Naturally Curious

Cassie Ehrenberg saw this news item about the upcoming launch of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Agricultural Resource Center in Fairmount Park that will house a library of tools and equipment, books and free seeds. 

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“We want to make sure that folks who can’t afford to purchase these items are able to borrow them and participate in the sharing economy,” said Ash Richards, urban agriculture director in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

 

The center is the first capital project in the city’s 10-year plan to support community gardens, farms and food justice.  

 

Good to see this effort toward serving under-resourced community gardens in Philadelphia. 

Mark Raymond spotted this Inquirer article about bee swarms. For those who don’t have access, the condensed version: 

• Swarm season seems to have brought more—and earlier—swarms than usual. This year’s weather, which triggered an earlier bloom, may explain the earlier timing. 

• Whether there are actually more swarms is an open question. The increase may reflect the increase in apiaries (the number of registered PA beekeepers is up 62% in the past decade). Or it may be the result of increased awareness and reporting options. 

• Whatever the case, the article notes, “Bees are generally docile during this phase because they have no home or honey stores to defend.”

Our garden has seen two swarms this spring, ably captured by Don Shump (pictured above) at Philadelphia Bee Company. If you see a swarm, email or call info@philadelephiabee.com, 215-888-0893, and describe where the swarm is located. 

Tips from PHS to keep your garden on track this month! 

• Cage your tomatoes!

• Remove spent flowers so they can bloom again. 

• Spray for aphids. A spray of insecticidal soap should keep them under control. 

• Start using your herbs. Basil is especially lush right now but trying to push out flowers and mature. That's what we don't want it to do, so start clipping the tops off the plants to make pesto. If using herbs fresh, it’s best to pick them early in the morning before they start to dry out. An excess of fresh herbs can be chopped and frozen in ice cube trays with water. 

• Control mosquitoes. Dump any standing water—no matter how small an amount.

• Refresh your compost. Spread some well-seasoned compost about an inch thick around plants at the soil’s surface. 

• Do the math. If you are thinking of more warm-season vegetables, you have about 120 days until our first average frost date.