Dear Gardeners,
Working in the gardens this fall has certainly been a joy. No mosquitoes, lots of sun and warm weather. I see a lot of Napa cabbage, bok choi, kale and other greens still in the gardens and I hope you are still enjoying your produce.
Eagle Heights gardeners should note that the winter parking signs have gone up. There is no parking on Eagle Heights Drive during the weekday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. Weekends are still available for parking on the street. For weekdays, there are a few free (3 hour limit) parking spots at Frautschi Point lot (further north on Lake Mendota Drive at the curve in the road). You can walk from there to the gardens. The 80 bus also comes up to the gardens if you want to park in other metered lots such as the Picnic Point lot.
This weekend, there will be workdays on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 at Eagle Heights to work on shoring up the path in the 100's/200's. The weather looks favorable and we may not be able to get many more workdays in with possibilities for snow and cold coming. Please reply to this email if you would like to work and tell me which day you would like to come. I'll get you more details. We need quite a few volunteers for each day.
If you haven't been able to work or want to pay the "no workday option" , please remember the deadline is Dec. 1. After Dec. 1, there are substantial late fees ($20 per large plot;$10 per small plot) as well as losing your priority as a returning gardener and the chance to request your plot back. If you want to send a check ($32 for a large plot; $16 for a small plot), please make it out to Division of University Housing. You can drop it off or mail to the Eagle Heights Community Center, ATTN : Gardens, 611 Eagle Heights, Madison, WI 53705. If you have any question about whether you worked or already paid, email and I will get back to you.
The goldfinches have lost their bright yellow colors but are still active in the gardens, eating the last of the sunflower seeds and other garden bits. All the squirrels and chipmunks are getting in the last of the store for winter and the geese are getting restless. Nature seems to be taking a big deep breath to get ready for colder temperatures but it is glorious while it lasts.
Gretel, Garden Regis