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September 2024

Annual MASTER GARDENER RECOGNITION

& PLANT SWAP



Pot Luck Lunch 11am-1pm

September 11, Ag Hall

Suffolk County Farm, Yaphank

 

It’s time to honor Master Gardeners!

 

You’re invited to our Annual Master Gardener celebration on Wednesday, September 11. Whether you completed MG Training in 1994 or 2024, please join us. Maybe you haven’t been to a meeting or volunteering for a couple of years. No matter. Come and join the conversation and swap plants.

 

On the food front. Bring whatever you enjoy making including an ingredient list for those with allergies. Too, as we want to be better environmental stewards, bring your own plates, beverages, cups, napkins and utensils. Preferably NOT disposable plastic or paper as this ends up in the landfill. There’s a sink in the room so you can rinse your dishes.

 

A feature of this gathering. It's always a pleasure to recognize Master Gardeners for their many hours with the NY State volunteer service pins. These pins are awarded based on the following: 


GREEN Pin awarded for the initial 125 hours

RED Pin awarded for 350 cumulative hours

BLUE Pin awarded for 700 cumulative hours

WHITE Pin awarded for over 1000 cumulative hours

PURPLE Pin awarded for over 1000 cumulative hours plus 20 years since MG Training


What I need from you.

 

Tell me WHICH pins you deserve. Thanks to those who already sent me a note.

Other pin hopefuls. As soon as you can, send me an email with a subject line: last name pins. Then identify the colors to be awarded.  Are there any PURPLE PIN Master Gardeners? Come forward from the Class of 2004 and earlier. rz378@cornell.edu

 

The pins will be awarded at the MG Potluck. If you can’t attend, another Master Gardener may deliver. Or you can pick up your pins at the Cornell 423 Griffing Avenue, Riverhead office at a mutually convenient future date.

 

We’ve also had a successful Plant Swap at this event. What perennials or houseplants might thrive in a new home?  Bring plants in containers, bare-rooted, or wrapped in some kind of bag. The most important piece is a label so the Master Gardener considering the plant knows what's coming to a new home. Identify plants as best you can with a piece of tape or paper. MGs should bring containers or a shopping bag to bring the goodies to your garden.

 

Need I remind you to wear something red and put your MG name tag on your outfit the night before? Whether or not the weather behaves, we’ll take our annual MG photo.

Looking forward to seeing you in Ag Hall for our annual celebration.

 

 

GREEN THUMBS SUMMER CAMP


I had the pleasure of attending the first and the last Green Thumbs Camp sessions at Suffolk County Farm. What was so obvious to me was that, over the seven weeks of the summer, these children had formed bonds among each other as well as developed a genuine interest in what was growing in or flying around the Children’s Garden. Our Master Gardeners enabled each of them an opportunity to explore and flourish. The campers wanted to check out how their beans, corn and cucumbers were growing before the program ended. They wanted to hold their binders with their drawings and observations. They were proud of the bird feeders they were taking home on the last day. Thanks to MG Lynn Maher’s volunteer efforts at an area community garden , the campers had access to tasty seeds, leaves, flowers and stems with which to ‘decorate’ the bird houses.


Kudos to MGs Pat Garry and Bill Weresnick who collaborated with a posse of our Master Gardeners to make the program such a success. Members of that MG posse included MGs Anne Margolis, Lynn Maher, Joan Jacobs, Don Dodge (aka the bug guy), Jean Branna, Carol Dodorico, Donna Cange, Kathy Dhundale, Bonnie Yellin, Louann Rothe, Jennifer Ferraro, Chris DeSantis, Versha Gupta and Kevin Shea.  Every one of you contributed in making this program enjoyable. We’re very grateful that, thanks to your efforts, Green Thumbs Camp returned to the Children’s Garden at Suffolk County Farm. See the photos below.

SAP POLLINATOR GARDEN TOURS


The Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP) offered Pollinator Garden Tours in western Suffolk on the south shore in Bay Shore/Brightwaters as well as on the north shore in the greater Huntington area.


Thanks to all who helped organize the successful tours this summer. We are making a difference in getting the word about pollinators to our communities.







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 MG Kathy Dhundale on completing her first 125 hours in the Master Gardener program. Kudos also to MG Stephanie Flora on completing 125 hours and her gift to the Master Gardener program.

__________________

Volunteer Outreach


The Ketcham Inn MGs helped the local Presbyterian Church Food Pantry by donating fresh produce and nonperishable food items.

CONTINUING EDUCATION


SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 10 a.m. 

A talk with ChangeHampton's Community Pollinator Garden Landscape Architect and Designer Abby Clough Lawless.


It's free, but please RSVP:

info@changehampton.org

The Town of Riverhead is hosting its 48th annual Country Fair on Sunday, October 13. Cornell Extension has reserved several tables for our CCE programs.


Let’s have a Master Gardener table in the mix. Are there any Master Gardeners looking for volunteer hours? You would be sitting at our MG information table answering questions about the Master Gardener program. If interested, please drop me a note as soon as you can so I’ll reserve a table. rz378@cornell.edu


Gail Pellett





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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