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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Questions From Near You

Stanfordville, NY
Ground covers for sandy hill in New York
We have just built a new home and a sandy fill was needed around the house. It sits on a hill and the fill is very sandy. We would like to plant something to stabilize the bank that is native to the a...
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Washington , NY
Growing non-native lettuce under artificial light from Washington NY
Which artificial light( UV LIGHT, FLUORESCENT LIGHT AND INCANDESCENT LIGHT) makes a lettuce plant grow the fastest over a time period of 3 weeks and what would be your variables( independent, dependen...
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Millbrook, NY
Shrub that will grow outside in Zone 5 from Millbrook NY
Is there any shrub, tree or other sort of plant that will grow well in zone 5 in a very large container outdoors?
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Dover Plains, NY
Does Helasia diptera absorb toxic substances from Dover Plains NY
Dear Mr. Plants, Halesia carolina is described as absorbing toxic substances: herbicides, pesticides and pollutants from water, air and soil. Does Halesia diptera do the same? Thank you.
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Dover Plains, NY
Horse pasture seeds from Pawling NY
We are getting ready to seed an area to be used as horse pasture some time in the future. What seed mix should we use to create an organic horse pasture in Pawling, NY. Ideally there would be some wil...
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Red Hook, NY
Problem with non-native weeping willow
I have a weeping willow tree that is approximately 6 years old..The problem is a fibrous growth is growing between the trunk & the bark -pushing the trunk & bark away from each other..Not sure what it...
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Salisbury, CT
Native plants to retain slope in Salisbury, CT
We want to plant a newly dug out slope with native plants that will retain the dirt. It is sun to part sun near a lake summer cottage. Thanks!!!
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Poughkeepsie, NY
Ground cover for a slope in NY
I live in New York State about 60 miles north of NYC. I have a very wide hill in the front of my house that I am just unable to keep up with. I can mow the bottom portion but using a weed trimmer fo...
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Saugerties, NY
Vines for Shade in Upstate New York
Hello! I am looking for a non-invasive vine that will grow in heavy shade near my house in upstate New York.
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Warren, CT
Do I need to plant a male winterberry? yes
I planted a female winterberry in early July & although I have been watering it regularly the leaves turned brown on the tips in Sept. No berries yet so will I have to plant a male? Thanks, Carol
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Germantown, NY
Field of Dreams
I planted a field of sunflowers in April. I transplanted some of the crowded plants to different rows in mid-May - no problems. I have tried to transplant some of the plants this first week of June ...
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12419, NY
Is it legal to pick wildflowers from the roadside in NY?
Hi, Is it legal to pick most wildflowers from the roadside in upstate NY? Thanks!
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Clintondale, NY
Non-native Mandevilla care
I have a mandevilla and it looks like there are about 5 plants in one pot. Can it be separated without killing it? And, if it can be separated how should it be done? The plant is about 7" high and i...
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Pawling, NY
Fast growing groundcover for New York
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I love your site! But I can't quite find this answer: can you recommend a fast-growing groundcover native to southern NY State (Dutchess County) that I can plant NOW (Augus...
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Hillsdale, NY
Plants for a sunny, dry slope in NY
Looking for plants, native to area, that are quick growing to a height of approximately 6" to 12" for a steep slope comprised of shale in a sunny location.
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Hillsdale, NY
Meadow planting on a shale slope with shallow soil in NY
Need to elaborate on my previous question which I am sure will produce a different response. We have a very large slope, near the top of a very long driveway, that is in a sunny location and comprise...
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Sheffield, MA
Sources of information for design of prairie meados in Georgia
Dear Ms. Smarty Plants, I am designing a prairie meadow in Covington GA (Zone 7) at the edge of piedmont and coastal ecosystems, primarily lower piedmont. I am trying to restore a 1/2-acre site over ...
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Washington, CT
How to get rid of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
We have an enormous stand of japanese polygonum that we are trying to get rid of. What soil type is the most inhospitable to this aggressive and highly invasive species? Were thinking of planting so...
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Oakdale, NY
Snow damage to non-native Japanese maple in Oakdale NY
My beautiful 10 year old miniature Japanese Maple was damaged by heavy snow this year. Two of the biggest limbs cracked under the weight of the snow and are just barely hanging on. Can I repair them...
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Gardiner, NY
Will Texas Bluebonnets grow in Gardiner, NY
Will Texas bluebonnets grow in the Mid Hudson Valley New York? If so when and how is the best time to plant.
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Hudson, NY
Restoration of hilly area with natives of New York
I have an area, down the street from me, 2 side hills. During the summer, this all becomes over grown with small trees and just brush in general. I have asked our city for over 20 yrs to clear it as j...
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