Belmont Community Victory Gardens

We have been putting a lot of work into the front area of our community gardens. We would like a nice inviting grass area with the garden plots behind. And nice grassy paths between all the plots.

Its wonderful how native grasses seed themselves naturally if an overgrown area is mowed. We have just finished leveling sufficiently to run a lawn mower. Here's the view just after the very first mowing. Isn't it beautiful!!

We will be holding a work day tomorrow to continue working on the grass. I haven't done a very good job of circulating information on this event, but it will be held from 10 am -12 noon tomorrow (Saturday). Please come and help us. Bring weed whackers lawn mowers, clippers, or rakes.

We will flatten the front area at the far right of the photo - in front of the new plots. There are rock and debris piles to remove and dirt pile to flatten. We will also mow/weed whack/clip the grass in the paths. I have done about 1/3 of the paths so far, and it would be good to get then all done this weekend.

I enjoyed seeing a whole flock of baby bluebirds foraging in the freshly mowed area the other day. A clutch of 4 or 5 was recently hatched from a box in the meadow. Bluebirds like areas with short grass and perching posts. Our mowed entrance not only looks neat and is a good place for garden events, but it's also a valuable wildlife habitat.

Other reasons to come and help out with the path work: I will bring FREE COFFEE and its fun to work together with other gardeners.

Another event to mention is the Solstice Garden Tours that will be held on Sunday June 20 at the Belmont Victory Gardens. An informal event. Our first time trying this. This will run 11 am - 1 pm. Come enjoy the results of the path and front area work we do the day before!

lawn

I am going to try some new things with our lawn this year. The yard is a mix of dry hot sunny areas and deep shade. The soil gets compacted very fast. I'm thinking of aerating and sodding the backyard, which is mostly deep shade and the grass gradually peters out there a few years after sodding. I resod every 3-4 years and seed spring and fall the 2nd and 3rd years.

For the front yard, which is sunny and the grass does pretty well, I'd like to try over seeding with Dutch White clover. I read the clover will supply 1/3 of the nitrogen needs of the grass. And the bees will like the flowers. Dutch White is a low growing 1-6 inch clover. I am looking forward to trying this.

Interesting - if you google "lawn clover" the first entry is how to grow clover in the lawn, the second is how to get rid of it ....

more weed wacking

It seems like an endless project. But Gretta told me recently that the will weeds slow down soon. Yes!

Maintaining the grass paths at the community garden is my new volunteer project. They need to be weed wacked and mowed every few days. I manage to do it almost once a week. It sure does a job on my shoulder muscles! The reward is the smell of newly mowed grass. Ahhh.

I ran into a Botany Professor from Harvard University today on the paths. He told me he is responsible for the beautiful Arnold Arboretum in Boston. But today he wanted to look at invasives, so where did he go? Well, he was walking the garden paths in Belmont. I guess he realized that I am fighting a big battle with my little push mower! He pointed out the terrible Japanese hops and bittersweet that we have in abundance.

weed wacking

My arms are sore from trimming weeds in the paths of our community garden. I used the Garden's super powerful weed whacker, which chewed up everything it came near and nearly vibrated by arms loose. Its absolutely amazing how big the weeds were! Nice to see freshly trimmed paths. Now I should go over it again with a mower. Wonderful how a garden can keep you busy.

Belmont Victory Garden