September/October 2011 Newsletter

Giant Hogweed

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a Federally listed noxious weed. Its sap, in combination with moisture and sunlight, can cause severe skin and eye irritation, painful blistering, permanent scarring and blindness. Contact between the skin and the sap of this plant occurs either through brushing against the bristles on the stem or breaking the stem or leaves.

What to do if you come in contact with giant hogweed:

This plant poses a serious health threat; see your physician if you think you have been burned by giant hogweed. If you think you have giant hogweed on your property, DO NOT touch it!

How do you identify giant hogweed?

Giant hogweed is a biennial or perennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae) which can grow to 12 feet or more. Its hollow, ridged stems grow 2-4 inches in diameter and have dark reddish-purple blotches. Its large compound leaves can grow up to 5 feet wide. Its white flower heads can grow up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter. Please refer to the Giant Hogweed Identification page for further help.

Some other plants look very similar. If you need additional information or assistance in identifying your plant, you may call NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation at 845-256-3111. You will be asked to describe the plant height, stem color, leaf shape, flower color and shape, as well as give directions to the plant site. If you can, take digital photos and email them to NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, to help identify the plant.

Where is giant hogweed found?

Giant hogweed is a native of the Caucasus Mountain region between the Black and Caspian Seas. It was introduced to Europe and the United Kingdom in the late nineteenth century and to the United States in the early twentieth century as an ornamental garden plant. It has become established in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Seeds may also be distributed by birds and waterways, and can remain viable for over 10 years. There are current confirmed locations of giant hogweed sites in New York State. Check the DEC site for details.

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Binley's Fall Festival

Sixth annual event

Join us on Sat. September 17 from 9:30 AM to 4 PM for our 6th annual Fall Festival. WCKM's morning crew, Pete and Dan will be broadcasting live from 10 to noon.This year we've got something for everyone.

The SPCA of Upstate NY will be here with pets for adoption. Also our friends from the Parkland Alpaca Farm will be here with some animals. The Highland Maple Farm will be here with syrup and other maple products. New this year is wine tasting and sales from the Ledge Rock Hill Winery.

Come and see live birds of prey brought by North Country Wild Care. The NYS Police will be here at 10 AM & 1 PM with a canine demo.

There'll be local crafters, vintage cars and chair massages from The Massage Works.

Of course we will be featuring our spectacular garden mums and fall decor, including pumpkins and cornstalks. Stop by and join the fun. If you're not here, we'll miss you!

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Ledge Rock Hill Winery

Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Corinth NY, Ledge Rock Hill Winery is located in the lake region of Northern Saratoga County. They are situated between Saratoga Springs and Lake George and within miles of The Great Sacandaga Lake..

They are a family run operation with a dedicated love and appreciation for the art of fine wine making. Ledge Rock Hill specializes in limited vintage production, hand-crafted wines made from premium grapes.

2011 Florida State Fair awarded Ledge Rock Hill Winery Marquette 2009 double Gold.

"We're very, very proud. I've been working with this grape a long time. It's terrific; especially when you consider we went from double Gold to the sweepstakes round, and lost to a very expensive California wine. And it was a real thrill especially when you think about what kind of year 2009 was," said owner Gary Akrop. Gary and his wife Deborah also offer at the winery, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Old Vine Zinfandel.

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The Versatile Plant

All About Mums

When fall arrives, it's hard not to regret the passing of all the summer blooms we love so much: pompon dahlias, Shasta daisies, African daisies, little zinnias, asters, coreopsis, and calendulas.

But take heart, for the fall garden offers all these flower shapes from just one plant, the chrysanthemum. Hundreds of hardy cultivars provide an array of colors and bloom shapes, making mums the divas of the autumn garden. The blooms last for weeks, not days, and the sheer number of flowers per plant will convince anyone that this flower really likes to show off. Add the mum's impressionistic abilities to its longevity, and you have a plant that pulls its weight in the garden.

Chrysanthemums constitute a wide variety of plants including painted daisy, the very popular Shasta daisy and what we commonly refer to as the hardy mum. Hardy mums provide us with a wide array of color and form in the fall. They are a perfect replacement for the annuals you have enjoyed since spring.

Because of their tight, mounded habit and stunning bloom cover, garden mums are perfect for mass plantings. To get the maximum effect from far away, stick to only one or two colors. Another possibility is to arrange a gradual transition of related colors. Look around your yard to see what colors would best complement the existing landscape. If you decorate for fall with pumpkins and gourds, choose orange, bronze, yellow, and creamy white mums. If you have a lot of evergreen plants that provide a backdrop of varying shades of green foliage, try bright pinks, lavenders, pure whites, or reds. With such bold colors, a large grouping of mums can excite even the most drab of fall landscapes.

Garden mums also make great container plants. They're just right for popping into a clay pot, lining up in a row in a window box, or placing in the center of a mixed container with trailing foliage plants all around. Many landscape plants can provide a backdrop for groupings of mums. For texture, choose ornamental grasses or the neon purple berries of the beautyberry shrub (Callicarpa). You also can pair mums with smoke tree (Cotinus), variegated sedum, the deciduous dwarf Fothergilla gardenii, or almost any conifer.

To get the most from your mums, choose cultivars according to their bloom times. It also helps to coordinate bloom time with the length of fall in your location. Most garden mums will withstand a light fall frost, but finding the right cultivars will provide the longest possible amount of pleasure.

Annual or Perennial?

Mums aren't as expensive as many perennials, so if you choose to, you can plant them as annuals without worrying that you've spent too much money on something that might not live more than one season. If you're an impulse buyer, you'll probably see pots of colorful mums this fall and not be able to resist.

Winter Protection

Keep your garden mums' soil moist as winter approaches. There is no need to prune back plants until the following spring. In fact, Yoder Brothers of Barberton, Ohio have proven, by experiment, that mums cut back in early spring, instead of fall, survive hard winters better.

Mulch the plants after several hard frosts with straw or evergreen branches, etc. In spring, remove any old stems (a rake works fine) and gradually remove the mulch.

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Perfect Partners

Daffodils and daylilies are perfect partners because their leaves are nearly identical. After the daffodils finish their splendid spring show, their dying leaves aren't such an appealing sight. The daylilies grow up and over the daffodils, completely disguising the daffodil's fall from grace. In midsummer, the daylilies put on their own magnificent show. Fall is the time to plant daffodils for their spring show.

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Foliage Plant Sale

This month we're featuring floor plants. Choose from 7 varieties. Includes 8 inch fern hanging baskets. Sale ends Sept. 30.

Our Price: $14.99
List Price: $29.99

Also on sale, all 6 inch foliage plants and 8 inch hanging baskets 25% off regular price.