Male Monarch just before being netted and tagged – Photo by Rae, Loving Garland Green Member August 30, 2017 Garland Community Garden
Monarchs are going crazy down at the garden. They are probably dizzy from all the available nectar. Come to the Garland Community Garden at 4022 Naaman School Road to see more Monarchs in one place than anywhere else in Garland and perhaps the DFW area. It will only get better up through the middle of October.
If you want to see how they are netted and tagged, come on down to the Garden Saturday, August 2, 2017 (also Charlie’s birthday). He and others will be demonstrating how to net and tag Monarchs from 9 to 11 AM.
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Teosinte Corn Patch – Garland Community Garden – August 30, 2017
The Mother of Corn has tassels!
On Wednesday we were overjoyed to see that our Teosinte had tassels (which means of course) that we will have corn. Teosinte is believed to be the ancient ancestor of our modern-day corn. It is often referred to as “the very first corn.” I had just about given up on it producing because it has been well over 120 days since we planted it. Susan Metz, a friend of the garden who is a Texas A&M researcher, had given us the seeds. She had given up on hers and let the livestock on her farm have it.
On Saturday, November 4, when we have our 2017 harvest celebration down at the garden, we will have some kernels of teosinte available for the public to see. We will also have a mortar and pestle so those who want to can have a go at grinding this corn like the ancients in Mexico and Central America did thousands of years ago. The first corn did not look like today’s corn. Its ears were very small—only five or six inches long and no more than 12 dark kernels per ear. If we had to do as much work as our ancestors did to obtain food, I’m guessing that obesity would not be the problem it is in our culture today.
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Total Monarch Count for August 2017 at the Garland Community Garden
We have released a total of six Monarchs who were rescued as caterpillars—all females. Thus far we have netted tagged and released three Monarchs—one female and two males. We anticipate many more as the Monarchs move deeper into their migration.
Jane Stroud, President Loving Garland Green holds a male Monarch tagged August 31, 2017 at about 9AM Garland Community Garden—the third tagged Monarch for August.
Tagged Male Monarch, clinging for a goodbye in Charlie’s hand before taking off- August 30, 2017 Garland Community Garden.
Tagged female Monarch Tagged and Released August 26, 2017 Garland Community Garden.
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Peppers, Okra and Eggplant - Garland Community Garden August 31, 2017
We are in between our summer and fall season so our production has slowed somewhat. However the peppers, okra and eggplant are producing and our tomatoes and beans are starting their second cycle. We have lots of green tomatoes and beans that will be ready for picking in about a week or two. So far this year Loving Garland Green has donated over 200 pounds of produce to local charities here in Garland, Texas.
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Please remember Loving Garland Green on North Texas Giving Day.
Loving Garland Green is very active in our local community. Since we are a nonprofit, we depend upon donations to survive.
Beginning September 7, simply go to Loving Garland Green's information site at North Texas Day of Giving and you can schedule your donation for Loving Garland Green.