Last week, I loudly admired a wild waterfall of lilac-like blossoms overflowing a wooden fence along Vine Street at the corner of Fourth, the house long owned by Dr. Bob Pastel, who passed away in 2015, at age 89.
Pretty petals
I wasn’t sure what kind of flowers they were but guessed maybe a syringa species or some kind of wisteria. Someone else guessed azaleas.
Turns out the floral clusters are rhododendrons, likely purple-blooming rhododendron English Roseum. Unfortunately, these particular beauties have now wilted.
Annuals and perennials
Speaking of horticulture, on June 3, I stopped by beautiful Ballantyne Gardens, 4825 Hopkins Road to buy a 12-stalked bee-friendly meadow sage as a pollinator for the garden. It’s always a pleasure to stroll Ballantyne Gardens, where Lisa and Tim Ballantyne have been cultivating like crazy for 22 years now.
The sheer variety of plant life there will astound you! They sell annuals, perennials and shrubs of all kinds, and Tim and Lisa remain ever-vigilant, always on the lookout for the newest varieties that will grow well in local yards.
They also stock everything you might need to make gardening interesting, easy and fun, items such as gloves, spades, statuary and garden ornaments.
Big black dog
While you’re there, make sure to meet and pet their big burly black dog, Henry, who’s usually lounging about somewhere on the grounds or parking lot. Henry also oversees a gaggle of chickens the Ballantynes house on the property.
Beyond the henhouse, a large, peaceful pond with a wildlife garden borders the far corner of the garden center.
Not only will gardening bring beauty to your backyard, it’ll also improve your health.
“Just getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine can boost your mood, wipe away depression, lower blood pressure, regulate hormones, you name it,” Lisa says. “Active gardeners gain heart health, muscle tone and mobility.”
Contact the Ballantynes at 315-453-0621, or visit ballantynegardens.com.
‘Rumors’ spurred romance
Korrie Strodel Taylor loves Neil Simon’s play, “Rumors.” The crimson-coiffed daughter of the late Liverpool legend, Billy Strodel, Korrie is now directing a version of Simon’s silliest script at CNY Playhouse at Shoppingtown DeWitt, and in her program notes, she shares a personal reason for her warm feelings about the farce.
“I met my husband, Josh, when Baldwinsville Theatre Guild did the show in 2008,” she wrote.
In that production, Korrie played a character named Cassie while the blonde and graceful Blair Dawson played the wife of Josh’s character. Dawson and Josh Taylor reprise their roles from 11 years ago in the current production which closes with three final performances at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 20, 21 and 22, at CNY Playhouse, near the Macy’s entrance on the second level of ShoppingTown Mall. Tickets cost $20 on Thursday and $22 on Friday and Saturday; cnyplayhouse.org; 315-885-8960.
Zogg namesake on the scene
Alfie Zogg, the 96-year-old son of “Prof. Zogg,” the 1940s-era principal of Liverpool High School, and Alfie’s younger relative, Marissa, visited the Liverpool Historian’s Office at the Gleason Mansion on June 8. They met with Village Historian Dorianne Elitharp-Gutierrez and spoke with Clay Historical Association member Dorothy Heller.
Alfie mentioned that he’s retired from a lengthy career as an auctioneer, a talent he inherited from his scholar-father.
Meanwhile, that same Saturday afternoon, a few folks from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church sold baked goods to help celebrate the season-opening for the Liverpool Willow Museum. Rachel and Rosalie Kraynack sold the sweet breads, kuchen and cookies, many of which were baked by Rita Cooper. Rita’s husband, Jack Cooper, helped the Kraynacks set up and break down their pop-up tent.
Willow Museum open weekends
In the late 19th century German immigrants turned the village of Liverpool into a major center of the willow-weaving industry. Whole families created baskets of all sizes and a wide array of furniture made from willow rods.
The Willow Museum will be open to visitors from 2 to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, through Aug. 25. The little white building comes complete with basket-making tools and examples of work-in-progress and finished products. This shop belonged to the Hurst family and was originally located behind their home on Oswego Street, before being moved to its present location in 1992.
By the way, Ken Hurst, who arranged the donation of the building, plans to celebrate his 100th birthday on July 5. He continues to serve as a docent at the museum most Sunday afternoons, when he recalls the final days of the basket-making industry here which he personally experienced in the 1920s.
The museum is maintained by the Historical Association of Greater Liverpool.
Last word
“Stacey Castor died in prison when she was just 48 years old. She probably died of a guilty conscience.”
–recently overheard at The Retreat. Convicted in 2009 of fatally poisoning her husband, David Castor, Stacey died June 11, 2016, at Bedford Hills.
