FROSTMAS perfectly describes the feeling you have at first frost after a long season in the garden. A little gift of frost brings a little holiday.
Frost, of course, isn’t always welcomed in the garden, but as the season seems to get a little longer each year, there isn’t that sense that we’ve been robbed of a longer summer that we used to have. Several years ago, on a beautiful and warm September day, a customer of a certain age told me that first frost came in August when she was a child in Western Sullivan.
But I digress. This time of year is always bittersweet in the garden, and Frostmas means it’s time to clean up and prepare for next year. It also means it’s a time to reflect on the season just passing. What went right, what went wrong, what needs changing for next season.
As you work to put your garden to bed for the season, reflect, enjoy the fall, and enjoy the outdoors!
If I leave my squash untended for any length of time, when I come back I’m very likely to find squash nymphs roaming freely over plants and food alike. The nymphs are small spidery-looking things and before long they will turn into adult squash bugs. The adults and the nymph suck juice out of the plants and it there are enough of them, they can kill the plant.
Last year, they killed one of my squash plants, and I resolved to do battle. I got some insecticide soap and every night I went looking for adults and nymphs, and also the eggs, which are laid on the back of squash plant leaves as shown in the picture. When I spotted any bugs, they get a spray of insecticide soap, and then they get pushed down into the soil a good four five inches. They aren’t very fast, and it’s easy to catch them by hand.
When I spot a clutch of eggs – and this takes some looking, but persistence will be rewarded – I pull off the tiny bit of leaf that is hosting the eggs, and squash it between my fingers, and again pushed the mashed remains several inches under the soil. This last part is probably overkill, but I really don’t want to see any squash bugs on my plants.
In fact, I smashed so many eggs last year that I believe I’ve beat down the local population to manageable levels. This year I have seen a total of about eight adult bugs and three clutches of eggs on leaves.
The other insects that can do great damage to cucurbits – squash, cucumbers and melons – are cucumber beetles. These are much smaller than squash bugs and it’s not possible, usually, to catch them by hand. But one can usually sneak up close enough to them to spray insecticidal soap on them, which will kill them. I’ve also caught a few with a shot of spray in mid-air.
Again, persistence is key. I killed so many last year that the local population is way down and I’ve only seen about a dozen this year. This method would probably not work well on a large operation with many plants, but with only about a dozen cucurbits to safeguard, it works well enough to insure that the plants will produce fruit.
When Kate and Valerie asked us to host this party and show, I was thrilled and honored. I’ve been a fan of Ann’s work since the moment I saw one of her watercolors. We first met when I was looking for merchandise for our yet-to-be-opened store. She was living in Claryville at that time, and I had a wonderful afternoon visiting her studio and chatting with her and her friends.
Bio — A Grahamsville artist, Ann Higgins is a former Liberty, NY teacher, a founding member of the Catskill Art Society, a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society (NEWS) and a renowned artist who continues to exhibit her work from the Adirondacks to Connecticut.
Ann’s multimedia works reflect her keen observation and love of nature. Whether in a landscape, a pet portrait or other subject, her skill and distinctive style are always a joy to behold. She has exhibited locally at the Liberty Museum, Catskill Art Society, and DVAA, in NEWS member and international shows and in every Audubon and Friends Too show as well.
Ann stays active. If she’s not at the gym, gardening or playing her piano, she writes the NEWSletter, takes walks with her cat, publishes a calendar of her drawings every year and still makes time to paint with friends every week. And those are just the tip of the artist’s iceberg! She continues to be a world traveler and to chronicle the vistas she finds on her journeys in her sketchbook.
Kate Hyden, one of the “Friends of Friday” a group of artists who gather regularly, says “there is no single thing that most endears Ann to her friends and her family, be it her wry sense of humor, her kindness, her generosity, or even that all-encompassing spirit of joy which infuses her work and touches all who meet her.”
Locally Grown Flowers — We grow them, you enjoy them!
The region boasts many talented floral designers and florists who work creatively and diligently to make your wedding flowers stand out. There is another option for those of you who take a hands-on approach and/or have a strict budget. You can grow, pick and arrange your own wedding flowers, or choose some combination of the above.
If you are a gardener, your seed and bulb orders for the annuals should be completed soon. Pick varieties that will be in bloom at the time of your wedding and make sure to start the seeds at the right time. There are many easy to grow annuals that will provide gorgeous flowers; take care to select for color, height and number of days till bloom. If you have perennial gardens, note when those plants are in bloom and incorporate them or their foliage into your plan. If you don’t have a garden, you may have a gardening friend or two who would be honored to grow flowers as their wedding present to you.
Picking flowers is the easy part. Whether you pick in your own garden, a friend’s garden, or at a Pick Your Own Garden or Farm, this simple advice will help you to select the freshest, most beautiful flowers available and keep them that way.
Pick early or late in the day: The best time to pick flowers is early in the day when their stems are full of water and their sugar content is higher. Second best time is early evening.
Select for freshness: Flowers such as peonies and roses should be picked when the bud is just beginning to open and is starting to show color. Spiked flowers such as foxglove or gladiolus should be picked when the bottom three or four buds are in bloom. Delphinium and lupin should be picked when most of the spike is in bloom. Flowers such as zinnias, daisies, sunflowers and dahlias should be picked when they are fully open, but before they develop any pollen (a circle of yellow).
Use a clean bucket and sharp, clean flower shears: Cut the stem cleanly and at an angle so that there is more area for water uptake. Don’t mash the stem as you would if picking by hand, you will damage the stem and it will not be able to take up water. Place directly into a bucket filled with warm but never hot water, minimizing the possibility of air pockets in the stem. It is best to strip the bottom leaves before placing the flower into the bucket. Dirt can get into the water, blocking the stems and bacteria can begin to grow.
Bring friends and family: The time you or your friends and family spend picking and arranging flowers becomes an event within the entire wedding experience. Members of the wedding party and friends will spend time together catching up or getting to know each other as they work their way through the garden.
Look around the yard: Garden foliage such as ivy, fern, and hosta can add depth and interest to your arrangements. Look for wildflowers such as Queen Anne’s lace to help provide filler. Avoid plants such as ragweed which aggravate allergies.
Let the flowers “rest” a while before arranging: Store in a cool, dark place for several hours or overnight to help “condition” the flowers. Re-cut the stems, remove any remaining leaves that will be below water level and place in a clean bucket with fresh warm but not hot water. Some flowers need special treatment. If they have a soft stem and a heavy flower head, such as a tulip, wrap loosely in paper to prevent drooping. Woody stems should have an additional vertical cut to aid in water uptake. We don’t advocate the use of any floral preservative because the flowers are truly fresh and the use of clean water, vases and shears will ensure their freshness throughout the event. Treat the flowers as you would your most delicate guest – keep them well watered, shaded and cool.
Many brides are lucky to have friends or family who are accomplished flower arrangers and who gladly volunteer to help. While making wedding plans, include a plan for the number of arrangements you want and where they will be placed. Is there something special at your venue that will be made even more so with flowers? Make sure that you have vases, ribbon, and other supplies on hand. Vases should be clean, and there should be ample working space. Consider how the arrangements will be transported. Plan well in advance, be flexible and enjoy the added participation of family and friends.
