Undercover

Last week a friend asked what I had covered in the garden. I thought about that yesterday as I finally got the strawberry towered covered with straw before this week’s predicted temperature drop into the low 20’s.

 

 

 



Ready for winter.

What will you find under these covers?

Lettuce, spinach and beets

and of course, arugula.

 




In the cold frame you will find............

 

more spinach, carrots, parsley, cilantro and a few strawberry plants. There will be

spinach for picking for a family dinner on Saturday, but the carrots won't be ready until

spring. Notice the black jugs, they are filled with water and will hold heat from the

daytime sun.

 

 

This seemed like a good way to protect the fig trees; however today's 40-50 mph wind gust

put the tarp right on the ground. Hopefully the trees will survive tonight's freeze and my

engineer (aka husband) will find another solution for protecting this year's growth so we will have figs next

summer

 

 

 



       

Under this contraption is a 4 foot plus rosemary tree

I bought as a 12-18 inch plant at the Mayfair plant sale in

2007. It would probably survice the winter, but I don't want to

 take the chance. So far it has survived today's high winds.

Intergenerational Gardening

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting and working with the Floral Design Class from Lone Oak High School's horticulture department. About 25 students brought 25 poinsettias, which they grew in their greenhouse, to the Superior Blooms Garden Club. If you will recall, Superior Blooms is the garden club at Superior Care Nursing Home.

 

 

 

 

 

The students helped the residents decorate the pots (and in some cases the plant) and also assisted in making pinecone bird feeders.

 

 

 

I was impressed, not only with the exemplary plants they grew but also the way the students interacted with the residents; very poised, caring and engaging. I am looking forward to future projects involving the young and elderly as they learn from one another. Thank you Mrs. Keri Green and Ms. Brittany Fortner for sharing your students with our elderly citizens.