Work Day - Saturday March 8th

We would like to welcome all our new gardeners and look forward to rekindling our old friendships from the past couple years. Saturday March 8th  from 10 am to 12 noon is the first workday for 2014. Hopefully we will have beautiful weather and a huge mulch pile to spread.

If you have a few extra minutes this week, it would be greatly appreciated if everyone would work on removing weeds and those pesky wild onions in the common areas (under the pecan trees and the two big paths). That way we'll be more efficient when we spread the mulch on Saturday. Even without spreading mulch, we still have a lot of other tasks to accomplish!

What  are the goals for Saturday?

• Clean out the shed
• Mulch Common Areas....
• Dig holes for the blueberries and plant them
• Dig  the iris out and pot them up
• Weed in the orchard besides in the common areas, pollinator & sunflower beds
• Weed around the beds in the Special Needs area
• Work on the compost bins and turn them
• Mulch Common Areas....
• Rake out all the loose leaves in the border with the apple trees
• Cut back the herbs in the sunflower beds
• Deadhead and cut off dead foliage on the pansies
• Mulch Common Areas....
• Cleaning up the bed under the sign

Be sure to bring your own hand tools and a weeding bucket. If you have a stiff tined rake (like the person in the picture) that would be useful too as we only have a couple and it is easier to spread the mulch with them.

Don't forget to bring water and sunscreen also.

      Mike and Vicki

Weekly Calendar Sat June 15 - Fri June 21

June 17 - 23
National Pollinator Week
Watch for a post about why pollinators are beneficial

Monday June 17
Mulch Moving Project
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
We will only be working in the shaded areas! As the shade moves, we'll move.
Mulch moving project Details

Thursday June 20
MG's at the Garden
8:30 am to 9:30 am

Weekly Calendar May 31 - June 8

Saturday June 1st
Garden Party to Celebrate our 1st Year
6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Bring a chair and a dish to share!
Enjoy the beautiful garden.

Tuesday June 4
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty

Saturday June 8
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Saturday workday
We are almost done but there are a few more things to do to be all set for the summer.

Weekly Calendar May 23 - June 1

Saturday May 23
NO Gardener on Duty
Have a great Memorial Day weekend

Tuesday May 28
Gardener on Duty
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday May 30
Workday
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Saturday June 1st
One Year Anniversary Celebration!
6:00 pm to whenever
Details in email sent on May 21

Saturday Workday Fun

We lucked out and had beautiful weather for Saturday's work day- okay it was beautiful because it didn't rain and it wasn't cold! In fact, as of 8:30 Saturday night it still hadn't rained.

The Bluebird Fundraiser was a resounding success. Mike and Sue did a wonderful job preparing the food for the Bluebird Blue Plate Special . If you weren't there, you really did miss out on some delicious food! And you missed out on getting to just sit and chat with your fellow gardeners while at the garden.

Everyone was already a winner after eating that delicious lunch but went home as double winners after the Bonanza Door Prize Drawing.

The garden looks 200% better than it did at noon on Monday. Spreading a huge pile of mulch, moving a huge pile of dirt, tilling up a huge sections of weeds besides digging weeds makes the entire garden look new and fresh. Yes!

There are still a couple of sections of the main paths that still need work before the next load of mulch gets delivered.

 













Above: The sunflower border after the first 2 passes with the tiller. To the right: The sunflower border after the tilling has been completed. Quite a difference, isn't it!  Thanks Denny for tilling it for us and Mike for using his truck to bring the tiller to the garden.

Everyone is hard at work at some task or the other

 

Chuck spend all morning moving sifted soil back and forth. Either to the sunflower borders or into the compost bin while Jennelle and Susie sifted, sifted, sifted... Jennelle was very happy to use the gloves she had gotten as a door prize after a previous workday. Susie wished she had some. Lucky her, she managed to snag a new pair of gloves at today's Door Prize Drawing!



















        Team 1 - aka The Blues Sisters                                                   Team  2 - Mary & Carol

 It was sad work removing all the fruits and flowers from the apple, pear and plum trees but it had to be done. The trees will be much stronger now that they can devote all their energy to making roots versus making fruit while their roots aren't established yet.

Workday and Bluebird Fundraiser are still on!

We are still going to have the workday and the Bluebird Fundraiser today. Looking at the radar it looks to be mostly rain free from 10:00 am onwards. Be sure to come out and join us!

Thursday was a Gorgeous Day

The weather for Thursday was absolutely gorgeous! You couldn't have asked for better for a workday. Pollen was bearable, temperatures were perfect and it was sunny. We made a dent in the list of tasks to do this month but there is still plenty more to do.

Almost a third of the garden has had a fresh layer of mulch spread on it and it is starting to look really nice. Another couple of piles of mulch and we'll be weed free - except for pesky onions and the occasional intruder. Thanks to everyone who came out Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday to help spread the mulch.

Bridget working hard on the mulch

Please come out to join us on Saturday!

With lots of hard work all week from many dedicated
people and the mulch crew on Thursday, this is all
 that was left of the huge pile we got on Monday.



Vicki weeding, weeding weeding

Lisa and Bridget moving and spreading mulch

Digging for Gold!
Actually, sifting the dirt pile and removing
earth worms before moving the dirt over
to the compost pile to finish composting.

Carol and Sandra doing hard labor planting
rose bushes around the sign.

 

Weekly Calendar April 26 - May 2

April 27
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Saturday Workday
Details for Saturday workday

12:00 noon to whenever
Bluebird Fundraiser Details

April 30
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Gardener's on Duty

Saturday Workday with Door Prizes and Bluebird Fundraiser

This Thursday, April 25^th and Saturday, April 27^thare our April work days. Thursday is from 10:00 to 12:00 and Saturday is from 10:00 to 12:00 also.  So far, here is the list of things we've come up with that needs to be worked on.

· Weeding (ongoing and forever)

· Weed pollinator beds before mulching

· Mulch pollinator beds with mini-pine nuggets

· Spread free or purchased mulch in garden common areas

· Move the compost/dirt pile and sift it as we move it

· Round-up along outside of fence (Thursday only)

· Till the sunflower border area (Saturday only)

· Plant sunflower border area (Saturday only)

· Weed eat/cut onions and Round-up remaining stems

· Weed around sign and plant 4 or 5 Caldwell Pink roses around the GMP sign

· Plant 4 Celeste figs in 1 gallon containers on the upper terrace

· Give the shed a good sweeping and cleaning

· Remove blooms & fruits from the fruit trees (Saturday only)
    (The fruits need to be removed so the trees develop a good healthy root system the first year in the ground)

 

As you can see there is a lot to do and we probably won’t get it all done on Thursday and Saturday unless YOU come help us.   Even if you can only come out for an hour, your contribution of time and effort will be greatly appreciated.

 

On Saturday after the workday is over at 12:00, we will be having a Bluebird Lunch Fundraiser for the Bluebird Trail.  Mike and Sue will be providing a delicious selection of food.  For further details, check the link to the Bluebird Lunch Fundraiser post.

Door Prize Bonanza!

Prizes Galore!

Hey Everyone,

It's back!   Door Prize Bonanza at the next two workdays! Both Thursday & Saturday!

As always, this is a wonderful time to come out and enjoy working as a community while supporting the Master Gardeners who do so much for Green Meadows.

Please remember to enter the raffle.  You can't win, if you don't play!  Drawing will be held at the end of both work-shifts.

Plants, prizes, and so much more!  How fun!

Denise, Beds 25 & 29      

Weekly Calendar April 19 - April 25

April 20
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty

April 23
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty

April 25
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Thursday Monthly Workday

More pictures from our workday

Grub Hunting

Planting tiny seeds




Happy weeders

Eating, talking and holding our
new treasures from the door prize drawing

 

Great Big Thanks to All!

Hey Everyone,

Just a great big THANK YOU to all those who came out and supported the workday Saturday afternoon!

It is so nice to assist the Master Gardeners who do so much and provide us with such a nice place to come out and play!  They even feed us yummy cookies.  Those were delicious Carol!


What a wonderful turnout!

We truly hope you had a great time mingling and working as we continue to form a wonderful community of gardeners.

All of us are such a vital part to its success and it is such a pleasure to garden alongside each of you.


Sphinx moth - adult form of
 tomato hornworm

Whether doing battle with the weeds, learning how to prune fruit trees, checking out the hornworm pupa, or simply having fun with Door Prize Bonanza, a great day seemed to be had by all.



Weeding under the shade and door prizes on the table.

Door Prize Bonanza is always fun and it was so nice to see everyone go home a winner.
Hope you enjoyed!



Have a great week and thanks again for all your help!

Denise & Vicki, Beds 25, 29, and 41

Pruning the Fruit Trees

Carol is teaching them the correct way to prune fruit trees. Right now she is working on a fig.
 All participants got a chance to prune a tree.

Weekly Calendar 3/29 - 4/4

March 30
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Saturday Workday
Surprises

April 2
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty
(note the time change)

From Your Garden to your Table
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Cobb Extension Program
Pre-registration required
Cost $10.00

Door Prize Bonanza!

Hey Everyone,

The upcoming weather for the workdays on Thursday and Saturday looks wonderful!  How nice would it be to come to the garden and support the Master Gardeners who do so much for us and assist with the spring clean-up.  This month is a Gardener's Door Prize Bonanza!

Thought you were getting a sneak peek, didn't ya?

Whether working on your beds or helping in the garden, this is always a wonderful opportunity to socialize, share ideas, get advice if needed, and put your name in a drawing for some great door prizes.  This month is a bonanza of
a giveaway and the prizes are more than delightful!  It may be wise to bring your own garden tools for working as we are expecting a good turnout.

Happy Gardening,

Denise, Beds 25 & 29

Weekly Calendar March 22 - March 29

Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)
A native wildflower blooming now.

March 23
2:00 - 4:00
Gardeners on Duty

March 26
4:00 - 5:30
Gardeners on Duty

March 28
10:00 - 12:00
Thursday Monthly Workday

March 30
2:00 - 4:00
Saturday Monthly Workday

Bluebird Trail Tour is STILL on at 4:00 Saturday

Hello Everyone,
   The Bluebird Trail Tour scheduled for 4:00 this Saturday afternoon is STILL ON! There will be hot cider to warm you up as well as other goodies.

Walking the trail through the woods will be protect you from the wind. Just bundle up and it won't be bad since you'll be moving.

See you there for the walk!

As for the Workday - I'll be there at 2:00 to help change the lock combinations but the only thing on the workday agenda is weeding. If you'd rather weed when the weather is nicer this week, feel free to do your weeding later in the week. It is pretty nasty for just weeding. Brrrr....

If you have to choose between the Bluebird Trail Tour and weeding at the workday, pick the Bluebird Trail Tour!

         Vicki

Weekly Calendar March 1 - March 9

March 1
Reminder
Combination Lock Change
Be sure you have the new one

March 2
If in doubt, check blog at 1:00 for any weather delays
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Saturday Workday


Putting in rebar for bluebird house

4:00 - 5:00
Bluebird Trail Tour
Bluebird Trail Tour

March 5
4:00 - 5:30
Gardeners on Duty

March 9
2:00 - 4:00
Gardeners on Duty

Possible Tree Planting in the morning
Watch Blog for more details

Hooray - the new hoses are installed

Today was a most excellent workday. We got the pile of dirt moved into all the new beds plus topped off a few other beds. Weeding took place, the compost was turned and even more exciting is that the 4 new hoses got installed. Those dratted green ones have been replaced!! Hip hip hooray! Everyone now has access to wonderful hoses.

 

The Bluebird Trail Tour was a great success as well. Kitty and Kathy (KC) both brought blueberry muffins. Soooo delicious!  Jim's talk and tour was very interesting and provided great information. The sun even came out while we were out walking to make it nicer.

 

If you weren't able to come to the Thursday workday and Bluebird Trail Tour, be sure and come out on Saturday.

        (If you are in doubt weather wise, check the blog and an update will be posted by 1:00 pm)