Monthly Archives: September 2009

Don’t Call It a Comeback

Posted by Lesley on September 30, 2009 1 comments

I recently wrote a post about My Mother’s Garden, more specifically her peonies, which were once her grandfather’s.  When she moved last year, she packed them up along with her furniture – true heirlooms.

This yellow Buttercup Bush is no heirloom; but if it has its way, it will be.  Its resilience is both fascinating and lovable.  Last year I decimated the whole bush, tearing it up by its roots like a tyrant because it was looking a little leggy and weak.  Now here it is, a year later, pushing its way up through the Hibiscus.  I don’t know how, but the Buttercup Bush is here to stay.

2009 Debut

Posted by Lesley on September 28, 2009 None comments

I make so many references to my grapefruit tree on this blog that I felt impelled to share the first sign of ripening.    

Composting Tip

Posted by Lesley on September 26, 2009 None comments

We picked up our free compost today.  It looks nice and woody - exactly what I was looking for to lower the pH.   

Here’s the tip: When picking up compost in an open-air vehicle, bring some sort of cover.  This is what the front seat looked like when we got home.

We looked far worse.  I couldn’t turn my head to either side or compost would fly in my eyes! 

pH Test

Posted by Lesley on September 25, 2009 None comments

I’ve never tested my soil before, but it never really seemed like soil before.  When we dug up the side yard to convert it into a garden, it was nothing but sand.  When we planted, we always added Black Kow; it’s a brand of composted cow manure.  It helps sandy soil hold moisture.  John’s dad is a long-time Floridian home gardener; it’s what he uses.   Over the past two years, we’ve continuously rotated squares always using one as a compost area to bury kitchen scraps and yard waste.  We’re finally seeing a real difference.  The earthworms haven’t made a home here yet, but the soil is much darker and a lot less sandy.   

 

 

The results of the pH test are in; the soil gets an 8.0 for alkaline.  It was so easy – just add soil, the contents of the capsule, and water.  Shake it all up and match up your color.  In our case, we need to start burying more yard waste to lower the pH.  Pine needles, leaves and sawdust will all add acid to soil.  For now, I’m going to grab some free compost from Longwood Park.  Sarasota County compost is made from their yard waste collection, so it should help.  Butler, Laurel, Nokomis, and Shamrock parks also offer free compost and mulch. 

Freaky Florida Spiders

Posted by Lesley on September 24, 2009 2 comments

I’m originally from New York, a place where bugs grow to a normal size and then die in the winter.  Here in Florida, they have all year to grow and seemingly mutate into bigger, hairier, and all around creepier versions of normal bugs.  Here’s an example that’s currently living under the grapefruit tree - the Crab-like Spiny Orb Weaver.  What the what?  Have you ever seen a spider with spikes?   

Spikes or not, I’m happy he’s made the grapefruit tree his home.  Apparantly citrus farmers love them because they eat fruit flies.  They also eat wasps and mosquitos, both of which are much more bothersome than this little freak.

Laurel Park Community Garden

Posted by Lesley on September 21, 2009 1 comments

Great class on Saturday!  It was the first in a series of free classes on organic gardening offered through the Sarasota County Extension.   They’re held on the third Saturday of the month at Laurel Park and the first Saturday of the month at Orange Blossom Park.  This is the series line-up for October through February:

  • Soil Management
  • Crop Management
  • Pest Management
  • Water Management
  • Cover Crop & Compost Management

After the organic gardening overview, I walked around the Laurel Park Community Garden.  It’s smaller and sunnier than the Orange Blossom garden, but it has everything you need.  The hoses are conveniently located in a line down the center aisle. 

Here’s a peek inside the shed…

and at the compost pile.

Orange Blossom Community Garden

Posted by Lesley on September 18, 2009 4 comments

Preparing for the fall garden has me searching for inspiration.  Don’t look at the weather widget, it’s back in the nineties again.  I started to sweat a little carrying my groceries in from the car this morning.  Instead of doing any planting of my own, I headed over to the Orange Blossom Community Garden to see what other people were doing.  I’m already feeling better about my late-September start.  I didn’t find any seedlings, but there were a few leftover crops from summer. 

Watermelon

Peppers

     

Pineapples

There aren’t any pineapples left, but I love the way this person designed their plot.  Someone else has a miniature white picket fence around theirs.  It’s fun to walk around and see the different garden personalities.  No one was out today, no doubtedly because of the heat, but it seems like a nice place to gather.  There are benches in the shade and a couple of tables and chairs.  Compost and mulch are ready and waiting.

There are four community gardens in Sarasota County – two are in the city and two are in South County.  The plot sizes vary, but an average size is about 12′ x 12′.  They’re priced right.  It only costs $20 a year plus a fully-refundable deposit of $30 up front.  All four gardens are full right now, but there’s a waiting list that apparently moves pretty quickly.  People make other arrangements in the meantime and it’s right on down the list.

http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/Hort/commgarden.shtml     

Organic Gardening Class Update

Posted by Lesley on September 17, 2009 None comments

9:30 was a misprint; the class is at 10:30.  Call 861-9900 to register – it’s free!  This is the class description from the Extension’s schedule: 

“Third Saturdays” Class on Organic Vegetable Gardening

September 19, 2009 10:30am – Sat

Robert Kluson, Ph.D.

Extension Agent

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Laurel Community Garden, Laurel Park

509 Collins Rd., Laurel

This is part of a series of monthly classes about organic vegetable gardening for growing your own food. Today’s topic is “Overview of Organic Vegetable Gardening.” (1.5 hours)

80′s Revival

Posted by Lesley on September 17, 2009 None comments

Check out the weather widget, people - 85 degrees at noon!  My plants are no longer drooped into the dirt and I took a walk yesterday without sweating!  These are good signs for my motivation and future fall garden.  I just signed up for an organic gardening overview through the Sarasota County Extension.   That should get me geared up and ready to go.  The class is at Laurel Park on Saturday at either 9:30 or 10:30am.  Sheila will let me know, and I’ll let you know.   

Ignore Your Orchids

Posted by Lesley on September 16, 2009 None comments

Thanks to complete neglect, my orchid is starting to bloom.  I’m so happy!  This is a first for me.  I have bought or been given orchids in bloom, but I’ve never been able to get one to rebloom.  John hung this one under the grapefruit tree and told me to leave it alone, and I have.  I haven’t even looked at it.  It almost smacked in the face this morning when I was mowing the lawn!