Hooray, the roses are out! This is one of the roses in my backyard that smells like nutmeg! Do you have a favorite rose? Let us know what it is and why. Maybe it's a Knockout, because it's laughs in the face of blackspot and rust and can brave sub-zero temps. Or maybe it's a David Austin beauty that is more fragile but more lucious, with super-fragrant blooms and endless layers of cupped petals. Due to all of the rain, of course, we haven't been able to enjoy any roses as much as we'd like. But looking on the bright side we hope comes soon, none of our gardens are withering from lack of water! So here we are: The first colorful flush is almost done, and we can expect a few more before summer's done if we keep deadheading, fertilizing every 4 to 6 weeks, and squishing those aphids. But, please, don'tunder any circumstances, squish the soon-to-be-invading Japanese Beetles. Just drown them in soapy water! Squishing releases pheromones that attract more of those little iridescent buggers. Here endeth the lesson.

Water, water, everywhere

So when did White Plains adopt the same weather patterns as Seattle? On the bright side of so many gray, rainy days is that everyone's lawns and plants are looking very green and healthy. The downside, of course, is that some of us have backyard bogs, drowned plants, or standing water for all of those summer mosquitos. What to do? First, if the water is not draining at all, figure out what that water is. If you call the City of White Plains, it will send guys out to test the water to determine if it is groundwater, sewage (ew!), or drinking water (which means there's an underground pipe that's leaking. Second, determine how to drain the area or work with it. A landscape architect or engineer can help you figure out if you need a drywell, a catch basin, or a French drain. You may also find that the boggy part is ideal location for a goldfish pond (they love mosquitos) or planting flowers, shrubs or trees that love wet roots. A great May 13th NY Times article in the House & Home section lists a few, including Yellow Waxbells or Baptisia plants or Swamp Rose Mallow. There is also a tree, such as the river birch that, as its name implies, doesn't mind the water. 

By the way,  a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil in standing water does wonders to suffocate mosquito larvae. So while you wait for your quote on that French drain, get out the canola oil.

Mosquito info with checklist for standing water problems: https://engineering.purdue.edu/SafeWater/Ponds/mosquitoes1.htm

Dig in!

Hello and welcome to the inaugural post for the Gedney Farms Garden Club! This is the place for gardening give and take, where neighbors can go to help each other enhance the beauty of Gedney Farms while learning how to enjoy gardening their own plots of land. Whether you're a master gardener or this is your first time putting your hands in the dirt, GFGC is here to help you make the most of your garden. 

Let's dig in!