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We had a perfect day for our Annual Volunteer Pin Awards at Suffolk County Farm on September 20. Those who arrived before we started lunch made it into the photo above.
As ever, Master Gardeners were engaged during September as seen in the array of photos below. Master Gardeners are leaders, not weeders. Very impressive!
In the beginning of the month, MGs Christine DeSantis, Teri Smith and Carol Tierney were part of the launch of the new visitor entrance (mid parking lot) at Suffolk County Farm. Christine spoke to the group assembled about Master Gardener efforts in the Herb Garden to provide demonstration beds of medicinal and culinary herbs.
Those on the field trip to Carpenter Farm Park walked part of the 12 acre property with Huntington resident and gardening volunteer Julie Sullivan who maintains this property primarily by herself. The native plants, some planted intentionally and others that drifted in, were evident. A few varieties of the showy sumacs, flat-top or grass-leaved goldenrod, a couple of species of solidago, mountain mint, joe-pye weed, asters, boneset, clethra and black eyed susans had been in recent bloom. Julie carefully guided native bees to her finger tips for display. The invasive plants were visible, too. Julie addressed the challenges of taming porcelain berry, mile a minute vine and autumn olive on this property. We understood the black-capped chickadee attraction to autumn olive when MGs Karen Fien and Suzanne Cassidy sampled the autumn olive berries.
Cornell Extension ran a Soil Health Program specifically for area farmers. What a treat to see Master Gardeners in the mix. MG Al Martinez Fonts talked about the compost windrow he's been managing as one of the partners in the North Fork Flower Farm in Southold. MG Liz Camps, who is the regional representative for the USDA/ Natural Resources Conservation Service, shared specific suggestions for the best soil health. Caroline Kiang, who led the Master Gardener program for many years, was also present. She's captured below in a photo talking to our CCE Agriculture Director Nora Catlin. And now a confession. I met a plant I did not know at the North Fork Flower Farm: Gymnocarpus physocarpa. This is a milkweed family member from South Africa growing at the North Fork Flower Farm as an annual cut flower. My guess is that it may also be grown as a conversation starter. Please, no offense is intended when I tell you that one of the plant's common names is "Hairy Balls." You'll see where the nickname comes from when you look at its photo below.
Here's MG Kris Liem at the East Hampton Village Green bioswale/ rain garden that captures run-off water before it journeys to Hook Pond, helping to clean toxins from water and soil. This was part of a ChangeHampton tour of local pollinator sites. (Photos: Gail Pellett)
How wonderful to see so many of you catching up with each other at the Annual MG Pin recognition lunch at Suffolk County Farm. I counted at least 75 of you. This was an opportunity to award new pins, including some that were long overdue to Master Gardeners. Green pins were awarded to MGs Lory Henning, Betsy Mantell, Donna Cange, Sharna Nicholson, Hope Kranidis, Alexandra Carnicom, Maria Brandis, Versha Gupta, Kevin Shea, Pat and John Sperandeno, Caroline Gee, Karen Fien, Elise Bennett, Kathy Dhundale, Jean Branna and Carol Brown for completing their first 125 hours of volunteer service. For 350 hours, red pins were awarded to Bonnie Yellin, Sharna Nicholson, Pat and John Sperandeno, Elise Bennett, Caroline Gee and Carol Brown. Elise Bennett was awarded a blue pin for her work at 750 hours. Christine DeSantis, Jane Corrarino and Elise Bennett were awarded white pins for their service hours of 1000 volunteer hours. Last, and certainly not least, Dava Stravinski, from the MG class of 1998, was honored with a purple pin for her twenty five years of Master Gardener volunteer service including her work with the Herb Society (Long Island Chapter) and assistance with the recent launch of the Bellport 1000 Healthy Yards pollinator initiative. The plant and seed swaps were well received. Let's do more of these next season!
The house was sold out for "Gardening for Life" with Doug Tallamy at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. The significance of caterpillars, depicted in one handsome slide after another, was explained as an ideal food source for many birds. Tallamy reminded us of our landscape responsibilities: reducing the lawn, planting oaks which support many moths and incorporating native plants, especially the keystone species such as goldenrod. The questions raised by audience members were on point. How "local" should our native plants be? How do we encourage our neighbors to follow our lead? My thanks to all the MGS in the audience at Bayard and via Zoom. MGs helped with registration/check in, breakfast set up, washing the dishes and clean up. Thank you, thank you MGs for making the Tallamy event so successful.
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