From the Gardens Registrar:  Slow Down; AACT; CALS Family Gardening Day; Volunteer Project; Plant Sales; NO WORKDAY THIS WEEKEND

Hello Gardeners,

SLOW DOWN – A University Houses resident has complained that gardeners are driving too fast down the road to the garden. Please remember that there are lots of children in this area, and drive slowly.

AACT – On Saturday, May 4, former EH gardener Gary K will make a guest appearance at Eagle Heights to offer his actively aerated compost tea for free to gardeners. This tea, mixed with water, will add helpful microorganisms to your garden and rejuvenate your soil. Gary will leave about 40 containers of it around 9am, on the granite benches near the shed. Each container will be enough for a large plot. Help yourself.

FAMILY GARDENING DAY – On Saturday, May 4, the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will be presenting their annual Family Gardening Day on campus. This free, family-friendly event will run from 10am – 1pm, and will be held at several different locations – Allen Centennial Garden, Steenbock Library, D.C. Smith Greenhouse, Wisconsin Energy Institute, and the Botany Garden. While supplies last, there will be free vegetable plants at the Allen Garden, and sunflower plants at the Steenbock Library. Here’s a link to more details: https://science.wisc.edu/family-gardening-day/

                                                                                                                                     

VOLUNTEER PROJECT AT THE GARDEN ARBOR– As you know (I hope), each garden plot at Eagle Heights and University Houses Gardens must contribute one person to do a work shift each season (or else pay an extra fee.) But there are other ways, besides the weekend workdays, that gardeners can perform their community service. Here’s one:

We are expanding the Arbor garden at Eagle Heights this year. Because the area around the Arbor has been subject to flooding, we are starting a rain garden next to the existing plantings. We will need people to help plant the rain garden plants, and we are also looking for gardeners who will help to weed the rest of the Arbor garden throughout the season. This will require a regular commitment. Please let me know if you are interested, and I will put you in touch with the Arbor Garden Coordinator. It would be helpful if you are already somewhat familiar with perennial flowers, or have some rain garden experience.

UPCOMING PLANT SALES AND MARKETS:

OCCUPY MADISON will hold a vegetable and herb plant sale from 11am – 3pm on May 4 and May 5 at 304 N. Third Street, on Madison’s east side. https://occupymadisoninc.com/2019/03/27/fourth-annual-plant-sale/

HILLDALE FARMERS MARKET – This will start this Saturday, May 4, and will continue from 8am – 1pm, on Saturdays and Wednesdays until the end of October. You can find the market behind Hilldale Shopping Mall, off of Segoe Road.

MONROE STREET FARMERS MARKET – This will start this Sunday, May 5, and will continue on Sundays, from 9am – 1pm, until the end of October. https://www.monroestreetfarmersmarket.org/

The market is at Edgewood High School.

TROY FARMS will hold their annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11, 10am – 2pm, at Troy Farm, on the northeast side of Madison, at 502 Troy Drive. https://www.communitygroundworks.org/what-we-do/troy-community-farm/bedding-plants

The Warm Weather Plant Sale at Eagle Heights will be on Sunday, May 19 – More details on that soon.

NO WORKDAY THIS WEEKEND.

Happy Gardening,

Kathryn