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Naturally beautiful

by Lee Gugliada / Get Growing

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 2:07 PM

Advance photos/Irving SilversteinGarden club member Linda Scarano arranged orange pillar candles, some twig balls, a few rust-colored, dried plant materials and miniature Indian corn on a tray to create a simple, seasonal decoration for the hearth.

In a final burst of energy as she prepares for her long winter repose, Mother Nature not only puts on a glorious show with the coppery tones of fall, but provides us with an abundance of natural craft material. This is a season overflowing with riches that can easily be gathered to brighten the interior of our homes.

Recently, instead of heading off to the South Beach Boardwalk for our morning walking ritual, my sister and I did a nature walk, trekking through the side streets of New Dorp.

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Who needs a lawn? Grow a garden instead

by Lee Gugliada / Get Growing

Wednesday November 12, 2008, 10:06 AM

Repetition is an element to consider in designing a garden. Rita Sandberg peppered her back yard garden with redwood accessories, including a diminutive footbridge by a pond; quaint shed, a wishing well and windmill.

It was when she was watching her grandson mowing the grassy slope in the back yard of her Great Kills home that Rita Sandberg decided she was done worrying about him slipping and falling and being seriously injured while helping her.

She'd remembered reading an article in the Advance about how to easily eliminate a lawn by placing layers of the newspaper on top of the grass, then adding mulch on top of them. According to the article, the grass would be smothered and disappear within a short time; no need to waste energy digging up and removing the lawn.

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November in the garden

by Catherine Morrison

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 4:21 PM

Clean-up

Rake gardens clear of all debris.
Prepare beds for next spring by tilling the soil lightly.
Mulch all beds and borders. Treat clematis vines to a mulch of rotted manure.
Check rose climbers for insecure ties. Winter winds can bring them crashing to the ground.

Last-minute shopping

You may still find a few interesting offerings for sale this time of year. A small assortment of evergreens might be available.
It's a good time to examine a nursery's idea of what will provide a good show during the winter.

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Think spring, but prepare beds for their winter nap

by Catherine Morrison / This Month in Gardening

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 4:15 PM

Staten Island Advance File PhotoIf you long for color during winter, consider Winterberry, which will provide brilliant, red berries throughout the fall and winter.

I know I'm jumping the gun and shouldn't start making my spring lists until the catalogs start arriving in January, but the dire predictions for the year ahead are so grim I'm keeping my thoughts focused on spring. Of course, the economic crisis facing the nation is no excuse not to clean up the garden, but the prospect of spring seems a lot cheerier to contemplate.

I'm pleased to report that the Catskills garden enjoyed a last blowsy flush on my mid-October visit and I was still able to mark the gaps which will need filling next year. The subdued planting along the terrace, turned out to be too subtle after all and we are replacing the very quiet Meadowsweet with blue Caryopteris, which will give the all-white-and-green plan a needed boost.

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The story behind autumn's lovely leaves

by Eileen Torricelli / Get Growing

Wednesday November 05, 2008, 2:15 PM

Staten Island Advance/Irving SilversteinNature in all its glory on Rockland Avenue.

Have you ever wondered how and why a leaf changes color? Where do the bright reds, yellows and oranges come from?

Leaves are nature's "food factories." Each leaf is a mini-power station generating food the tree uses to provide the necessary energy for living and growing.

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