Cold Climate Gardening

On April 19th I met my sister in Ithaca, NY. She is a graduate of Cornell University, and has made many visits since then. We were going to the ACNARGS meeting in the afternoon, but first she wanted to show me a few of her favorite places.

One of the places she wanted to take me was the Agway store in Ithaca. In my area Agway is a feed store that is slowly morphing into a lawn and garden store as the farms die away. Sure, you can get a replacement spark plug for your lawn mower, or pick up a flat of pansies–if you’re not fussy about what kind or color of pansies you get. But Agway as a garden destination? I was dubious.

Popularity: 17% [?]

My main snowdrop “patch” exactly a year ago. They are not so far along this year. Click the photo for a close-upWith all my blathering on about snowdrops, I almost forgot to mention that Hitch Lyman’s garden will be the Garden Conservancy’s first New York state event for their 2008 Open Garden Days on April 5, 2008. If you are able to visit his garden, you will think you have died and gone to snowdrop heaven, because Hitch is the proprietor of Temple Nursery, selling the widest selection of snowdrops in the U.S. (growing over 400 different kinds, not all for sale) and the only one shipping them in the green. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Don’s Galanthus ‘Bitton’ and G. woronowii both originally came from Hitch Lyman’s land, even if they’ve made an intermediate stop since then.

Popularity: 19% [?]

In 1878, Sherman Stowell sold to Elizabeth Brockett 30 acres of land which he had earlier purchased from George Jennings. I now live and garden with my family on some of that land, which Jennings or Stowell, or perhaps Ms. Brockett, had cleared of trees to make pasture. The forest is growing back, but it’s not the same forest. For one thing, several invasive plants are now growing here, everything from Rosa multiflora to Lonicera tartarica. And where are the trilliums?

Call me a romantic or call me ecologically correct, but I’d like to restore the native flora to my parcel of land, land that was sown to timothy and grazed by cows. How does one go about such a restoration? For starters, you have to know what plants were originally growing there. I’ve taken an informal survey of our property and catalogued all the natives I’ve found. I mention trilliums because they bloom along the roadside further down our country lane. What will it take to grow them here?

Popularity: 20% [?]

Hitch Lyman is a national snowdrop specialist. Of course, the snowdrops are long gone, but doesn’t his garden sound wonderful? From the Garden Conservancy website:

Enjoy this extraordinary collection of 200 lilac varieties as well as species of peonies, daphnes, and crabapples. The 1848 Greek Revival-style farmhouse was moved to this site in 1990 and the garden, pond-side Doric temple, rustic fountain, and odd assembly of trees are slowly reaching out into the surrounding meadow. Architectural building by Glenn Wilder, stonework by Kevin Reilly, and metalwork by Durand Van Doren showcase our area’s talent.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The garden is at 3441 Krums Corners Road in Trumansburg.

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Popularity: 19% [?]

Brave the snow, get out of the house, and learn something new! Here are some gardener-worthy events coming up in my neck of the woods.
“CNY Blooms” –Spring 2007 will sprout up before you know it, and with it the blossoming of Syracuse’s flower and garden show, now known as “CNY Blooms”. Mark your planting calendar and get ready to enjoy this beautiful show, devoted exclusively to the world of flowers and gardening. It all starts blooming March 1st through the 4th, 2007, in the Convention Center at Oncenter, Syracuse. Hundreds of area landscapers and horticulturalists will be offering you the best of the season’s blooms. Interested in learning more about perennial flower gardens? Want to know more about creative outdoor structures or innovative patio designs? There will be seminars and presentations to help with your landscape plans. Adults-$9, Children 12 and under free. Discount coupons available at a Price Chopper store near you

Popularity: 35% [?]