Hello Gardeners!
What do beans, peas and monarchs have to do with each other?
See below for answer.
Fall is a wonderful time of the year! Flowers are still blooming and gardens are still producing, and the temperatures are still nice for plenty of time outside. My patch of the world only got less than a ¼” of rain recently—not enough! As much as I like sunny, cool days, I know we still need rain. So I’m willing to take several rainy days to help out the trees and other plants. Keep watering your trees even in the fall as they need reserves to carry them through the winter.
Answer: Trick question…they are all topics of this email!
Do you raise Monarch butterflies?
If you raise your monarch caterpillars inside your home you may be causing them to not know how to migrate south for the winter. From this University of Chicago study, they found wild monarchs raised in captivity inside (or monarchs purchased commercially) were not able to determine the direction to migrate. Monarchs raised outside in an enclosed screened area were still able to find ‘south’. You can read about the study here.
From the article: ‘But the new study shows that however well-intentioned, monarch enthusiasts should remember that the migratory behavior of these beloved butterflies is incredibly fragile.’ Perhaps a better way to help monarch populations is to grow more milkweeds or raise them in a screened container outside.
Grow a Row Participants
If you haven’t already harvested your pea or bean seeds, now is the time. Wait until the pods are dry and brown. Remove the pods from the plants and remove the seeds from the pods. Place the seeds in a paper envelope with the name of the plant, your location, date and the words “Grow a Row”. After placing the seeds in an envelope, seal it and return it to the seed library table at the White Bear Lake library. I will take all the Grow a Row seeds and mix them together, keeping the peas separate from the beans. Then next season, people can grow them again and we’ll repeat the process. Over time our pea and bean seeds will be more adapted to our region.
Special Offer for the ‘Grow a Row’ Gardeners!
If you don’t want to remove the seeds from the pods, you can return the whole pods to the Seed Library. There is a memory care facility where the residents can shell your pea or bean pods. This is an easy and repetitive task the residents can do independently. Just place the whole pods in a paper bag, write ‘Grow a Row’ on the bag and your location. Drop off at the Seed Library table inside the WBL library, 2150 2ndt St, White Bear Lake.
Please indicate if your seeds or pods are from the ‘Grow a Row’ project so I don’t get them mixed up with other types of seeds.
Thank you to those who grew a row for the Seed Library!
Seeds Needed
The seed library is short on tomato, pea and native plant seeds. This is a great time to start saving seeds. Many native plants have seed pods or seed heads ready for harvesting.
The seed library welcomes any seed donations of non-hybrid, non-cross-pollinated seeds. Place dry seeds in a paper envelope with the name of seed, year and location on the envelope. Drop off in the bin on the seed library table in the library during open hours.
Where are the seeds?
Since the end of June the seed drawers and catalogs are back at the White Bear Lake library. You can access the seed packets during regular library hours. The Seed Library table is to the right as you come through the double doors. (White Bear Lake library, 2150 2nd St, White Bear Lake; M: 10-8, T, W: 1-8, Th, F, Sa: 10-5)
You can find the current list of available seeds on the Seed Library website at Seed Library site. Or a less than current paper list on the Seed Library table in the library.
If you can’t find the seeds you’re looking for please let me know via email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com and I’ll get you the seeds if they are available.
Volunteer Opportunity
Help package seeds for the seed library. If interested, send me an email and I’ll get you seeds, supplies and instructions. You package the seeds and return them to the seed library table.
Future Seed Talks via Zoom, all at 6:30pm
Nov 9, 2021 Tues – How to Do Winter Sowing
Learn how to start seeds using the winter sowing method of germination.
Register at Seed Talk.
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
Pam
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