14th Annual Bethel Garden Fair on Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Bethel Garden Fair is held at the Fairfield Country Extension Center. 67 Stony Hill Road in Bethel, CT 06801-3056 Free Admission. Our theme this year is Sustainable Solutions. We all want to be more “green” and help address many of the negative effects on nature. The year’s fair will focus on ways to reduce environmental harm, benefit wildlife, and use native plants. Plus, as more of us want to grow some of our own food, vegetable gardening will be a major topic as well. For those who want to buy local, the Bethel Farmer’s Market will open that day with us as well. There will be something for everyone: Informational booths (in process of being updated) Presentations (in process of being updated) Walks (in process of being updated) Plant Sale Demonstrations Free Admission. Sponsored by the University of Connecticut Fairfield County Master Gardener Program and the Connecticut Master Gardener Association. 14th Annual Bethel Garden Fair on Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Bethel Garden Fair is held at the Fairfield Country Extension Center. 67 Stony Hill Road in Bethel, CT 06801-3056 2016 Bethel Garden Fair Flyer

Amy- do you think the petasites would not spread if I planted them inside a pot or put a deep border around the area? If so, I'd like to try one. Also, Kathy asked if I'd keep my eyes open for lilies for her- I guess they cleared out a tree and she wants to fill the area with lilies. If you find yourself with too many and want to clear some out, I'd be happy to transport some to her. OK, so one last time on the list- please if I left anyone out, let me know- I'll check one more time before leaving tomorrow. RESERVED: George- lily of valley, tigerlilies, monarda Deb- hens n chics Marty-sage, lupine, liriope Paige-camapnula,bluet Dena-campanula Hedy-sage, tiger lilies Amy- dahlia Suebot- yarrow silvergirl 1426- dianthus Plus unclaimed sage, campanula, lysimichia alexander WISH LIST (of course, on last review I just had to add a few more things, if they are still available!) George- caryopteris sunshine blue Dena- cockscomb Marty- siberian iris Hedy- Beverly Sills iris, variegated geranium Deb- wild foxglove, lamium. cimifuga Paige- sedum 'neon" Carl- hemerocalla "frans hals" I'll see everyone tomorrow! I expect to bring some homemade corn salsa with chips. (If I don't eat it up today for my lunch!- I'll try to restrain, it's so yummy.) Cathy

Dee No worries about your review of the URI article. I was a bit put off by the lawn/imidocloprid thing myself. Usually the URI entomology articles are quite good, but that one wasn't. I did however, find a link through that article to Arbico Organics that sells a variety of different kinds of beneficial nematodes. I've been looking for Steinernema Carpocapse for some time. Not only does this nematode control grubs, it also is the only beneficial nem that will control foliar nematodes. Foliar nems are a real problem in Hostas and are hard to control. The link is below. Thanks for the Prarie Sun ID. Lost the tag on that one. H. Cracker Crumbs is a mini. I little bright gold thing. Bella Anna is always pink, regardess of pH. The only drawback is that it flops like Annabelle does. I need to get some Peony supports for it. I bought that one for $5 at Weston Nurseries in November after the pallet sale broke up. It's grown well. Enjoy the weekend. It's going to get hot next week. Remember, nothing lasts in the garden. Steve Here is a link that might be useful: Arbico Organics

As a person who grew up in Stonington, CT, if you choose one of the more popular tourist spots as your home, plan on it being overrun with tourists from May to September. It's kind of depressing. You wait all winter for the nice weather, and then when it comes, you can't get around easily. Beach traffic is another thing. If you end up in RI, plan on knowing alternate routes to places in the summer. Sounds like you're looking for more of the inland rustic places, so that's probably not a factor for you. As a gardener, I don't know if you'd want to factor zone into your choice. I currently live in Milford, CT. I'm near the sound and am usually putting in my vegetables and tending to my garden a good 3 weeks before some of the folks in the inland cooler areas. As far as CT towns go, I've lived in the following ones. Stonington - beautiful town, big time New England charm, salaries do not keep up with home prices, about a 15 minute drive to get to shopping, and it's crowed with tourists in the summer Bethel - (up by Brookfield/Danbury area) Very nice rural town, plenty of shopping just around the corner, but you're pretty much in NY. The stores carry Yankees and Giants stuff. Stamford - If you like traffic, lots of ordinances, and a hectic lifestyle, this is the town for you. Plainfield - Deliverance country. Very quiet and a lot of house and land for your buck, but you're far from everything. They don't call it the quiet corner for nothing. I like the Litchfield hills area for visiting, but again there's not enough shopping around there for me. It's beautiful in the fall and close to plenty of good skiing, but I consider it a visit place rather than a live there place. I'm actually liking Milford despite it being a little south of the Williams/Dimagio line. The town is zoned in a way that most the residential areas are separate from the shopping areas. I'm on a nice quiet street, but only 5 minutes from 2 major highways and all the shopping I could ask for. The people are nice, but again it's affluent folks mixed in with blue collar folks who park their cars on their front lawns. It's also on the sound and has very nice beaches. It may eventually turn into a Fairfield county suitcase type of town, but so far it's retaining a New England feel. I went to college in NH. It was just way too slow for me. There was nothing but deer and snow where I was. I haven't spent much time in VT or ME. I've always liked Massachusetts, but some of the towns have since lost their industry and many are shells of their former selves. The mill towns in particular are still fighting to stay afloat. I like the area near Foxborogh. There are a lot of very nice towns around their that have retained their New England charm, but still have a large city not too far away for jobs. By the way, Mets fans are perfectly welcome We've got no problems with them.