Asharoken Garden Club honors local gardeners

57 gardeners participated in the club's annual beautification program

July 16, 2009 | 11:00 AM
This year, 57 gardeners from Asharoken, Eatons Neck and Northport participated in the 10th Asharoken Garden Club Street Garden Recognition Program by creating a street garden, defined as a "large or small garden containing living plants available to view from the street although not necessarily seen from the homeowner's residence." It is a garden planned primarily for the pleasure of neighbors and passers-by. This year, three plaques were given to the most outstanding gardens.

Twenty-two members of the Asharoken Garden Club acted as judges between June 22 and 29. Their scores were tallied to determine the top three. This year's plaque was designed by artist and garden club member, Marilyn Chiodo. Plaques were presented to the winning gardeners on July 11.

The three most outstanding gardens are by Stephen and Mary Ann DiPalo at 341 Asharoken Ave., Cindy D'Accordo at 110 Seaview Terrace and Vivian Jacobsen at 104 Seaview Terrace. Drive by and take a look. It's worth a trip.

Said D'Accordo, "My garden is two years old, inspired and encouraged by my neighbor, Vivian Jacobsen. Before I began, I watched the sun move across my yard and chose my plants accordingly. The best advice I can give is to start small. I did not, and it was lots of work!"

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Jacobsen explained, "My garden is my therapy. With my husband, a lieutenant colonel, now away in Iraq, it's been especially important this year. When I began to create it 10 years ago, I added lots of dirt and rocks to build a sharp slope to the street. We called it 'rocking' as we went around to construction sites in the neighborhood and asked owners if we could have the stones they were throwing out. Most of my plants were donated by friends and neighbors over the years; each has a story behind it.'"

Stephen DiPalo said, "When I was planning our garden, privacy and color were the two most important factors. When my plants don't look well, I remove them to my 'sick plant' place out of sight and they usually recover. I also play music outdoors all day when I'm working there and I think it helps all the plants. This year, I added the bike because I saw it in the garage, all rusty, painted it, and thought, 'I'm going to do something with it.'"

While the three outstanding gardeners have been recognized for their achievement in beautifying their neighborhoods, all the participants, who received a long-lasting sign signifying their participation in this program, are to be highly commended for their efforts. Their names are Beverly Adikes, Nancy Armbruster, Brian and Beth Atkinson, Marge Beaudet, Karen Bernard, Linda Bruno, Jeanmarie and Joe Cappiello, Anne Carballeira, Keith G. Caruso, Marty and Ann Ciesinski, Tula Conwell, Timothy J. Dennin, Paul Devine, Frank and Diane DiPalo, Lisa Doht, Joan Ettinger, Carolyn Fleming, Terry Folcarelli, Fran and Stuart Frederick, Linda Garuccio, David Giacone, Richard and Denise Giantasio, Bridget Rodee Hansen, Stacè and Flemming Hansen, Margita Hatfield, Bill Hosie, Linda Jacks, Caroline Jerome, Jackie Johnson, Bridget Kershaw, Susan Koenig-Lagermann, Richard and Henrietta Larcade, Carre Mae Latuso, Stephenie and Dan Leo, John Makofske, Midge Marlow, Philip Marrone, Laura and Chuck Micallef, Jim McDonough, Lola and Richard McKillop, Nancy McLoughlin and Steve Boccia, Barbara and Terry McNally, Kim Minsky, Laura and Mike O'Donohoe, Kathy Orent, Martha Poletta, Debra Rich, Nicholas Roros, Gigi Spelman, Anita Stambouly, Matthew Sullivan, Millie Willen, Brad and Heather Wine, Laura Zavatto and James Zima.

To date, four Suffolk County garden clubs — the Three Village Garden Club, the Centerport Garden Club, the Suwasset Garden Club and the Bellport Garden Club are participating in their own version of this program. More are being informed of its existence through Federated Garden Clubs and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Photographs of the three gardens will be displayed, as always, at the Northport Public Library. They will also appear on line at the website

www.occunomix.com/newgarden.html.

Joan Hauser is a master gardener and board member of the Asharoken Garden Club.

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