton and Watermill Pollinator tour, including a stop at the Southampton Monarch Way station. People could not have been happier, friendlier or more excited about the gardens included on the tour.



Mid Suffolk

Mid-SAP's first Pollinator garden tour, held June 29, featured three gardens full of blooms and pollinators. About 30 adults, in addition to several interested children, perused the Hawkins Garden in Yaphank, the Medford Train Station gardens and the Children's Garden at Suffolk County Farm on a perfect summer day.

Milkweed for Monarchs

Marissa Nelson, Adelina Scott and MG Alicia Whitaker above in the Westhampton Tour. MG Joan DiMonda and Sally Jo Barden preparing for the Southampton/Watermill garden tour below.




CONTINUING EDUCATION

SUFFOLK ALLIANCE for POLLINATORS (SAP)

SUMMER GARDEN TOURS


NORTH FORK

Saturday, July 13, 9am-12pm. 

Begin at any of these gardens: 1489 Sound Ave., Baiting Hollow, or Custer Institute, 1115 Main Bayview Rd.,Southold, or North Fork Audubon, 65275 County Rd./ Rt. 48, Greenport.

Join the North Fork Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators for a self-guided tour of public and private gardens. Our gardens will show gardens in various stages of transformation to eliminate invasive species, incorporate more natives and provide habitats for wildlife. Maps of the other locations will be available at any of the three beginning point gardens. 

Rain date: July 14, same time

Contact- NF SAP at northforksap@gmail.com

For continued information and updates, follow us on IG-northforksap and Facebook- North Fork SAP  

 

BAY SHORE/ BRIGHTWATERS

Tuesday, July 30 10am-1pm

Start at Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library’s Pollinator Garden, corner of Windsor Ave & Main St., Brightwaters

Explore several local pollinator-friendly habitats that promote biodiversity through good gardening practices. Other destinations will be provided at the first site.

Rain date: August 1, same time

Contact: Master Gardener Nancy Hoffman nancyjhoffman@gmail.com


HUNTINGTON

Thursday, August 22 10am-1pm

The tour begins in Kubecka Community Garden, 95-99 Dunlap Rd, Huntington.

Join us as we demonstrate the beauty and benefits of planting natives in public and residential gardens to increase pathways for our pollinators and foster a biodiverse environment.

Rain date: August 23, same time

Contact: Master Gardener Hope Kranidis hkranidis@gmail.com



The MG Training Class of 2024

MG Volunteer Hours

Submit your volunteer hours before you forget them. Please complete the Qualtrics Volunteer survey linked here. https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aiagRHzCO3z8smO

 

Remember you’re responsible for keeping track of your hours. We need the total number of hours per this calendar year as well as your legacy hours since you became a Master Gardener. Those working on their first 125 volunteer hours need to contact me directly via email when 125 hours are satisfied.


Congratulations to MGs Carol Holmes and Kathy Dhundale for completing their initial 125 hour volunteer requirement.


Congratulations also to MG Rita Moloney for completing the initial hours and contributing her deposit to the Master Gardener program.

____________________

CONTINUING EDUCATION


LIHREC OPEN HOUSE GARDEN FEST

July 13, 2024

3059 Sound Ave. Riverhead

 

Display gardens all day. Plant sale. Sessions: “Flower Arranging” at noon. FREE

 Questions? Email Mark Bridgen

RESILIENT COMMUNITY GARDENS

AUGUST 10

Featuring Manhattan & Bronx Community Gardens

BARNARD COLLEGE, NYC


See details here for Symposium Registration

($50 includes lunch)


Master Gardeners at work in the Vanderbilt Vegetable Garden above.


Below are the Master Gardeners who have been working hard on renovating the Herb Garden first introduced by the MG Class of 2005 at Suffolk County Farm. Under Louann Rothe's guidance, this is the third major redesign with current Master Gardeners. On July 11, the Herb Society of Long Island will be touring the site. Kudos to the MG volunteers who will guide their guests!


This newsletter is posted on our MG webpage linked here.


If you have photos or news to share in the newsletter, you can email me at rz378@cornell.edu


Or...


Post photos, events and news on our Master Gardener facebook page.


Here's the facebook link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/106946829922350/


Happy Gardening!

Roxanne Zimmer



 423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 100, Riverhead, NY 11901-3071
631-727-7850

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
 
Cornell Cooperative Extension is funded in part by Suffolk County through the office of the County Executive, and the County Legislature. 

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