Gardening

(02/01/12) A new photo exhibit in Potsdam connects art, music, gardens and friendship. Photographer Jane Lammers spent time last spring, summer and early fall in the perennial gardens of three North Country friends.

She also assembled a playlist of music to accompany her exhibit, Perennial Bliss. It includes music by Jean-Pierre Rampal, Yo-Yo Ma and James Galway. The eight photos in the exhibit follow the seasonal flow in flower gardens.

Todd Moe spoke with Jane Lammers about gardens, photography and music. Her show is up through the end of the month at First Crush Bistro in Potsdam.

(01/30/12) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It's an update of a useful tool for gardeners. Clinton and Essex County Cornell Cooperative Extension Service Horticulturist Amy Ivy says it's a "great piece of the gardening puzzle" in the North Country, but not the whole story. She spoke with Todd Moe.

(01/23/12) January is the beginning of the gardening season for seed catalog fans. The stacks of colorful, glossy pages can set off a fantasy of unrealistic expectations, or can be the foundation of a good plan for the coming season.

Amy Ivy, of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service of Clinton and Essex counties shares thoughts on how a gardener can sort through the possibilities and make good choices for the new year.

(01/16/12) Birches bent double, spireas flattened, evergreens folded up like umbrellas -- heavy ice and snow put a huge strain on trees and woody shrubs, and temperatures around zero don't help. Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy tells Martha Foley there's not much to be done. Propping up a stressed branch is a good idea, but be gentle otherwise.

(01/09/12) There's open ground across much of the North Country. Temperatures are up above freezing one day, and may fall into the teens or single digits the next. It's hard to get a handle on this winter. But one thing is for certain, fluctuating temperatures combined with a lack of snow cover isn't good for the yard or garden. Amy Ivy, horticulturist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service of Clinton and Essex County, explains why in her weekly conversation with Martha Foley.

(01/02/12) Some post-holiday notes from Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy today. From a new Christmas cactus that's dropped its blossoms, or a 12-foot tree that's dropping its needles, Ivy shared tips with Martha Foley this morning.

(12/12/11) What may be a lovely snowy scene outdoors can mean dry and drafty conditions indoors, too hot or too cold, with little direct sun. All that is hard on house plants. Cornell Cooperative extension horticulturist Amy Ivy offers Martha Foley some advice on managing the indoor growing environment.

(12/05/11) Flowering plants are at the top of many gift lists. Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy tells Martha Foley it's a good idea to match the gift with the recipient's green-thumb potential.

(11/28/11) The forecast calls for a few more days of warmer than usual weather. But December is just around the corner, and parts of the North Country have already had their first foot of heavy snow. Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy shares a list of very mast minute things to do in the yard before winter really sets in.

(11/21/11) It was another weekend of gardening-friendly weather. Several "bonus" weekends have given gardeners extra time to do an extra-thorough clean-up this year. But how far is too far? And what are the best strategies for fighting next year's pests? Cornell Cooperative extension horticulturist Amy Ivy shares tips with Martha Foley.