Your welcome to take a look at my trade list. If there is anything of interest to you then you can send a SASBE. Just let me know. Barb (orcascove)

Our garden started as a school garden in 2003, but has evolved into a school-age daycare garden. That was mostly because the kids in the daycare had more time, interest and energy for gardening. In the summer, the daycare students (K thru 4th or 5th) are there just about from 6 to 6. During the school year, there was little time to actually garden. The garden funds are raised through plant sales. There are only 4-H volunteers at this time. The garden has a 7 foot fence for deer. There are 2 foot beds around the 40'by40' garden. There are six 3'by 12'foot beds and two 6' by 12'beds. Some of the garden is just free flowing flower garden. There are 3 espaliered fruit trees and 3 blueberry bushes. In the summer there is enough food to send home at least 2 bags of produce for each student a week. There is also some food used for meals. Most of the food goes directly into the kid's mouths. All seeds are started by the students. There are 200+ lettuce starts, broccoli, celery and cabbage started already. It would be nice to have a hoop house for extended garden, but we are volunteers and need some time off. Thanksgiving works out to be the best last harvest and to start again about the middle to end of February. I have learned that even the Kindergarten kids can learn a lot if the learning is hands on. They all learned how to do percentages (seed germination test) from planting 10 seeds and adding a zero to the number of seeds that grew. The kids who have been doing this for 2 to three years are able to teach the new students and their parents. We use all adult sized hand tools and they must take a safety test before allowed to use them. There are some simple books on insects and weeds that I have available for them to look up what they find. Edible plants (weeds) are identified. There are no poisonous plants in the garden, but many edible flowers and unusual vegetables. Each year I let the children choose what they want to grow. Last year almost everyone hated tomatoes, but loved broccoli and brussel sprouts. This year it is lettuce, corn, spinach, peas and beans that are on the list to grow. I have found that the kids learn if the people working with them are enjoying learning and they get to do things rather than just listening.

Ohhhhh, to be out of school!!! I have two weeks yet!! and it has been so darn hot, and we don't have air conditioning in any of the buildings. It was 90 on Friday, even to hot to go outside for recess!!!Can you imagine that!! The kids had to lay under the shade trees to get cooled off. But I do love every single one of your daylilies. Queen of Narnia is a great white one. Hope you can spend more time in your gardens now!!! Cindy

koidom-No-we moved to the house a little over three years ago and the majority of hosta were already here. I've added the light white/cream and green varigated hosta. I went around the yard the other day and counted 80 of the noid # 7. They also planted the ground cover in the back yard. They did a pretty nice job with the ground cover in the there seems to be something different blooming back there constantly. loisf-I smelled #2's blooms yesterday and did not detect any fragrance to them. Thanks for your input, though! I'm going to look those hosta up and read up on them.