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Reading Garden
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Posted by sharonrose NW Ohio, zone 5 (My Page) on Wed, Feb 20, 08 at 13:29
Hello everyone. I know that this site has great gardeners (I've visited often, but never become a member until now)that are smart and helpful (not shmoozing...that's the way most gardeners are)! ;-) I decided to join to pick people who are willing's brains a little. My oldest daughter is a Girl Scout working on her Gold Award (everyone knows about B.S's Eagle, but rarely know of the G.S's). Her project is a Reading Garden she is making at the local elementary school. She's the one doing all the work, but I thought if anyone had any suggestions or thoughts, it's always good to have other knowledgeable opinions. Her plot was "a butterfly garden"...actually a weed patch one of the HS science teachers tried to do and then left so it was all weeds pretty much and the teachers along the plot couldn't open their windows because of the pollen and bees. So why am I pestering you all? I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of plants (she does have some plants figured out that are low pollen, less liked by bees, and/or would bloom during the summer, including some foliage-type), or any helpful suggestions. She has taken a few pictures of the before & I could post them...she will be totally transforming the area...so paths, benches (enough for up to 30 kids at a time), plants, a fence or screening...and of course she is starting at the soil which is supposed to be removed by a bobcat. How many inches would you suggest and fill it back in with what sort of mixture? I know I'm being a pain. We have ideas, but again...people here probably have more experience! Any help will be appreciated. :-)
Thanks,
Sharon Rose |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Reading Garden
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| You're not being a pain at all! But we do need more information about several things. The 'before pictures' would really help. And there are a couple of important questions before we can get to anything like plant suggestions for her to explore. First:
>and of course she is starting at the soil which is supposed to be removed by a bobcat. >How many inches would you suggest and fill it back in with what sort of mixture? This sounds like there may be some sort of big problem with the soil? What kind of problem? Or is the school just planning on cleaning out the soil/debris in that area for some other reason? Why the serious bobcatting and haulage? If the school is already planning on stripping out the upper soil and weeds, what is underneath? Have her find out what she will be left with. She may need to take a shovel out and investigate. If the school is stripping off the top layer, but leaving some topsoil layer, that's one thing. If they are taking it down to almost subsoil or some sort of old construction-fill or bank-sand, that's another thing altogether. She needs to find out just what this 'bobcat' soil removal entails, and what she will have left. Until she knows that, she can't know whether she just needs to amend the soil, or whether she has a much bigger job ahead. Second:
>she will be totally transforming the area...so paths,benches (enough for up to 30 kids at a >time), plants, a fence or screening How large is the area she is working with? And roughly what shape? Let us know,
Linda S |
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