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JUdy's Blog

Sad News about Gail Sauer

6/30/2011

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I want to quote BGC VP Sheila Mozer:
"Dear Members of the Blackridge Garden Club:I received the message below from Dave Sauer, through the Caring Bridge web site.  Gail Sauer was a delightful woman who belonged to the Garden Club for many years before they moved near Sun City in South Carolina.  One of the homes on last night's garden tour belonged to the Sauers.  Charmagne Anderson commented that she couldn't take credit for the garden since it had been planted by the former owner.  That was Gail.

I don't know anything yet about arrangements but thought all of you would want to know that Gail had passed after a valiant battle against cancer.

Sheila Mozer

'Thursday, June 30, 2011 11:01 AM, EDT

I want everyone to know how much this site meant to the two of us.  Your kind words and support was constant and made us both feel better during the hard times. This will be my last entry as Gail passed away peacefully this morning.  She fought a long and hard battle..  Her goal was to enjoy our family who have been visiting for the past week and a half.  Kelly, Brooke and Matt are still here and Tim is flying in tonight.  We have one another and will support each other through this hard time.  Thanks to all of you.

Dave
'"

UPDATE:  Gail's Post-Gazette obituary can be found here
, and is copied below.



SAUER GAIL ANN (COTTON)
Age 69, formerly of Churchill, on June 30, 2011 at her home in Sun City, SC. Born August 15, 1941 in Bellevue to the late Robert S. and Evelyn Cotton. Beloved wife of David for 47 years; loving mother of Kelly (Chuck) Mazon, of Delmont, Brooke (Jim) McDermott, of Charlotte, NC, Timothy Sauer, of Tuscan, AZ, and Matthew Sauer, of Verona; proud grandmother of Hannah and Charlie Mazon, Reilly, Dugan, Delaney, and Sullivan McDermott; also McKenna, Griffin, and Quinn Sauer. Memorial visitation at WOLFE MEMORIAL, INC. FOREST HILLS CHAPEL, 3604 Greensburg Pike, 412-731-5001, Friday 7-9 p.m. and Saturday 1-3 p.m. Service and interment private. Family suggests donations to: www.caringbridge.org, Tidewater Hospice, Bluffton, SC or University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Melanoma Program.  Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
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Thoughts on Pruning Cornus kousa 'Milky Way'

6/30/2011

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       When we purchased the very large specimens of 'Milky Way' from Chapon's for the Collins corners, we knew they were stock from the previous season, and as a result, were stressed, but we figured we could baby them back to health.  Towards that end, we have been regularly supplementing their water with rooting hormone, we have given them some nice compost, and some excellent organic fertilizer.  When Mother Nature doesn't provide the water, volunteers from the garden club do.
       It's almost July and it's a dry day--a perfect time to prune woody plants like our little dogwoods.
       I went at them today, a little more conservatively than I would have if they had not been stressed.  In other words, there are a few crossing branches and shoots from the base of the tree that I would have removed if I didn't want to preserve every leaf to do their important job of photosynthesis.  I only removed dead or damaged wood, and opened up the center a little bit.  I also found some long-dead ivy tendrils that were still strangling some of the upper branches, and removed all of those. 
       You can see from the bucket in the snapshot; 'Milky Way' is a twiggy bugger, so it took quite a while to work my way through those tiny twigs.  (In Girl Scout parlance, it's all tinder, and no kindling or fuel.)  Normally, I find pruning to be a very soothing experience--a perfectly literal decision tree from start to finish.  I was feeling very Zen for the first couple of hours, and then I came to two conclusions:  1.  My pruner is garbage, and I need a new one today.  2.  I should have eaten breakfast before I started this project.

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July and August 2011 in the Garden: Watering Tips

6/23/2011

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Picture
    • A good rule of thumb is that plants in the ground need about one inch per week of water.  Translating that into gallons means a plant growing in about 1 square foot of soil needs a bit more than half a gallon of water a week to equal 1 inch, so a 4 ft x 8 ft bed will need about 20 gallons of water a week.
    • Water thoroughly and deeply each time and to allow the soil to dry out between waterings.  Deep watering will allow the roots to grow deeper, where they are less likely to dry out, and will better anchor the plant.  Light, surface watering wastes water because the water never reaches the root zone of the plants, and the moisture evaporates rapidly from the top inch of soil.   A good way to tell if your plants are receiving enough water is to dig down a few inches, using a trowel.  The soil should be moist at least 3 or 4 inches deep.  Planting drought-tolerant plants (which we recommend) reduces the need for frequent watering, but the principle of deep watering still applies.
    • As the weather dries out, your container plants may need daily watering, especially if the pots are exposed to the drying sunlight. Push your finger into the soil in your container plantings at least once a day to feel for moisture and be certain that plants are getting enough water. Apply water until it runs out the drainage holes.
    • Do your watering during the morning hours so that the leaves can dry off before the hot sun hits them.  Only water in the evenings if the temperatures are warm enough to ensure that foliage dries before temperatures drop at night, because wet foliage increases plants’ susceptibility to fungal and bacterial diseases.
    • Continue to improve the quality and texture of your soil by adding organic matter at least twice during the growing season.  Soils high in organic matter maintain a much better moisture balance.  An easy way to incorporate organic matter is to spread homemade or purchased compost on your planting beds in the spring and to use organic mulches, like shredded hardwood bark or leaf mold, year-round.
    • If a water shortage is expected, let your lawn go dormant, and water it as seldom as once a month.  Once the rains return, the lawns will return to their active, green state.  Raise the cutting height of your mower, so that the taller grass can help to cool the roots and preserve the soil moisture.
    • I found many online resources with advice about watering, including most state university and county extension websites.  One informative page is http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/lanb002/lanb002.htm
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Sad News and a Loss for the Blackridge Garden Club

6/21/2011

1 Comment

 
       The members of the garden club were deeply saddened to learn of the death of our member, Agnes Wozniak.  Agnes was a beloved and valued colleague and friend, in addition to being the mother of former member, Patti Wozniak Henk.  Agnes knew antiques like no one else in the club, and she was a whiz at organizing the Attic Treasures table at the annual benefit.  Agnes also snapped many photos of garden club events and helped club historian Shirley Rapport record our memories.  Agnes, with her sweet smile and gentle manner, participated in many meetings, trips, and fundraisers over the past decade, and we will miss her enormously.   
       Following is a copy of her obituary in the Post-Gazette from http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?n=agnes-l-wozniak-malinzak&pid=152103014
       WOZNIAK AGNES L. (MALINZAK)
Age 82, of Monroeville, on Saturday, June 18, 2011. Beloved wife of Aleck Wozniak for 63 years; loving mother of Charles A. (Mai) Wozniak, Mary Joan Luckock, Mark T. (Janet) Wozniak and Patricia (John) Henk; loving grandmother of Lucy Marlane McClure, Alex McClure, Jennifer Gereshenski, Jonathan (Marcie) Wozniak and Sarah (Tad) VanDeCar; loving great- grandmother of Olivia and Hunter; sister of Frank (Edie) Malinzak and Martha Malinzak, and the late Stephen, Joseph and Albert Malinzak. Agnes' passion were antiques and fine art. She enjoyed and relished the friendships she made through owning Agnes' Antiques, and her work as an artist in painting fine china. She was a member of St. Bernadette's Womens Guild. Friends received at the GENE H. CORL INC. FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATION CENTER OF MONROEVILLE, 4335 Northern Pike (1 block East of Mosside Blvd.-Rte. 48) (A Golden Rule Member). Visitation Tuesday and Wednesday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bernadette Catholic Church on Thursday at 10 a.m. with Rev. Anthony Gargotta, as celebrant. Interment following at Good Shepherd Cemetery. Corl Family Directors, 412-372-2100, www.corlfuneralchapel.com, Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb

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Blackridge Cookbook LIVE: Grandma Viviani's Pizza!

6/18/2011

2 Comments

 
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       Brainchild of BGC President Emeritus Lil Huguley, the Blackridge Cookbook was one of the most successful and most enjoyable fundraisers we have ever had.  (There are probably even a few copies of this classic still available.  Post here if you are interested in purchasing one.)  We will have some available for sale at the upcoming Blackridge Garden Tour on June 29, 2011.
       We know the cookbook is popular, and we also know that one of the most popular recipes is Grandma Viviani's Pizza.  We couldn't pass up the opportunity to give you the link to the video of Rose Del Presto (author of several other recipes in the Blackridge Cookbook) preparing the pizza live.  Enjoy!
        

2 Comments

Corners Partial Plant List

6/14/2011

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Folks, this list is a work in progress, and members, if you have additions or corrections, please add comments, and I will amend it.


BCA:
Heucherella x 'Sweet Tea'

Forest Drive:
Buxus x 'Green Velvet'
Caladium sp. 
Cercis canadensis ‘Silver Cloud’ 
Cornus hessei  'Garden Glow'
Euonymus alatus 'Compacta'
Ilex crenata ' Green Luster'
Torenia hybrida 'Rosy Cheek Moon'
Torenia hybrida 'White Moon'

Blackridge Road:
Buxus x 'Green Mountain'
Hemerocallis x 'Daring Deception' 
Hemerocallis x 'Swirling Water'
Itea virginica  'Sprich' aka 'Little Henry' (removed)
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' (1996 Perennial Plant of the Year)
Perovskia atriplicifolia 
Sedum telephium 'Autumn Joy'
Verbena x 'Aztec White Magic'

Old Gate/ Wm Penn:
Buxus x "Green Mountain' (boxwood)
Delphinium grandiflorum 'Summer Morning'
Hemerocallis x 'On and On'
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Blue'
Liriope muscata 'Variegata'
Lithodora diffusa
Perovskia atriplicifolia (1995 Perennial Plant of the Year)
Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' 
Rudbeckia hirta 'Double Gold', 'Indian Summer', 'Prairie Sun', 'Tiger Eye Gold', and 'Toto'
Salvia nemorosa 'Mainacht' (1997 Perennial Plant of the Year)
Scabiosa japonica var. Alpina  'Ritz Blue'
Scabiosa japonica var. Alpina 'Ritz Rose'
Verbena tenuisecta 'Edith'
Veronica spicata 'Ulster Blue Dwarf'
Weigela florida ‘Gold Rush’ 

Old Gate/Graham:
Euonymus alatus 'Compacta'
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'Lobularia maritima
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'
Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost'
Viburnum dentatum 'Raspberry Tart'

McNary:
Buxus x
Euonymus alatus 'Compacta'
Heuchera x 'Citronelle'
Hydrangea paniculata 'Pinky Winky'
Thuja occidentalis 'Yellow Ribbon'
Verbena x 'Aztec Grape Magic'
Verbena x 'Aztec White Magic'

Collins:
Buxus microphylla japonica 'Winter Gem'
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis Compacta'
Cornus kousa 'Milky Way'
Euonymus japonicus
Hydrangea quercifolia
Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket'
Rosa x ‘Radsunny'
Verbena x 'Aztec Grape Magic'
Verbena x 'Aztec White Magic'


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    Author,
    Judy Diorio

    Judy's Blog is written by Blackridge's gardener-in-residence, Judy Diorio.  Judy has lived in Blackridge for 35 years, and writes the BGC's "In The Garden" column for the Blackboard.  She has studied horticulture and landscape design.

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