Update from Alan

Two good things this week.
1. Catherine became the fourth of this year’s class to meet or exceed their 14 hour commitment in the gardens.
2. It rained on Tuesday and enough water got into the ground to keep the soil workable for a few more days.
Since Update 14, (15 June a.m.) Margaret and Moeen have planted salvias, marigolds and cannas in the corner bed, so only about 1/4 of that bed remains to be planted. At the weekend, Dick and his son hauled mulch to one of the display beds at the rear of the building. Every day this week the log reads: "Earthing up potatoes. Picking beetles, Watering. (Moeen x.x hrs)". Dick found time to tie up and de-sucker all the tomatoes and another batch of corn, beans and squash seeds have been planted in the 3 sisters garden.
The unseasonable heat has accelerated the depredations caused by the potato beetles. Eggs are hatching at an alarming rate and the nymphs are growing and shredding the affected leaves a lot faster than they did last year. Catherine and Phyllis spent about four hours between them and only de-egged about two thirds of the plants. Since then there haven’t been enough hands to do anything but pick off adults and larva if we see them while hilling the plants. The eggs are still there to hatch and add to the burden.
Despite the nudge in the last Update, Catherine was the only 07 attendee who has been to the garden all week. To put this into perspective, the 95 hours that Moeen(05) has contributed this year almost exactly equals the hours owed by the individuals who took this year’s course and who have so far repaid nothing.
The ‘Big Do’ at the fairgrounds which I expected last weekend turns out to be this Saturday morning but it shouldn’t affect access to the nursery area. I’ll be available 9 to 12am Saturday and Sunday and in the afternoon so long as someone tells me they are coming. Monday morning is column writing but the rest of next week is open. As usual, bring the basic tool kit - spade, shovel and border fork if you have them - and please do try to let me know that you are coming.

Day: +17 sun with cloudy periods UV8 Winds NW20km/h P.O.P.0%
Night: +6 cloudy periods Winds SW5km/h P.O.P.10%