Welcome back to Hill’s families from the courtyard gardeners. Eight of us spent 93 hours since school was out to maintain the pond and garden. It was a tough summer. We did a lot of watering, especially during the 16 consecutive days of 100+ and no rain. Kudos to our gardening group of Monica Daily, Julia Burgen, Barbara Adams, Lucy Barnes, Lynda Ballou, Becki Campbell, Frank Mills, Robbyn Steele and Christi Wilson. Special thanks to three Hill students for helping: Annamaria and Angelina Campbell and Ethan Ballou.
We have several milkweed plants just waiting for monarch caterpillars to come by. We are very anxious to fulfill our commitment as a Monarch Watch location in order to help this unique species survive its annual migration from northeastern U.S. and Canada to Mexico and back each year. There are lots of opportunities to involve students and families in geography, history, language, culture and certainly science in following the monarch migration via Journey North on the internet. Check out www.learner.org/jnorth
There are a few pumpkin plants and we are hoping for a couple pumpkins this fall. There are green onions and an herb garden with rosemary, sage and parsley. We need to add some fennel for the black swallowtail butterflies. Soon there may be Mexican plums for making jelly again.
The pond is home to 2 turtles, numerous goldfish, koi and four shubunkins (multi-colored small koi). Other garden residents include anoles and geckos. Birds and butterflies visit regularly. Our giant passion vine is a key plant for Gulf fritillaries to lay their eggs. The giant swallowtail visits the prickly ash tree to lay eggs and the black swallowtail often checks out the garden. Birds observed this summer include several species of dove, cardinals, mockingbirds. Our schoolhouse lilies bloomed for the first time the 2nd week of Sept.
We always welcome volunteers. Please contact us for information about gardening.
Garden Coordinators:
Julia Burgen jburgen@sbcglobal.net
Monica Daily onid2@sbcglobal.net