September 2026
This summer has been so lush and cool. We have been diligently planting and transplanting all summer. With the help of our volunteers, we have been removing vast amounts of invasive plant material along the woodland trails. This process allows us to find space, light, and earth for some pre-existing treasures and new friends like Elderberry and White Meadowsweet. We have been working very hard, but this summer is a dream after the difficulty of last year’s deep drought. This year, all of the plugs we got from Barkaboom Native Plants have easily adjusted to their new homes. The same is true of the many transplants that moved from their nursery beds in Propagation Station to various gardens throughout Spiral House Park. Last year’s survivors are growing, thriving, and beginning to spread, healed from the harsh heat and thirst.
The deep rains have allowed us to rest and allowed us to take some vacation and spend time with loved ones. This is a time to catch our breath and enjoy, for a brief moment, before the last push before dormant winter. Starting in September, the last rounds of plant orders started to arrive. Suddenly, we find ourselves again with hundreds of plants to get in the ground through November, before the hard frosts come. Along with tree and shrub saplings that didn’t get into the ground yet, we’ll be tucking many new herbaceous perennials –– such as those from our friend, Chris Nilan, from Barkaboom, who will be vending at our Fall Festival on October 3rd - into cozy new homes. Propagation Station is again full, bursting with vibrant perennials ready to be transplanted. We are so grateful for this ongoing, persistent abundance, which has led to Lorien and Wren passing out plants to members and visitors to the park! And it is that time again, when we are graced with plentiful seeds starting to form on the flora throughout the Park’s forty five acres. These treasures will be gathered to scatter in new places, and to store for winter sowing and sharing.
The abundance also continues for our wildlife. In addition to the many seeds forming, the soft-fruited berries of summer are transitioning to the hardier fruits, those whose objective is to survive harder frosts and deep winter. The stored fats and lipids, the large doses of ascorbic acid –– the very biological adaptations that allow this remarkable survival into winter are the same reasons they are so important to the diet of our wildlife. Whether that wildlife is traveling thousands of miles to warmer shores or hunkering down in our New York winter, they rely on the hardier native berries like Winterberry, Red and Black Chokeberry, native Euonymus, and many others.
-The Garden Team
Lorien McCabe Head Gardener & Volunteer Manager & Wren Waddington Assistant Head Gardener & Membership Manager
