Butterfly Soiree Date Change

To all of you who downloaded earlier versions of our on-line or PDF Winter-Spring catalog (as of 1/02/08 the information is correct) the date for our Butterfly Soiree at Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden at the Strong Museum has changed.

The new date is Tuesday, January 29, same time, 6-8 pm.

Hope you can all come!

Winter-Spring Class Catalog

The Winter-Spring 2008 class catalog is on our web site. You can read through the class offerings and print out a registration form to mail in at rcgc.org

There's something for everyone...check it out!

Look for the catalog to arrive in mailboxes early January.

Wreathmaking Class 12/4/07

These pictures are from a wreath-making class that Nellie Gardner presented here last week. It was an amazing amount of fun; everyone's wreath was surprisingly different - and everyone was delighted with their results. I am so glad I went, we learned techniques that would work with all kinds of plant materials, and supplies that most everyone already has. Can't wait to make some more.

Highland Park in November

Thanks to RCGC member Brian Eshenaur (Western New York Ornamentals IPM Educator) for these fall images, taken last week in Highland Park

Katsura tree

Yes, this rhododendron is blooming in November!

Oakleaf hydrangea

RCGC in the Media

Every other Friday morning Nellie Gardner (RCGC member, instructor and well-known horticulturist) has a small segment on WROC-TV News 8 Now Sunrise at 6:20 and 6:40 am. On it Nellie covers a variety of horticultural topics which usually tie into the classes being offered at RCGC - check it out at rochesterhomepage.net.
Next segment: Friday, November 16th

Trip to England

A couple of shots from my September trip to England - Chenies Manor, parts of which date back to 1460. Very interesting place, with so much history, still in private hands. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were frequent visitors and made some important decisions here.














I got there by Tube from London, followed by a walk down this scary country lane - nowhere to go but into the stinging nettle if a car was coming. I don't think the locals have any trouble...

If you are interested in joining me in May on a trip to the Cotswalds and Chelsea Flower Show (May 17-25, 2008), sponsored by the Upstate Gardeners' Journal, visit travelbuds.net. Sign up soon - tickets to the Chelsea Flower show sell out fast, by sometime in November!

Floral Design Classes

For those of you interested in floral design, we have many classes on the schedule with floral designer Alana Miller. See floral design classes and more on our web site rcgc.org. Class sizes are limited so if you see something you like, call right away to sign up!


"Welcome Fall" Wreath - class date Tuesday, October 9, 7-9pm


Holiday Grapevine Spiral - class date Tuesday, November 13, 7-9pm

Back to School!

RCGC's Fall Class Schedule is now on our website. Check it out!
RCGC Class Catalog
Classes fill up quickly so be sure to sign up right away.

Courtyard Rehabilitation Project

Rhea Oaks and Jane Uhle taking a much-deserved break from shovelling dirt on a hot August morning working on the Courtyard project.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Trophee'

Taken by Bob Maier on July 31 after the class at Lakeside Nursery - Hydrangeas and More in an Idea Garden. Bob says "Blue in the garden is truly a gift from Heaven."

Compost, it does a garden good

Here's my Dad, who is one heckuva vegetable gardener, standing in his squash patch. He planted this year's crop of 'Sunshine' winter squash on the spot where his compost bins stood last season. Imagine if he had planted his tomatoes there instead...

Hydrangeas and Lotus

Here are a couple of pictures from the Hydrangea class at Tim Boebel's house Tuesday, July 24. It was lovely - more than 200 hydrangea bushes, most in bloom, a beautiful spot, beautiful weather, wonderful hospitality and a great class.

Note the knock-out lotus pond. Tim will be teaching a class here in his yard on just how he did it, on Saturday August 4 at 10 am till noon, Constructing Ponds for Lotus to Flower and Thrive. Check the catalog on our website for more info, or call 585-473-5130.

Lily Leaf Beetles

Watch Out For These Critters

These beautiful red beetles are adults of the lily leaf beetle, a relatively new pest to our area. These are native to Europe, and were discovered near Montreal in 1945 and Cambridge MA in 1992. In the last couple of years they have entered our area and are spreading fast.

Both adults and larvae cause considerable damage to lilies; they can and often do completely strip a plant of all foliage and flowers. The adults are easily recognizable – about ½ long and bright red. The larvae look a bit like slugs, but since they cover themselves with their excrement, before long they look mostly like insect poo.

If there are not too many, the best way to control them is to just pick them off the plant. RCGC instructor Roz Bliss demonstrated an ingenious method for catching hard-to-reach adults during a class at her house this summer: put some Tanglefoot (sticky substance available in garden stores) on the end of a long stick and touch the beetle with the sticky end. If you want to use an insecticide, some sources recommend neem, extracted from the neem tree. It will kill the small larvae and repel the adults; to be effective it must be applied every 5-7 days.

The good news is that this pest is under good biological control in France and Switzerland; current research in the US is focusing on parasitoids that may in the future be available here for control.

Lily leaf beetles cause the most damage on true lilies (Lilium sp.) and fritillaria and will only lay eggs and develop on these plants; they do not eat daylilies. They will feed lightly on several other plants including Solomon’s seal, nightshade, potato, hollyhock, hosta and nicotiana.

men at work

Now here's a bunch of hardworking men. Guy and his crew moved all the hostas and a Sargeant hydrangea from the courtyard garden. It's currently being rehabilitated-stand by for more news.

Come here often?

Hop on over here and sit beside me Wednesday night August 8, 7-8:30 pm. I'll tell you all about my trip to Stonecrop Gardens and show you a slideshow that will knock your socks off! The class is free with a new or renewed membership-don't miss it.

Girls in trees

Hey- whats up with the arborvitae? They're way out of scale. Thats ok, a little creative pruning by my friend Nellie Gardner will fix them right up. She scampered right up the trunk and pruned some of the tall leaders out of the middle and left enough green around the cut so you don't see the stump. I would have never thought of this but when she was done they looked great and I couldn't even tell they had been pruned.

summer soiree at the castle June 14

Our first soiree at the castle was a great success!

Many new folks showed up for a tour of the castle inside and out -thanks to Guy Coppola and Millie Piccione. It was a perfect evening to enjoy the magic hour with a glass of wine, some munchies and friends.

Welcome!

to RCGC's newest endeavor at keeping the community informed.

RCGC's three staff members will contribute to this blog:
Christine Froehlich, Executive Director
Judy Hubbard, Education Program Coordinator
Debbie Eckerson, Director of Administration

Check back often to learn about the latest happenings at the garden center: new classes, special events, various horticultural happenings, our musings and any news we feel we absolutely must share with you!