A Beautiful Place to Roll Up Your Sleeves.

After being unable to hold their spring cleanup last April, the Hackley Lake Keepers is excited to announce a socially-distanced Fall cleanup on Saturday, October 10, from 10 am -1 pm at the Tarrytown Lakes. The trails have seen increased usage these past several months, which has drastically increased the amount of litter around the Tarrytown Lakes. 

Meet at the Neperan and Sunnyside Avenue parking lot by the skate shack. Disposable gloves, trashbags, hand sanitizer, maps and clipping shears will be provided. Volunteers should bring their own water, masks, wear long pants/long sleeves and be aware of the possibility of ticks or poison ivy. For more information please contact Maxwel Lee at mwlee0115@gmail.com. 

The mission statement of the Hackley Lake Keepers is to "give back to the Tarrytown community by partnering with the TEAC in order to monitor the ecosystem around the Tarrytown Lakes Parkland and keep its surrounding waters and trail-ways clean." 

 

Gardens are alive year-round.

By Mai Mai Margules

As the vibrant blooms of summer fade, fall ushers in a new cycle in the life of pollinators and new “non-duties” for us in caring for our gardens and the wildlife that dwells therein. For wildlife to survive the winter months we need to leave our gardens messy, benign neglect is our operating principle.

The traditional fall cleanup routine, clearcutting all plant material, blowing all leaves and twigs out of the yard etc., destroys the winter habitat for wildlife. It’s the equivalent of someone taking a wrecking ball to our home just as winter begins.

Beneficial insects need plants year-round to survive. Plants provide nectar in the warm months; in fall insects lay eggs on host plants to ensure reproductive survival.

Other pollinators actually overwinter as a chrysalis such as swallowtail and cabbage white butterflies or hawk moths. Viceroy butterflies, meadow fritillary and others remain caterpillars, hibernating amongst vegetation, rolled-up leaves or seed pods.

Native bees, such as bumblebees, may bury into the ground or hide in hollow stems of plants or stands of ornamental grass. Messy areas such as brush piles, leaf litter, and tall grasses all provide cover and protection for ground dwelling bees.

If you have a lawn consider mulching dried leaves. This requires that you mow with a mulching mower. The shredded leaves will decompose and act as a natural fertilizer and weed control. They will filter through the grass and disappear from sight, a far better practice than bagging and carting off to landfills.

If mulching is not possible move some leaves to peripheral areas to create untidy areas for wildlife.

Did you know? Pollen, nectar and scent can be lost in the cultivation process of modern hybrids. Choose heirloom varieties instead! Your pollinators will thank you.

For our plant beds leaves form a natural mulch, protect the plants in winter, conserve water, and enrich the soil. Nothing could be easier; just leave the leaves.    

Now that we’re liberated from the chore of fall cleanup we can plot ahead with spring in mind. This fall try seeding your lawn or other areas with clover. Clover puts nitrogen back in the soil and is a welcome food source for early emerging bees. Also leave space for dandelions, they are a crucial food source for early bees and other pollinators.

Fall is a great time for planting native plants and shrubs. Live plants are ideally planted 6-8 weeks before the first hard frost. Hyssop, liatris, cardinal flower, agastache, sedum, asters are a few that I have successfully planted in the fall.

Check with our local garden centers that sell native plants and ask for advice on fall planting. It gives us and the pollinators a lot to look forward to!

Below is a link to a list of native plants, shrubs and trees. Also check the National Audubon website, WCC Native Plant Center and Pollinator Pathways sites for more info and direction on native landscaping. 

http://plantnative.org/rpl-nypanj.htm
 

Let's seed-bank for next year's Earth Day.

Cosmos, zinnias, salvias and other easy-to-grow annuals are putting out their seeds in abundance at this time of year. If you have them (and know that they are heirloom varieties and not hybrids), consider collecting them from your own garden and labeling them. We'll plant them in the Village on next year's Earth Day.
 

Let's all work to help keep our Hudson River trash-free.

THE ANNUAL Riverkeeper Sweep Cleanup will be held October 17th 9-12pm. TEAC will be collecting trash along a parking area near the train station and other areas near the Hudson River. Join us!

Please sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tarrytown-tarrytown-metro-north-station-cleanup-registration-120066806049

https://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Riverkeeper_Sweep_Poster_FINAL.pdf 

NY DEC starts enforcing New York's plastic bag ban on October 19, 2020. 

NY DEC Announces Enforcement of New York's Plastic Bag Ban to Start Oct. 19, 2020

The plastic bag ban, which went into effect on March 1, was not enforced per an agreement between the parties in a lawsuit brought by Poly-Pak Industries, Inc., et al, in New York State Supreme Court. 

For more information about the plastic bag ban, reusable bags, or to file a complaint about entities using plastic carryout bags, visit DEC’s website, email plasticbags@dec.ny.gov, or call (518) 402-8706.

Kudos to some of the nearby stores and businesses who offered alternatives to plastic bags although the bag ban was not being enforced: CVS, Walgreens, C- Town, River View Wines. This is not a comprehensive list. 

Collection sites for plastic bags and film:

• Stop and Shop on 119 have a collection bin next to the garbage can in front of the store. 

• C-Town has a bin for plastic bags inside the store on the exit aisle past the cashiers. 

• Home Depot has a recycling center for plastic bags/films, CFl bulbs, lead acid battery cores, rechargeable batteries, and cardboard.. The plastic bags/films are sold to Trex to be made into wood-alternative products.