it's swarm season! 4/24 update

it may have been easter but that didn't stop this group of gardeners!  we worked hard and it is really beginning to show.  with the upcoming field day event in june, we have lots to do and luckily for us, we have a small group of dedicated volunteers.  i would like to thank them for braving the weather-it threatened to rain and we heard the tornado siren go off 3 different times, and i would also like to say thank you for a job well done, we couldn't do it with out anne(and sam too), lynn, alice and virginia!  one other note of thanks to barbara and her crew of merry men-chuck and turner, for making the grass garden look as beautiful as ever!

have you seen those commercials on tv for the exterminating company-if its spring, its swarm season...well be sure to look closely at the next few photos.  i was working in the rain garden and all of a  sudden, i was surrounded by a cloud of flying insects.

a termite swarm was happening as we weeded

 darry lifted the lumber and we could see the tunnels that they built 

 the garden is also experiencing a problem with phlox plant bugs.  they are tiny and they make quick work of the leaves.  every phlox plant in the garden is covered with them.

you don't have to go to church to see the fancy hats and dresses on easter sunday-the plants in the garden put on one heck of a fashion show this week!

 false indigo in bloom

 chives in bloom

 feverfew

 thyme

when i ask for volunteers, i am serious-we really need more help to keep the garden looking like it is well kept and cared for.  otherwise, it is in danger of looking like this:

 our perennial garden, which is located by the old orchard, has been completely taken over by chickweed.  we must have gotten a load of seeds in some mulch.  it is choking out the plants in the bed.  luckily for us, our newest volunteer and intern from the class of 2011, virginia, is taking this invasion seriously.  she has been hard at work over the last week and what a difference it has made:

 if you think that by yourself, you couldn't make much difference.  think again.  one person saw a need and has worked to fulfill that need.  we would love it if more of our members would think that way and lend us a hand.

 things are taking shape in the vegetable garden too.  here is darry and sam as they plant the new bean garden.  the strings are for the asparagus long beans to grow up and at the ground level, there will be bush beans.  just goes to show you that you don't need huge spaces to garden.  by thinking vertically, as well as horizontally, you can maximize your space.

 anne and david are relocating the raised beds

 the raised beds line the walkway leading to the grape arbor.

 it will be beautiful when it is all full of plants

 after moving the beds, again..., we needed to spread out the soil and make the remaining space level for the other beds that will be located here.

and as always, on sundays, i come with a fresh baked cake for all to share

 cranberry orange bundt

and since it was easter, anne came with a basket full of eggs and sam had his own egg hunt in the garden.  aren't they pretty?  i love the pale blue one at the top of the photo!

come join us, from swarms to hunts, you never know what will happen out there but you can be sure that there will always be cake...