Perrys Perennials

Vermont Garden Event are now online on my Perry's Perennial Pages. LOTS to occupy and educate gardeners in our region this spring. In particular, note those day-long events or symposia in bold. Know others not listed? let me know.

Vermont Garden Events You are encouraged to call or contact organizers prior ome seminars requiring preregistrationlatest additions and updates 1/16/18

Effective this January 1st, 2018, Maryland is the first state that has passed legislation to restrict sales of neonicotinoid pesticides to only certified applicators. This mean homeowners will no longer have access to these pesticides, however farmers and commercial applicators will continue to have access.

Meanwhile, in Vermont, Representative Amy Sheldon of Middlebury, VT, introduced H.688 to likewise restrict the sale and application of neonicotinoid pesticides to Class A licensed applicators, similar to Maryland's. http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/chapters_noln/Ch_661_sb0198E.pdf

This is a step in the right direction and one of the recommendation we put forth in the Vermont Pollinator Protection Committee.

For those of you not familiar, neonicotinoids are a relatively new class of pesticides, introduced in the 90's and early 2000's, and helped reduce the reliance on organophosphate pesticides that are particularly toxic to mammals. Neonicotinoids swept the country with their efficacy in targeting insect pests with supposedly much less toxicity to other creatures. The scale of their use in this relatively short period is staggering. Nearly all corn and most soybeans grown in US is seed-treated with neonicotinoids while much of the home-scale pesticide products are neonicotinoid based.

Much research has since shown the tremendous impacts on pollinators and the EPA is currently reviewing these products with a primary focus of the impact on honeybees (and some glances at native bees).

If you're interested in learning more, please consider a read of at least the Executive Summary of Xerces, How Neonicotinoids Kill Bees.
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/HowNeonicsCanKillBees_XercesSociety_Nov2016.pdf.

If you want to make a difference, contact your representative to consider passing legislature similar to Maryland as a first step. The next step would be to restrict the use of neonicotinoids for farmers and other certified applications only when there is evidence of need, rather than prophylactically. Vermonter's, contact your representative to support Amy Shedon's H.688 bill.

AND, do not purchase of use pesticides in your landscape that include neonicotinoids. You may have some on your shelves already. In 2013 the EPA required such products to display the "Bee Advisory Box", look to see if you have any products with this symbol, but note that older products would not have this marking. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-11/documents/bee-label-info-graphic.pdf. Avoid products that list any of these neonicotinoids:

Acetamiprid.
Clothianidin.
Dinotefuran.
Imidacloprid.
Nitenpyram.
Thiacloprid.
Thiamethoxam.

March 6-9, 2018 Philadelphia Flower Show Tour-- deadline is approaching

Are you like me and getting a bit tired of this continual cold and winter? Are you eager to see some flowers, in fact, some of the top floral displays in the world? Then check out this tour online (if you haven't already registered) and the details that make it rather unique and special. A chance to spend extra time at this world famous show, Longwood gardens, a culinary tour, a tour of historic Philadelphia sites, a large garden center, and dinner presentation are some of the highlights. Do share with any others that may be interested, and don't delay-- the registration deadline will be here soon.

Flash Sale! As a special offer during this unusually cold weekend, you can sign up at the original discounted rate, only through this weekend. Registrations must be postmarked by Monday Jan. 8.

pss.uvm.edu

Captivating Flowering Vines--a webinar by Kerry Mendez-- features many stunning vines - annual, perennial and woody - and how to use them creatively in the landscape. The live broadcast is Thursday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The 60+ minute flowering vines presentation includes a lecture handout, the opportunity to ask questions during the Webinar, and a CEU form for green industry professionals and Master Gardeners. Registrants DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE LIVE BROADCAST on July 27. All registrants will receive a link to the lecture and handouts within 72 hours of the broadcast. Folks can watch the video anytime, and as many times, as they wish! For more information, please check out: https://pyours.com/webinar-captivating-flowering-vines/

WEBINAR: Captivating Flowering Vines - Perennially Yours

Deer ticks will soon be about, so make sure you're ready and up to speed on precautions. Check your local drugstore for a "tick key" to remove any you find. Gardening can still be fun and safe, in spite of these!
http://healthvermont.gov/immunizations-infectious-disease/mosquito-tick-zoonotic-diseases/prevent-tick-bites

Flower to Fork, a program of the New England Wildflower Society Sat. Mar. 25 in Holyoke MA. This symposium will cover "the interactions between native plants, pollinators, and food crops." Speakers include a couple of professionals from Vermont, John Hayden and Rebecca Lindenmeyr. http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/flower-to-fork

Boston Flower Show-- if you're interested in going this year, join me on March 25 as I join up with Champlain Tours on their day trip there to provide horticultural tips and insights.http://www.champlaintours.com/uploads/6/2/9/7/62976251/boston_flower_show_2017.pdf

LIke tomatoes? Planning some for this year's garden? consider that the average American in 2014 ate over 31 pounds of tomatoes (for every 2 fresh they ate 3 processed as in cans or sauce), second in consumption only to potatoes according to USDA statistics.