Perennials: Finish cleanup, including pulling weeds that are still growing. Cut back late-blooming mums. Leave the ornamental grasses for winter interest. Cut back perennials to 4 to to five inches. Spread fertilizer such as 5-10-5-on perennial beds. It will work into the soil during winter. Continue planting bulbs as long as weather permits. To [...]

Nov. 18
Chappaqua: The Taconic Garden Club. Topic: “Provocative Perennials.” Speaker: Ellen Zachos. Discover some of the best varieties for form, color and texture, and learn which plants do best in sun and shade. Free. 7:30 p.m. Chappaqua Public Library, 195 S. Greeley Ave. 914-238-4779.

Nov. 19
Spring Valley: Become Acquainted with Rockland County’s Water Birds. Speaker: [...]

A note from Barbara Cohen:

“Sunday, November 15, 2009
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location:
Petals and Stems FLorist, 77 Rt. 59, Monsey, NY

The Flower Morah

Petals and Stems announces Flower design classes for children 10-16

By popular demand, Floral Design instructor, Barbara Cohen will be teaching the carnation flower cube at Petals and Stems on Sunday, November 15 at 3:30 PM-4:30 PM. [...]

From Katherine Powis at NYBG:

Tuesday, November 10
Farm City: The Education
of an Urban Farmer
Reading, Slides and Signing

Novella Carpenter grows fruit and vegetables on a vacant lot and shares them with her neighbors. She also raises (and dispatches) chicken, ducks and rabbits. Meet Novella and hear her gritty, sometimes brutal, tale of farm life on the mean [...]

From Nick Leshi at NYBG:

“Celebrate Veterans’ Day at The New York Botanical Garden

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Enjoy Family Programming, Free Grounds Admission, and Veterans’ Discount

On November 11, experience fall events, beautiful exhibitions, and family activities at The New York Botanical Garden.
Grounds admission is free for all visitors throughout the day and United States Veterans receive $5 [...]

At this time of year, the dietary habits of your hungry deer are beginning to change. For winter, they move away from grasses and green stuff toward woodier plants, like trees and shrubs.

It’s a good time of year to respray these kinds of plants with deer repellents. Many of these commercial sprays have cold-temperature restrictions [...]

A note from Sandy Morrissey, a great birder (and gardener) in Hartsdale; her photos:

“Hi Bill,
I, too, am enjoying many blooming plants in my fall garden – even now in November.

A favorite – and one that many may not have – is pineapple sage (Salvia elegans). It does not bloom until late October but it is [...]

From Helle Raheem and the Bedford Audubon Society:

“Nature Hike at Hunt-Parker Sanctuary With Tait Johansson
Tuesday, November 10, 8 a.m.–10 a.m. Meet at Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Goldens Bridge.
Join Bedford Audubon naturalist Tait Johansson for a walk through the sanctuary’s meadows and woods. This walk will focus on identification of trees and shrubs. Bring binoculars; [...]

Ask the master gardeners

Q: I have never had a problem with deer, but now they occasionally come into my garden. With all the deer repellents available on the market, I am not sure which one to use.

A: The deer population has reached an all-time high. These attractive creatures are invading suburban areas at a fast [...]

Perennials: Continue planting bulbs. Mulch loosely with leaves or straw. Protect from squirrel foraging with plastic fruit boxes, screening or soak them in a deer repellent. A scattering of mothballs might help, too. It is too soon to mulch beds, but collect fallen oak leaves and pine needles to use later, after the ground freezes.

Flowers: [...]