Conservation News
Conservation & Environment Lynne Smith is Director of this Committee
The following is taken from the Fall edition of Clippings.
Conversation with Barbara Cappucci, Co-Chair of Station Park
Interviewer is Janet Ganson, President of Lincoln Garden Club
Janet: I think Station Park looks better than ever. I congratulate you, your co-chairs: Patty Hilpert and Beth Taylor, and of course your volunteers. Early fall is the best time to plant grass seed, and I know you have tried some environmentally friendly approaches to improving the lawn at the park. Can you talk about these? Barbara: Last September we overseeded an area with compost and “Pearl’s
Premium” seed. The area germinated well and continues with good growth and only a few weeds. A larger center area was smothered over the winter and reseeded in the spring. Although germination was good, the weeds and crab grass have returned, too. If we smother again we should put down cardboard under the tarps to kill the weeds better. Killing the plantain with vinegar has had some results, but also leaves spots in the grass.
Janet: Why did you remove the burning bushes at the back of the garden? Barbara: Diana Smith suggested that they should be removed since they are invasive. We continue to try to make Station Park a model for good gardening practice. Burning bush (Winged Euonymus/ Euonymus alatus Thunb. Siebold) is aggressive. It sends out sprouts from its roots and its berries are transported by birds. In the fall when the foliage turns bright red, you can see where it has seeded into our local forests.
Janet: What are some of the other sustainable landscaping techniques you use? Barbara: Organic soil amendments such as corn gluten, kelp, and local compost are being used. We have also set up wire compost bins to make our own compost. We minimize our sprinkler use, use 4” of mulch to hold moisture, and select perennial plants that are more drought tolerant than annuals. We also use no herbicides or other chemicals.
Janet: Station Park’s design has always been focused on a viewer within the park. With the new sidewalk, are you considering anything to improve the view from the street and the restaurant? Barbara: The consensus is to remove the center rails for a while and see if that creates an inviting view to the public.
Janet: We gardeners are always looking for great plants for our gardens. Can you give me a few favorites? Barbara: These are the beautiful standards which require minimal care: Iris, Hostas, Daylilies, Astilbes, Phlox, Peonies, Sedum, perennial Geraniums, Asters, and Montauk Daisies. Less often used but interesting additions are: Lobelias cardinalis and siphilitica, Japanese Painted Fern, Chelone (Turtlehead), Nepeta (Catmint), Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Platycodone (Balloon Flower) and some of the Euphorbias (avoid esula).
Troublesome plants are Lily-of-the-Valley and Star of Bethlehem which have been popping up everywhere and should be kept out of your flower beds if possible. Violets and Ajuga migrate into the lawn. Most of the shrubs we have are easy-care except for the Hydrangeas which wilt easily. The roses
are wonderful but do need proper pruning and feeding. The caterpillars chew up the leaves of the Sand Cherry and some of the other shrubs each year, but so far, they have recovered and re-grown their leaves. We do not spray, but Dormant Oil Spray would be an acceptable practice.
Janet: Thanks for your time, and thanks to everyone who works to make this park a jewel in the newly pedestrian friendly Lincoln Station area.
You may be interested in this course. The University of Rhode Island Master Composter Training.
Join us for the 3rd Annual Garlic Mustard Pull Day
May 7th 2011 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Check out the Conservation Commission website.
http://www.lincolntown.org/depts/ConComGarlicMustard.htm
Please complete the following and return it by May 10.
GCFM-Envvironmental Action form sponsored by the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.
Click on the Environmental Action Form above and print it out. Please complete the questions and return by May 10 to:
Lynne Smith
5 Tabor Hill Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
For questions, contact Lynne:
781-259-3302 home
781-258-1175 cell
Lynne@Smith.net
It’s time to GET REAL!
Sunday, April 3, 1 pm, Bemis Hall
Learn about Sustainable Landscaping at the Green Forum
On April 3rd, Lincoln residents participated at the fourth Green Forum focusing on town-wide responses to climate change. GET REAL (Green Energy Technology Residential Efficiency Action Leaders) and the Lincoln Garden Club are co-hosting this forum which features energy conservation and sustainable landscaping.
At the forum, a panel of experts share their best practices for sustainable landscaping:
- Greg Woods, Superintendent, Lincoln Water Department, will explain Lincoln’s water conservation policies and goals.
- Hasso Ewing, Ewing Landscapes&Gardens, will recommend grass, trees, and shrubs that are most appropriate for Lincoln lawns.
- Anna Wilkins, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, will describe alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
- Barbara Cappucci, Lincoln Garden Club, will provide resources available to homeowners such as reference publications, web sites, and contractors.
The April 3rd forum also provides a chance for all residents to join the GET REAL members in discussing their progress toward the goal of a 20 % energy reduction. Concrete steps, such as household energy audits, improved insulation, and behavior changes, will be shared at the meeting.
As at the earlier Forums, residents share their questions, successes, and point of view in break-out groups offered at the end of the session.
This initiative has broad support from Lincoln’s Board of Selectmen and Planning Board, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, and the Lincoln Garden Club. Please join your neighbors at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, at Bemis Hall. Bring your questions, and share your successes in conserving energy and the environment. To find out more, visit www.GETREALLincoln.org.
Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. Bemis Hall
Film and Discussion Sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust
Click here to view larger poster
You may be interested in the following links and pdf’s about conservation.
Town of Lincoln Conservation Commission (notice more links included in this site)
http://www.lincolntown.org/depts/conserve.htm
Lincoln Land Use Guide
http://www.lincolntown.org/Adobe Acrobat Files/Planning/Land Use Permitting Guide Feb2010.pdf
Storm water management:
http://www.lincolntown.org/depts/stormwater.htm
Invasive Exotic Plants:
http://www.lincolntown.org/Invasives.htm
Alternatives to Pesticides
http://www.bernards.org/boards_commissions/green_team/pptdocfolder/Alternative Pesticides.pdf
A Guide to Selected Non-native Aquatic species in Mass.
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/watersupply/lakepond/downloads/aquatic_species.pdf
Study shows climate change helps invasive species.
http://harvardmagazine.com/harvard-in-the-news/climate-change-benefits-invasive-species
Lawns and Landscapes in Your watershed, MassDEP
http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/lawn.htm
Don’t Trash Grass MassDEP
http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/dtg.htm
Don’t Trash Grass (pdf)
http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/dtg.pdf
Home Composting pdf
http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/composti.pdf
Beautiful Lawns, Naturally
http://home.comcast.net/~little.sarah/wpaclawnguide.htm
Power-of-One pdf
http://www.power-of-one.us/energyaction.pdf
More links collected by Barbara Cappucci
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING RESOURCES
| Town of Lincoln | http://www.lincolntown.org/ | Conservation Commission links, Invasive plant list, wetlands bylaws |
| Lincoln Garden Club | http://www.lincolngardenclub.org/ | Links, info on native plants, photos of invasives, roadside info |
| New England Wildflower Society | www.newfs.org | Info, classes, and native plants for sale |
| NOFA/ Northeast Organic Farmers Association | www.nofa.org | Classes, publications, newsletter, member list |
| ELA / Ecological Landscaping Association | www.ecolandscaping.org | Events, brochure, newsletter,Find- a- Pro |
| Organic Grower’s Supply | www.fedcoseeds.com | Seeds, Plants, wide selection of organic supplies & equipment |
| Gardens Alive Catalogue | www.gardensalive.com | Wide range of organic products and explanations of their use |
| Mahoney’s Garden Centers | www.mahoneysgarden.com | Range of products including organic fertilizer & compost tea |
| Russell’s Garden Center | www.russellsgardencenter.com | Range of products |
| Stonegate Gardens | www.stonegategardens.com | Range of products |
| Organic Mulch Supply | www.organicmulchsupply.com | Organic mulch, compost, topsoil, fertilizer, grass seed |
| Pearl’s Premium Grass Seed | www.pearlspremium.com | Seed and How to install a lawn organically |
| Prairie Nursery | www.prairienursery.com | “No-Mow” turf seed and instructions |
| Northcreek Nurseries | www.northcreeknurseries.com | Native plants databasewith photos; wholesale plugs |
| Bigelow Nurseries | http://www.bigelownurseries.com/ | Native plants |
| Ernst Conservation Seed Co. | www.ernstseed.com | Native seeds and plant material |
| UMASS Soil Testing Lab | www.umass.edu/soiltest | Soil testing |
| UMASS Extension | www.umassgreeninfo.org | Home & Garden Fact Sheets |
| UCONN | www.ladybug.uconn.edu | Lawn construction and maintenance; other factsheets |
| Environmental Protection Agency | www.epa.gov/pesticides/lawncare/ | Consumer information on pesticides and lawn care |
| “The Organic Lawn Care Manual” | By Paul TukeyStorey Publishing 2007 | Consumer info on organic lawn construction & maintenance |
| “Energy-Wise Landscape Design” | By Sue ReedNew Society Publishers 2010 | Consumer information on saving money through landscape design |
| “Teaming with Microbes: The organic gardener’s guide to the soil food web | By Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne LewisTimber Press 2010 | Soil science, compost, mulch, nematodes, mycorrhizal fungi, etc. |
| Toxicity of products | www.yardwise.org/PDFs/Products.pdf | |
| Alternatives to pesticides | www.greendecade.org | |
| Rainbarrels | www.nerainbarrel.com | |
| Nutrient dense crop production | www.realfoodcampaign.org | |
| Resource list | www.sanctuary-home.org | |
| Green Energy Technology Committee in Lincoln | http://getreallincoln.org | |
| Integrated Pest Management plan | www.massdfa.org/publications.htm | |
| Great site to introduce concepts | www.landscapeforlife.org | |
| Organic products for lawn and garden | www.espoma.com | |
| Town of Concord: Water conservation & landscape templates | www.concordma.gov/Pages/Concord_MA_Water/watertemplates | |
| “Home Composting” brochure | www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/composti.pdf | |
| “Healthy Lawns & Landscapes” brochure | www.turi.org/content/download/2363/21482/file/WellLawnBrochure.doc | |
LOCAL CONTRACTORS WITH AN INTEREST IN SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING
| Natalie DeNormandie | Natalie@segodesign.com(617)335-8731 | Landscape design andProject management |
| Hasso Ewing | hassoewing@comcast.net(978)793-0021 | Landscape and garden consultation |
| Angela Kearney | www.mylandscape.org(508)572-2812 | Ecological planning, Design andProject management |
| Stephanie Smoot | Smoot_s@comcast.net(781)257-5045 | Landscape design andProject management |
| Henderson Striker | (617)834-1946 | Landscape design and build, hardscapes, rain gardens, invasive treatment |
| Bransfield Tree | www.bransfieldtree.com(781)237-2446 | Certified arborist and allgreenscape management |
| Munroe Tree & Landscape | (781)259-9800 | Certified arborist, Landscape and hardscape installation, andorganic lawns |
| Mahoney’s SafeLawns OrganicServices | www.MahoneysSafelawns.com(781)399-4033 | Analysis, Consultation, and organic lawn care |
| Ramon Monzon | (774)285-2106 | Organic lawn installation and maintenance |
| Pumpkin Brook Organic GardeningPriscilla Hutt Williams | phw@seedlingspecialist.com978-597-3005 | Landscape maintenance, horticultural expertise, teaching, soil tests and rectification, NOFA certified |
| Organic Soil SolutionsMike Murray | mikem@organicsoilsolutions.com781-937-9992 | Soil maintenance, lawn care (not mowing) |
| Land EscapesTrevor L. Smith | trevscape@comcast.net617-308-7063 | Landscape contracting and natural ponds |
| MinutemanJim Agabedis | 617-782-7332 | Lawn care, mowing, irrigation, NOFA certified |
| Messina & Associates | (978)852-8905 | Invasives removal |
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING RESOURCES
