Here’s a photo gallery of the Project Bloom gardens from last month. I am so impressed with the alyssum, snapdragons and gallardia that won’t stop blooming! The Geraniums in the greenhouse are ready for cuttings, and the vegetable beds are all cleaned up for the season. We are glad that the deer ignored the columbine this year, so it will come back as a strong perennial next year.
[Not a valid template]Van Dyke Gardens: November
Our Garden – November 12, 2015
Come see what is in bloom for the month of November in our garden right now! We have been doing a lot of work in the yard recently as well. We have put down a foundation for the new greenhouse in the backyard, we have started to form a rock garden, and we put down new stepping stones in the front yard. Some of the flowers growing include Gerber Daisies, Hydrangeas and Atrium.
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November Update: Project Bloom
Here is an update for November 2015, for Project Bloom. Lacrosse Players from Dowling College came and volunteered. They helped put down wood chips, fix up one of our beds and they connected two separate beds into one big one. Big thanks to them! The memorial garden is also in full bloom, the Alyssum and Snapdragons look beautiful along the perimeter. If you look closely you can see the water peaking through the trees behind the memorial garden.
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What to do in November
November is here, which means changing colors, raking, and Thanksgiving. But before turkey time comes around, here are some chores that should be done in preparation for the coming winter months.
1. For December blooms, place Christmas cactus in the dark at 55-60 degrees for 14 hours each night, and in bright light for 10 hours daily.
2. Deadhead flowering houseplants and trim brown foliage.
3. Harvest Brussels sprouts.
4. Continue to plant bulbs as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
5. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
6. Resist the urge to apply new mulch; it’s still too early. The ground must be frozen.
Don’t forget that it is illegal to apply fertilizer from November 1st to April 1st in Suffolk County, and from November 15th to April 1st in Nassau County. As the ground starts to freeze, it becomes harder for water to absorb into the soil. When it rains, the excess nitrogen from the fertilizer runs off and gets in to the public drinking water supply, endangering the public health.