On March 25 and 26, MUN Botanical Garden Education staff along with the Provincial PlantWatch Coordinator (our own Madonna Bishop) conducted in-service workshops to teachers and environmental educators in Corner Brook, NL. The workshop was part of two new and exciting initiatives, Our Plants and Climate Change (PlantWatch NL school program funded by Environment Canada’s Ecoaction Community Funding Program) and From Garden to Classroom Outreach program (funded by a Promoscience program grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)). The workshop was well attended and represented various schools of the Western District including Stephenville, Corner Brook, Pasadena, and Roddickton. During the two day session, teachers were immersed in hands-on activities, nature hikes and presentations on topics including PlantWatch, native plants, vermicomposting, and climate change.
Madonna Bishop (centre) gets a lesson in how to use GPS
While we have yet to start any annual seeds for the season, we have begun to take cuttings from our many Geraniums. When you take the cuttings (about 6" long), leave them on the table for a couple of hours to allow the end to callus; this will help prevent rotting of the cut stems. We use a mist chamber to help maintain proper humidity levels. In the house, you can place the pot of cuttings inside a clear plastic bag to 'create' a mini-greenhouse. Keep the cuttings in bright light but not full sun.
Our bulb frame is in full swing...much earlier than usual. Already the first pots of bulbs are blooming. Enjoy them now as they will be long gone before we open on May 1! Here is a pot of
Scilla miczenkoana.
The rock garden is still in winter mode. Keep your fingers crossed that we have some mild weather really soon!
But the alpine house looks good enough to open to the public! Already the pots of primroses are starting to flush new leaves.
No comments:
Post a Comment