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  • What We Do
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    • Workshops >
      • Birdhouse Gourds
    • Flower Shows
    • Pierrepont Park
  • Ballard Park Gardens
    • Ballard Park Gardens
    • Wall Garden
    • Fletcher Steele Pergola
    • Ballard Greenhouse & Trust
  • Plant Sale
  • Pollinator Pathway
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    • Calendar
    • Entering Sweepstakes & Shows
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Blog

Managing Invasive PlantsMethods of Control by Christopher Mattrick

5/15/2014

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Controlling invasive plants on our property can be daunting and many of us really don't know how to approach the task. This article by Christopher Mattrick explains the process.
 
There’s some work involved, but the payoff is huge and the peace of mind makes it all worthwhile. 
 
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Read The Full Article Here
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Sharing a blog from "Garden Musings"

3/12/2014

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Healthy Prairie Harvest 
One of the first Griffith Buck roses I ever grew, and still one of my most cherished roses, is 'Prairie Harvest'.  I've mentioned her before in this blog, but she deserves her own little moment alone in the spotlight. In fact, for Midwestern gardeners who seek out the Buck roses, 'Prairie Harvest' is a "must have" rose.  Hardy yellow roses are difficult enough to find for Northern climates, let alone hardy yellow roses that are also ironclad healthy.  'Prairie Harvest' is one of my healthiest roses and the light green, glossy foliage is a nice contrast with that of the Rugosa clan.  I never spray fungicide on this one and the perfect foliage holds on through August with minimal leaf loss, little blackspot, and no mildew.
Continue...
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How Deep Do I Plant My Bulbs ?

9/12/2013

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September Gardening Tips

9/12/2013

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Planning
- Complete ordering spring-flowering bulbs and other plants for fall planting

- Continue to assess areas in the garden that may need additional planting

- Continue to work on a landscape plan for fall planting of trees and shrubs

- Continue to take garden notes and/or photographs to plan future plantings

Chores and Maintenance
- If rain is still lacking, continue to practice water-wise horticultural techniques

- De-thatch and aerate existing lawns to promote root growth

- Mow lawns regularly to keep grass at 2 1/2" height

- Complete lawn restoration before September 15

- Collect seed from perennials and annuals

- Continue to cut flowers for drying: yarrow, strawflower, gomphrena, cockscomb, etc.

- Remove and compost spent annuals and fallen leaves

- Continue to aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition

- Continue to check for insect pests and treat accordingly

- Continue to remove any fallen leaves and debris that can harbor insect pests and disease organisms

- Continue to apply deer repellent

- Take in tender aquatic plants and tropical fish from ponds

- Begin to feed birds

Planting
- Plant and transplant broad-leaved and needle-leaved evergreens through October 15

- Continue to propagate herbs from new growth and transplant into pots for indoor winter use

- Continue to divide and transplant early-blooming perennials

- Divide daylilies after flowering

- Plant lilies

- Sow hardy annuals in prepared planting beds

- If weather is cool, begin planting spring-flowering bulbs but wait until late October to plant tulips

- Plant late-season annuals like ornamental kale and cabbage for fall color

- Sow parsley, radish, lettuce, carrot, and onion

- Complete planting out seedling biennials

Pruning/Fertilizing
- Prune rambler roses

- Prune to remove any diseased and dead rose canes

- Root prune wisteria that doesn't bloom

- Add organic matter such as manure, compost and/or leaf mold to improve garden soils

- Fertilize roses one last time

- Fertilize lawns with organic fertilizer to stimulate winter root development

Indoors
- If frost threatens, take in houseplants and pinch back houseplants before returning them indoors

- Check houseplants for insect pests and treat as necessary before bringing them in

- Begin to force poinsettias for Christmas. Move indoors to a sunny location and cover for 14 hours each night for a period of 6 to 10 weeks

- Take cuttings of begonias, geraniums, solenstemon (coleus), etc. to grow on as houseplants

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Lovage Recipes for Summer - WSJ

6/10/2013

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The Wall Street Journal's recent article Lovage Recipes for Summer has us craving all of these fresh treats!

Summer Vichyssoise With GreenPeas & Lovage

Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 4¼ hours (includes chilling) Serves: 6-8
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ingredients

  • 5 large Yukon Gold or other waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
  • 4 large leeks, green parts removed and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 4 cups unsalted chicken stock or vegetable stock
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons salt, plus more, to taste
  • 5 tablespoons fresh lovage leaves, coarsely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon finely julienned, for garnish
  • Freshly ground white or black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons minced chives, for garnish
  • Crème fraîche or plain yogurt, for garnish (optional)

what to do?

  1. In a large saucepan, bring potatoes, leeks, stock, milk, salt, chopped lovage and pepper to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover pot and simmer until potatoes are very tender, 20-30 minutes. Use a potato masher to roughly smash about half the potatoes. Add peas and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
  2. Place pot in a large bowl of ice water and stir to cool soup to room temperature. Refrigerate until soup is thoroughly chilled, at least 4 hours.
  3. Once soup is chilled, thin it with more milk, if necessary. Season with salt to taste.
  4. Serve soup cold in chilled bowls and garnish with chives, julienned lovage and dollops of crème fraîche or yogurt, if desired.

Lovage Bloody Mary

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Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 2¼ hours Serves: 6

ingredients

  • 36 ounces vodka
  • 12 ounces tomato juice, chilled
  • 4 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, plus more to taste
  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish, plus more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons minced lovage leaves, plus 6 lovage stalks, for "straws"
  • 6 lemon wedges, for garnish

what to do?

In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients except lovage stalks and lemon wedges. Cover and refrigerate to chill, at least 2 hours. Pour into six tall glasses filled with ice. Place a lovage-stalk "straw" in each glass, and garnish with lemon wedges.

Lovage, Caramelized-Onion and Potato Frittata

ingredients

  • 6 small potatoes (about ½ pound)
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon lovage leaves, chopped, plus additional for garnish

what to do?

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rub potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil. Place on a baking sheet and roast 30 minutes. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice thinly crosswise. Set aside.
Total Time: 45 minutes Serves: 8
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  • Meanwhile, in a 9-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons each oil and butter over medium heat. Add 1 clove garlic and cook until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add onions and salt and pepper to taste. Sauté, stirring often, until darkly caramelized, 10-15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove garlic and discard. Remove onion mixture from pan and set aside.

  • Preheat broiler to high. In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Stir in potatoes, onions and chopped lovage, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Rinse and dry skillet. Place skillet over medium heat and add remaining butter and oil. When butter begins to foam, reduce heat to lowest possible setting. Add egg mixture and cook until set and only top surface of frittata is runny, 10-15 minutes. Set skillet under broiler until top is just set and only lightly browned, 30-60 seconds. Loosen edges of frittata with a spatula and slide onto a platter. Sprinkle with chopped lovage. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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Preparing for the Plant Sale!

5/9/2013

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Plants look beautiful.
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Tomato plants are ready.
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Marie is grooming the beautiful Incarvillea
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The Garden Conservancy                             Open Gardens 2013 Schedule

4/28/2013

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The Garden Conservancy offers some beautiful garden tours in Westchester and Fairfield County 
as well as all across the country. Here are two locals that should not be missed. 
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Page Dickey and Francis Schell - Duck Hill  

Open House
05/05/2013: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
06/02/2013: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

A series of hedged-in gardens surround the nineteenth-century farmhouse at Duck Hill, including a herb garden, a white garden and a crabapple courtyard. There is also a woodland walk, a small meadow, a lap pool with a rose pergola, and a vegetable/cutting garden with a Greek Revival-style chicken house, as described in Page Dickey’s books Embroidered Groundand Duck Hill Journal. Come see the woodland walk in flower as well as many fragrant shrubs and crabapples. 
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Directions: 23 Baxter Rd, North Salem, NY
I-684 South
take Exit 8/ Hardscrabble Road. Turn right onto Hardscrabble go over highway, and go to end at a “T”. Turn right onto June Road, then take first left onto Baxter Road. Go about 1 mile, at white picket fence turn left onto private drive. We are next house in on left.

I-684 North
take Exit 7/Purdys. Follow Route 116 east to North Salem. After Route 121 joins Route 116, go 0.4 mile. At flagpole, turn left onto Baxter Road. Go to top of hill and turn right onto a private road. Duck Hill, #23, is second house on left. Please park along road.


S. Jason Karbel & Sara Sherlock Karbel - Stamford, CT

Open House
05/11/2013: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
This unique one-acre woodland garden is covered with dogwoods and azaleas blooming over a carpet of old-fashioned spring perennials and biennials. It was created by the late Jim and Ruth Levitan over a 40 year period and now maintained by the new owners who are dedicated to preserving the property.
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Directions: Stamford CT
From Merritt Parkway/Route 15ons:
take Exit 35/High Ridge Road. Go 50 yards north and turn left onto Wire Mill Road. Continue about 0.5 mile, crossing a small bridge, and turn right onto Red Fox Road. Go up hill 1 block and turn left onto Wake Robin Lane. Please park in street.


Opening America – Complete 2013 Schedule

For details on the above garden tours and the complete schedule, please go to: http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/open-days-schedule

Click Here for Complete Schedule
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Ridgefield Press Publishes Plant Sale Article 

4/5/2013

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The Ridgefield Press Published Its Article on the 2013 Plant Sale. Take a look at what they have to say! 

"Garden Clubs Prepare for Annual Plant Sale"
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Ridgefield Checklist of Wildflowers

3/25/2013

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The Ridgefield Conservation published a very useful checklist of wildflowers found in Ridgefield. Please feel free to print this checklist and share with others! 
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Forcing Branches Indoors

3/25/2013

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It is a great time to prune some of your ornamentals and then bring them inside to force in vases.

Put branch filled vases near sunny windows and watch the buds swell, some will be leaves and some will bloom. Just remember to slice off some of the bark on the end of your branches. If my vase is not glass then I just hammer the ends of the branches, messy but quick. This helps the branch to absorb the water. Branch out and try different blooms. Here is a list that can be forced (I have not tried them all):

  • Crabapple
  • Red Bud
  • Carnelian Cherry
  • Fothergilla
  • Cherry
  • Pear
  • Plums
  • Flowering Quince (my favorite )
  • Magnolia 
  • Early Rhododendron
  • American and Redtwig Dogwood
  • Deutzia
  • Flowering Almond 
  • Spirea
  • Viburnum
  • Lilac
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    RGC Blog

    This is the Ridgefield Garden Club's Blog. We are looking to bring you useful tips about gardening and updates from our members. 

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Rebecca-Lee, F. D. Richards, jacilluch, sleepyneko, normanack