Filed under: gardening, Tree care, Uncategorized | Tags: botanical gardens, flowers, gardening, public gardens, trees
First frost is approaching, so our gardeners have been working hard to dig up the tropical plant beds and prepare the plants for winter. Gardener Morgan Potter who manages QBG’s greenhouse offers some tips on overwintering your tropical plants:
Plants adapted to warm, tropical climates do well in our summer gardens but must be moved indoors before frost arrives. Overwintering offers gardeners a chance to save their favorite plants so that they can be replanted next spring.
For plants like bananas and elephant ears, chop off the leaves and put the roots in the smallest pot possible with a handful of moist, sterile potting soil. Store in a cool location protected from frost like a garage or basement. Check the moisture level every other week. Wet soil will cause the roots to rot, but dusty soil is too dry – aim for slightly moist that is cool to the touch.
Dahlias and caladium fleshy roots (actually called tubers) should be placed in a paper bag with a small handful of slightly moist, sterile potting soil. Store in a cool, dry place like a basement or garage.
Tropicals already potted up and gracing the patio or terrace can be moved to brighten up indoor rooms. Choose a location with bright sun and no drafts (even if the air is warm). Most plants, like rubber trees, philodendron, and cordyline, adjust to dry indoor air, but others with tender leaves such as hibiscus prefer a little more humidity – the kitchen or bathroom provides a perfect location. Misting leaves is not necessary and can promote mold growth.
Water plants only when the soil is dry. Indoor air can make surface soil dry so scratch it away to check on moisture deeper in the pot. Don’t let water collect in saucers under pots.
Overwintering tropical plants will go dormant or “sleep” until conditions are right to resume growth. During this dormant time don’t add fertilizers, which encourages growth and flowering at the wrong time, and offers young, succulent leaves for an insect feast.
Some insect pests to watch for include scale, spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and occasionally white flies. Before moving plants inside, dislodge any insects with a strong jet of water from a garden hose, making sure to reach small crevices where the leaf and stem are joined. If pests are found during the winter, place plants in the shower for a few minutes to dislodge aphids, handpick scales, and use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove mealybugs. And don’t worry about any spiders around your plants – they are actually beneficial and help keep down insect pests.
Overwintering plants is not only a rewarding experience, but helps to cure the winter doldrums by bringing beautiful plants inside as we think of spring!
Filed under: Events, family activities, Uncategorized | Tags: botanical gardens, childrens gardening, family activities, halloween, public gardens, pumpkins
Celebrate Halloween and Harvest Time at QBG!
Looking for a fun and safe place to take the kids for Halloween? Look no further than the Queens Botanical Garden!
QBG’s Harvest Family Fundraiser will be held on Friday, October 30 from 6-9 pm. Lots of fun activities with Halloween treats, plus a costume contest, pumpkin painting and much more! Just $25 for a family of four.
Also join us on Saturday, October 31 from 1-3 pm for our traditional Pumpkin Patch, which includes activities for the kids and pumpkin painting. Cost is $10/child.
Registration and advanced payment for the Harvest Family Fundraiser is required; call 718.886.3800 x 230.
For more information, click on www.queensbotanical.org
Filed under: gardening, Tree care, Uncategorized | Tags: botanical garden, childrens gardening, flowers, public gardens, trees, vegetables
As the weather cools, gardeners often breathe a sigh of relief and welcome autumn as a chance to relax from a summer filled with weeding and watering!
But before curling up on the couch with a cup of tea and thinking about next year’s garden, take some time to prepare your plants for winter and ensure a lovely spring.
In the flower beds:
- Deadhead annuals and perennials – better yet, leave up a few seedheads to provide food for hungry birds preparing for winter. As for roses, stop deadheading 45 days before frost (in NYC, that date is November 10 according to Cornell University http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gardening/weather/images/fallfrostlg.jpg)
- Dig up dahlia, canna, and tropical tubers before a hard frost. Store them for the winter in a dark, dry, cool location like the garage or basement. Similarly, move tropical plants indoor for the winter.
- Plant spring blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
- If needed, move peonies now so they have time to reestablish before cold weather sets in.
For trees and shrubs
- Rather than raking up fallen leaves and leaving them at the curb for garbage pick-up, shred them and place around trees and shrubs. The leaves help insulate the roots from cold winter weather, and add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.
- Transplant trees and shrubs while it’s still warm and before frost. Be certain to help the plants become established with a long, deep watering but avoid adding fertilizer which can send them into a growth spurt just when cold weather is arriving. Instead of fertilizer, place those shredded leaves around the plant’s base.
- Pruning chores are easier in fall as the leaves drop. But be certain to only prune away dead or diseased wood – if you prune healthy wood, it will spur new growth that will become damaged by winter cold. (We’ll have winter pruning tips in a couple months.)
In the vegetable garden:
- Keep on harvesting those last vegetables like the cool season leafy greens. If your garden is still dripping with tomatoes, check out our terrific bruschetta recipe, and save those herbs like basil and thyme by drying them.
- For empty garden beds, plant a cover crop to add nutrients to the soil. Find out more at http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/ecogardening/impsoilcov.html
- Plant garlic and onions for harvesting next season.
- Spread a layer of mulch, like those shredded leaves, over the soil so it will be nutrient-rich come spring.
Check back soon for QBG’s fall chores focused on turf grass!
Filed under: family activities, gardening | Tags: botanical, botanical garden, botanical gardens, bulb planting, bulbs, childrens gardening, daffodils, family activities, gardening, gardening tips, public garden, public gardens, tulips
It’s that time of year! The weather is cooler, the summer plants are starting to fade — but think spring by planting bulbs.
QBG is proud to be an affiliate of the Bloomin’ Bucks program with Brent and Becky’s Bulbs — your purchase can help the Garden! We’ve always enjoyed using Brent and Becky’s products and think you will too.
Just visit http://www.bloominbucks.com, select the Queens Botanical Garden from the drop-down menu and start shopping!
Check back next week when we have Part 2 of the bulb series — how to plant your bulbs.
Filed under: family activities, gardening, Nature | Tags: botanical, botanical garden, botanical gardens, childrens gardening, environment, family activities, gardening, insects, praying mantis, public garden, public gardens, sustainability
Look hard and you might be able to see the praying mantis in QBG’s oakleaf hydrangea (click on the picture for a larger version).
Send a comment if you can find it!
Filed under: Events, family activities, gardening, Nature | Tags: bees, botanical, botanical garden, botanical gardens, environment, family activities, gardening, native plants, public garden, public gardens, trees
Plan a visit to QBG and catch autumn’s spectacular show! Fall foliage isn’t the only color either – plenty of flowers and bright berries to enjoy!
Filed under: family activities, gardening | Tags: botanical, botanical garden, botanical gardens, childrens gardening, family activities, public garden, public gardens
Here at QBG we’ve always known that gardening is a terrific family activity! Now the National Gardening Association is helping families start their garden with The Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award.
Filed under: Awards and news | Tags: botanical gardens, compost, composting, environment, public gardens
We’re proud to see Dan Tainow and Julia Corwin are ranked as #4 in “It’s Queens” magazine’s list of the Top 15 Going Green!
Read the article.
Find out more about QBG’s compost programs.
Filed under: gardening, Nature | Tags: bees, birds, botanical, botanical garden, botanical gardens, environment, gardening, native plants, public garden, public gardens, sustainability
Shari Romar, QBG’s Grant Writer & Manager, offers her thoughts on this read:
I was thrilled to see Douglas Tallamy’s book in my local bookstore as it covered my favorite topics – plants, birds, insects and gardening for wildlife. As professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, I felt that the author could provide a scientific depth to wildlife gardening that is sometimes missing from other books. I was not disappointed.
Tallamy offers up compelling reasons why we should create wildlife habitat in our backyards and other spaces, and shows us how to get started. He details the differences between native and non-native plants, how to create an ecological balance in the landscape, defends the work of insects normally shunned as pests, and provides a wealth of information on suggested plant species. In a nod to restrictions imposed by some homeowners’ associations, one chapter is even titled “Blending In with the Neighbors.”
I was particularly impressed with his ability to synthesize complex ecological concepts and research into an interesting, readable tone without becoming too simplistic. Even his research citations listed within the text did not break up sentence tone or flow – a talent difficult to master as I found out in graduate school! Such readability ensures that a wider audience can digest the content and take positive steps in their own landscape.
My only criticism of the book is Tallamy’s apparent dislike for cities as places void of nature, specifically citing New York City in some cases. For instance, on page 39 while explaining the need for biodiversity he asks, “After all, millions of people live quite successfully in New York City, an environment almost devoid of non-human life forms.”
While most of us probably agree that New York City is not a pristine habitat, our hometown is certainly not lacking in “non-human life forms.” Considering avian life alone, New York provides a home to a many resident species, and, thanks to our location along the Atlantic Flyway, we are a major stopping point for migratory birds. In fact, you can regularly see my QBG blog entries about birds I’ve casually spotted here at QBG on my lunch hour.
Despite this one criticism, I do agree with Tallamy about the general loss of biodiversity in our world, and salute him for writing this excellent guide to improving its odds for survival. As the cold weather starts to descend on our region, I recommend some quiet time indoors curled up with Bringing Nature Home to reflect how we each can improve our landscape for wildlife.
Filed under: cooking, Events | Tags: botanical gardens, family activities, farmers market, fruit, gardening, public garden, public gardens, recipes, vegetables
Plan a shopping trip to the Farmers Market in QBG’s temporary parking lot. Plenty of eggplants, leafy greens, and root vegetables like carrots and beets — and don’t forget to pick up apples! The Farmers Market is open every Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until November 13.
(Stop by our gift store beforehand and purchase a QBG tote bag to carry all your Farmers Market treasures.)
Looking for an apple recipe? Shari Romar, QBG’s Grant Writer & Manager, shares her family’s apple crisp.
Grandma’s Apple Crisp
5-6 Granny Smith apples
1 cup flour
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup sugar
½ cup (approximate) butter or margarine
Cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel, slice, and core apples and place in baking pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and sugar. Add butter or margarine and mix until ingredients form moist crumbs (a little more butter or margarine may be needed). Spread crumb topping over apples in baking pan.
Place baking pan in oven. Bake between 30-45 minutes.
