MBGC: Winter recess is over

We’re back in business; our winter recess is over and we are ready to start the 2020 gardening year. Our meetings are always the third Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 370 Montauk Highway, East Moriches. We welcome the public to attend and learn from our speakers. And, of course, we always look forward to signing up new members.

Our speaker this month is Renato Stafford. His presentation is “The Family Kitchen Organic Garden” and will include tips on designing a garden with specific recipes in mind, layout, how much to plant, storage and winter gardening.

I am still in Florida, but I know spring is busting out all over Long Island because friends have sent me photos of snowdrops in bloom, crocus, and daffy’s breaking ground. One gardener sent a photo of witch hazel (hamamelis), a great shrub that grows to 20 feet or can be trained to become a small tree. It has striking yellow flowers from January through March.

Take a minute to check out all our local nurseries. It’s time for pansies and you might want to check out a witch hazel shrub.