Thursday, June 11, 2009

Making a Garden

From Gardeningissues.com

The first thing in garden making is the selection of a spot. Without a choice, it means simply doing the best one can with conditions. With space limited it resolves itself into no garden, or a box garden. Surely a box garden is better than nothing at all.

But we will now suppose that it is possible to really choose just the right site for the garden. What shall be chosen? The greatest determining factor is the sun. No one would have a north corner, unless it were absolutely forced upon him; because, while north corners do for ferns, certain wild flowers, and begonias, they are of little use as spots for a general garden.

If possible, choose the ideal spot a southern exposure. Here the sun lies warm all day long. When the garden is thus located the rows of vegetables and flowers should run north and south. Thus placed, the plants receive the sun's rays all the morning on the eastern side, and all the afternoon on the western side. One ought not to have any lopsided plants with such an arrangement.

Suppose the garden faces southeast. In this case the western sun is out of the problem. In order to get the best distribution of sunlight run the rows northwest and southeast.

The idea is to get the most sunlight as evenly distributed as possible for the longest period of time. From the lopsided growth of window plants it is easy enough to see the effect on plants of poorly distributed light. So if you use a little diagram remembering that you wish the sun to shine part of the day on one side of the plants and part on the other, you can juggle out any situation. The southern exposure gives the ideal case because the sun gives half time nearly to each side. A northern exposure may mean an almost entire cut-off from sunlight; while northeastern and southwestern places always get uneven distribution of sun's rays, no matter how carefully this is planned.

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July Club Events

Monday, July 13: "Gardening for Butterflies" Workshop by Master Gardener, Glen Shirk, 7:00-8:00PM

A pictorial review of the plants and environmental features that attract butterflies. Plant culture is featured.

CANCELED: "Getting the Most From Your Daylilies" Workshop

Postponed until August. Date to be announced: Garden Visit: Morris Arboretum

Meet at the Library at 11:00AM, we will be sharing rides, call Donna at 717-354-0525 for more information. Information about Morris Arboretum.

Monday, July 27: Garden Club Meeting, 7:00PM

Meet in the Board Room in the lower level library.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

June Club Events

Monday, June 8th: Garden Tour of Local Resident Mary Lowry’s Garden.

The Lowry Garden is owned and cared for by Mary Lowry and her husband. It is a private family garden which she occasionally opens to the public for tours. In the past, her garden was part of the New Holland Area Garden Club Tour She recently participated in the Wheaton Garden Tour in early May. The garden is 5 acres and she has lived on this property for 40 years. Meet at the library at 5:45PM.

Sunday, June 14th: Garden Visit: Winterthur Museum and Country Estate in Delaware

Meet at the Library at 11:00AM. We will be sharing rides. Call for more information, 354-0525.

Monday, June 22: "Right Plant, Right Place" Workshop by Master Gardener, Diane Tannehill, 7:00 to 8:00PM.

Learn how to analyze your sun, site and soil before buying and planting. Meet in the Board Room in the lower level Children’s Library.