Art by Joan's granddaughter Rose

GARDEN CARE IN THE DOG DAYS
Water is essential. Your garden needs more of it when it is so hot. Watering when the sun is at its highest can damage your plants and will, at the very least, evaporate too quickly to help them. I set my sprinkler system, for 4:30am every other day and suggest watering early or late in the day. During the recent heat wave, I was advised by the sprinkler company to re-set my program so that it was running for longer periods of time. Instead, when it’s been really hot, I water daily and even sometimes, twice a day.

Friends have told me that their trees are losing green leaves. Just like your lawn, trees need deep watering. The New York Parks Department says that trees need 15 to 20 gallons of water once a week. That’s about 3 or 4 buckets full. They suggest poking small holes in the bottom of a large trash can, filling it with that amount of water, and leaving it overnight next to your favorite tree.

Your lawn needs approximately one inch of water per week. If you have a sprinkler system, here’s a good way to check it out. Place clean tin cans at various locations before the sprinkler goes on. After it has run, measure the water in the cans; add or subtract watering minutes accordingly. Remember not to cut your lawn too short when temperatures are so high.

Potted and hanging plants are the most needy during these periods of drought. Check the soil or heft the pot. When the soil is dry, the pot will be lighter. Because these plants are in a small environment enclosed by their pots and are often annuals with shallower roots, they will need more water to survive than those in your garden.

If a plant is dry and wilting, try adding extra water--by hand if necessary. An astilbe of mine sagged, so I dug it up, put it in a pot near the hose, and watered it by hand intensively every day. I cut off the dead stems and watched the rest of the plant slowly green again. It may not look rich and full this year, but it will be perfect next year in its new, shadier home.

Picking your own vegetables, fruits and flowers can be a fun family outing.

PICK YOUR OWN
There’s a special pleasure that comes from picking your own fruits and vegetables. It’s almost as good as growing them yourself--and it’s a fun family project, especially when you reap the results at dinner. Most of the farms that allow picking are farther out east but the F & W Schmitt Farms at 29 Pinelawn Road is in Melville (off Walt Whitman Road). There you can pick tomatoes, plum tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and string beans on weekends from 9 AM to 4 PM. For more details, call 271-3276.

For more information and listings of sites, visit Pick Your Own in Suffolk County For a list of Suffolk County farmer’s markets selling only what they bake make, grow, or catch, go to: Suffolk County Farmer’s Markets.

DEAD HEADERS NOT ALWAYS ROCK FANS
At this time of year, deadheading is the way to go. Removing dead flowers accomplishes two purposes. First, you fool the plant into producing seeds again, therefore giving you more flowers. Second, your garden looks so much better after you’re done. The down side of deadheading is that you are not allowing the flower’s seeds to broadcast naturally so that you’ll have fewer new plants next year. To deadhead, cut spent flowers as soon as they bloom. Cut the long stems of tall flower down to the base. For other plants, snap or pinch off only the flowers with clippers or your fingers. When plants look ratty, trim back the foliage as well. Some flowers will re-bloom and others won’t. To keep annuals in shape, remove faded flowers as often as possible. If the plants become too leggy, cut back drastically. Petunias and salvia will respond well to tough love.

Artist Elizabeth Yaari designed the 2010 Gold Award Plaque.

This year, three gardeners from Asharoken, Eatons Neck, Northport, and the Crab Meadow area west of Waterside were chosen out of 45 entrants in the Asharoken Garden Club Street Garden Recognition program to receive a beautiful plaque on July 11th. Local artist Elizabeth Yaari donated her creative skills to design this plaque.

Photo: Joan Hauser

Mary and Philip Marrone

Street gardens, planned primarily for the pleasure of neighbors and passers-by, add immeasurably to the beauty of our community. 22 members of the Asharoken Garden Club acted as judges between June 21 and 28. Their scores were tallied to determine the top three.

All the participants in this program are to be highly commended. Each of the gardens demonstrated its owner’s love of gardening and determination to create a beautiful setting for their home or business.

The three outstanding gardeners who achieved this year’s gold award are: Philip Marrone at 3 Crescent Drive, Barbara McNally at 54 Church Street, and Flemming and Stace Hansen at 75 Woodbine Avenue (Copenhagen Bakery).

Philip Marrone’s garden is a riot of color as it cascades down the hill to the street. “Last fall,” he says, “We added the waterfall. We followed the contours of our property, to make it look as natural as possible. We love hearing the sound of the water, especially at night from our bedroom window, and, during the day, watching the different birds that come to bathe.”

Photo: Joan Hauser

Barbara McNally

Barbara McNally, who lives in a 102 year old former church, has designed a beautiful tiered garden that perfectly compliments the house. She says, “I wanted the garden to be soft and whimsical. That’s why I have included a folk art cow and the cow quilt to represent Cow Harbor. I have also planted vegetables and annuals in my perennial bed.”

Photo: Joan Hauser

Flemming Hansen

Outside their bakery, Flemming and Stace Hansen have added hanging baskets, standing pots, and a corner garden as well as tables and benches. As Flemming explains, “Flowers and delicious food go together, so we hope to invite our customers — and friends — to linger and enjoy both at the same time. It’s our way of making them feel welcome.”

The Asharoken Garden Club wishes to acknowledge and thank all of this year's participants:

• Ann Carballiera
• Joanne Casatelli
• Paolo Cassutti
• Ann & Marty Ciesinski
• Cindy D’Accordo
• Paul Devine
• Patty Dohne
• Peter Engelmann
• Joan Ettinger
• Karen Fisher Bernard
• Carolyn Fleming
• Terry Folcarelli
• Elizabeth Gartner
• Monica Gartner
• David Giacone
• Linda Grace
• Stace & Flemming Hansen
• Heidi Hayden & Bill Beach
• Bill Hosie
• Linda Jacks
• Vivian Jacobsen
• Caroline Jerome
• Jackie Johnson
• Susan Koenig-Lagermann
• Betty Koller
• Richard & Henrietta Larcade
• Sally Lauve
• Noelle & Sebastien Margand
• Philip Marrone
• Mary Matthews
• Annette McAndrews
• Laura & Chuck Micallef
• Lola & Richard McKillop
• Nancy McLoughlin & Steve Boccia
• Barbara McNally
• Laura & Mike O’Donohoe
• Donna Panarello
• Carol Ann Ryan
• Nicholas Roros
• Randal Rowe
• Christina & Jack Semple
• Gigi Spelman
• Anita Stambouly
• Joseph & Michele Tilleli
• Janet Toscano
• Christina Weber
• Millie Willen

To date, at least four Suffolk County garden clubs — the Three Village Garden Club, the Centerport Garden Club, the Suwasset Garden Club, and the Bellport Garden Club — as well as the Great Neck Garden Club in Nassau County and the Old Saybrook Garden Club in Connecticut are participating in their own version of this Program. More are being informed of its existence through Federated Garden Clubs and the Cooperative Extension.

Contact Joan Hauser for more information: 631-261-5897 or jgh921@aol.com

Click on an issue below to read previous articles. The article will open in a new window.

Stephen & Mary Ann DiPalo at 341 Asharoken Ave.

In 2009, 57 gardeners from Asharoken, Eaton's Neck, and Northport participated in the tenth Asharoken Garden Club Street Garden Recognition Program. 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 June 29. Their scores were tallied to determine the top three. The 2009 plaque was designed by artist and Garden Club member, Marilyn Chiodo. Plaques were presented to the winning gardeners on July 11, 2009.

The three most outstanding gardens are: Stephen & Mary Ann DiPalo at 341 Asharoken Avenue, 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!

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.

Cindy D’Accordo at 110 Seaview Terrace.

Vivian Jacobsen at 104 Seaview Terrace.