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Gardening: more than mulch and compost
Street gardens, plant sales and garden tours are in the offing this spring
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April 23, 2009 | 11:16 AM
Despite being a chilly and somewhat dry spring, plants are definitely showing signs of life. If you've been out cleaning up your garden, perhaps raking those pesky leaves which arrived over the winter, or working compost into your sandy soil, you may be ready to enjoy gardening in another way. Here are some additional activities gardeners or garden devotees can take part in.
Street gardens
Street gardens, are, by definition, gardens of living plants which can be seen by neighbors and passersby from the street. They may not necessarily be seen from the gardener's home. Many garden clubs are encouraging local residents to take part in street garden recognition programs including:
• Asharoken — The Asharoken Garden Club is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its street garden recognition program. Members of the Asharoken Garden Club will act as judges, visiting all participating gardens between June 22 and 29. This year, all entrants will receive a long-lasting polystyrene plaque for their garden. On July 11, three entrants, those judged to be the most outstanding, will receive a decorative wooden garden sign with art work by artist Marilyn Chiodo.
Said program originator Joan Hauser, "We have changed our approach as a result of comments by participants. We hope that by recognizing everyone with a permanent plaque and three as the most outstanding, we will encourage even more gardeners to beautify our community."
Residents of Asharoken, Eatons Neck and the incorporated Village of Northport are eligible to participate. Pick up an entry form at the Northport Village Hall, Asharoken Village Hall or the Northport Library or go to http://occunomix.com/harden.html. Forms must be completed by May 18.
• Suwassett — The Suwassett Garden Club will be holding its fifth annual street garden recognition program this year. Gardeners who live in Belle Terre or Port Jefferson and are not members of the Suwassett Garden Club are eligible to participate. Up to 30 gardens will be selected to receive a garden marker. Applications must be submitted by June 5.
During April, photos of past years' street gardens will be on display at the Port Jefferson Free Library, Thompson Avenue, Port Jefferson. Entry forms are available at the library, Village Center, PJ Chamber of Commerce and the Belle Terre Gatehouse as well as at the garden club's table during the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce's Go Green Festival on May 23. Markers will be awarded at a reception on June 25.
If your garden club doesn't hold a street garden recognition program, perhaps they might be willing to do so if there is enough interest in the community. If you don't have a garden club in your area, why not start one? Even if you don't take part, make sure you take a look at what the gardeners in your neighborhood are doing once the winners are announced.
Garden weekend
Antique and Garden Weekend is being held on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Port Jefferson Village Center, 101A East Broadway. Vendors of antiques, rare books, estate and antique jewelry, antique quilts and folk art, as well as garden items and much more will be present. The Suwasset Garden Club will hold its plant boutique as well. Admission is $5 per person.
A wine and cheese reception, preview sale and silent auction will be held on Friday, April 24, from 7 to 9 pm. Admission to the reception is $30 per person or $50 for two.
The weekend is being sponsored by the Port Jefferson Historical Society and the Village of Port Jefferson. For further information, call 802-2162.
Ellen Barcel is a freelance writer and master gardener. To reach Cornell Cooperative Extension and its Master Gardener Program, call 727-7850.
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