What's Buzzzzing?

Once upon a morning, a local bee enthusiast came to speak to the Garden Day Campers about these wonderful "pollinators".

Even the adults in attendance learned more than they ever thought possible about these incredible and essential creatures that are part of our "web of life".

Big THANKS to Wayne Pitts, the head of our local Gilroy Beekeepers Guild, for taking time to come and share with us.

Dyeing For A Story

This summer's Garden Day Camp was fortunate to get a paid intern through a program at Gavilan College, our local community college. On his last day, as one of his duties, the intern read the story during storytime.

Later in the week, campers had their first experience creating natural dyes from beets and other plants. They then tried out the idea by dyeing eggs, with varying results.

The Big Move

Saturday, July 31st, was a big work day in more than one way. That was the last day that the Garden had the use of an adjacent fenced yard area where many plants were being kept and a donated shed resided.

The shed had to be moved to the Garden proper or be lost. But as Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world..." And indeed, it was a small group, each adding their particular thought, expertise, and tools to the moving of THE SHED.

THANK YOU to all who helped. This is what "community" is all about!

Friends Pitch In

With fair weather to brighten the day, many "Friends of the Garden" turned out on Sat.,July 31st, to help keep the Garden in shape.

As with all volunteer enterprises, it is important to feed the troops, and keep tools properly shapened for efficient use.

The workday was capped offed with an afternoon barbecue. Dave of the Veteran's Hall next door kindly donated his time to do the BBQ honors for the group!

A Gathering of Friends

On Wednesday, July 28th, the Gilroy Demonstration Garden had it's first gathering of Friends of the Garden at Lizarran restaurant in downtown Gilroy. The Lizarran owners kindly let us use their patio, and even provided some tapas to go along with the salad, most of which was picked just that afternoon from the Garden itself.

One of the announcements indicated a Garden workday for Saturday, July 31st, as well the plan for a dinner in the Garden fundraiser in the Fall. More on what you will be heard called a "FRIENDraiser" in later posts.

The Garden needs Friends to help on a regular basis do such activities as bug patrol, watering, produce collecting, weeding, planting, plant care, as well as administrative tasks, like taking pictures for this blog. Whether you want to get your hands dirty or not, there is something YOU can do to help make the Garden a gathering place of beauty and bounty for the community. So, if you want to jump in, please send an email to friendsofthegarden@yahoo.com.