Raspberries, Kids , Football, Pink Pig

Yesterday, with sunshine, cool breezes and wooly caterpillars making their way to who knows where, several neighbors, Ann and I began preparing the Prospect Gardens for winter. A beautiful day much like today.

Ah, the luxury and beauty of Wisconsin late summers. A perfect day for gardening and watching life pass by on the commuter path and within the neighborhood.

Before we started working, I noticed a neighbor and his children strolling by. After exchanging warm greetings, I sensed that the children wanted more of the raspberries. The fall crop is quite abundant. It didn't take much encouragement for the kids to increase their intake of these tasty treats.   Here are a few photos of the family.

 The family lives nearby and are new to the neighborhood.  Here's Dad showing the delicacies to his daughter. It didn't take her too long to start picking by herself. I missed a shot where she was leaning out of her stroller to get at the berries. Dad pointed out her Green Bay Packer's hat and Wisconsin pullover.

 Here she is enjoying the fruits of her labor. I know, it's really a bad pun. Take a look at those rubber boots. She's ready for the fall rains and maybe even for winter.

Here she looks like she is not so sure about all the fuss I am making about her and eating raspberries on a sunny day.

  
Here is her brother. He charged up the terrace to get at the berries higher up the bank.  The young boy remarked that the raspberries tasted just like those from his Grandmother's garden.

A few years ago Dave, another neighbor, and I terraced the bank. We created steps just so kids and adults could have better access to the berries. Our intentions were indeed fulfilled.

We have a spring crop and a fall crop.  Initially I opposed planting raspberries and I am now happy that we have the patch.  The patch attracts so many people and offers opportunities for conversation.

Like his Dad and sister, the young lad was also wearing his Badger gear. UW-Madison played some unknown school, Troy, from Alabama yesterday.

Some of our more enterprising neighbors make some extra income through selling parking spaces.  Here is two with front lawns full of vehicles at $25.00 a space.  It is quite remarkable, that Camp Randall, the football stadium, does not have a parking structure. The 80,000 plus fans somehow find parking spaces on the streets and on private lawns in the nearby neighborhoods.

 Badger football offers plenty of opportunities to showcase and advertize Wisconsin products and business.  Here are two on the way to the stadium from Jones Dairy Farm, Fort Atkinson.

A man in a pink pig outfit passing through Prospect Gardens is a first. I received a ticket to enter the "Porkchop Photo Contest."  I could be the lucky winner of a "mini stuffed porkchop" if  I took my picture with the guy dressed as a pig and posted it on the farm's Facebook page or on Twitter or Instagram.  Tomorrow is the deadline. I think I will pass up this opportunity while posting this photo.

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 We accomplished much despite all this activity along the path. Activities also included many bike riders speeding by. Indeed it was a great day for a  bike ride.

Here are pictures of two of our co-workers and long time volunteers:  Steve and Joyce. Both are from the Regent Neighborhood.  About six years ago, Steve wrote the grant that initially provided some city funds that officially launched the Gardens.  Prior to the grant, I along with Ernie, another neighbor did what I called "guerrilla gardening."  That is we planted without the expressed approval of the authorities and without a plan. With the grant we achieved a flexible plan plus funds for the shrubs that are now fully grown and funds for seeds.      

Ann, my wife, also pitched-in plus made the delicious cheesecake squares for our break.  Laura also helped before leaving to take her car in for a check up.

Tomorrow morning I will email my city contact to pick up the huge pile of plant material.

We will back on October 17th for another session to continuing preparation of the Gardens for the upcoming winter. Come join us...anytime between 9am and noon on the 17th !

Winter will surely return.  In the meantime, the sweet days of late summer and fall are to be enjoyed.