Memorial Day Weekend and Weeding

Another Memorial Day is ending. Today's weather was perfect. I spent most of the long weekend working in the Gardens, including yesterday and today. I ended today and the holiday with customary brat and potato salad with a slight update: Kale and Apple salad. Babcock Union Utopia ice cream for dessert. Summer is here!
 
Saturday(the 28th) a crew of eight tackled the army of weeds. Pictured to the right are Loren, Susan, Ken.  Loren joined us this season and Ken has been volunteering since the
Gardens were developed nearly seven years ago. Thanks to both of you for your continued support.

Note Susan's knee guards. She highly recommends these from Ace Hardware. Well padded, comfortable, secure and flexible. Plus they compliment her blue sun hat.  Susan lives in the Regent neighborhood and this was her first time volunteering. Thanks Susan for joining the crew and for working so diligently.

Christian, a Regent resident, also joined us for the first time. Thanks for coming out and lending a helping hand. He and his family live about a block up the street. I often see Christian walking his two pugs. Christian and I are members of the First Unitarian Society. He and his wife were members of a parent group that I co-facilitated with our Community Life Minister, Kelly Crocker.  He looks too young to have a teenager, don't you think?

Here's Christian and Loren weeding the Peg Arnold Memorial Garden. Many plants in this small garden didn't survive the winter, even though the season was mild. Maybe this week I will buy replacements from perhaps the cathedral of greenhouses, the Flower Factory, near Oregon.  I love going out to the Flower Factory. Just going through all the different greenhouses is a joy. 







Here's Laura in action. You may recognize Laura since she is a long time volunteer. She did extra duty on Sunday joining Ann and I as we continued conquering the weeds.Thanks, Laura.

Oh yes, please note that Cosmo, Laura's friendly dog is taller than I said in my last blog. He's 11 inches tall and not five, as I stated. When I saw Cosmo on Friday, he didn't hold this egregious error against me. As usual, he joyfully trotted forward for pets and greetings. Apparently all is forgiven.



This year's crop of weeds, besides being abundant, are also tall with well developed roots. The recent warm weather and rain supported an explosion of weeds, including the fast spreading Bishops Weeds with their nasty root system that includes tubers. When the day started, for the first time since gardening at Prospect, I felt overwhelmed by the task that faced us. With tenacity, humor and Ann's homemade brownies, we prevailed.

Pictured is the pile of plant material, a testimony to the abundant weeds and the crew's diligent work.  The small pile in the background is the remains of a cherry tree. Unfortunately, our first planted cherry tree succumbed to a disease. I suspected this was a possibility last fall since the tree's leaves began dropping much earlier than usual. Also, the tree sustained an injury to its trunk leaving an open scar.

Bob, the Mulch King, and Ann are not in any of the pictures. Bob recently visited Italy and was still experiencing some jet lag. No problem for Bob as he did his favorite gardening activity.  Thanks Bob for joining us instead of retiring to a lounge chair on your great back porch. Nick, a nearby neighbor and his two children, also helped clear out portions of the Garden.  Thank you also!

The pile indeed is large. Yet many weeds still remain in the Gardens. If the body is willing, I may return later this week to continue the effort. If you are in the Madison area, please consider joining me.