From the Gardens Registrar: The “F” Word, Jumping Worm Workshop, Wisconsin Medicinal Plant Symposium, Woolly Bear Caterpillars

 Hello Gardeners – 

THE “F” WORD (FROST) - We’ve had an unusually warm September, but from here on, temperatures are going to be sinking steadily. Days are also growing shorter. We can expect our first frost any time now, though probably not for another two weeks. Start keeping an eye on the weather forecast. The first frost may be light, so that if you can cover your vegetables, even with something as light as a bed sheet, you can keep them alive. Cabbages and other cole crops, and some greens can handle light frost, and may be improved by it. 

Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are the most susceptible to cold temperatures. You may just want to plan to pick those in the next week or two. If you have green tomatoes, there are a number of ways to get them to ripen in the house. Some people just leave them on a warm, sunny windowsill; other people keep them in a cool, dark place, in paper bags or cardboard boxes. More on this next week.

JUMPING WORM WORKSHOP - Join the Lakeshore Nature Preserve at the Eagle Heights Community Garden for a Jumping Worm Workshop. Learn about Wisconsin's invasive earthworms, including how they impact our gardens and forests and how to find and identify them. The workshop takes place on Thursday, September 29th, from 4:30 - 6:00 pm. Meet at the garden shed. If you have any questions, contact the Preserve at (608)265-9275 or lakeshorepreserve@fpm.wisc.edu.

WISCONSIN MEDICINAL PLANT SYMPOSIUM – On Friday, September 30, the UW Horticulture Department will hold a program on medicinal plants from 1pm – 4:30pm at the Ebling Auditorium at the Microbial Sciences Building at 1550 Linden Drive. 

Six guest speakers will gather to discuss the following topics:  A historical overview of the use of herbal medicines; traditional knowledge of plant healing; the intricate relationships of humans and plants in Wisconsin Native American communities; a Tibetan perspective on medicinal plants; using echinacea to treat the common cold; and the importance of ethnobotanical collections. The symposium is free; however, registration is required. Here’s the link to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wisconsin-medicinal-plant-symposium-tickets-26810552083

WHY DID THE WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR CROSS THE LAKESHORE PATH?

http://blogs.massaudubon.org/yourgreatoutdoors/why-did-the-woolly-bear-cross-the-road/

WORKDAY – The next workday is scheduled for Sunday, October 2, from 9am – Noon, at Eagle Heights. The task will be tree and path maintenance. Gloves will be really helpful. Here’s the link: http://doodle.com/poll/7asv89aqwn89i2fn  If it rains, the workday will be automatically cancelled. But if it doesn’t rain, feel free to turn up for the workday even if you haven't signed up. There are more than two hundred gardeners who have not yet done their workday; time is growing short.

Happy gardening, everyone.

Kathryn