Excellent market today

[vgqn]

Despite the windy, chilly weather, the MG Spring Garden Market today was a success. We took home more tomato plants than we have in the past, but that's okay, because we brought a lot more TO the market this year. That we sold so many on a less than lovely day is a success in and of itself. Sales were great for the fledgling herb and "other vegetable" areas as well, much to everyone's delight.

Additionally, many people have been working hard to increase the educational and outreach portion of the market. There were more talks, more mini-talks, more signage, an informative newsletter, posters on MG projects, availability of Spanish speakers -- all excellent steps to further community education and outreach, the real MG goals.

I came home with a few peppers (which I expected to buy), some succulents for the front bed (which I had hoped I would find and buy), and two alstromeria (pink/magenta and buff/yellow, which I was happy to buy). I was delighted by the many vendors who came to the market and were clearly happy to be there, like Sam of Sam's Feed & Pet Supply (my personal alfalfa pellet and straw bale source) and Pamela of Cole Canyon Farms, to name just two.

There was a poignancy that all of the MGs felt today, due to the loss of one of our own, Holly Hayes. She had been diagnosed only last June with a rare cancer, and passed away in her sleep just yesterday morning. She had fully intended to be at the market today and work in the volunteer respite area. If anyone wondered why we had leaves of holly pinned to our shirts, well, now you know.

Comments

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

That's a sweet tribute.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

It really was lovely, seeing all of us wearing the holly leaves.

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

Do watch out for those Alstromeria, especially if the magenta-ish one is the same as one cultivar I have. I neglected to remove the stems after it bloomed, one year, and to dig out the seedlings the following spring, so it has Taken Over several largish sections of my front flower-bed. A strange combination of Very Pretty (which is why I've let it get in this state), and yet... Thuggish (as British gardeners say), crowding-out iris, ipheion, and even geraniums. (When they ripen, the seed-pods practically explode, shooting the seeds some feet away -- and with this variety apparently many of the seeds germinate, some immediately and some months or a year later.) I gather that many of the other cultivars aren't much of a problem in this respect (although all seem to resent root-disturbance when planted-out from containers).

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning. I'll keep an eye out. Though I have some rather thuggish geraniums already -- maybe I should let the alstromeria duke it out with them!

Have you known geraniums to reseed readily? Most of mine don't (or very little), but Maverick Star throws off dozens of seedlings every year. Luckily they're quite pretty and I don't mind them spreading. And also, curiously, the seedlings are mostly indistinguishable from the parent plants, even though the original is a hybrid. I've only had to rogue out a couple plain salmon ones.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

I read the article in today's (okay, yesterday's) paper. It was a lovely tribute.