CCE Rensselaer County

08/21/2026

Plant of the week: Sweet Pepperbush/Summersweet Clethra

Want a flowering shrub that’s a hit with pollinators as well as admired by gardeners? Consider sweet pepperbush. Also called summersweet, it is botanically known as Clethra alnifolia. It is a tough, deciduous native shrub, which can grow up to 10 feet tall, and is known for its attractive vertical flower spikes. The bottlebrush-like flowers are white or pink, and have an intense sweet and spicy fragrance. It does well in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, acidic soil. It is hardy in Zones 3-9. In the autumn, the leaves turn a bright golden yellow or copper-brown. The flowers provide abundant nectar for August pollinators, and the plant has good resistance to deer.

08/20/2026

Communities across NY are experiencing warming temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, but often have limited capacity to take action. The Cornell Climate Stewards program trains and empowers volunteers to support their communities with this work. Participants learn about the science and best practices for addressing the issues affecting their communities and complete a local volunteer stewardship project. Previous projects have included organizing a public education event, creating pollinator gardens, and supporting a local resilience taskforce – there are many options to choose from! Participants receive training and support from educators at their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Join nearly 200 stewards and educators in 35 counties today! Apply today: Classes begin September 10th and run thru December 3rd. Thursday nights with live online classes from 6-8pm

The form to complete to participate in the statewide training is below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce6ih_byM0vxM092ckOJCZ3End_j7c6ji4GiPRHh-05xmUFg/viewform

If anyone has any questions, please contact – [email protected]

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Support Local Farmers During Peak Season

August and September are peak harvest season in New York, and this is the perfect time to visit your local farmers market. The produce is at its best, the farmers are working hard to bring you fresh food, and your community benefits when you shop local.

Why buy from local farmers?

Better flavor: Produce picked at peak ripeness tastes so much better than items that travel long distances.

Better nutrition: Fresher food means more nutrients. Local produce often retains more vitamins and minerals.

Support your community: When you buy from local farmers, your money stays in Rensselaer County and helps farm families survive and thrive.

What to buy in August and September:

Peak summer vegetables: tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, peppers, cucumbers, snap beans, corn, eggplant, and broccoli.

Summer fruits: blueberries, blackberries, peaches, cantaloupes, and watermelon are at their sweetest right now.

Herbs: Fresh basil, dill, and cilantro add flavor without extra cost.

The Rensselaer Farmers Market at Riverfront Park is open Thursday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. through September.

Find farmers markets and farms near you: harvestconnection-ny.com

Eligible seniors can receive free coupon booklets to spend on fresh produce. Contact the Rensselaer County Department for the Aging at (518) 270-2767.

Check the NY harvest calendar to see what's in season: agriculture.ny.gov

08/18/2026

Tar Spot of Maple Trees
Are you seeing some ugly maples? A foliar disease called tar spot is making Norway maples lose their foliage early. The cause is a fungus called Rhytisma that infects the leaves causing raised, black spots on the upper leaf surface. The fungus usually shows up in mid-June as small black spots, which can grow into larger spots up to 1.5 inches across. When summertime weather conditions help the fungus to be highly successful, the leaves turn brown and drop. Although the tree may lose many leaves, the infection does not cause long term damage and will not spread to other species of trees. So while tar spot makes Norway maples ugly, its impact is rather short-lived.

08/17/2026

Poultry Processing Workshop
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 4:00 – 7:00 pm | Washington County Fairgrounds
🔗 Event details: https://blogs.cornell.edu/capitalareaagandhortprogram/2026/08/06/wednesday-september-23-2026-poultry-processing-workshop/

08/17/2026

Native Plants at our Demonstration Garden

08/14/2026

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County & Mill Pond Alpacas invite you to Farm Day Out 2026!

Join us for National Alpaca Farm Days Weekend and enjoy a FREE, family-friendly day celebrating alpacas, fiber, and local agriculture!

On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 11 AM–3 PM
At Mill Pond Alpacas, 11 Old Mill Pond Road Nassau, NY 12123

Meet alpacas up close, explore fiber animals, learn about the journey from fiber animal to finished product, enjoy photo opportunities, pick your own pumpkins, and browse local vendors!

Bring the family and celebrate National Alpaca Farm Days Weekend and local agriculture with us!

08/14/2026

Plant of the Week: Surprise Lily (Lycoris squamigera)

We have a real shocker for you this week: the Surprise Lily (Lycoris squamigera). This beautiful perennial is a fall-planted bulb that will begin growing silver/green foliage in the early spring. The foliage soon dies back, but this surprising lily makes a sudden resurgence in late summer, when showy blooms on tall stems pop up from the ground. The flowers are not only fragrant but good for cutting, too. Surprise lily can be planted in a border mixed with low-growing plants or grown in a container. Unlike most lilies, it is a wonderful option for successful growing in an environment with deer and rabbits. While they will likely not bloom in the first year, once established, you will be rewarded with years of showy, pink trumpets when you least expect it!