Gardening is aways a process with continuous change and hopefully growth. … And sometimes Mother Nature has something to say about it all. In 2017, hurricane Harvey brought flood waters to the Good Bug Garden. The rise of water and with it, a healthy dose of silt, this section of the garden took a blow. The bridge timbers moved around and lifted, the silt and debris covered the pavers.
Currently, the Good Bug Garden looks a bit rough but it’s not idle and neither are the Master Gardeners. Harvey was a large event but historically La Nana over-flows her waters every three years. We are in the process of evaluating and planning ways in which to move forward, keeping the floodplain in mind.
Meanwhile, the critters, birds, lizards, and insect life are taking advantage of an undisturbed area to nest, forage, and overwinter. We invite you to follow our progress and evolution by joining Our Mailing List for updates.
THE GOOD BUG GARDEN in the DEMONSTRATION GARDEN
By: Linda McLean
This project was a labor of love, complete with vision, dedication, perseverance, teamwork, friendship and hope. There are so many ways that participation in this endeavor can just make you feel good, that it’s easy to realize the hard work is well worth the effort.
This area will showcase four subject areas that are very important to the overall health of our community:
1. Ten large, raised beds will be an accessible garden for everyone in the community to visit, learn and enjoy.
2. The beds are made from recycled bridge timbers and filled with sand & compost – “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
3. Flowers and herbs are specifically planted to show which plants attract beneficial insects to your yards to greatly reduce poisons and have a healthier environment for us all through a naturally balanced ecosystem.
4. Organic methods of maintenance, using Nature’s biological arsenal instead of chemical and synthetic compounds with those hazardous warning use labels, which should be used only as a last resort.
Improving your community by bringing beauty, wonder and peace to your world is a wonderful legacy. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has been involved in making this ongoing project a reality, including City and County officials and employees, merchants, organizations, clubs and private citizens who have supported and encouraged this project through donations, hard work, and many positive comments. Without all of this support, this idea would have remained a dream; instead, it is now on the way to becoming a reality.
We are proud of the Good Bug Garden and hope each and every one that visits the demonstration garden will take time and go through the Good Bug Garden.
Some of the many flowers and plants that attract good or beneficial bugs include:
Baby’s breath
Feverfew
Goldenrod
Hesperis
Lavender
Lemon balm
Marigolds
Nasturtiums
Purple Coneflower
Rose-scented geraniums
Salvia
Sunflowers
Sweet alyssum
Yarrow
You must be logged in to post a comment.