Carol Capobianco is Editorial Content Manager at The New York Botanical Garden.

Our own John Eacobacci had the honor of tossing out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, September 25, as the Yankees recognized Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and the Special Olympics.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said John, who this year celebrated two milestones: turning 50 and marking his 30th anniversary at the Botanical Garden, where he works in the mailroom. He got to rub elbows with Joe Girardi, Reggie Jackson, and others.

John, who lives in the Bronx, has participated in the Special Olympics in bowling for more than 20 years. He is an avid Yankees fan, as everyone who works at the Garden well knows. Today he donned his Derek Jeter jersey to work, and in addition to his usual commentary about the weekend’s Yankees and New York Giants games, he received well wishes for his stadium appearance from his own fan club among employees.

“My favorite part was when I threw the ball and hearing my name announced,” said John, who had a wonderful time watching the game from a field box. The only downside: the Yanks lost to the Boston Red Sox 7-3.

Photos from the event

Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. Join her each weekend for home gardening demonstrations on a variety of topics in the Home Gardening Center.

For the past two weeks I have written about the invasive Japanese stilt grass: describing it, exploring its life cycle, and giving tips on how to remove it.

Like most big problems, this annual grass will not go away easily. Repeated treatments are needed and the area needs to be maintained to discourage the plant’s growth. While this may sound daunting, it is reassuring to know that all you have to do is follow some simple and healthy gardening practices to slow down the return of stilt grass.

Most invasive plants are opportunists—colonizing areas that have been disturbed. So whenever you pull out any invasive plant, the first line of defense is to tamp down the disturbed soil (gently firming it with your feet).

If you are not replanting the area, the next course of action is to apply a thick layer of mulch over the surface. This will inhibit the germination of weed seeds uncovered in the soil disturbance and will provide a protective layer to prevent any introduced seeds from settling the area. read more »