M.G.s & Interns,
For anyone that may have missed the meeting, you’ll notice that this week we’ve added a third work day on Saturday. This was done to help those who work full time and can’t make the regularly scheduled Wednesday/Friday work days. We know that Saturday is a busy day, especially if you work all week, so we’ll be out there just from 9:00 – 12:00. Also, something new has been added to this extra day which we hope will help with getting your certification hours: the first hour, 9:00 – 10:00 will be the “Education Hour” during which we will focus on specific areas of gardening with lectures and /or demonstrations with hands on participation. The first educational session will be on “Preparing and Planting a Fall Vegetable Garden” : how to choose and prepare a site, selecting vegetables for the season, and planting these vegetables from seeds or seedling transplants. After “class” we’ll then devote the last two hours to general garden work like tending the beds, pruning, weeding, etc., etc. You’re welcome to come for any or all of this Saturday morning session; if, for instance, you are already well versed on the topic of the day, you can work while we’re teaching. Or, you can come just for the demonstration if you are getting your garden hours during the week.
Initially, we’ll schedule these Saturday educational/work days twice a month, and if the interest and attendance level is high enough we’ll continue it through the year. Other proposed topics are: “Pruning Techniques for Roses, Muscadines, Blackberries and Shrubs”, “Starting Plants by Propagation”, “Growing Herbs”, “Lawn Care and Fertilization Schedules” and many more. We’d like suggestions for any other areas you might need help with, or want to learn more about.
The county commissioner has informed me that more mulch will be delivered this week. This will enable us to finish the beds that need it, just in time for the plant sale on Saturday, Oct 6. He is also ordering more of the “millings” so we can resurface and raise the pathway around the herb bed as we did in the Texas bed.
This week we will place two new memorials in the garden; one is a bench with a plaque honoring recently deceased MG, Helen Duron and the other is a statue of St. Fiacre, the patron saint of gardens, honoring Paul Binagia. Paul was not a MG but loved gardening with such an avid passion that his family wanted him to be remembered in the beautiful setting of our garden. Both families will be invited to the plant sale to view these memorials to their loved ones.
Spread the word about the plant sale to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church members, etc. Let’s make this the best fall sale ever.
You’ve got three chances this week to come out and practice your gardening skills and, now, to even learn new ones. Hope to see you on one of these days, or heck, all three if you feel energized by the great fall temps heading our way.
The Garden Team