A Wanna Be Master Gardener

You Dirty Rat!

>> Wednesday, February 09, 2011

I went out to the garden last evening to get some Komohana grape tomatoes for dinner and found that the vine ripe ones were gone and one had indentations on it (bite marks???)! I have a friend down the street who experienced the same thing, missing ripe tomatoes. She thought that street walkers were helping themselves until she saw the offender first hand, a RAT!

Since our neighbors have moved out and into their new home taking with them their two cats, we have seen more rat droppings! Yuck! I guess the "rat" is just another pest in the garden that I have to learn how to manage!

Photo from UH CTAHR

I Have Been Inspired

>> Thursday, January 27, 2011

After reading a post from Seed to Table I am ready to create a "Planting Plan" for my home garden. I am already behind schedule and I think that it is for lack of a plan! Go girl!

Gardening Again!

>> Saturday, January 08, 2011

It has been quite a dry spell for me! Our two month mainland trip (September & October 2010) put a damper on my gardening enthusiasm. When we got back everything was still alive, but wild, veggies and landscape! After a week or two I pruned some of the landscape, but left the veggies alone. There were weeds and some sort of mushroom bloom among the tomatoes, yuk! Finally, I took it all out expect the swiss chard.

Happily three volunteer Komohana grape tomato plants have started giving me new energy. I staked them yesterday. So, I guess I am officially back in the vegetable gardening business! I ordered some seeds earlier this week based on one recommendations form one of my favorite Hawaii gardening blogs (A Kitchen Garden in Kihei Maui). Veggies coming soon!

Plant Sale 2010

>> Wednesday, December 08, 2010

On October 30, 2010 our Hilo, Hawaii Master Garden Association had a plant sale in conjunction with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human resources Open House. I was part of the Advertising Team and created (4) print posters to advertise the sale and this video or the actual event. It was fun, but lots of work!!! The event started off in the rain, but the Public was there with their umbrellas waiting in line for the 9AM start! After expenses we raised over $5,500!

Finally Certified!

I finished my MG certification hours and was acknowledged as certified in the December general meeting! But, still waiting for my certificate and new MG name tag minus the "trainee" tag!

Fairchild Garden - Florida

>> Sunday, September 26, 2010

I am off island for a while and my postings will be limted. However, I did recently go to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Florida. At he information desk I told them I was from Hawaii. They thought I might not see much that is different from where I live. Well, to me that does not matter. I enjoy garden design as much as the plants themselves and this garden is a great example of a well designed garden and landscape. The mature trees along with the colorful plantings and well maintained grounds makes this garden a must see! And although this was not a great "blooming" time of the year and it was an overcast day, I am glad we did not miss this attraction!