The Sunshine Hall Free Library has another great class coming up. Back by popular demand after a wonderful class in December, local professional artist Laurie Rothberg from Eldred will be presenting another watercolor class at the Library on Saturday, April 6th starting at 4pm. Whether you are a beginner or very experienced, it will be a great class and everyone is welcome. To sign up to attend the class call the Library at 845-557-9258 or stop by the Library during their regular business hours. This is a free event and all of the materials for the class will be provided. For more information or to sign up go to sunshinehallfreelibrary.org. 

In this miserable dreary mostly rainy weather, I have been pouring over my seed catalogs and planning what I will plant in the garden this Spring. It is one of my rituals for dealing with the persistent winter weather blahs. One of the best low-cost resources I have come to depend on for very inexpensive plants, shrubs and trees is the 2024 Annual Sale sponsored by the Sullivan County Water and Soil Conservation District. This environmental program has been operating for over 75 years providing the community with not only trees, shrubs, and flowers but technical information and programs about the responsible use and development of soil and water resources.

I have ordered from the Conservation’s Tree and Shrub Program for several years and although the plant stock does not have slick packaging and when you pick up your order the staff hands you what looks like a bunch of sticks, the roots are strong, and the trees, shrubs, plants, and ground covers I have purchased have done well. The aim of the selection is to help protect our habitat and soil and where else can you buy ten lilacs ($20.00) or sugar maple saplings for $24.00? The order list is quite extensive and features different varieties of trees and shrubs including the very popular cranberry, elderberry, butterfly bushes and dogwood trees, river birch, American hazelnut eastern red bud for around $24.00 depending on the variety. A special item this year is the re-introduction of the American chestnut tree for only $5.00! The Program also sells a mixed variety of stock called Conservation Packets which have been designed for pond habitats, birds and butterflies, nut trees, ornamental flowers, shade trees, evergreens, Hosta and edible fruit trees and shrubs. Each packet contains two saplings for five different trees, shrubs and plants included in that specially designed packet, so you will receive ten saplings for $21 to $29.00 depending on which variety you choose.

The Sullivan County Soil and Water District also sells other conservation items at very reasonable prices such as books, six different bird nesting boxes, bat, owl and butterfly boxes, tree protectors, carpenter bee traps, fertilizer tablets, and Plants Kydd Deer Repellant. They will be accepting orders until April 8th. and orders can be picked up at the distribution site at The Cornell Cooperative Extension- 64 Ferndale Loomis Road in Liberty. The pickup dates are Friday, April 19th from 8:30-4:00p.m. and Saturday April 20th from 8:30-11:00a.m. The Conservation District also provides several on-site services such as Pond Site Investigations ($100 per visit) Landowner drainage and erosion problems assessment ($35.00 per hour) and Environmental Permit Assistance ($20. per application) For more information about these on-site services and download the 2024 Annual Sale order form and the brochure, go to www.sullivanswcd.org or call 845-292-6552. If you are interested in an item not on the sale list, you can email lisaschick@liberty.twcbc.com.