From the Registrar: April 28, 2025

Hello Gardeners, 

Rhubarb leaves are not edible: If you are not already familiar with rhubarb, it is cultivated for the stalks of the plant. The leaves are toxic because they contain large amounts of oxalic acid, and they should not be eaten. The stalks are often sweetened and cooked in pies and other desserts. The leaves should be cut off at the time the stalks are harvested. The leaves can be used as mulch or can be put in the weed pile. More information and identification photos can be found here: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/rhubarb-rheum-rhabarbarum/ 

Workday opportunity:

• There will be a workday on Sunday 5/4 from 9 am to 12 pm at Eagle Heights Gardens. Six volunteers are needed. Please email me if you’re interested and I will assign the spots in the order I receive replies.  

     The work will be clearing brush and weeds in some common areas of the garden. Volunteers                   should wear long sleeves and bring gloves. The group will meet at the EH garden shed at 9 am. 

If you are new to the gardens: Each plot is responsible for one workday each season (or you can choose to pay a fee instead). The workdays are scheduled and led by the garden workers throughout the season. I send emails out with the days and times, and you can sign up by replying to me. Sometimes the spots fill up quickly, but we will keep scheduling more. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.  

Hoses and tools in paths: It will not be too long before mowing of the paths begins, so please remember to keep all your belongings in your plot. Hoses left in the path may be mowed. At Eagle Heights your hose needs to be in your plot and disconnected from the spigot, and at University Houses it needs to be returned to the reel. Plants that are growing outside the border of your plot could also be mowed.   

 

Communal tools: Please remember to return all communal tools to the sheds when you are done using them for the day so other gardeners can use them. If they are left in the mulch piles, they can be buried, and this causes the wooden handles to rot. 

Thanks, and happy gardening,   

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/  

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/