From the Gardens Registrar: DON’T LEAVE HOSES AND DEBRIS IN THE PATHS; Dayflowers; Roasted Vegetables; Taking Cuttings from your Flowers; Green Thumb Gardening Classes; Are You Leaving?; Workday is Iffy

Hello Gardeners,

HOSES AND DEBRIS IN THE GARDEN PATHS – So once again, our mowing was interrupted by a hose and a tomato cage left in the path. The mower had to be taken apart to remove the pieces of hose and cage. Bad language was probably used. Your garden plot is your own space. But the paths are common areas, shared with all the other gardeners and visitors – no gardener has any right to leave anything in the paths. When you want to water your garden, you can use the path temporarily to connect your hose to a water station. When you are done watering, you must disconnect the hose and bring it back to your plot.  DO NOT leave your hose attached, and DO NOT leave your hose in the path. At our next workday, garden volunteers will be instructed to disconnect any hoses left attached to the water faucets, and these hoses will be taken away to an unknown destination. Don’t let this happen!

DAYFLOWERS – I’m seeing more and more of these beautiful blue-flowered invasives around the gardens, including a large number in the path in front of Plot 115. They come from Asia, and are very hard to get rid of if you don’t want them. But perhaps they can be tolerated – their flowers are true blue, an unusual color in nature. And, apparently, they’re edible, though I haven’t tried them. They have been used as a dye in Japan, and as a medicinal herb in China. They’re related to Spiderwort, a native wildflower that also has cultivated varieties. Here’s more information on them: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/nyregion/the-true-blue-asiatic-dayflower.html

ROASTED VEGETABLES – Now that temperatures are coming down, and there are so many root vegetables to harvest, this is an excellent time to eat roasted vegetables. This is a link to a basic recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9377/roasted-vegetables/  You can use whatever vegetables you like (or whatever vegetables your garden is producing), and whatever herbs and spices you like. Simple and tasty.

TAKING CUTTINGS FROM YOUR FLOWERS – For gardeners who grow flowers, this is a good time of year to divide your perennials. It’s also a good time to take cuttings from flowering plants such as geraniums. They can be rooted in water or potting medium in your house over the winter, and be ready to plant out next spring. Geraniums can also be brought inside in the winter, to grow and flower, or to be stored in a dormant state until warmer weather:  https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2004/9-17-2004/geraniums.html  (Some begonias can also be rooted from cuttings.)

GREEN THUMB GARDENING CLASSES – Dane County UW Extension is offering a series of classes for gardeners on Wednesday evenings, beginning October 9, at their offices on the far east side – 5201 Fen Oak Drive. Classes are $12 each, or $70 for the series. The first class will be “Putting the Garden to Bed for Winter and Seed Saving/Seed Starting”. Here’s a link for more information: https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/horticulture/greenthumb/

ARE YOU LEAVING THE GARDENS? – Eagle Heights gardeners are busy people, and mobile. It’s not unusual for me to receive an email from a gardener letting me know that they have moved to Bangkok or Beloit, or some other exotic location, and are no longer able to care for their garden plot. I appreciate knowing, but if you could let me know before you actually leave, that would be even better.

WORKDAY – Due to the weather forecast, we will probably not have a workday this weekend. If plans change, I’ll send out a separate email.

Happy gardening,

Kathryn