The annual Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale, the premier show in the country for garden ornament, opens on Friday, May 1 at the NY Botanical Garden and runs through the weekend.

I went last year and it was terrific. Local exhibitors this year include Barbara Israel of Katonah and Fleur of Mount Kisco.

The preview party will be held on Thursday evening.

Here’s a note from Katy Kiefer about what Barbara will be bringing this year:

“Barbara Israel has some really unusual pieces including a wonderful mural by artist/illustrator Jean Pages made for the well known catering concern Robert Day-Dean which will serve as a backdrop for her booth.

“In addition there are some wonderful sculptural pieces including a remarkable English lead figure of a small seated girl/sprite from the early 20th C.; a pair of Compton Pottery terra cotta fruit baskets; and a wonderful sundial from England circa 1850.

(Photos courtesy NYBG and B. Israel) Read more of this entry »

From the Horticultural Society of New York Library:

“Andrea Wulf – The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire & the Birth of an Obsession.

“An illustrated talk and book signing co-sponsored with The Royal Oak Foundation

Monday, May 4, 2009
12:00 – 1:30pm in the Library

Fee: $20 for HSNY members; $25 for non-members
RSVP

You don’t have to be a gardener to relish this entertaining tale of botanists in pursuit of plants.

Katherine Powis, Librarian
The Horticultural Society of New York
148 West 37th St., 13 floor
New York, NY 10018
212 757-0915  x 109
Fax 212 246-1207

A link to the book review in the NYTimes.

From the Garden Education Center of Greenwich:

“Garden Design Workshop with
Kent Russell

“Wednesday, April 29
10:00am

Cost: M $35 N/M $50

“Kent Russell returns, once again, with a truck full of specimen plants! This time he will create a colorful
perennial garden on top of the tables incorporating an array of exciting shrubs, new and unusual perennials,
and exotic annuals. Do you already have a wonderful garden? Are you creating a new garden room? Whether you’re an expert or a novice, Kent will demonstrate numerous combinations in his design that are sure to complement every garden situation. Needless to say, this presentation will be filled with innovative ideas, expert advice, entertainment, and many stories from his recent garden adventures.

All plants will be available for purchase. Read more of this entry »

Ask the master gardeners

Q: My fuchsias bloomed so beautifully last year that I decided to overwinter them. What should I do now to ensure a bounty of flowers this summer?

A: With their gracefully arching branches and spectacular single or double flowers, fuchsias are one of the most attractive container plants that continuously bloom throughout the summer in partially shady locations.

(photo by our Tom Nycz at the Nolen Greenhouses at NYBG) Read more of this entry »

If you’ve got lots of shade and a deer problem, andromeda is one of the best flowering shrubs you can try for your yard.

This rounded, compact evergreen shrub blooms very early in spring. Visit any local nursery this time of year and you’ll likely find andromeda in full flower.

Read more of this entry »

From the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Go to their Web site for more info.

From Robert Welsch of Westover Landscape Design:

“Local Irvington Landscape Designer becomes certified arborist

“Ann Acheson of Irvington, NY recently demonstrated professional competency by successfully completing the CERTIFIED ARBORIST examination administered through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the local Chapter of the ISA. Acheson, who is a professional landscape designer with Westover Landscape Design, Inc. of Tarrytown and the editor of Hudson Valley Garden  www.WestoverLD.com/about_newsletter; is pleased to be offering Arboriculture and professional tree care practices to her clients throughout Westchester County. Read more of this entry »

Perennials: When tulips and daffodils fade, snap off the tops to prevent seed pod formation. Leave the foliage until it is yellow or brown. Next year’s bulb and flower development depends on food produced by the leaves. Do not braid or wrap the leaves to make them look neat. Continue dividing overgrown plants.

Flowers: Get out planters, wash thoroughly and fill with fresh potting soil for annual displays. Pansies do well in the cool weather. Read more of this entry »

A Northern Westchester home blog.

Martha Stewart’s espalliered apple trees.

Cool video on how to prune blueberry bushes.

From the Peekskill Garden Club:

Saturday, May 9 – The Garden Club of Peekskill -  Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale from 9 to 2 at Riverfront Green Park at the bottom of Hudson Avenue next to Peekskill Train Station.  Great selection of annuals, perennials and members’ own plants. Free admittance.

Twice a year, Henriette Suhr hosts the Rocky Hills Lecture Series at the Chappaqua Library, with a local expert from the gardening world giving an hourlong illustrated lecture. Last night was garden writer and photographer Ken Druse.

Often she has a few people over to her house and garden in Chappaqua before or after the lecture for drinks and snacks. Rocky Hills has always been one of my favorite gardens in the Hudson Valley and it was great fun yesterday to see it coming back to life after a long, cold winter.

It had been raining all afternoon, but we got a nice break for a tour of the garden.

There are forget-me-nots everywhere — particularly early this year, she says.

They are the most wonderful shade of blue.

Read more of this entry »