Schedule Change Today

Due to the threat of thunderstorms later today and the cooler weather, garden hours will be moved back to 2:00 today.  I plan to stay at least a couple hours, weather permitting.

Schedule Change

Due to our hot weather, the garden work hours will be adjusted this week, pending no thunderstorm threats in the immediate area:

Tuesday, 6/25: 9-11
Wednesday, 6/26: 4-6
Thursday, 6/27: no change
Sat. TBD

If you're volunteering, please bring water to drink and sunscreen.  We hope to get a lot accomplished this week.

Garden Hours, Week of 6/24

Tuesday: 1-4
Wednesday: 2-4
Thursday: 9-12
Saturday: TBD

Come join us in the garden next week! There's lots to do and we also have fun!!

Recycling Plastic

Garden helpers:  Please save and bring in some 1 & 2 liter plastic bottles (like juice/soda/milk) so we can make some drip irrigation jugs to put between our plants, especially the tomatoes.

Week of 6/17

Garden Schedule (weather permitting):

Tuesday: 9-11
Thursday: 9-11
Saturday: 10-12

If it's really pouring on a scheduled work day, we won't plan to work.  Check back for an alternate time.

Spring in the Garden

Iris by the Front Door

In the back garden

Out back

On the back patio

Hostas by the back patio

Iris out front

Beautiful!

Pruning Clinic

This past week we hosted a pruning clinic in the orchard, led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Educator, Dr. Richard Brzozowski.  Staff and students from the Falmouth schools, and a couple parents, participated in the hands-on lesson.  We received an initial overview from Dr. Brzozowski about the reasons for pruning, when to prune, and tools and methods used.  Then we set out to tackle the fruit trees, which include apple, pear, cherry, and peach.

Late winter/early spring, while the trees are still dormant, is the best time to prune...so our timing was just right.  Pruning wounds will be able to heal faster when the tree is beginning to grow for the season.  Attention to pruning affects both the tree's productivity and longevity.  Of course, any time there's diseased, dead, or dying wood, it should and can be removed.

We also got a mini lesson on pruning high bush blueberries.  We'll be finishing up this job in the coming weeks.

Dr. B stated that interested parties should view the material on pruning that is available on the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website.  The Extension also has a free, monthly electronic  newsletter for home gardeners called "Maine Home Garden News."  Here's the link for subscribing:
http://umaine.edu/gardening/maine-home-garden-news/.