So often we hear, “I am afraid to get an orchid, I kill them.” Little by little we are breaking down that myth at Naturescapes. Our customers come in now and rave about how long the blooms on their orchids have lasted that they purchased in our shop. Many have even been had their orchids rebloom!
What’s the secret? Here are a few tips: 1. First, buy florist quality orchids. Yes, there is a difference. Our orchids are grown and handled professionally in order to deliver exceptionally healthy and well- rooted plants. 2. Choose an orchid that fits your need. If you are entertaining tonight, or going to visit someone in the hospital, you may want an orchid that already has most of it’s flower buds open. Depending on the orchid, they may last a few weeks or up to two months at this stage of blooming. A nearly open bloomed orchid will make the statement for these types of situations. 3. If, however, you are looking for an orchid to enjoy for many months, you may want to purchase an orchid with just a few blooms open and a few buds yet to bloom. These orchids generally last 2-4 months, depending on the environment they are put in.
4. There are many “tips” on orchid care. You may find one that works best for you, but here is what we generally recommend. For a 6” Phaleonopsis orchid: 5. Water every 6-10 days in order to keep the moss around the roots moist. Important: never let the roots sit in water, the plant will do best in a container with a drainage hole that allows excess water to drain out. 6. Water by adding water from the sink and let it sit in the sink for a few minutes to thoroughly drain. You may also water by using a water bottle with a squirt top and give the plant a few squirts of water directly into the root area. 7. While blooming, keep the plant in indirect light or low light. Direct sun will hasten the flowering process. 8. If possible, keep the plant where there is airflow. Remember, these plants are used to living in a tropical environment with lots of humid air and flowing breezes under a tropical canopy. Hence, why they love the bathroom! 9. If your home is very dry, misting the plant may help. 10. Enjoy! Phaleonopsis Orchids (the most common) are elegant, low maintenance plants.
For more information, visit Naturescapes Garden Shop at 2 MacDonald Avenue, Armonk, NY
Shore line of Byram Lake from the pumping station of the Village/Town of Mount Kisco, 588 Byram Lake Rd.
Armonk/Mt. Kisco Byram Lake Reservoir is the source of drinking water for 10,000 Mount Kisco residents.
Dubos Property In the News Again
June 22, 2009
The Dewitt Wallace Fund and Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation donated $275,00 to The Rene Dubos Center. With the donations the center purchased 30 acres in 1979 adjacent to Byram Lake. In 2002 the non-profit center attempted to sell the property to developer Michael Cappelli for $1.2 million.
After many years in court the property will be sold to North Castle, Mount Kisco and the Westchester Land Trust. The Supreme Court ruled this decision and recently the State Attorney Generals office had no objection of the sale to the municipalities.
The land will remain in its natural state as open space upholding the original intent of the donors.
In a combined effort, The Mount Kisco Village Board of Trustees and North Castle municipalities and The Westchester Land Trust will purchase the property at $475,000 to keep it from being developed. The property is in the town of North Castle, adjacent to Byram Lake, which provides the water supply to Mount Kisco residents.
North Castle’s Supervisor Reese Berman, she said when the opportunity came about, “With not a moments pause they offered to split the purchase.”
“It was a bargain at less than half the price and it was the right thing to do with North Castle’s open space funds.”
North Castle’s Town Board was unanimous on the decision. Berman had anticipated objection from the public, however, there was no voiced objection at the public hearing.
The purchase price is $475,000 with Mount Kisco and North Castle putting up $230,000 each and the remanding $15,000 being covered by Westchester Land Trust. This is the first time in the history of the Westchester Land Trust that they will contribute to purchase private property in partnership with municipalities.
What is greatly needed is a space to put the town’s accumulated fall leaves, while Berman “explored the possibility, it’s not going to happen on the Dubos property.” She adds, “There are too many barriers.”
The State Attorney Generals office reviews all but small asset transactions for non-for-profits consistent with buildings and property sales.
For further information about the Dubos property go to:
The following is an email to AllAboutArmonk.com courtesy of Kerri Kasak, an open space advocate, regarding the North Castle Town Board’s public hearing of the open space acquisition of the Dubos Property on Baldwin Road, Armonk.
Email from Kerri Kasak:
The Town Board voted unanimously to use some of our open space funds to help purchase the 30-acre Dubos Property. Mayor Cindrich of Mount Kisco attended and spoke, as well as Tom Anderson, acting Executive Director of Westchester Land Trust. Westchester Land Trust is contributing $15,000 to the deal. Howard Arden, Chair of the North Castle Open Space Committee also spoke. It is an amazing feeling to realize that this land that so many have wanted to preserve for so long is finally going to be preserved. Here is an excerpt of what I said (at the meeting):
"On Election Day 2004, North Castle’s Open Space Bond Referendum passed by 68%, an overwhelming majority. Voters sent the clear message that land preservation in this community is important to them. Today, we have a once in a life time opportunity to use $230,000 of that open space money to help purchase the 30 acre Dubos Property, a parcel of land that we have been trying to protect for decades.
It has been said that land in this town is gold. The Dubos Property is especially golden for many reasons. By participating in its purchase we will insure that we will always have input into how this land, which is in our town, is used. As you know, the Dubos property plays an important role in keeping the water in Byram Lake Reservoir clean enough for drinking by the 10,000 residents of Mount Kisco, the patients in Northern Westchester Hospital, and everyone who uses the Mt. Kisco Business District.
The property also helps protect the Byram Lake area, which has been designated since 1990 by New York State as a critical environmental area because of its exceptional and unique characteristics. The Dubos property provides vital habitat to the many species, including bobcats that call it home. This property will also provide our residents with a place to hike, ride and camp, and it will provide our children with an outdoor classroom where they can study nature while developing a connection with the land. Finally, this property exemplifies the rural beauty that makes our part of Westchester County so desirable to live in.
Land preservation is not a luxury that should only be pursued during good economic times. Preserving key parcels of land insures that we have clean drinking water and a healthy community. These things are not a luxury, they are a necessity. By protecting them we insure the sustainability of our community now and for generations to come.
At times like these it takes strong leadership to act decisively and take steps to protect our environment. The North Castle Town Board has shown this leadership by voting unanimously to use our open space funds to help purchase the Dubos Property."
WESTCHESTER COUNTY PARKS CONSERVATION DIVISION
Control of Canada Geese
The
following suggestions for controlling Canada geese populations,
presented at a symposium hosted by Westchester County have been
compiled by the Parks Department. These methods have been met with
success in many instances. Alter the habitat Reduce grassy
expanses by planting trees and shrubs and turn lawns into meadows.
Establish large ground cover areas in place of manicured lawns. Leave
an apron of tall grass around ponds or approaching bodies
of water. Shrub areas around bodies of water make access to ponds
difficult for Canada geese. This strategy discourages the geese and
encourages them to relocate. This strategy is also easy, inexpensive
and proven.* (*In public parks and recreational areas, these measures should be explained to visitors through appropriate signage.) Encourage the Canada geese to feed from nature Feeding
Canada geese or other wild fowl promotes a dependency on humans and
creates problems for them. Wild animals should be free to be wild and
encouraged to migrate. Most humans do not provide the right nutritional
balance when they feed waterfowl at our ponds and lakes. In public
areas, appropriate signage that explains why feeding is discouraged
could be part of a campaign to get people to stop feeding and
domesticating Canada geese. Install mechanical barriers North Castle Conservation Board recommends growing all
grass and appropriate shrubs should serve as natural barriers around waterways. Natural barriers and habitat alterations should be tried and their results
analyzed before considering mechanical barriers such as fencing. Employ scarecrows This can be done easily and provide a fun family project, although it is should be considered after the other tactics are tried. Moving limbs of the scarecrow may show more success, as European studies have shown that some motion
is necessary to deter Canada geese. Chemical repellant There are concerns of environmental impact while
using commercial products, although they may be
effective but only until the next rainfall. The Parks Department is not interested in this strategy. Border Collies Border
Collies Dogs are effective in protecting property and harassing Canada geese, especially during fall migration and thereby discouraging geese from settling in for
the winter. In the spring the dogs can interrupt the Canada
geese from developing nesting sites. Although expensive, this method of controlling geese is effective but is primarily a short-term or temporary measure.
It is not, however, a preferred strategy. Employ plastic swans and cygnets This strategy is not favored since studies are inconclusive about mixing swans and Canada geese. Egg substitution Professionals can be hired for intervening Canada geese
reproductive cycle. Oral contraception This is the newest option and requires further testing, but shows promise for the future. Source: www.westchestergov.com
“Naturalize” Your Land
Landowners and landscapers can improve wildlife habitat quality by “naturalizing” manicured lawns and gardens. The following are sugestions to do so: grass lawns are considered ecological “deserts,” reducing the lawn's size in favor of preferred natural grasslands or wetland, decrease the use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides, especially near waterways. These suggested “buffer” zones of shrubs grow benefit different bird species such as the brown thrasher, chestnut-sided warbler, and blue-winged warbler. Infrequent mowing of the fields every three-to- five years instead of annually creates a habitat that species such as pheasant, yellow warbler, blue-winged warbler, and ruffed grouse. It also also reduces the maintence needs of pruning and raking. Source: North Castle Biodiversity Plan, by Danielle T. LaBruna, M.A. and Michael W. Klemens, Ph.D. Metropolitan Conservation Alliance Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, Michael W. Klemens, LLC
What comes to mind when you hear the word lichen? Perhaps a plant or some sort of algae? A fungus or a moss? Actually, lichens are combinations of green algae and fungal tissue. Each lichen is one algae species plus one fungus. The algae, a microscopic green plant, makes the food for the duo, while the fungus, a non-green plant, gives the pair support and soaks up moisture.
This cooperative arrangement benefits both creatures and the surrounding system, but raises a frequently asked question...Are lichens harmful to your trees? No. Those grayish-green patches, usually one to three inches in diameter, are not feeding on your trees. Since lichens are able to make their own food with moisture and sunlight, they have no need to parasitize other plants. Lichens grow on the surface of your tree, and do not penetrate any tissue. Instead, they make use of the trunk or branches for support. They do not cause plant diseases either, with one exception: in certain wet, tropical areas, lichens have grown in such thick layers over trees that their shade alone has caused leaves to die. Believe it or not, lichens are often viewed as making a tree more picturesque. Most people don't mind having lichens on their tree's bark. They can add color, contrast, texture, and natural beauty to your landscape. Lichens play a very significant role in our biological world. For one, they act as air pollution indicators. Although lichens is able to withstand harsh conditions, such as freezing, thawing, high light and heat intensities, when an area is polluted, lichens will become scarce and eventually stop growing. Lichens are very sensitive to air pollution, so if your town has dirty air your backyard may not have many lichens. Lichens also help regulate the composition of gases in the earth's atmosphere. Each creature acts as a sponge to catch and store excess gases, one of which is carbon dioxide. In essence, lichens help filter the air we breathe. Some lichens also have the ability to return valuable nitrogen to the soil. These are three significant roles lichens have been found to play; however, as research continues, more are sure to be uncovered. Who knows what will come to mind the next time you hear the word lichen.
Eugene & Agnes Meyer Nature Preserve in North Castle.
Easement to Oregon Road is in litigation between Seven Springs LLC and The Nature Conservancy.
The private road through the Nature Preserve has been closed.
Entrance to Seven Springs property.
Access road runs through the preserve to Seven Springs property.
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Oregon Road, North Castle 27 Feb by Staff
At the North Castle Town Board meeting of February 25, 2009 the Town Board acted to defend the town in a difficult situation and, as it was legally advised to be in the best interest of North Castle, voted unanimously to sign a negotiated settlement releasing North Castle from two legal actions initiated by Seven Springs LLC in the amount of $600M.
At the meeting, after a summary of the circumstances, much discussion and requests from several residents, the Town Attorney, Roland Baroni read the negotiated document. The statement included the concession that The Town of North Castle will not contest the easement or private ownership of Oregon Road, North Castle. This would release the Town of any and all claims and to expedite, when submitted, the completion of the review of the Seven Springs project.
The Nature Conservancy owns the Eugene & Agnes Meyers Nature Preserve adjacent to the Seven Springs property.
Several residents, neighbors to Oregon Road, requested the Town Board delay the signing of the document and commented with disappointment “that after working with its citizens toward a common goal of keeping the road closed for so long, the town board members made a decision affecting all of us without so much as a conversation or an explanation.”
Bryam Lake Road looking towards Byram Lake Reservoir, near Baldwin Road, Armonk.
Byram Lake Reservoir from Byram Lake Road, Mt. Kisco.
Boating/Fishing permit from the Village of Mt. Kisco, used on Byram Lake dated 1975.
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Helping An Old Friend
Received via email from Howard Arden, Chairman, North Castle Open Space Committee Monday, 2 Feb 2009
On a perfect Saturday morning in late May a dusty Studabaker crested the hill over looking Byram Lake coming from Mt Kisco. The year was 1959. In the car were two small boys and their grandparents on their weekly fishing adventure. My grandfather had lost his hearing in his twenties from a childhood fever and so his pastimes were limited. Fishing was his passion and every Saturday morning my brother and I would pile into the car along with my saintly grandmother, who accompanied us in case of an emergency, and off we would go to some lake, pond or stream.
On this day we were going to try a new venue, Byram Lake. For some reason my first image of Byram Lake has stayed with me all these years. I clearly remember the tranquility and beauty of the setting. The spring green of the surrounding forests, the blue of the water and sky, and this being prior to the construction of 684, the absolute quiet.
There was no way then of knowing how many more times The Lake and my path would cross.
In 1972 I rented an apartment in Mt Kisco and immediately got reacquainted with Byram Lake. At first I fished from the shore, but soon, I acquired a row boat and kept it on the lake for the next ten years.
As fate would have it I eventually moved to Armonk, purchasing a home only a stones throw from Byram Lake. My boys and I have fished and explored virtually every part of the lake. My morning commute to my in town office takes me past Byram everyday.
On one spring morning a Bob Cat crossed the road in front of me.
I don’t know if my being the Chairman of The North Castle Open Space Committee at a time when Byram Lake needed protecting was my destiny, but I do know that protecting and preserving a natural resource like Byram Lake and it’s surrounding Biodiversity is a good thing. With our caring and stewardship maybe another little boy or girl will have the opportunity to create their own unforgettable memory.
I would like to thank all those citizens and officials of both North Castle and Mt. Kisco for their efforts and perseverance in the long struggle to save the Dubos property and protect Byram Lake.
Waterfalls along the hiking trails at Cranberry Lake Preserve.
Cranberry Lake is located at 1609 Old Orchard St., North White Plains, NY.
The root cellar located near Cranberry Lake. The lake is the source of most of the stone used to build Kensico Dam.
Stones from Cranberry Lake were used to build Kensico Dam in 1914.
Nearby Cranberry Lake Preserve
Located in North White Plains, Cranberry Lake Preserve includes 190 acres that are great for hiking. The lake is the source for most of the stone used to build the Kensico Dam. Located just off Old Orchard Street across Route 22 from the Kensico Reservoir, the preserve is administered by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. Cranberry Lake itself covers 10 acres and runs into Kensico Reservoir. Click here for more information on Cranberry Lake. Source:Westchestergov.com
