June Work Session

 Last Saturday another work session happened at the Prospect Gardens. The sun was rather hot as the morning unfolded. My straw hat, with masking tape inside, protected my balding head from the hot sun. We worked in the shady areas of the garden as the sun climbed upwards into the robin egg blue sky.

 We accomplished much, clearing out weeds from the Hosta Garden and then worked our way through all the  gardens along the Dudgeon Monroe side.  As usual, we enjoyed a break of Ann's homemade mouth watering lemon bars. Besides myself (with the straw hat) and my wife Ann;  Laura, Joyce and Steve-- the stalwart volunteers-- are pictured taking a well deserved break. 

Here's just one of the many wheel barrels of plant materials that we hauled up the ramps. The ditch on the right side of the picture is one of the areas we cleaned out.

Many of the hosta are in bloom and are thriving along with the Jack-in-the-pulpits. All hosta and Jack-in-the-pulpits in the Hosta Garden are from the gardens of neighbors and friends, and were donated.

By noon when the sun felt quite hot, we had a larger than usual pile of plant material. Once again the city promptly picked up the material shortly after I called the contact person.    

Here's Joyce, among the plants, working on the Bishop's Weed and other types. Bishop's Weed has been very prolific this season, sinking it's roots down below the rocks. So weeding often means moving the rocks to pull out the roots. Because of the underlying rocks (referred to as "rip-rap" to manage erosion), I refer to our work as "extreme gardening."

The Prospect Gardens are quite beautiful and after nearly seven years, reaching maturity. Soon the showy Purple Cone flowers will be in full bloom. If you live in Madison or visiting,  drop by and if you contact me, I will give you a personal tour. Of course, having you join the work crew would be be greatly appreciated. 

Raspberries and Little Girls

 It's summer and raspberry picking time at the Prospect Gardens. Here's some green ones waiting to be be ripened.  When the Gardens were first developed nearly seven years ago, I did not favor a raspberry patch; concerned about how they can spread and take over. I reluctantly agreed with the stipulation that we find a "raspberry czar", who would lovingly care for the patch.  No czar came forward. However, luscious berries appear every summer and a fall crop provides berries through September and sometimes early October. I am so happy that my initial resistance gave way and I heeded the advice of those who wanted a patch.

 A few days ago, I picked a plastic dish full of ripe berries and enjoyed the bounty with my breakfast cereal.  Oh the joys of  warm Wisconsin summer days and raspberries. The black colored round berries intermingled with the raspberries are, I think, in the choke cherry family or maybe gooseberry family. Some folks say these berries have a bitter taste. I like them with cereal because of their refreshing after taste; sort of like a zing, if you know what I mean.      

The wonderful thing about the raspberry patch is how it attracts people, such as this little girl from the Regent neighborhood.  I spotted her, along with her father and three other children, a few days ago after I took the path home from cashing a check at our neighborhood bank. One of the little girls was celebrating her birthday and collected a small baggie of raspberries that she was taking home with her. She was so delighted with her harvest.

More neighbors and users of the path will certainly enjoy the raspberries.  There is more than enough for all of us.

Plants From Janice

 Yesterday, Janice, a friend and former work colleague, generously gave and delivered two Purple Cone flowers and two unknown variety of Golden Rod. Beautiful full grown plants from her own garden. Janice lives on the east side of Madison.  We worked together before I retired from the Environmental Resources Center. Thanks, Janice.

The next three pictures are about the planting process. As I commented in a past post, the first step is to create a bed by removing rocks.  Lucky for me, this step was already completed since the previous occupant did not survive the winter. So my labor was less intense compared to when we first developed the Gardens.

Here's the selected bed. Notice all the rocks surrounding the bed; placed there to supposedly prevent erosion of the fairly steep slope.  I guess it works but the weed barrier underneath the rocks definitely does not prevent weeds. Our ongoing battle with weeds is a testimony to the tenacity and adaptability of  weeds.  Also, note that because of our recent efforts, the surrounding rocky area is relatively weed free. 

 

Then,of course, there is the digging of the hole. The challenge is to maintain balance and equilibrium since you are working on a steep slope. Last week when I weeded this area, I lost my balance when pulling on a weed and took a tumble down the rocky slope. First time that has ever happened to me. Nothing broken and the only remaining reminder of my loss of being mindful is a black and blue mark on my upper arm.  

Here's a Golden Rod in its new home.  I hope the plant likes the new location and the transplanted east sider continues to thrive here on the close west side. I mulched the bed and gave the plant a good drink using water from a neighbor. Tomorrow, we will once again be connected to city water through the nearby fire hydrant.

I planted one of the Purple Cones in a bed just above this Golden Rod. The other Purple Cone and the second Golden Rod found homes across the commuter path and in areas that are in the Regent neighborhood.  

I checked this morning and all four new
Garden residents were upright and healthy. No wilting or other signs of shock from moving to the close west side. 

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.  

Weeding and Mulching Crew

Saturday, April 30th, with a possible threat of rain, I anticipated work in the Prospect Gardens. After a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, fruit and English Breakfast tea, checking email and a few news web sites, and scanning Facebook, I packed up the wheel barrel with necessary tools, and made the half block trip to the Gardens.

Three neighbors joined me: Laura, Joyce and Steve. These three are frequent volunteers. We worked for about two and half hours, accomplishing the goal of weeding and mulching a significant portion of the north side of the Gardens. Light rain began to fall as we accomplished the goal.

More of the Gardens need weeding and mulching.  So sometime soon we will be back tending the Gardens.  Here's a few pictures of the crew.

Laura is too busy to look up as she spread mulch. I so appreciate Laura taking time from her busy schedule to be on the crew.

Laura lives a half block from the gardens. Her home is in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood.

Laura has the cutest little dog, Cosmo. I would guess he is just over a foot long and five inches tall and with a stubby tail. His friendliness makes up for his small stature.  Cosmo knows how to "meet and greet" and collect well deserved petting from his human neighbors.

 Joyce, appropriately dressed for the chilly day, pauses for a moment. Joyce willingly takes time from tending her own gardens and from her worldly travels to be part of the crew. I greatly appreciate her contributions to the Gardens. We always enjoy listening about her travel adventures.

 Joyce is from the Regent Neighborhood and is the link to the Regent Neighborhood Association.  The Gardens are supported by both the Regent and Dudgeon-Monroe Association.










Steve is also from the Regent Neighborhood.  He is one of the "founding fathers" of the Gardens, writing the grant nearly seven years ago that provided initial city funding. The $800 grant got us started. Dedicated volunteers, like Steve, have contributed so much during the expansion of the Gardens. The Gardens now cover more than 1500 square feet.  Thanks, Steve.

He shared news that his daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law are moving back to Wisconsin from Oregon. They were in Corvallis, Oregon while his son-in-law completed a post-doc. Northland College, an Environmental Liberal Arts college in Ashland,will be their new home.  










 Here's the crew. Don't we look stylish and fit!  According to my Fitbit, I consumed nearly 800 calories while gardening. (left to right: Joyce, Laura, Steve, and me)

We will gladly add you to the crew when you volunteer. We always have a good time while working to beautify our neighborhoods.

Not pictured is my wife Ann, who usually joins us. Workmen in our house took priority this morning. However, she delivered a healthy snack. Thanks, Ann,  for your contributions including working in the Gardens. She considers her specialty to be cleaning the bike ramps of leaves and debris, and weeding (with approval of what is a weed ).

May Day 2016 Flowers

Today is May Day. The sun that peeked out for about ten minutes has disappeared. We are back to overcast skies with temperatures rising.  On my morning walk I strolled through the Prospect Gardens and noticed the following blooming plants. They add cheer to this overcast and cool day.  Warmer weather is forecasted for tomorrow.

 Prairie Smoke, a low ground hugging plant, is one of the first to show its soft blossoms. I planted about six of these at least two years ago and now can find only two. One never knows which plants will survive the winter and be with us once again for a brief show.

On the other hand, you can bet that the hardy forsythia will survive most any winter. This one has the honor of being the first plant in the Gardens, showing its flashy yellow for the seventh year. It's blooms are beyond peek and already dropping leaving a soft yellow carpet. 

 I have no idea the name of this plant. I received it from a neighbor last year and forgot to ask for its name. Another ground hugging plant with small blue flowers and one that I think will spread.

 Virginia Bluebells are at their peak.  You can find these all along the Southwest Commuter Path. I transplanted these from an area east of the Gardens two years ago.

 One of the three cherry trees in the garden and in its third year. We will have some cherries this year; not too many given the limited number of cherry blossoms. 

 The Redbud tree (more like a shrub) has bloomed for the first time. Received the then scrawny tree about four years ago from Steve, a neighbor. Steve's advice was to plant the little tree and see what happens. Here we are on May Day 2016 enjoying the splendor of the Redbud.

Last, but not least, on a scale of beauty is the trillium. This one is a descendant of a plant that we uncovered when clearing out the upper area of the Gardens. The original trillium predates the bike path and perhaps witnessed the passing trains. As we go into May, other plants will emerge as spring unfolds adding to the beauty of the Gardens.

New Season, Memories and Earth Day

A near perfect day with mild temperatures and sunshine accompanied the opening day of the 2016 gardening season at the Prospect Gardens. This is the seventh year of tending the gardens and the first time a work session fell on Earth Day. Taking care of the microscopic slice of earth underlying the Gardens on Earth Day was a special treat.

I recall the first Earth Day forty-six years ago on April 22, 1970. Our own Senator Gaylord Nelson  is credited as the founding father . On that April day, I was a young social studies teacher in West Bend, Wisconsin team teaching with a gifted teacher(Bill). I had a head full of hair (unlike now), and wore shirts and ties when teaching. We taught "American Studies", a Sophomore course organized according to major themes and never followed a text book. We had a social studies resource room filled with paperbacks and other educational materials. The two newly built side-by-side high schools were organized around flexible modular scheduling; a radical reform that broke up the traditional seven one hour class schedule. Modular scheduling broke up the day into different time segments. For example, we could meet all sophomores in a large lecture hall, if we wanted to, followed by discussion groups of 10 to 15 students. The executive principal for both high schools was my former high school principal in Pulaski, Wisconsin.

Eventually, my career shifted to teaching special education, teacher training and then program evaluation after earning an Educational Doctorate from Indiana University in 1983. So much for a slice of the past. Now on this Earth Day, I am retired from the University of Wisconsin and known as the Crew Chief of Prospect Gardens. My wife, Ann, sometimes refers to me as the "boss" while I occasionally call her the "Union President", making sure that the crew has breaks and we stop at the designated time.  I tend to forget about time when I am working in the gardens.

On this 2016 Earth Day, Susan, Program Coordinator from The Friends of Lake Wingra and four University of Wisconsin Badger Volunteers joined seven volunteers from three neighborhoods (Dudgeon-Monroe, Regent and Hilldale).  The twelve of us weeded and began mulching.  Much still remains to be done.

Here's a few pictures of some of volunteers who made this a memorable Earth Day. Ken, Ann and me are not on any of the pictures. Maybe next time. Thank you so much. A special thank you for Susan from The Friends of Lake Wingra and the four Badger Volunteers that she recruited. The Gardens are located in the Lake Wingra watershed. Lake Wingra is a fifteen minute walk from the Gardens. Head south on Prospect, cross busy Monroe Street, keeping going and you cannot miss Lake Wingra.

 Here's Susan pausing for a short break. She diligently worked from 1 to about 4 PM.  So grateful she and the UW Badger Volunteers joined the crew.

Susan bought this very nice sign.  On my list of things to do includes a new sign announcing that "gardeners are working ahead" on the path. We always have to look out for the bikers and hopefully, they for us.

The UW Badger Volunteers: Caid, Kara, Claire and Michelle. Always a pleasure having students join the crew.

 Look at those smiles. Pulling weeds is fun and especially on a mild sunny Spring day. Our future is in good hands.

 Here's Bob, one of the regulars. He's back at his favorite task, mulching. This year we are using sheared hardwood bark rather than decayed leaves once sold by Olbrich Gardens. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recommended that leaves not be spread due to the possibility of spreading invasive jumping worms.  

 Here's Joan and Martha from the Regent Neighborhood, weeding the raspberry patch. If I recall right, they are enrolled in the Master Gardner, a University of Wisconsin Extension program.  

 Loren is on a well deserved break.  Loren also volunteers at Olbrich Gardens.  I am so glad he joined us.  We met on the last working session for 2015 and now he is part of the Prospect Crew. Thanks, Loren.

The next regular scheduled work session is May 21st although this may be subject to change. Some of us will continue mulching at our own pace before this date..... hoping to use up the five yards I had delivered. Come join us, if you are in the Madison area.