Weekly News, 6.17.20

Hello,

How are you finding JOY in the garden this week? Russ and I have been working on a project with our girls to create a Morning Glory house. It was inspired by the Pinterest image below. I showed it to Russ and instead of using bamboo poles, he got out a metal grid that he had used in the past to create a gourd tunnel. The structure is in place, the plants have been planted, and we’re excited to watch it grow. We are all sold out of morning glories, so I went to Bahr Hardware in Canonsburg to buy some seeds. Other plants that can be used for a project like this are black-eyed susan vine (thunbergia), passion flower vine, gourds or cucumbers.




What are you working on in your garden this season? Isn’t it nice when you get to show off your labor of love? Inspire us with your plantings! I am genuinely interested and would love to visit you, and then share photos in future newsletters. If you’re open to giving me a VIP garden tour at your home, contact me here and we’ll set a date!

Here’s what’s new this week–

• fruit trees are on sale! We have cherry, apple, plum, and peach trees. 
• wonder how many Bedner Bucks you’ll have to spend starting July 1? You can use our mobile app to check your balance, as long as we have your email address on file. Bedner Bucks details can be found here.
• we’ll be harvesting fresh lettuce and zucchini any day now, and other crops growing in the fields include sweet corn, beets, cucumber, yellow squash, eggplant and peppers. 
• a series of weekly workshops and seminars is in the works! The schedule will be released next week. Is there something particular that you want to learn about or make at the greenhouse? Let me know here. 
• we’ll be celebrating National Pollinator Week with a visit from Doug Oster on Sunday, June 28 at 2pm. RSVP at the link below to reserve your seat.
• we are joining Heaven Sent Farms on July 7 for a monthly farmer’s market that will take place at their beautiful event barn. It takes place the first Tuesday of every month from 4-7pm. We’ll have our fresh produce there, plus other vendors will be offering meat, honey, eggs, flowers, wine, beer and there will be a food truck. Learn more here.
• there are just a few days left to pre-order your peaches for the June 28 Peach Truck visit. Reminder that the location has MOVED to the Original Farmers’ Market in South Fayette.

Thank you for reading, and have a great rest of the week!

Take care,
Melanie

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Make a Pollinator Puddler! Provide water for butterflies without letting it become a mosquito breeding area. Refill containers daily or bury a shallow plant saucer to its rim in a sunny area, fill it with coarse pine bark or stones and fill to overflowing with water.

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Here are a few things to smile about this week– The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is re-opening to the public on June 23!   Phipp’s Conservatory is already open to the public with a beautiful summer show called “Back in Bloom”. Tickets must be pre-purchased for a specific time. Visit their website to learn more.   Phipp’s is accepting applications for their Sustainable Garden Awards. The five categories include Native Plantings and Wildlife Gardens – gardens featuring native plants that provide habitat for wildlife; Gardens that Manage Stormwater – gardens that feature rain gardens, rain barrels, swales, etc.; Micro-Gardens – container gardens, vertical gardens, gardens that make the best of very small spaces; Abundant Edible Gardens – gardens that feature annual and perennial edibles, vegetables, fruits, nuts and herbs; Gardens for Personal Retreat – gardens that have seating, birdbaths, garden art, and other distinctive items that create a garden refuge.The last date to enter is June 30. Check it out here!   The Allegheny Land Trust is hosting a series of Storywalks this summer. A StoryWalk® places pages from a children’s picture book along a walking path so kids and their caregivers may enjoy nature and reading together, outdoors. The books will be posted along the path at the locations and dates below. STORYBOOKS Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park | June 12 – June 15 | My Busy Green Garden by Terry Pierce Audubon Greenway | June 12 – July 13 | The Thing about Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin Fern Hollow Nature Center | June 12 – July 13 | Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.