WNFGA News

Several branches in the New York Division of WNF&GA are celebrating milestone birthdays this fall and next year and a special event took place on September 23, 2009 to mark the Tri-County Branch’s 80th Birthday and the NY Division Founders Day. You can read all about the planned festivities in the Autumn 2009 Edition of the New York Division Newsletter.

Also included in the Newsletter are a message from the Division President, Audrey Ehrler, some reminiscences  from the archives about clotheslines (remember those?) and reports on recent and ongoing projects like the Ambler site project. There are some charming photos from recent activities, a schedule of upcoming events and a really amazing bee story.

Be sure to check out the new issue of the New York Division Newsletter right away. You’re sure to find something to make you smile.

“Curses…an unidentified plant…..”

           Under all trees and plants in Heaven, (or whatever your thoughts on final destinations for us farmers and gardeners) I’m sure there are plant labels with names and even Latin ones.  Ideally we should all have on our bookshelves, a copy of “Gardener’s Latin” or a similar volume.  Eleanor Perenyi, writing in her “Green Thoughts” (1981) wishes she had ordered her Lavender plants using Linnaeus…that way, she would have avoided the “Lavender Swindles.”

            Deer cure…or so someone claims…two cups of water, two eggs and a teaspoon of dish detergent.  Spray on plants.

            We are most grateful to Julie Siefker for offering to handle Registration for the next June meeting.  Jenny Rose Carey is swamped with her work at the Ambler Arboretum for the coming months but will of course be available if needed.

            Congratulations once again to the Tri-County Branch on their 80^thyear.  I will be there to help them celebrate, along with Audrey Ehrler and her husband.  I hope to see many of you, then.

            I mentioned in my message to you in the forth-coming magazine, of the death of Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Father of the Green Revolution and native of Iowa.  He was important to all of us, although many people had little knowledge of him and his work with wheat that provided untold millions of families with food.  He said later in life that it was his boyhood on the farm that motivated him to pursue his career in intensive modern agriculture.

            As the Green Revolution continues, whole towns such as Franklin, Massachusetts have applied new techniques to help nature.  Franklin discovered how to deal with storm water pollutants, by using “tree pit areas,” which catch storm water.  The trees capture the pollutants, filter them and the clean water goes back into the soil.  The town has chosen an ornamental flowering tree for its tree-centric storm water drains.

            These could save thousands of dollars and help to beautify the streets of this New England town.

            Don’t forget to send me your memory stories for our book.

            I suppose, like a good labeling gardener, I should label this message with something Latin.  Hmmmmm.

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, a first of its kind event is taking place and you don’t want to miss it!

The Pennsylvania – Mongomery County Beekeepers’ Association and Temple University/Ambler Campus & Arboretum are joining together to sponsor the first ever public Honey Bee Symposium.

There will be plenty of great opportunities to learn about

• Honey Bees & Beekeeping
• Honey and Products from the Hive
• Bee-friendly Plants
• Chemical-free Gardening
• Native Pollinators
• Colony Collapse Disorder
• Pesticides and Other Threats to Honey Bees

PLUS …

There will be Guided Garden Tours, Guest Speakers, Books, T-shirts, Beekeeping Supplies, Seeds and lots more!

Space is limited, so be sure to Sign Up Now ( Registration Form in PDF format will open in a new window)!

You can look over the Bee Fest Schedule (or print it out to share with fellow gardeners) HERE
(PDF Schedule will open in a new window).

For all the details and a great-looking Bee Fest Flyer that you can print and share with your club members, Click Here. (PDF Flyer will open in a new window).

For More Information including Speaker Biographies and a Synopsis of each talk, visit the Pennsylvania – Montgomery County Beekeepers’ Association web site.

This sounds like such a fun and informative event! Hope you can make it.

We were off yesterday with our country cousins to the Armada 4-H county fair.  We drove the moo….d setting back roads to arrive in time for the kids competition with wild life, there ages varied and it was sister against brother but all with a sense of accomplishment.  The displays of sunflowers and corn stalks where as high as an elephant’s eye. The impressive displays of canning produce, baking and quilting was quite a sight.   The VFW featured Road Kill for dinner but no fresh scooped ice cream so on our way back we stopped at Cook’s farm who offered COW to CONE.

Editors note: A perfect picture of a summer afternoon in Michigan and a first time visit to a rural 4-H County Fair. If you’ve not had the experience, put it on your list of Things To Do!