Thursday, April 30, 2009

New Website

The FCGA now has an official website!

One of our members has graciously offered to help us with our media needs. There isn't too much up there yet, but in the near future it will be a great place for information, pictures and more. Don't worry, we still plan on using the blog to chronicle our garden adventures!

To check out our temporary page follow the link below

www.frederickgardeners.org

Friday, April 24, 2009

Tis the Season!

This week I had my first bout of poison ivy of the year. I also found my first tick. I think this means that spring is definitely full on! So just remember that with all of the fun that gardening brings, it can also bring some headaches. No need to panic, just be careful. A little education goes a long way! Below are some tips for identifying and avoiding potential problems. I also took a picture as a reminder for everyone of what Poison Ivy looks like. It is actually quite a deceptively pretty plant.


Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron radicans
  • The itchy red bumps you get from poision ivy are caused by your body's reaction to a caustic oil found in the leaves and vines. Caustic and toxic chemicals are an adaptation many plants have to protect themselves from potential predators.
  • Poison ivy prefers areas that have been recently disturbed like fields. It's also well known for its abundance along forest edges.
  • The physical characteristics of poison ivy are quite varied. It can appear as a climbing vine, small shrub or as a ground cover "creeper" The color can vary, as can the leaf shape.
  • If you remember the rhyme we all learned as kids, it can help you avoid it! "Leaves of three, let it be"
  • Some other clues to identifying poison ivy are it's "fuzzy" orange or reddish vines, and twinges of deep red found in the leaves early and late in the season.

How to prevent Posion Ivy:
  1. Wear long pants and sleeves
  2. Wear gloves
  3. avoid touching your skin, especially your face, after weeding and clearing brush
  4. Wash hands thorougly with soap and water to remove any potential oil residue.
  • Reactions to poison ivy can occur within hours or up to 10 days after exposure.
  • Contrary to popular belief, you cant spread poison ivy to other people or to other parts of the body, unless the oil from the Poison Ivy is still on your hands.

Ticks

  • Tick are often known for causing Lyme Disease and other pathogens. The deer Tick is one of the more common disease carrying ticks in the area. It is about the size of a freckle, so it can be hard to find.
  • Ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through vegetation such as leaf litter or shrubs. Always walk in the center of trails, in order to avoid ticks.
  • You can help deter ticks by:
  1. using insect repellent
  2. wearing light colored clothing
  3. wearing pants, long sleeved shirts and hats
  4. for even more protection and a highly fashionable look, tuck your pants into your socks!
  • Always check for ticks after being outside. Ticks like warm, fleshy spaces like under arms, behind ears, and the behind knees.
For more information about ticks visit http://www.cdc.gov/Features/StopTicks/

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Planting Party Recap

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Saturday turned out to be a gorgeous spring day! About 16 members showed up and worked hard throughout the day. We also had a few visitors stop in to check things out and to see what we're up to. We managed to open most individual plots, trim trees, finish the fencing project, and plant the rest of the community beds. Tipsy, the garden beagle particularly enjoyed the potluck portion of the day, where she helped clean dishes and hunted for scraps. No such luck getting her to hunt for groundhogs.

This coming weekend March 25th, is shaping up to be nice and sunny. We hope to see you out there for another exciting day in the garden. Come celebrate Earth day by diggin' in the dirt with fellow gardeners.

Monday, April 20, 2009

First Saturday



The FCGA will be participating in First Saturday on May 2nd, which is also Mayfest. We'll have activities for children and goodies for those who donate. If you are interested in volunteering at the table or helping with preparations, please email frederickgardeners@gmail.com Remember, these events count towards member volunteer hours! Location of the table and hours are TBA.

For more information visit http://www.downtownfrederick.org/play/Mayfest.htm

Monday, April 13, 2009

Planting Party and Potluck!

Click on the Picture to view the invitation!





Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Another Busy Weekend

We had another jam packed weekend! Saturday morning we spent several hours in the garden opening up beds, mulching the aisles, transplanting seedlings, and creating dry stack stone benches. That same evening, several members headed out to market street where we set up a table for "First Saturday." We had a lot of foot traffic, which was a great opportunity to spread the word. Despite the blustery wind, we managed to distribute brochures and plant seedlings without everything blowing away! Thanks to everyone who helped run the table. We will continue to pursue outreach opportunities as much as possible. If you know of an event/organization that would be interested in hosting us, please email frederickgardeners@gmail.com


Sunday was our registration and board meeting. The registration period for the 2009 season is now closed. We have 22 official members! Individual and group plots will be assigned by April 12th, and you will be notified via email. If we have any additional space after assignments are given, we will re-open registration on a first-come, first-serve basis... Don't worry if you would still like to participate , but did not register. We welcome volunteers. All you have to do is sign a waiver, which is available under the registration meeting announcement. We have an exciting season ahead of us, and we couldn't have come this far without such dedicated members and volunteers!


Cheers!
Karen

Stay tuned for more updates and improvements, such as an events calendar and links to the meeting minutes.