Dear Gardeners, The gardens looked beautiful this morning with the rain really perking things up. One of our gardeners captured some pictures of the new crane family and you can see them and get garden tips on the garden blog that Jenn puts together here: http://eagleheightscommunitygarden.blogspot.com/ This weekend on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, the UW West Madison Research station (just outside the Beltline off Mineral Point Rd). will be putting on their free field day. There will be lots of garden information and you can see many varieties of fruits and vegetables, talk with campus experts and also bring the children for many activities. See the announcement here: http://universitydisplaygardens.com/ This Saturday, from 8 am to 11 am, we'll have a workday at Eagle Heights moving wood chips and doing cleanup in the common areas. Please reply if you would like to work this opportunity and I'll get you more information and details. We have now worked our way down the waiting list so if you have a small plot and are looking for more space to garden, consider putting in an application for a second small plot. We have a rule that each principal gardener can only have one large plot but two small plots count as a single large plot. There is only one workday requirement for two small plots since this counts as a large plot. To apply for the rest of the season, submit an application with a note that it is for a second small plot and the fee is just half the usual small plot fee since it is after June 1. We may have some small plots coming open since people are moving in and out for fall school starting. If you have friends that have wanted to garden, now is a good time to apply and you can be a "returning" gardener for next year. Just a reminder that every gardener, new or returning, must apply for a plot each year. There are no guarantees on getting the same plot back, but returning gardeners can request that and usually I can arrange to get the plot back as long as applications are made on time and the gardeners are in good standing. Applications for 2015 won't be available until mid-December. I will be putting out some extra seeds we have for lettuce and radishes and perhaps a few others to be planted in the fall. Look for them Saturday at each garden bulletin board shelf. The tomatoes and peppers are starting to come in for sure now and I got my first tomatillos so enjoy the summer vegetables and put some new ones in for fall. Gretel, Garden Registrar