tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84487672397980580352024-03-13T06:43:20.142-04:00Those aren't weeds! That's something you can eat!Community Gardening in a rewarding experience in seaside Wilmington, North Carolina. Follow the author as she gardens around town.kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-56007322336906084682011-02-09T11:52:00.000-05:002011-02-09T11:52:00.396-05:00Garden Day, September 24, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today we got the Fall Garden planted and below are pictures of everything we put in the ground and the work that we did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had been having a problem with rats, so one of our Garden Days was dedicated to moving the compost pile! By moving the compost pile, we hoped to restructure the piles to create a better environment for composting to happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS95yAp9pxI/AAAAAAAAARk/XPsgfsE8r24/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS95yAp9pxI/AAAAAAAAARk/XPsgfsE8r24/s320/IMG_2726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below is a picture of the compost pile moved back and the room it made for a new raised bed. This one is going to be a "Salad Bowl" in the spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97VD-PqiI/AAAAAAAAASA/idaSylrq42Q/s1600/IMG_2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97VD-PqiI/AAAAAAAAASA/idaSylrq42Q/s320/IMG_2741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby radishes coming up from seed. We got a lot of well composted turkey manure from the Juvenile Day Treatment Center.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS96X59sj2I/AAAAAAAAARo/Qkke4tX7GTc/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS96X59sj2I/AAAAAAAAARo/Qkke4tX7GTc/s320/IMG_2735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Snow Peas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS96iFAsKkI/AAAAAAAAARs/xYglg0xy3qs/s1600/IMG_2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS96iFAsKkI/AAAAAAAAARs/xYglg0xy3qs/s320/IMG_2736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is our first individually rented bed. For a monthly fee, we have several beds that can be rented out. Renters have access to all soil, amendments, all natural fertilizers and pest control products, tools, seeds and plant starts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS96wc7uo6I/AAAAAAAAARw/VVN0d6VYEh0/s1600/IMG_2737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS96wc7uo6I/AAAAAAAAARw/VVN0d6VYEh0/s320/IMG_2737.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Carrots from seed. Both the regular orange and a cool red variety.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS966G8GNLI/AAAAAAAAAR0/jK5WWTz1NiE/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS966G8GNLI/AAAAAAAAAR0/jK5WWTz1NiE/s320/IMG_2738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the third comfrey plant I have tried to grow and hopefully this one will make it! I think it is in a better location, with better soil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97fvVIfLI/AAAAAAAAASE/RpHLh4aZ6iM/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97fvVIfLI/AAAAAAAAASE/RpHLh4aZ6iM/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below is a picture of the cabbage starts we planted with a mature basil plant in the top left corner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97ru9KEtI/AAAAAAAAASI/nDKqUD16Nas/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97ru9KEtI/AAAAAAAAASI/nDKqUD16Nas/s320/IMG_2743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Meet our Fig Tree, compliments of Shelton Herb Farm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS972URITPI/AAAAAAAAASM/QRGKuXTCRmU/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS972URITPI/AAAAAAAAASM/QRGKuXTCRmU/s320/IMG_2744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This colorful little vegetable is a "Numex Twilight" hot pepper. You can eat the peppers at any color as they range from light purple to deep red. Very spicy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97-Kn_q9I/AAAAAAAAASQ/etq64z0NyGk/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS97-Kn_q9I/AAAAAAAAASQ/etq64z0NyGk/s320/IMG_2745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we have a bergamot, or Bee Balm, also donated by Shelton Herb Farm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98PGef2HI/AAAAAAAAASY/n17KvfimsLc/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98PGef2HI/AAAAAAAAASY/n17KvfimsLc/s320/IMG_2747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a uncommon variety of St. John's Wort, the <i>punctatum</i> variety that grows wildly in the mountains of North Carolina. This was a transplant from seeds I gave my mom, from a plant in the mountains. Instead of growing as a creeping ground cover like the <i>perforatum</i> variety, <i>punctatum </i>grows in a shrub like form and I have seen it grow up to 3 feet tall!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98XYieFcI/AAAAAAAAASc/JC4IbcknUnA/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98XYieFcI/AAAAAAAAASc/JC4IbcknUnA/s320/IMG_2748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What we didn't realize about our mullein plants (<i>Verbascum thapsus)</i> is that they attract stinkbugs. What we also didn't know is that stinkbugs love watermelons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98jVg4aQI/AAAAAAAAASg/J4v-OGSgT-Q/s1600/IMG_2749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98jVg4aQI/AAAAAAAAASg/J4v-OGSgT-Q/s320/IMG_2749.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We also planted a variety of winter greens, including turnips, mustard and kale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98yvAsvfI/AAAAAAAAASk/RAVuTYe5q4U/s1600/IMG_2750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS98yvAsvfI/AAAAAAAAASk/RAVuTYe5q4U/s320/IMG_2750.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This beautiful sage plant was given to us by our friend Nicole. It makes beautiful purple flowers, the leaves burn well when dried as incence and it has a variety of medicinal uses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS987tWROMI/AAAAAAAAASo/0GKGfifawbc/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS987tWROMI/AAAAAAAAASo/0GKGfifawbc/s320/IMG_2751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The newly planted garden from various angles at the front of the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS99FR7sMDI/AAAAAAAAASs/UVMuigubfOw/s1600/IMG_2752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS99FR7sMDI/AAAAAAAAASs/UVMuigubfOw/s320/IMG_2752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS99Oxqr6vI/AAAAAAAAASw/mM_4hYbUyM8/s1600/IMG_2753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS99Oxqr6vI/AAAAAAAAASw/mM_4hYbUyM8/s320/IMG_2753.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS99aiucORI/AAAAAAAAAS0/PaCbj3nmXz0/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TS99aiucORI/AAAAAAAAAS0/PaCbj3nmXz0/s320/IMG_2754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-76397380086049830792010-08-03T09:55:00.000-04:002010-08-03T09:55:52.346-04:00What's growing in the Garden? June 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This summer has been very hot and dry. We have had less rain than we would normally have had, and the rain we did get came all at once last Thursday! We have a limited number of veggies growing this year, but some of the perennial herb type plants are establishing themselves well in the garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meg Shelton of <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/shelton-herb-farm-M9889">Shelton Herb Farm</a> generously donated many of the plants that have done well this summer. Below are a variety of peppers including bell and a sweet white variety.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXmRVNeuI/AAAAAAAAAPU/bEUC1jSyM2g/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXmRVNeuI/AAAAAAAAAPU/bEUC1jSyM2g/s320/IMG_2601.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXmRVNeuI/AAAAAAAAAPU/bEUC1jSyM2g/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXrwgy2oI/AAAAAAAAAPc/wqqOyn-8NFQ/s1600/IMG_2602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXrwgy2oI/AAAAAAAAAPc/wqqOyn-8NFQ/s320/IMG_2602.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of my favorite new peppers, it is called the Numex Twilight variety and as you can see it makes peppers that turn different colors from light purple to fiery red. They can be eaten anytime after they turn purple, but they are so beautiful I have been leaving them on until they turn red. They are super spicy though, so be careful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYq9tMEsI/AAAAAAAAARM/xU00uTBac-U/s1600/IMG_2627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYq9tMEsI/AAAAAAAAARM/xU00uTBac-U/s320/IMG_2627.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our milkweed plants are still thriving, although instead of attracting butterfly and moth larva, all we have been seeing are many aphids. I figure they are food for something also and I have not done much to eradicate them, I hope it will attract lizards (which we have seen a couple) and ladybugs (also a few). The plants are very resilient and even after letting go of one batch of seeds, new shoots have started coming up at the bottom and I think we will get a second blooming. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXrwgy2oI/AAAAAAAAAPc/wqqOyn-8NFQ/s1600/IMG_2602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX0-sKRiI/AAAAAAAAAPs/brLhhvSkAVc/s1600/IMG_2604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX0-sKRiI/AAAAAAAAAPs/brLhhvSkAVc/s320/IMG_2604.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favorite plants, the Vitex agnus-castes is doing incrediably well. This native of the Mediterranean loves our sandy soil and the hot summer. It has more than doubled in size this season and continues to flower and bear fruit. The only plant that I have seen more bees and butterflies on than this gem has been the catnip. She has been providing great shade for the plants recently planted around her base.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX9CLEmoI/AAAAAAAAAP8/kXoNhhmSCWw/s1600/IMG_2607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX9CLEmoI/AAAAAAAAAP8/kXoNhhmSCWw/s320/IMG_2607.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX5yNgg3I/AAAAAAAAAP0/Xxs_6yjqO2g/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX5yNgg3I/AAAAAAAAAP0/Xxs_6yjqO2g/s320/IMG_2605.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below are three of the plants who live under the Vitex shrub. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYHtbwOJI/AAAAAAAAAQM/tSP7w2XEBh0/s1600/IMG_2609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYHtbwOJI/AAAAAAAAAQM/tSP7w2XEBh0/s320/IMG_2609.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The St. Johnswort on topwas planted in the shade of the Vitex shrub. The one below and to the left was planted in a more exposed location. Notice the greener color and stronger looking St. J's in the top photo. The one growing more exposed is browner, smaller and not thriving as much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYLzyc22I/AAAAAAAAAQU/lhADDtwYiSw/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYLzyc22I/AAAAAAAAAQU/lhADDtwYiSw/s320/IMG_2610.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYQBf_NFI/AAAAAAAAAQc/dmZlNXUMwp8/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYQBf_NFI/AAAAAAAAAQc/dmZlNXUMwp8/s320/IMG_2611.JPG" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgX5yNgg3I/AAAAAAAAAP0/Xxs_6yjqO2g/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYCFDo1WI/AAAAAAAAAQE/cC1p_zO81FA/s1600/IMG_2608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYCFDo1WI/AAAAAAAAAQE/cC1p_zO81FA/s320/IMG_2608.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYUCHj9OI/AAAAAAAAAQk/j62-nslZ8XQ/s1600/IMG_2614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see from these pictures that the Stinging Nettle (on the left) and the Motherwort (on the right) are both becoming well established in the garden. If you look closely in the bottom of the picture of the nettle, you can see the baby plants that have come up (run) from the main plant. That is an excellent sign that the plant is established and will continue to spread and flourish. The Motherwort will do the same in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYUCHj9OI/AAAAAAAAAQk/j62-nslZ8XQ/s1600/IMG_2614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYZT3tdLI/AAAAAAAAAQs/xnuw9r8PABA/s1600/IMG_2616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYZT3tdLI/AAAAAAAAAQs/xnuw9r8PABA/s320/IMG_2616.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYehP_BnI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/WjTgaJJ630E/s1600/IMG_2620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYehP_BnI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/WjTgaJJ630E/s320/IMG_2620.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our watermelons have so far been our best summer vegetable. Here is the biggest one that was unfortunately harvested too soon. But you can see from the size of the patch that we have several more watermelons on the way. I think we have a total of 5 as of this post. Not super, but way more than the 0 we had last year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYehP_BnI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/WjTgaJJ630E/s1600/IMG_2620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYhLenXNI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/5waKhnn8CYg/s1600/IMG_2623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYhLenXNI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/5waKhnn8CYg/s320/IMG_2623.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXvraZCpI/AAAAAAAAAPk/c_RnwvVswF0/s1600/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgXvraZCpI/AAAAAAAAAPk/c_RnwvVswF0/s320/IMG_2603.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, but not least, this is our new Fig Tree! I am very excited about this addition to the garden. Meg thinks it is a cross between the brown turkey variety and the celeste variety. The fig is doing really well and has new growth! We will have to wait a few years for it to start producing, but this is definitely a start!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYlnSf8zI/AAAAAAAAARE/Idyjl6kyizU/s1600/IMG_2626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/TFgYlnSf8zI/AAAAAAAAARE/Idyjl6kyizU/s320/IMG_2626.jpg" /></a></div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-58472801723772072732010-05-04T10:00:00.000-04:002010-05-04T10:00:51.052-04:00Castle Street Community Garden Day May 2, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had our first big (big coming from the "single serving garden") harvest today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We harvested almost 6 pounds of kale, a pound of peas, red chard, 3 strawberries, lettuce, chamomile, and potatoes (they were very small, but the plants had died back). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AhyHGR8DI/AAAAAAAAANg/pbMdEG2yoI0/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AhyHGR8DI/AAAAAAAAANg/pbMdEG2yoI0/s320/IMG_2523.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was also Toni's birthday! The picture below shows Toni and Ethan planting Toni's birthday Jewel Nasturtium. It is a variegated variety with white and green leaves. We planted it in the Children's Garden to add some bright color to the thriving greens they have growing this season.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjvYqAhsI/AAAAAAAAAOo/icTq8yVrI_A/s1600/IMG_2506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjvYqAhsI/AAAAAAAAAOo/icTq8yVrI_A/s320/IMG_2506.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steve, Chris and Angelica weeding, harvesting and watering.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AiLBVN5iI/AAAAAAAAANo/HoqMmxnGCic/s1600/IMG_2514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AiLBVN5iI/AAAAAAAAANo/HoqMmxnGCic/s320/IMG_2514.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AiaBcHDkI/AAAAAAAAANw/eDMf_ISJqp4/s1600/IMG_2515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AiaBcHDkI/AAAAAAAAANw/eDMf_ISJqp4/s320/IMG_2515.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-Aiy06etuI/AAAAAAAAAOA/YS8rhJufzbg/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-Aiy06etuI/AAAAAAAAAOA/YS8rhJufzbg/s320/IMG_2517.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AiaBcHDkI/AAAAAAAAANw/eDMf_ISJqp4/s1600/IMG_2515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AinmQSMII/AAAAAAAAAN4/vBMlWQDXHB0/s1600/IMG_2516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AinmQSMII/AAAAAAAAAN4/vBMlWQDXHB0/s320/IMG_2516.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our cabbages (just cabbage?) are coming up nicely, although were you see the empty looking spots are places were plants have unexpectedly died. There is a suspicious whole towards the back corner of this garden that looks like somebody's home, but I have yet to identify the culprit. I think this somebody is also responsible for the disappearance of the sunflowers we planted in the back of the garden. The plants were completely gone and where each one had been was a small hole. The investigation continues. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AinmQSMII/AAAAAAAAAN4/vBMlWQDXHB0/s1600/IMG_2516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjC1-f7uI/AAAAAAAAAOI/HRSJ65ljf9U/s1600/IMG_2518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjC1-f7uI/AAAAAAAAAOI/HRSJ65ljf9U/s320/IMG_2518.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had an amazing number of cucumber volunteers. The rows are ones we planted from starts, but in the front of the picture are those that came up of their own volition. We have started thinning them out by digging up the bigger ones and transplanting them. We could tell they were cucumbers by the distinctive taste of the shoots when we first pulled a few up. We have some other volunteers and I am not sure how many are "true" squash or cucumbers. We may have some "squashumbermelons" to taste test in a few months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjC1-f7uI/AAAAAAAAAOI/HRSJ65ljf9U/s1600/IMG_2518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjQJkXyUI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1dxrG_9-fUE/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjQJkXyUI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1dxrG_9-fUE/s320/IMG_2519.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also harvested some red chard today and most of the plants are looking strong. This was not a bed that we filled with topsoil, we used horse manure, cardboard, compost and sand. I think the size difference is based on uneven nutrient distribution. We had a similar pattern in other beds. The solution? More is more when it comes to natural soil amendments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjQJkXyUI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1dxrG_9-fUE/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjbYRIdyI/AAAAAAAAAOY/5fBQ82n7O8Q/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjbYRIdyI/AAAAAAAAAOY/5fBQ82n7O8Q/s320/IMG_2520.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have started meeting later in the afternoon to escape the heat and to enjoy the longer days. Come see us Sundays from 5:30- 7:30 at Castle Street Community Gardens, 317 Castle Street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-AjbYRIdyI/AAAAAAAAAOY/5fBQ82n7O8Q/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-Ajktvj7II/AAAAAAAAAOg/vyjZVTE-pP0/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S-Ajktvj7II/AAAAAAAAAOg/vyjZVTE-pP0/s320/IMG_2524.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-4490543957760654272010-04-13T21:29:00.000-04:002010-04-14T13:03:31.304-04:00Castle Street Community Garden Day April 11, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had another fabulous day in the garden! We had a good turnout and got a bunch of plants in the ground. We planted tomatoes, sunflowers, calendula, and cilantro. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a good day for planting. It was also a good day for harvesting. Below is a photo of Toni and Ethan harvesting one of out looooong anticipated cabbage. We planted these cabbage back in the fall and for a possible variety of reasons they never really thrived. They looked like they were going to go to seed and not get much bigger so we decided to harvest one of them. I'll post an update on the others next week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Tsq4RcqpI/AAAAAAAAALI/KOXAgu1cLso/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Tsq4RcqpI/AAAAAAAAALI/KOXAgu1cLso/s320/IMG_1963.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was one tough cabbage! My snips are also very loved, and so are very dull. I have not yet mastered the skill of blade sharpening. My efforts have the disappointing effect of making the blade more dull rather than sharp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Tss7UBJfI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZrP1Ul_s0kE/s1600/IMG_1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Tss7UBJfI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZrP1Ul_s0kE/s320/IMG_1964.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Regardless, Ethan met with success and held up his hard earned trophy- a tasty (hopefully) naturally grown, community nurtured head of cabbage. Good job Ethan!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts1_C6pdI/AAAAAAAAALg/FBgDcZvsoKA/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts1_C6pdI/AAAAAAAAALg/FBgDcZvsoKA/s320/IMG_1967.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is one our community supporters - Stefan Hartmann, owner of <a href="http://blackriverorganicfarm.com/">Black River Organic Farm</a>. Stefan has helped all of the gardens I am involved with -- CSCG, Tidal Creek Community Garden and The New Hanover High School Garden-- with an abundance of seedlings. Not only did he bring by plants on Sunday, but also a parasite that preys on aphids that was hitchhiking with the plants!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks Stefan!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts3akhHCI/AAAAAAAAALo/OQT2HkwB72M/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TsucIVi7I/AAAAAAAAALY/ej-AL-AALg4/s1600/IMG_1965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TsucIVi7I/AAAAAAAAALY/ej-AL-AALg4/s320/IMG_1965.jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts3akhHCI/AAAAAAAAALo/OQT2HkwB72M/s320/IMG_1968.JPG" width="320" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blackriverorganicfarm.com/"></a>That jug of brown water in the right hand picture is a gallon of compost tea available at <a href="http://www.progressivegardens.com/">Progressive Gardens</a> located on Oleander Drive. Bring your own container and get a free gallon of this probiotic garden tea. It helps to replenish the microorganism populations in the soil. The microorganisms are beneficial to plants and soil health in many ways. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chris is working hard!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Tss7UBJfI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ZrP1Ul_s0kE/s1600/IMG_1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts3akhHCI/AAAAAAAAALo/OQT2HkwB72M/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts5IFJcsI/AAAAAAAAALw/06dlk-HjKVA/s1600/IMG_1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts5IFJcsI/AAAAAAAAALw/06dlk-HjKVA/s320/IMG_1970.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tom and Angelica were kept busy planting tomatoes. We planted several heirloom varieties that even have exotic names. I can't wait to see what "purple zebra" looks like. Other on the roster include pink beauties, a white tomato, black grape and some others whose names I will get up soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts5IFJcsI/AAAAAAAAALw/06dlk-HjKVA/s1600/IMG_1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts9RMgiBI/AAAAAAAAAMA/_T_dU35edcA/s1600/IMG_1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts9RMgiBI/AAAAAAAAAMA/_T_dU35edcA/s320/IMG_1972.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few shots of the garden, late afternoon on Sunday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts9RMgiBI/AAAAAAAAAMA/_T_dU35edcA/s1600/IMG_1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts-7qowyI/AAAAAAAAAMI/becKrhGcQbw/s1600/IMG_1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8Ts-7qowyI/AAAAAAAAAMI/becKrhGcQbw/s320/IMG_1985.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Angelica took these two, I couldn't decide which one I liked better. That is mullein in the foreground with broccoli and collards gone to seed in the background and catnip peeking in from the left hand side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtGvC7LII/AAAAAAAAAMQ/oYfzfa9IIAU/s1600/IMG_1987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtILnHoNI/AAAAAAAAAMY/mvpllwUUOos/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtILnHoNI/AAAAAAAAAMY/mvpllwUUOos/s320/IMG_1986.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Vitex, also known as Chaste Tree. This is a very fast growing shrub I am excited to have for it's medicinal properties and also because it provides a nice filtered shade for some of the herbs. I expect it to grow fast enough to be able to shade the herb garden this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtGvC7LII/AAAAAAAAAMQ/oYfzfa9IIAU/s1600/IMG_1987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtGvC7LII/AAAAAAAAAMQ/oYfzfa9IIAU/s320/IMG_1987.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtVY9PvBI/AAAAAAAAAMw/voEMX_uhS1A/s1600/IMG_1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtVY9PvBI/AAAAAAAAAMw/voEMX_uhS1A/s320/IMG_1973.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The much anticipated asparagus has sprouted! We have four of ten crowns coming up! It's hard to see in this picture, but the asparagus is the green plant with a ring of darker soil (compost) around it. As it grows we will fill in the trench. There won't be any to harvest for a couple of years, but the beginning looks promising! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We did have one casualty - a snapped stem, so please be careful not to walk in the trench! I hope that crown will send up more spears, like the other three plants are doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtJh0OjUI/AAAAAAAAAMg/dtYZklPd4Y0/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtL_ofnKI/AAAAAAAAAMo/w0mcaG77GTE/s1600/IMG_1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtL_ofnKI/AAAAAAAAAMo/w0mcaG77GTE/s320/IMG_1974.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some more pictures of the garden. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtvI2qNTI/AAAAAAAAANA/4acvlvRrelA/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtvI2qNTI/AAAAAAAAANA/4acvlvRrelA/s320/IMG_1989.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TttahREmI/AAAAAAAAAM4/lGp2URGNib4/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TttahREmI/AAAAAAAAAM4/lGp2URGNib4/s320/IMG_1980.JPG" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtVY9PvBI/AAAAAAAAAMw/voEMX_uhS1A/s1600/IMG_1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S8TtvI2qNTI/AAAAAAAAANA/4acvlvRrelA/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-55973087118973881452010-03-28T18:28:00.001-04:002010-03-29T14:20:19.208-04:00Castle Street Community Garden Day March 28, 2010<div style="text-align: center;">We had a great day in the garden today! We had a good turnout and accomplished a lot. All the plants are looking good!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our volunteers today had boundless energy! They were so excited to learn about the plants they could eat, helping Toni water the kids garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R2KGEFDI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/rH20dchmCns/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R2KGEFDI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/rH20dchmCns/s200/IMG_1885.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R-IFGmLI/AAAAAAAAAIw/2pkMUqIEe1Q/s1600/IMG_1889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R-IFGmLI/AAAAAAAAAIw/2pkMUqIEe1Q/s200/IMG_1889.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today was Steve's first day and he jumped right in helping to plant <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/butterflies/butterfly-gallery/images/Milkweed-MonarchLarva1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/butterflies/butterfly-gallery/pages/milkweed-monarchlarva1.html&usg=__c9RCAHB-pDAlRgY-_2B_jeqaqYE=&h=600&w=800&sz=166&hl=en&start=6&sig2=I-Mb4XUtsA8Q8afQWDHkug&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Q5aiR86_noCw7M:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmilkweed%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=itOvS7uwBIT68AbuwdTcCw">milkweed</a>, a food for many native larval butterflies and moths. It is also the preferred (possibly only?) food for monarchs. In this photo he is mulching the catnip/mullein/yarrow/St. Joan's Wort bed. We just found several volunteer St. Joan's Wort! How exciting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R4dxNCPI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YJNQiUlAbpU/s1600/IMG_1886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R4dxNCPI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YJNQiUlAbpU/s320/IMG_1886.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another first day volunteer, Michelle, took care of watering the whole garden as part of her inaugural contribution. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SAzYqoHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/xZtmgeDrxko/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SAzYqoHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/xZtmgeDrxko/s200/IMG_1892.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R59HO8GI/AAAAAAAAAIg/wMpGx8VxuMY/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R59HO8GI/AAAAAAAAAIg/wMpGx8VxuMY/s200/IMG_1887.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had tried to set up the trellis over the peas and pole beans, but a height/wind/balance problem brought the whole thing crashing down. Fortunately, the bamboo poles we are using are very light and there were no casualties. Tom did a fabulous job putting up twin teepee trellises with a bridge between them. Scroll down for a look at the completed structure. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R7_OCovI/AAAAAAAAAIo/vlgHhQeN7n0/s1600/IMG_1888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R7_OCovI/AAAAAAAAAIo/vlgHhQeN7n0/s320/IMG_1888.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of our regulars, Chris took care of watering all the plants in the greenhouse. She didn't know much when she started gardening with us, but she is a fast, enthusiastic learner. A teacher couldn't ask for more! The plants you see toward the lower right hand corner were propagated by my high school students (check out their garden blog <a href="http://tiny.cc/garden1">here</a> and <a href="http://tiny.cc/garden2">here</a>. ) The seedlings are on spring break hanging out at the local plant hot spot, also known as The Greenhouse. I hope they don't learn any bad habits from those leggy tomatoes.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R_SriVHI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vrZmUEa--hg/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_R_SriVHI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vrZmUEa--hg/s320/IMG_1891.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nicole was with us today, planting milkweeds as well. We put in about a dozen plants scattered through the garden in non-bed spaces. She helped the garden stay organized by digging the bricks in around the perimeter of a new bed.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SCsc6EYI/AAAAAAAAAJI/BYeJy-fM7KI/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SCsc6EYI/AAAAAAAAAJI/BYeJy-fM7KI/s200/IMG_1893.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SxqIH9VI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/XkQXjiH3gw0/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SxqIH9VI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/XkQXjiH3gw0/s200/IMG_1935.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second wave of enthusiastic volunteers came towards the end of the day. 'Voya and Nia helped mulch the catnip bed with sawdust after Steve and I finished mulching it with compost. That bed looks so good now! That patch in the back is where the young yarrow is growing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SixBYqTI/AAAAAAAAAJw/0GCdsYW552c/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6_SixBYqTI/AAAAAAAAAJw/0GCdsYW552c/s320/IMG_1919.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The almost finished trellis. Thats Valerie from Cape Fear's Growing Green with her faithful companion, Maisy. Valerie has been a huge supporter of the garden since our inception last year. Check out an article on the garden and to find out about more green happenings in Wilmington at the website for her magazine <a href="http://www.goinggreenpublications.com/">here</a>. She also has a calendar of green events on the website that is admirably current.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Join us next week to plant tomatoes and some other veggies and learn about compost! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-29203441640853640162010-03-28T14:06:00.001-04:002010-03-31T18:27:27.723-04:00What's growing in the garden? March 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The garden is really beginning to show her green. All of the plants featured in the "Blizzard of '10" post made through the long cold winter and have come back strong! This photos were taken on March 26. With each plant is a brief description and it's uses (edible, medicinal, supports native species).</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Medicinals</span></span></b><br />
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</span> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-LDW65j7I/AAAAAAAAAGI/5Nyb6WT511k/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-LDW65j7I/AAAAAAAAAGI/5Nyb6WT511k/s320/IMG_1838.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This bed of catnip (Nepeta cataria) has continued to thrive since it was planted from seeds and transplants at the beginning of last year. Catnip is most well known for its effect on cats, but few people are aware of its medicinal uses for people. Catnip, brewed into a tea is good for an upset tummy, anxiety of sleeplessness. It is a pleasant, minty tea that is good with chamomile. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Also in this bed in the lower right hand corner is a mullein (Verbascum thapsus) also known as lamb's ear. The leaves of this plant are good for coughs and congestion and respiratory problems. The flowers are used in a preparation for certain ear infections.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-LReBl83I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/jLpUR4urPY0/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-LReBl83I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/jLpUR4urPY0/s320/IMG_1839.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is a stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) transplant that is the relative of a nettle start I brought back after my apprenticeship at Red Moon Herbs. This plant is used as a general tonic beverage that supports many of the body's systems. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-LiWHhuxI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ehLlm3adqeU/s1600/IMG_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-LiWHhuxI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ehLlm3adqeU/s320/IMG_1840.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This patch of pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegiodes) seems to thrive more outside its bed in it! Pennyroyal as a mosquito, tick, flea and ant repellent. It is a very aromatic plant with delicate purple puffball flowers in the early summer. It can also be made into a tea for upset stomach, but it should not be consumed during pregnancy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Lw3OgcEI/AAAAAAAAAGg/-dPFVNZ9RBo/s1600/IMG_1841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Lw3OgcEI/AAAAAAAAAGg/-dPFVNZ9RBo/s320/IMG_1841.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Motherwort (Leonarus cardiaca) is another one of my favorite plants. Its name in latin means "lion-hearted" and it is beneficial to soothing frazzled nerves and emotions. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-MALtOOHI/AAAAAAAAAGo/-LSn5VEGxxE/s1600/IMG_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-MALtOOHI/AAAAAAAAAGo/-LSn5VEGxxE/s320/IMG_1842.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here we have a few small lemonbalm (melissa officinale) plants. It has a zesty lemony smell and is soothing, safe and easy to grow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-MMx6PiYI/AAAAAAAAAGw/iw3wLPfPahQ/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-MMx6PiYI/AAAAAAAAAGw/iw3wLPfPahQ/s320/IMG_1845.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This bed has more catnip and mullein, but it also has chickweed (Stellaria medica) and St. Joan's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). The chickweed, above the catnip on the left hand side, is an excellent spring green that is high in minerals. It can be eaten raw or made into an herbal preparation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">St. Joan's Wort is a very well known plant for its soothing, mood stabalizing properties. An oil can also be made from the flowers that is good for burns, including sunburn. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Mh99AmFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/oBesJnv1X6U/s1600/IMG_1850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Mh99AmFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/oBesJnv1X6U/s320/IMG_1850.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is a small wormwood (Artemesia absinthum) shrub. The flowers are used as an anti-parasitic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-M1h0oqyI/AAAAAAAAAHA/kT76a6r6Pkc/s1600/IMG_1852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-M1h0oqyI/AAAAAAAAAHA/kT76a6r6Pkc/s320/IMG_1852.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This bed has mostly chickweed growing in it, the light green small leafed plant. The plant with the larger darker green leaves are volunteer mystery potatoes from the compost pile. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-NFskw3lI/AAAAAAAAAHI/NoNn1WgfzDo/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-NFskw3lI/AAAAAAAAAHI/NoNn1WgfzDo/s320/IMG_1859.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A volunteer chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) from last year's starts. There are maybe ten or twelve volunteers just in a small radius around this plant. We had a great harvest from chamomile last year and I hope it to increase this year. There will be chamomile tea in a the next couple of months for the members of the garden. Chamomile is a safe, effective soothing tea.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFNsokMWI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/SyQaDQZqmsU/s1600/IMG_1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFNsokMWI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/SyQaDQZqmsU/s320/IMG_1951.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is one of several purple coneflowers (Echinacea augustofolia, purpurea) growing in the front flower bed. There is a difference in the flower petal shape that can help determine the specific variety. Echinacea is most well known for it's immune system boosting properties. Many different parts of the plant can be used. It also attracts beneficial pollinators to the garden. Echinacea is a perennial that grows through runners and by self-seeding. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFUH6cPBI/AAAAAAAAAKY/GJUb-KVSMJI/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFUH6cPBI/AAAAAAAAAKY/GJUb-KVSMJI/s200/IMG_1953.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFb8hiWoI/AAAAAAAAAKo/0JogB7Sf6Ns/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFb8hiWoI/AAAAAAAAAKo/0JogB7Sf6Ns/s200/IMG_1952.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFez2wD0I/AAAAAAAAAKw/zfxJmOkU3zQ/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFez2wD0I/AAAAAAAAAKw/zfxJmOkU3zQ/s200/IMG_1955.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here we have three pictures of the dozen or so milkweed plants my friend Matt donated to CSCG. According to him these are tropical milkweeds </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Asclepias curassavica) and monarch larva actually prefer it to the native milkweed because its leaves are softer. The importance of plants like milkweeds is that they provide larval food for moths and butterflies. For every one hundred eggs that hatch, only one butterfly reaches adult hood. All the rest provide food for other animals. You can check out more information on supporting native species at this <a href="http://bringingnaturehome.net/">website</a>, based on the book <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Bringing Nature Home</span> by Doug Tallamy. Or you can check out <a href="http://www.airliegardens.org/">Airlie Gardens</a> new exhibit - the Butterfly House - hopefully being opened up the end of May. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-NQTf_z8I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Wedv_tmhVow/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-NQTf_z8I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Wedv_tmhVow/s320/IMG_1869.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Our waterer catchment system has been working really well. These are three rain barrels that store water that has been drained off of the roof. We have had such frequent rain that we have not had to use tap water to water the garden for a while now. The rain water is free of chlorine, a chemical that kills beneficial bacteria in the soil. It may contain other contaminants that have been washed out of the atmosphere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Veggies and Fruit</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"></span></b></div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFXEK6IHI/AAAAAAAAAKg/5QrKcdL-Nuc/s1600/IMG_1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFXEK6IHI/AAAAAAAAAKg/5QrKcdL-Nuc/s200/IMG_1950.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFGxaIb2I/AAAAAAAAAKA/_MdGaRpgxzM/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S7PFGxaIb2I/AAAAAAAAAKA/_MdGaRpgxzM/s200/IMG_1947.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These strawberries (Fragaria spp) are transplants from the Tidal Creek Community Garden. Strawberries don't always flower (produce fruit) their first year, but it looks like we are going to have at least a few to munch on this spring! I don't know if these are everbearing, which produce fruit all season or the kind that only have one flower and fruit producing season. I guess we will find out</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">!</span></span></div></b><br />
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</span> </b></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Nf_35MzI/AAAAAAAAAHY/yFn9g-nf4dE/s1600/IMG_1843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Nf_35MzI/AAAAAAAAAHY/yFn9g-nf4dE/s320/IMG_1843.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is the same "broccoli in disguise" that was features in the "Blizzard of '10" post. You can see she is a little spindly, but we have 12 new broccoli that we will be able to harvest if it doesn't get too hot too soon. We harvested several small floret bunches off this plant after the big snowstorm.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Nx9MPTAI/AAAAAAAAAHg/gM41P4HnYXU/s1600/IMG_1844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-Nx9MPTAI/AAAAAAAAAHg/gM41P4HnYXU/s320/IMG_1844.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here we have collards, broccoli and parsley that all overwintered. The collards are tiny partially because we harvested individual leaves off of it in the fall instead of waiting for the whole plant to get bigger. The parsley has been delicious all winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-N-Bpoq3I/AAAAAAAAAHo/aw7b-tKnhUY/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-N-Bpoq3I/AAAAAAAAAHo/aw7b-tKnhUY/s320/IMG_1851.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Star Wars Vegetation" is the children's garden at Castle Street Community Gardens. The design utilizes </span><a href="http://www.squarefootgardening.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Square Foot Gardening</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> that helps children learn about plant spacing. The white PVC piping you see is the frame for our mini-greenhouse. We have a two sheets of landscape fabric that when secured down over the frame protect the plants from too-cold temperatures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-OIgFnXfI/AAAAAAAAAHw/uIdlZ0B14ww/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-OIgFnXfI/AAAAAAAAAHw/uIdlZ0B14ww/s320/IMG_1870.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These milkweed plants were donated by my friend Matt and provide larval food and habitat to native species of butterflies and moths. Butterflies and moths are a significant source of prey in the local food chain. The loss of native plant species has been hurting native moths and butterflies which is in turn bad for the species that prey on these insects. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-OUhxkf3I/AAAAAAAAAH4/-4Mu6v-FT4c/s1600/IMG_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6-OUhxkf3I/AAAAAAAAAH4/-4Mu6v-FT4c/s320/IMG_1872.JPG" /></span></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From here on through the season, the garden is only going to get greener!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-85419703198876462802010-03-27T20:17:00.002-04:002010-03-28T14:16:45.203-04:00Folks Cafe Garden!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 27, 2010</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was in Folks Cafe one day last week and while I was waiting for my coffee I heard the word "garden" out of the corner of my ear. Juan (the owner of Folk's), Gwen and Jock were speaking in conspiratorial tones about digging up the sandy patch below and putting in a flower bed. The topic under discussion were the logistics of such a plan. Gwen saw me perk up and invited me to join the conversation. Long story short, after work today I loaded up a barrel of horse manure that has been "ageing" at Castle Street for months, a barrel of compost (full of fire ants) and a barrel of sawdust and set out to turn this patch of ground at 15th and Princess:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66W_EJDghI/AAAAAAAAADY/iaWpIwYEwiw/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66W_EJDghI/AAAAAAAAADY/iaWpIwYEwiw/s320/IMG_1813.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">into this flower bed: (!)</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YmsnOs1I/AAAAAAAAAEY/4TgJ2ILpBf0/s1600/IMG_1878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YmsnOs1I/AAAAAAAAAEY/4TgJ2ILpBf0/s320/IMG_1878.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66W_EJDghI/AAAAAAAAADY/iaWpIwYEwiw/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the time I got there after loading up the MGU (Mobile Garden Unit), my two grunts, Jock and Fish had already turned over the soil and removed the sparse bit of weeds. We removed some of the soil to prevent it from washing into the storm drain. To get the bed ready for planting we "turned in" the liquid mush horse manure and compost, finally covering it all with a thin layer of sawdust. Once the seeds come up we will mulch a thicker layer.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have never used sawdust before as mulch, but considering it comes much more cheaply than hay straw I have been working with it in all my gardens this year. It seems to do very well. It tends to fly around a little more and laying down too thick of a layer in the beginning will prevent seedlings from pushing through. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YfPH_RGI/AAAAAAAAADw/gHQqRJY3cIQ/s1600/IMG_1873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YfPH_RGI/AAAAAAAAADw/gHQqRJY3cIQ/s320/IMG_1873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YhuG9g7I/AAAAAAAAAEA/7Rotga3ajc4/s1600/IMG_1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YhuG9g7I/AAAAAAAAAEA/7Rotga3ajc4/s320/IMG_1875.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YgV1UOGI/AAAAAAAAAD4/khqEgC0Erb4/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YgV1UOGI/AAAAAAAAAD4/khqEgC0Erb4/s320/IMG_1874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We planted <a href="http://www.handlebarhostas.ca/Pere_E/EchinaceaSunset.jpg">Orange Coneflower</a>, <a href="http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/0/C/4/DianthusSupraPurpleLg.jpg">Dianthus</a>, <a href="http://www.gardenopus.com/images/NasturtiumDwarfJewelMix3.JPG">Nasturtiums</a>, <a href="http://www.landscapeontario.com/attach/1146074937.Black-eyed_Susan.jpg">Black Eyed Susan</a>, and <a href="http://www.geswindt.co.za/images/Calendula_officinalis3.jpg">Calendula</a>. Everything but the Orange Coneflower and Black Eyed Susan we planted from seed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We chose plants that would provide nice color, but not grow to high so as to restrict visual space at the intersection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fish donated the transplants from his garden. Fish also donated and installed the granite stepping stones that provide access to the middle of the garden. You can see them more easily in the second picture</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YlLJ2l1I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/QYzWbc7euXU/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YlLJ2l1I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/QYzWbc7euXU/s320/IMG_1877.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gwen was an excellent supervisor. Everyone stayed on task and got the job done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YpjsZ55I/AAAAAAAAAEo/CAFWydvVFvs/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S66YpjsZ55I/AAAAAAAAAEo/CAFWydvVFvs/s320/IMG_1881.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gardening is a very serious business (the sun was in my eyes so it looks like I am almost smiling, but it was supposed to be more of a grimace). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the plants come up I will post more pictures on the progress. The next step is to put in gardens at the other three street corners of this intersection!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This garden was a first for me in the sense that I have always planted "useful plants", that is plants that are either edible, medicinal or both. It was a breakthrough for me to put something in simply for the sake of making a spot look more beautiful. There are so many more plants and places I can put them than just the useful ones in the useful places!</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-86079954899913581462010-03-27T19:05:00.001-04:002010-03-27T19:08:18.102-04:00The Blizzard of '10<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">March 27, 2010 </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here are a couple of pictures of the "Blizzard of '10 that hit on February 13, 2010. When I moved to Wilmington, I knew that I was going to have to say good bye to regular winter snow. I go back to NJ every winter, so it was a loss I could take. When I woke up on this morning and recognized that hush that always settles after it has been snowing during the night, I crept out of my warm bed, put on boots s and went outside to marvel at the snowy wonderland in the blue dawn, just as I had when I was a kid.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyRJOYMhI/AAAAAAAAACQ/OMg8-Q8cApA/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyRJOYMhI/AAAAAAAAACQ/OMg8-Q8cApA/s320/IMG_0864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6ywP4qKQnI/AAAAAAAAABo/YNzxoOKCVeo/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6ywP4qKQnI/AAAAAAAAABo/YNzxoOKCVeo/s200/IMG_0868.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yvkroLjQI/AAAAAAAAABg/Om3fWZ52miU/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yvkroLjQI/AAAAAAAAABg/Om3fWZ52miU/s200/IMG_0861.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> This is the view from my front door.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below are some of Castle Street Community Gardens.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyMCYse9I/AAAAAAAAACI/k4h8rFioz_0/s1600/IMG_0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyMCYse9I/AAAAAAAAACI/k4h8rFioz_0/s320/IMG_0873.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyMCYse9I/AAAAAAAAACI/k4h8rFioz_0/s1600/IMG_0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>This is our children's garden. Toni and her son Ethan have been the main contributors to the garden. Tom constructed the PVC frame and provided the landscape fabric to make our easily movable greenhouse. We have harvested oak leaf lettuce, mustard greens, bok choi and broccoli that was started back in January. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyMCYse9I/AAAAAAAAACI/k4h8rFioz_0/s1600/IMG_0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyVb-jbEI/AAAAAAAAACY/O7KTaT0DUVY/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyVb-jbEI/AAAAAAAAACY/O7KTaT0DUVY/s320/IMG_0874.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The entrance to the garden is just to the left of this shot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyVb-jbEI/AAAAAAAAACY/O7KTaT0DUVY/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyY02xoKI/AAAAAAAAACg/B6w13odKqGM/s1600/IMG_0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyY02xoKI/AAAAAAAAACg/B6w13odKqGM/s320/IMG_0876.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyY02xoKI/AAAAAAAAACg/B6w13odKqGM/s1600/IMG_0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>From the front of the garden looking back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yycpxRtvI/AAAAAAAAACo/5HQ8xvQD5Qo/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yycpxRtvI/AAAAAAAAACo/5HQ8xvQD5Qo/s320/IMG_0883.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Something about a cardinal in a green tree covered in snow is another image that reminds me of snow days in New Jersey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyfh4ZkzI/AAAAAAAAACw/A28MlIj-AC0/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyfh4ZkzI/AAAAAAAAACw/A28MlIj-AC0/s320/IMG_0894.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are plants under much of that snow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyfh4ZkzI/AAAAAAAAACw/A28MlIj-AC0/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyjSFMUbI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ADNplQd3flo/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyjSFMUbI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ADNplQd3flo/s320/IMG_0900.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was worried that our rain barrels might freeze, but they were just fine, it definitely didn't get that cold. In fact it was such a warm, wet snow it was practically gone by the end of the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All that remained by the day after were randomly placed mutant looking snowman dotting muddy lawns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyjSFMUbI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ADNplQd3flo/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyjSFMUbI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ADNplQd3flo/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yynEZAgvI/AAAAAAAAADA/ayo_kqFekfg/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yynEZAgvI/AAAAAAAAADA/ayo_kqFekfg/s320/IMG_0891.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture was taken right next to the children's garden towards the back of the space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yynEZAgvI/AAAAAAAAADA/ayo_kqFekfg/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yysdDjNxI/AAAAAAAAADI/I2FfzhurPhw/s1600/IMG_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yysdDjNxI/AAAAAAAAADI/I2FfzhurPhw/s320/IMG_0901.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the trees behind the garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yysdDjNxI/AAAAAAAAADI/I2FfzhurPhw/s1600/IMG_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyvWeJeaI/AAAAAAAAADQ/GW02DRScDjg/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6yyvWeJeaI/AAAAAAAAADQ/GW02DRScDjg/s320/IMG_0872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is part of the culinary and medicinal herb beds. The shrub sticking up is a lemon verbana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6ywWi7zyMI/AAAAAAAAAB4/fk-ywITB-Sc/s1600/IMG_0871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6ywWi7zyMI/AAAAAAAAAB4/fk-ywITB-Sc/s320/IMG_0871.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Broccoli in disguise. I harvested the florets after they got a little bigger and it didn't seem that the snow had much affect on the flavor.<br />
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We didn't lose any of the plants to the snow, any that were damage were the transplants that got hit by the frost a couple days prior. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-69800924543901236332010-03-24T21:17:00.002-04:002010-03-24T21:19:32.828-04:00The Greenhouse!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since OC joined the garden crew a few months ago, he has been brining great ideas to the table. His first was to create the greenhouse you see below. It is made from locally harvested bamboo, reclaimed pallets and donated greenhouse plastic (thanks Matt!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It only took a couple of days to put up and is super toasty. We have been able to start our summer crops early without having to give up the dining room table!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6q47BYUp5I/AAAAAAAAABY/MwHxY7kV7j0/s1600/DSC00358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6q47BYUp5I/AAAAAAAAABY/MwHxY7kV7j0/s320/DSC00358.jpg" /></a></div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-55005208475829435502010-03-24T20:24:00.000-04:002010-03-24T20:25:39.884-04:00Planting Asperagus! Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I decided to try something new this year. One of the main reasons I wanted to be a part of a community garden is to grow perennial plants, or those that live longer than one season. I have been reading a lot about asparagus and wanted to grow some in the garden. Asparagus is a long term plant that takes several years to mature, but will then produce for over a decade if taken care of properly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The part of the asparagus that you buy at the grocery store is called a "spear" and is the new growth sent up by the asparagus crown, or root system. The picture below shows the asparagus bed we dug a few weeks ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6qrpOau6WI/AAAAAAAAAA4/UBUPmJuLL98/s1600/IMG_0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SL8VDP5SnT0/S6qrpOau6WI/AAAAAAAAAA4/UBUPmJuLL98/s320/IMG_0933.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In order to flourish, the crowns must be planted deeply enough. The new shoots of a young plant are not strong enough to break through deep soil. A trench must be dug and then slowly filled in as the asparagus grows taller. The brown clumps you see in the photo are what they look like-aged horse manure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We planted ten crowns in this bed and we plan to put in another ten. As of this post we are still waiting for the first shoots to come up. Apparently, asparagus grows very slowly.</div>kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448767239798058035.post-3850996073194609782010-03-24T15:08:00.001-04:002010-03-24T15:28:31.004-04:00March 24, 2010So far to date, I am currently working on three community gardens and I network resources with one other garden. I started Castle Street Community Garden in downtown Wilmington with the primary goal of growing medicinal herbs. Being a renter, I don't have a stable patch of yard to grow perennial plants or cultivate annual(ly) expanding weed patches that herbal medicine makers love so much. The solution was to start a community garden that would be there no matter where I was.<br /><br />In its' second year, CSCG continues to thrive. The soil is rewarding us for our hard work shoveling horse manure, turning compost and bringing in topsoil. The perennial herbs (most people tend to consider them weed) survived the "harsh" winter and are literally getting bigger everyday. Thanks to OC, the greenhouse he and Cole built, we will have a head start on tomatoes, peppers and culinary herbs.kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08452287715435660211noreply@blogger.com0