May 31, 2008

Smart Home Garden Report: May 31

Master Gardeners Denise Beedy, Groomer, North Cook,Terri Schmidt, Groomer, North Cook,Pei-Fung Hurst, Docent, Wiil County,Gerals Stringer, Docent, Will County and Jerry Hossli, Historian, Cook were at the garden today.

The warm season garden was planted on Thursday. The garden received a little bit of rain Friday. The groomers walked through the garden today and listed all the labeled plants. We also finished planting the earthboxes on the Museum steps.

People were fascinated with the design of the gardens noting that they would try some of the design techniques in their home gardens.

Jerry Hossli, Historian/Photographer

Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:42 AM | Permalink |

May 29, 2008

Smart Home Garden: Warm Season Planting Day

There were tons of things going on today in the garden. The warm season crops were planted: tomatoes, peppers, herbs, pumpkin, squash, sunflowers, tons of other stuff. Earthboxes also were planted.

There were a few drops of rain and a cool breeze in the afternoon, but overall a great day for planting. Some lettuce had been removed from the square foot garden and today was replaced with chives and peppers.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners said it was hard work but that they really enjoyed it.

Shirley Gioia:Historian/Photographer

Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:39 AM | Permalink |

May 23, 2008

Smart Home Garden Report: May 22

Ellen Bunch, Smart Home Garden Photographer/Historian reports a warmer day for our Master Gardener volunteers at the Smart Home's Garden. Groomer, Sandra, was busy making labels for the next round of planting while docents Art and Jan were busy talking to the visitors. Lots of interest in the earthboxes for their abundant growth and fool-proof maintenance. New earthboxes with mint, basil, Brussels sprouts, dill, and lemon verbena seem to be starting out well. No worms yet for the worm compost bin, they are on back order, but a large cement slab was laid for a cistern to be installed soon. Strange surprise to see purple in the alyssum! Looking forward to the next crops of herbs, tomatoes, and eggplants.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:29 AM | Permalink |

May 21, 2008

Smart Home Garden: Saturday, May 17

Saturdays have been busy days at the Smart Home Garden. Most of the tours were sold out. Weather continues to be cool especially near the lake with highs in the 50's. This has been great for our cool weather veggies. The groomers watered the entire garden today and they also prepared three earthboxes for planting. Thirty Growing Connection earthboxes will be placed on the steps to the Museum just to the north of the Smart Home garage. In a couple of weeks we will be planting our warm season veggies.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 6:44 AM | Permalink |

May 18, 2008

May-June Garden Schedule

Please check out the May/June Smart Home Garden schedule. If you know you will not be able to fulfill your commitment, please contact Nancy Kreith. Sign-in/out at the Museum volunteer room with the new volunteer coordinatorr, Domonique Battle. Ron Wolford will meet you in the Smart Home garden to orientate you and hand out t-shirts.

Posted by Ron Wolford at 6:29 PM | Permalink |

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