From the Registrar June 30, 2021

 Hello Gardeners, 

 

Mexican bean beetles: There have been some sightings of bean beetles at Eagle Heights. The Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) is in the same family as ladybugs, and the adults resemble an orange ladybug. The larvae are yellow and spiny. This page has some photos and useful information: 

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/bean/mexican_bean_beetle.htm 

We’ll be ordering parasitic wasps (Pediobius faveolatus) to try to keep them under control as soon as we have enough larvae. Please look at your beans and let me know if you have the beetles in your plot. We’re looking for volunteers with a healthy population of bean beetles in their plots to host the wasps. These wasps are very small and won’t sting people. We will need two plots at Eagle Heights and one at University Houses. Please let me know if you have the beetles in your plot and if you’d be willing to have the wasps put near them.  

 

Workdays: Some gardeners are wondering how workdays work. Every plot is responsible for one three-hour workday for a gardening season unless the no-workday fee is paid. This year we’re combining requirements with last year, so if you completed a workday in 2020 you will not be required to do one in 2021. If you haven’t been able to do one yet, don’t worry. We’ll have plenty of opportunities.  

 

-We'll be having a weeding workday at Eagle Heights in the fruit planting areas this Sunday. It will be from 11:30am-2:30pm. Volunteers should bring gloves and long sleeves for thistles and nettles. We will need 8 people. Please email me if you're interested and I will sign up the first 8 volunteers that I hear from.  

 

-We’ll be having a workday at University Houses on July 11th from 9am-12pm. There will be a variety of tasks to do, from weed whacking to hand weeding. Volunteers should bring gloves and long sleeves for thistles and nettles. We will need 8 people. Please email me if you're interested and I will sign up the first 8 volunteers that I hear from.  

 

-We need one volunteer to help with weeding the area by the Eagle Heights share shelf, dumpster, and bike rack with the gardener who looks after these areas. A weekday morning around 8 would be preferable. 

 

- If you’d rather do an independent workday, we can find something for you too.  

 

Thanks, and happy gardening, 

Lily