June 9, 2023
We've been busy harvesting and prepping for summer break. Here's a bunch of great pics from our last few weeks in the garden.
We've been busy harvesting and prepping for summer break. Here's a bunch of great pics from our last few weeks in the garden.
May 16, 2023
So. Many. PEAS!!! The sugar snap peas are producing abundantly. There are lots of strawberries as well. I think they'd taste sweeter if that plants were watered every day, but they get what they get. We're starting to remove some plants that are getting near "bolting" (putting up flower stalks), including 2nd year cilantro, spinach, and lettuce. We'll be planting sweet potatoes and okra hopefully next week!
So. Many. PEAS!!! The sugar snap peas are producing abundantly. There are lots of strawberries as well. I think they'd taste sweeter if that plants were watered every day, but they get what they get. We're starting to remove some plants that are getting near "bolting" (putting up flower stalks), including 2nd year cilantro, spinach, and lettuce. We'll be planting sweet potatoes and okra hopefully next week!
April 14, 2023
We're having lots of fun in the garden. We've been able to plant some additional seeds now that we're past our first frost date. The cool season veggies are going great as well. Come check out the flowers in the garden!
Blooming now:
We're having lots of fun in the garden. We've been able to plant some additional seeds now that we're past our first frost date. The cool season veggies are going great as well. Come check out the flowers in the garden!
Blooming now:
- pansies
- chives
- snap peas
- thyme
- mustard
- strawberries
March 29, 2023
As spring comes on, we're getting lots of good growth! The irises, daffodils, and pansies are blooming--as are the chives! Their flowers are just as good (or better?!) than the greens for adding an onion-y/spicy kick to a salad.
The carrot seedlings are getting their "true leaves" that look like carrot leaves. They've been thinned and look to give us a nice harvest of carrots, hopefully by the end of May.
We've left one mustard plant to flower and go to seed so that we can collect the seeds for next year (and just to watch go through that part of its life cycle).
I'm keeping my eye on the strawberry plants. There have been a TON of flowers, but I haven't seen a forming strawberry yet. Fingers crossed!
As spring comes on, we're getting lots of good growth! The irises, daffodils, and pansies are blooming--as are the chives! Their flowers are just as good (or better?!) than the greens for adding an onion-y/spicy kick to a salad.
The carrot seedlings are getting their "true leaves" that look like carrot leaves. They've been thinned and look to give us a nice harvest of carrots, hopefully by the end of May.
We've left one mustard plant to flower and go to seed so that we can collect the seeds for next year (and just to watch go through that part of its life cycle).
I'm keeping my eye on the strawberry plants. There have been a TON of flowers, but I haven't seen a forming strawberry yet. Fingers crossed!
March 10, 2023
Our winter sowing experiment seems to be going well! We made little greenhouses for plants that are frequently started inside. The swiss chard, tomatillo, and stevia are sprouting!!! Also, the deer have started visiting the garden. They've eaten and pulled out some pansies, as well as squashed some carrot seedlings. :(
Our winter sowing experiment seems to be going well! We made little greenhouses for plants that are frequently started inside. The swiss chard, tomatillo, and stevia are sprouting!!! Also, the deer have started visiting the garden. They've eaten and pulled out some pansies, as well as squashed some carrot seedlings. :(
March 7, 2023
Spring is springing! Spinach is still going strong, and we have good looking snap pea, radish, lettuce, and carrot sprouts!
Our fruit-bearing shrubs are looking great, too. Check out the baby fig and the blueberry flowers. I've also seen strawberry flowers!!!
Spring is springing! Spinach is still going strong, and we have good looking snap pea, radish, lettuce, and carrot sprouts!
Our fruit-bearing shrubs are looking great, too. Check out the baby fig and the blueberry flowers. I've also seen strawberry flowers!!!
February 16, 2023 We have asparagus!!! Isn't it cute?! We won't harvest this year, but this sprout--along with the others, we will leave to grow up to help build strong crowns so we can harvest them next year. I can't wait! The spinach is growing well. The Hawks Lead students, as well as the 3rd graders, were able to help harvest and package up spinach to share with our Hawksome Hilburn teachers and staff. The snap peas are peeking up through the soil as well. Our spring garden is off to a great start! What to look for in the garden?
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February 9, 2023
We've been busy planting! Carrot, radish, and lettuce seeds are in the ground! Hopefully we'll see some snap pea sprouts popping up soon.
We've been able to harvest:
We've been busy planting! Carrot, radish, and lettuce seeds are in the ground! Hopefully we'll see some snap pea sprouts popping up soon.
We've been able to harvest:
- spinach
- kale
- collard greens
- chives
- thyme
January 24, 2023
We have baby broccoli! We have planted seeds for carrots and sugar snap peas. Soon we will be adding other seeds.
Still growing in the garden: broccoli, cabbage, kale, garlic, spinach, and pansies
Come check it out!
We have baby broccoli! We have planted seeds for carrots and sugar snap peas. Soon we will be adding other seeds.
Still growing in the garden: broccoli, cabbage, kale, garlic, spinach, and pansies
Come check it out!
January 13, 2022
Brrrrr! It's been a cold month in the garden. A good number of our hopeful cool-season crops died back over the winter break when we had multiple days and nights in the 10's. The spinach, kale, parsley, and cilantro are still hanging on, though! It's also fun to dig in the Dig Bed and see what's living in there (worms, mealworms, and centipedes). The compost is working its way to being soil. Feel free to peek inside!
Brrrrr! It's been a cold month in the garden. A good number of our hopeful cool-season crops died back over the winter break when we had multiple days and nights in the 10's. The spinach, kale, parsley, and cilantro are still hanging on, though! It's also fun to dig in the Dig Bed and see what's living in there (worms, mealworms, and centipedes). The compost is working its way to being soil. Feel free to peek inside!
December 21, 2022
Happy Winter Solstice! The students and I enjoyed harvesting lots of greens Monday & Tuesday! We harvest mustard greens, kale, arugula, and lots of spinach! We also harvest the 3 tiny cauliflower because I was afraid of what would happen to them in the upcoming cold. I took this picture of mistletoe walking into school. There is a lot of it growing on the trees in the carpool loop. Information is evolving on what this hemiparasitic plant means for the health of a tree. Want to learn more about this cool plant?
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December 16, 2022
So many greens are growing in the garden! Walk through and see the arugula, mustard greens, collards, kale, and spinach! We also have cabbage and broccoli hanging on, not doing too much towards making the vegetable portion we eat. BUT, some of the cauliflower is working on it!
So many greens are growing in the garden! Walk through and see the arugula, mustard greens, collards, kale, and spinach! We also have cabbage and broccoli hanging on, not doing too much towards making the vegetable portion we eat. BUT, some of the cauliflower is working on it!
November 19, 2022
Not really any vegetable blooms left in the garden right now. Need to study seeds, though?! We've got some great fluffy ones that travel by wind. There's also a good bit of veggies that we grow for leaves and roots, still going strong.
We also have some little friends hunkering down in the mulch to stay warm for the winter. Rough Earthsnakes are tiny little snakes (full grown!) that we sometimes find in the garden. If you'd like to learn more: herpsofnc.org/rough-earth-snake/
Thanks to the two families and one teacher who came to help at our Beautification Day today (11/19). We got a few more things mulched and a less muddy path for the teachers to walk from their cars.
Not really any vegetable blooms left in the garden right now. Need to study seeds, though?! We've got some great fluffy ones that travel by wind. There's also a good bit of veggies that we grow for leaves and roots, still going strong.
We also have some little friends hunkering down in the mulch to stay warm for the winter. Rough Earthsnakes are tiny little snakes (full grown!) that we sometimes find in the garden. If you'd like to learn more: herpsofnc.org/rough-earth-snake/
Thanks to the two families and one teacher who came to help at our Beautification Day today (11/19). We got a few more things mulched and a less muddy path for the teachers to walk from their cars.
November 9, 2022
It's looking lovely in the garden! Students have put in some hard work watering and mulching our plants to keep them happy. We were able to harvest red leaf lettuce, basil, kale, arugula, and mustard greens.
Things to look for in the garden:
It's looking lovely in the garden! Students have put in some hard work watering and mulching our plants to keep them happy. We were able to harvest red leaf lettuce, basil, kale, arugula, and mustard greens.
Things to look for in the garden:
- Busy Bees - The marigolds and "Wild & Free" flowers are swarming in happy, harmless bees. The last hurrah of the year before it gets too cold for our insect friends.
- Seedlings - Our fall crops are growing nicely now. Look for spinach, arugula, mustard greens, turnips, garlic, and snap pea plants.
- Cabbages & friends - We planted some cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, and cauliflower transplants several weeks ago. See how big they're getting!
- Herbs - Any day is a good day to visit the herb garden! Gently run your hand along the plant, then smell your hand. The oils in the leaves provide the scent. The rosemary, thyme, chives, parsley, and oregano are still going strong (so is the lavender in the yellow hose bed). There are cilantro and dill sprouts coming up. We'll have to see if they make it!
November 1, 2022
Fall crops are still growing. Hopefully it will be a while before our next frost!!
Things to look for in the garden:
Fall crops are still growing. Hopefully it will be a while before our next frost!!
Things to look for in the garden:
- Busy Bees - The marigolds and "Wild & Free" flowers are swarming in happy, harmless bees. The last hurrah of the year before it gets too cold for our insect friends.
- Seedlings - Our fall crops are growing nicely now. Look for spinach, swiss chard, arugula, mustard greens, turnips, and even some snap pea plants.
- Cabbages & friends - We planted some cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, and cauliflower transplants several weeks ago. See how big they're getting!
- Herbs - Any day is a good day to visit the herb garden! Gently run your hand along the plant, then smell your hand. The oils in the leaves provide the scent. The rosemary, thyme, chives, parsley, and oregano are still going strong (so is the lavender in the yellow hose bed). There are cilantro and dill sprouts coming up. We'll have to see if they make it!
October 4, 2022
The garden survived Hurricane Ian. Thanks to the hard work of the Hawks Lead middle-schoolers who helped protect our little sprouts!
The 1st, 2nd, and 5th graders helped harvest our long-awaited sweetpotatoes! Some were just "fingerling" size, but we did have some more normal-sized ones.
Things to look for in the garden:
The garden survived Hurricane Ian. Thanks to the hard work of the Hawks Lead middle-schoolers who helped protect our little sprouts!
The 1st, 2nd, and 5th graders helped harvest our long-awaited sweetpotatoes! Some were just "fingerling" size, but we did have some more normal-sized ones.
Things to look for in the garden:
- Busy Bees - The marigolds and "Wild & Free" flowers are swarming in happy, harmless bees. The last hurrah of the year before it gets too cold for our insect friends.
- Sprouts - Some of our seeds are finally poking up their little heads! There are lettuce and turnip sprouts.
- Okra - Say goodbye to the okra! it's getting too cold, and we'll pull them soon to plant something else.
- Herbs - Any day is a good day to visit the herb garden! Gently run your hand along the plant, then smell your hand. The oils in the leaves provide the scent. The rosemary, thyme, chives, and oregano are still going strong (so is the lavender in the yellow hose bed). The anise hyssop is dying back, but will come out next spring. If you like basil, please take some leaves; you can even taste them with your class--it won't last much longer!
September 15, 2022
The garden is off to a slow start, but it's looking nice. We have sweet potatoes that will be ready to dig up soon. The okra is HUGE and is ripening so fast, I haven't been able to keep up.
Things to look for:
The garden is off to a slow start, but it's looking nice. We have sweet potatoes that will be ready to dig up soon. The okra is HUGE and is ripening so fast, I haven't been able to keep up.
Things to look for:
- Butterflies and bees visiting the marigolds and other flowers
- Okra!
- Asparagus is growing large and feathery. It's so cool to see what it looks like now (when we don't eat it).
September 10, 2019
Another hot day in the garden. I cannot WAIT for fall!! The kids helped weed a lot of sprouting buckwheat. We hope to see more sprouting seeds next week--the ones we've planted! Look for lettuces, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, and peas poking their little heads up. We also collected some seeds from the garden so that we can have them again in the spring--dill and coriander/cilantro. There were some small onions, marigold flowers, and tiny cherry tomatoes that a few grades were able to harvest.
Our spider friend moved her web, leading to some concern until we found her nearby. We have also seen a lot of grasshoppers, including one I was able to catch and show to the 1st graders. See the Sept. 3rd's post for more things to look for in the garden.
Another hot day in the garden. I cannot WAIT for fall!! The kids helped weed a lot of sprouting buckwheat. We hope to see more sprouting seeds next week--the ones we've planted! Look for lettuces, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, and peas poking their little heads up. We also collected some seeds from the garden so that we can have them again in the spring--dill and coriander/cilantro. There were some small onions, marigold flowers, and tiny cherry tomatoes that a few grades were able to harvest.
Our spider friend moved her web, leading to some concern until we found her nearby. We have also seen a lot of grasshoppers, including one I was able to catch and show to the 1st graders. See the Sept. 3rd's post for more things to look for in the garden.
September 3, 2019
The kids have worked hard the past two weeks harvesting sweet potatoes, weeding, and planting seeds. Hopefully we can keep the seeds and seedlings watered enough to have good growth!
When you visit the garden, be sure to look for:
* Our resident orb weaver, a yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia
* Pollinators (mostly bees and butterflies) visiting the marigolds
* In the herb bed (bed 8), there is oregano, dill, tarragon, anise hyssop, borage, chives, coriander (cilantro seeds), thyme, and lots of basil
* Look under the bird feeder closest to the STEAM trailer, and you'll see volunteer millet that grew from uneaten bird seed!
The kids have worked hard the past two weeks harvesting sweet potatoes, weeding, and planting seeds. Hopefully we can keep the seeds and seedlings watered enough to have good growth!
When you visit the garden, be sure to look for:
* Our resident orb weaver, a yellow garden spider, Argiope aurantia
* Pollinators (mostly bees and butterflies) visiting the marigolds
* In the herb bed (bed 8), there is oregano, dill, tarragon, anise hyssop, borage, chives, coriander (cilantro seeds), thyme, and lots of basil
* Look under the bird feeder closest to the STEAM trailer, and you'll see volunteer millet that grew from uneaten bird seed!
August 21, 2019
It’s been a busy week at Hilburn as the teachers get ready for back-to-school. I’ve been busy too, string-trimming around the garden beds so we can actually walk between them! That’s what a lot of good summer storms get you. I’m looking forward to showing the kids what grew over the summer, like sweet potato vines, cucumbers, buckwheat, volunteer tomatoes, and, of course, weeds! I’m going to put them to work clearing the weeds, as it’s already time to plant fall crops!
In addition to growing plants, our garden has been busy supporting bees and butterflies nectaring AND some Monarch caterpillars!!
It’s been a busy week at Hilburn as the teachers get ready for back-to-school. I’ve been busy too, string-trimming around the garden beds so we can actually walk between them! That’s what a lot of good summer storms get you. I’m looking forward to showing the kids what grew over the summer, like sweet potato vines, cucumbers, buckwheat, volunteer tomatoes, and, of course, weeds! I’m going to put them to work clearing the weeds, as it’s already time to plant fall crops!
In addition to growing plants, our garden has been busy supporting bees and butterflies nectaring AND some Monarch caterpillars!!