Pitchforks (and hydrant wrenches) aloft!

Flower Power! We are neighbors who are interested in bringing some botanical beauty to the bike-lane
tree pits so we have persuaded the city to allow us to garden there unimpeded. Anyone is welcome to
join at any level of involvement. There are no dues and no formal meetings; Just a desire to keep
Chelsea tree-lined and flower-filled. Join us!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Highline events

Johnny Linville, the Horticulture Foreman of the Highline sent this:
For more see www.thehighline.org

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7:00PM - Tuesday, September 27, 2011 8:00PM
Rail Yards Talks: Rick Darke


In this public talk, entitled The High Line’s Wild Gardens: Past, Present, and Future, author, photographer, and landscape ethicist Rick Darke will talk about his experience photographing the High Line, and discuss the park’s impact on landscape design and urban planning across the world.
Rick Darke first visited the High Line in 2002, when Joshua David and Robert Hammond invited him to see the self-seeded landscape that had taken over the structure. Since then, Darke has been documenting the landscape as it changes in color and texture throughout the seasons. An internationally recognized expert on grasses, Darke has visited the High Line with Piet Oudolf, Melissa Fisher and other staff to talk about the roles these unique plants play on the High Line.
In this talk and slideshow, Darke will take the audience on a visual tour of the High Line, discussing its past, present, and future. A short Q&A will follow the presentation.
LOCATION
14th Street Passage
On the High Line at 14th Street
This High Line Program is free and open to visitors of all ages. No RSVP required. Seating is available on a first-come, first served basis.
This is the second of three talks about the High Line at the Rail Yards. Friends of the High Line Co-Founder Robert Hammond will speak on Wednesday, October 5.

http://www.thehighline.org/events/all/2011/9/rail-yards-talks-rick-darke

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Saturday, October 1, 2011 10:00AM - Saturday, October 1, 2011 11:30AM
Learn to Compost in the City


Learn how to nourish your plants and cut down on household waste with urban composting. The High Line gardeners will teach the basics, and review options for composting in a dense, urban environment like New York City. Participants will take home their own worm composting bin.
LOCATION
14th Street Passage On the High Line at 14th Street
This High Line Program is free and open to visitors ages 16 and up. RSVP is required.

September Pit Maintenance


September Gardening Tips from the NY Botanical Garden


Planning
* Complete ordering spring-flowering bulbs and other plants for fall planting
* Continue to assess areas in the garden that may need additional planting
* Continue to take garden notes and/or photographs to plan future plantings

Chores and Maintenance

* Collect seed from perennials and annuals
* Remove and compost spent annuals and fallen leaves
* Continue to aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition
* Continue to check for insect pests and treat accordingly
* Continue to remove any fallen leaves and debris that can harbor insect pests and disease organisms
* Continue to apply deer repellent (or maybe rat repellent in NYC)
* Begin to feed birds

Planting
* Continue to propagate herbs from new growth and transplant into pots for winter use
* Continue to divide and transplant early-blooming perennials
* Divide daylilies after flowering
* Plant lilies
* Sow hardy annuals in prepared planting beds
* Plant late-season annuals like ornamental kale and cabbage for fall color
* Sow parsley, radish, lettuce, carrot, and onion
* Complete planting out seedling biennials

Pruning/Fertilizing

* Prune rambler roses
* Prune to remove any diseased and dead rose canes
* Add organic matter such as manure, compost and/or leaf mold to improve soils
* Fertilize roses one last time

Friday, September 2, 2011

Free daffodils Sunday October 16 at 2pm

Mark your calendars and bring some bags.

The Daffodil Project is generously giving us 1,000 bulbs for our pits. Phyllis and I will pick them up around noon and we'll distribute them soon after. It would be nice if we could also plant them that afternoon so we could help each other.
Let's say pick up will be around 2pm. Location to be announced.
Flower Power!

Caterpillars to Butterflies

Well it's finally happened; I'm going to be mother. I had about 20 bright green-with-black-band caterpillars working their way through the parsley last week and now they've disappeared. From what I've found on the Internet, in about 10 days (Sept. 11), I will have Black Swallowtail butterfly babies!
Come by then and see. (20th and 9th).
Flower (or Parsley) Power!!

My source:
http://www.butterflygardeningandconservation.com/butterfly/st/black.php