Less Noise, More Green: Two Days of Fun and Learning on the URI Master Gardener Garden Tour

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Two Days of Fun and Learning on the URI Master Gardener Garden Tour


2015 URI Master Gardener Garden Tour
This past weekend, my gardens were part of the 2015 URI Master Gardener Garden Tour. For six hours each day, myself and two other Master Gardeners, lead guided tours around both my edible landscape and backyard traditional vegetable garden. It was a really fun and interesting couple of days.

2015 URI Master Gardener Garden Tour
Despite the remnants of a tropical storm coming through on Sunday morning, my gardens were visited by 225 people over the course of the two days and there is no way I could have accommodated that many guests without the help of my fellow Master Gardener Charlie Junod on Saturday and Master Gardener Intern Kathy Horner on Sunday.

Everbearing Strawberries
They were troopers and did an excellent job of explaining my gardens and educating the public. Thank you so much!

2015 URI Master Gardener Garden Tour
When talking about the edible landscape, which consists of 60 varieties of plants of which 51 are edible, people had the most questions about how I came up with the design and how I maintain it through out the season.

Butterfly milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed

They also wanted to know if I experienced theft from either pests and people (only squirrels), and what did my neighbors think (I've only heard positive things)! Edible Landscaping was a new concept for many attendees and I was thrilled with the response my garden received.

Batchelor's Buttons
Batchelor's Buttons


I provided a detailed map of both gardens and people were circling plants and asking questions about seed companies, planting times and soil amendments. The Batchelor's Buttons were stunning and people were amazed to learn they are edible. I coaxed many visitors into eating flowers for the first time!

2015 URI Master Gardener Garden Tour
People were interested to learn about how I maximize growing space in my vegetable garden and out fox the shade. We discussed my crop rotation system, which I had added to the map, along with the use of container gardening to grow edibles beyond the garden beds.

Black Lace Elderberries
Black Lace Elderberry

Visitors asked the most questions about why I covered my winter squash (vine borer protection) and how well my sweet potatoes grow. They also liked my cabbage moth decoys and we discussed organic methods of pest control.

2015 URI Master Gardener Garden Tour
I also met quite a few people who read this blog and came to meet me and see the gardens in person! All in all it was a very encouraging couple of days. It was lovely to meet so many people who are passionate about gardening and they were all so gracious and appreciative of the Master Gardeners being willing to open their gardens and share their knowledge.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll sleep for a week!


All the photos in this post were taken by my husband. You can see more of his work HERE.

See you in the garden,

Sue




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