By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On July 20, the Master Gardeners of Onondaga County will present their second annual Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The fundraiser, which will showcase six area home gardens, will support the Onondaga County Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
The Master Gardener Program is a national initiative that trains volunteers in the science and art of gardening. Once trained, master gardeners work in partnership with their local Cooperative Extension offices to share their knowledge with other gardeners and serve their communities.
“The program provides research-based garden and horticultural advice to a broad audience,” said Master Gardener Program & Volunteer Coordinator Lisa Lickona. “We work with youth, seniors and ordinary citizens to educate them on all aspects of gardening, including food production, increasing biodiversity, and landscaping for climate change.”
Started in 2011, the Onondaga County branch of the program is managed by Cornell Cooperative Extension and includes about 50 active master gardeners.
Aspiring master gardeners must complete a two-year, 45-hour basic horticulture-training course instructed by Cornell University professors and professionals working in the horticultural field.
Trainees build a foundation in soil science, composting, botany, insect biology, plant diseases, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and wildlife management, as well as best practices in cultivating vegetables, herbs, houseplants, trees and shrubs.
The trainees are required to complete an examination to become a Master Gardener Apprentice. After completing 200 hours of service as an apprentice, volunteers qualify to become Certified Master Gardeners.
The master gardener volunteers work in schools, libraries and at the Syracuse Zoo. Additionally, they can be found answering gardening questions at the CNY Regional Market and in the horticultural building at the Great New York State Fair.
According to Lickona, the Garden Tour was started as an additional way to educate the community about gardening practices that are productive and healthy for the public and the environment.
“We [hope] to encourage people to use their outside spaces to create beautiful, bio-diverse gardens, all the while lowering their dependence on chemical herbicides and pesticides,” she said.
The Garden Tour is one of the program’s two main fundraisers — the second of which is the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale in May.
Garden Tour tickets (purchased at the gardens) are $5 for one garden and $10 for multiple gardens. Admission is free for children ages 16 and younger.
Proceeds from the event will fund the installation of a demonstration garden at the new CCE of Onondaga County site.
“We want our gardens to demonstrate how to create native plantings that encourage birds and butterflies, as well as the possibilities for edible landscaping and food gardening,” said Lickona. “The demonstration gardens will enable us to expand our outreach to the public.”
The Onondaga County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is currently accepting applications for classes beginning in early 2020.
For more information on the Garden Tour or the program, visit cceonondaga.org or call the Master Gardeners at 315-424-9485 Ext.236.
Garden addresses and descriptions
- Jim and Marie Avery, 8158 Capricorn Drive, Liverpool
The Averys created “Giardino di Colore” (Garden of Color) 23 years ago. After becoming a master gardener, Jim transformed the property’s single garden into 11 flowerbeds with a vegetable garden for Marie. Locally collected stone surrounds some of the gardens as raised beds. The vibrant garden, which includes 100 plant varieties, attracts diverse wildlife, including hummingbirds.
- Melanie Henson, 210 Kaymar Drive, Syracuse
Henson has been gardening for her entire adult life. Her garden showcases her love, appreciation and enjoyment of plants, especially edible varieties. While the garden includes some flowers, it is primarily a vegetable garden.
“I never tire of learning new things about plants,” said Henson. “I try to encourage people to garden, emphasizing the simplicity, economy and healthfulness of the activity.”
- Carol Bradford, 415 Brattle Road, Syracuse
Full Circle Farm is just over a quarter acre of alkaline silty clay mixed with hard fill. The property includes more than 400 plant varieties, a pond, a Japanese garden, a rock garden, a bog, a stumpery, shade gardens, and vegetables grown in raised beds.
“The plan was to grow one of everything unless two were needed for pollination,” said Bradford. “Therefore I had to create special habitats for special plants.”
- Dave and Mary Tiedemann, 4378 Stonington Circle, Syracuse
Since 2012, the Tiedemanns have worked to transform their single garden into a dozen garden beds and three raised beds. The gardens now feature nearly 100 plant varieties. Dave, a life-long vegetable gardener, planted his first flower gardens in 2013. After becoming a master gardener, he planted a butterfly garden and a barren strawberry/fern bed. Next he planted a “rain garden,” followed by a variety of beds. Throughout the years, Dave has gained considerable knowledge about gardening in shade and basic clay soil, and about protecting plants from deer, chipmunks and rabbits. The Tiedemanns are currently working to replace the European buckthorn in the woods behind their house with native plantings, such as sugar maple, Eastern redbud and elderberry.
- Gail Harrington, 1009 Chestnut Ridge Road, Kirkville
What started 16 years ago as a few perennial beds has since grown to include an additional nine flower garden areas. While perennials remain the focus, the gardens also include annuals, bulbs, shrubbery, fruits and raised bed vegetables. This year, Harrington is especially proud of her fairy garden, children’s corner and homemade garden art.
- Janine and Jimmy Golub, 1590 Peth Road, Manlius
The Golubs moved to Our Farm in 1982 and immediately began creating gardens. An old brick smoke house is the focal point of one of the gardens; split rail fences and several barns serve as the backdrop. Perennials, bulbs, lilies, hydrangeas and a variety of annuals provide vibrant color throughout the season. The property also features shrubbery, including several hydrangea varieties. Our Farm, which has been an agritourism destination for decades, has more recently evolved into a wedding venue.
