May started off cool and rainy in the Lower Valley but things improved as the month went on.  Hope that we get some spring before summer arrives!

 

April ended with a new event for us.  Southwick hosted its 5th Annual Tractor Rally,  Master Gardeners had a booth and did soil testing.  Despite the cold, rainy, blustery weather, it was a successful event with 11 soil tests being performed and gardening questions being answered at our booth.  Special thanks to the Master Gardeners and Interns who helped out.--Ralph Strycharz (event contact), Elaine Massery, Verna Sadowski, Yvette Cassesse, Chrissy O'Connor, and Fred Gawron.  Master Gardener Burt Hanson was Southwick's coordinator of this event.

 

Under the leadership of Master Gardener, Toi Graham, a large group of Master Gardeners and Interns gathered to make the Wistariahurst Plant Sale a success! The cold, damp, rainy weather on Friday, May 17th for set-up day could not stop the team of upbeat, positive, energetic gardeners from moving and organizing the rows of plants and shrubs, as well as planting up the urns and some of the beds at Wisty.  Saturday, May 18th, brought sun for Plant Sale!  Before the opening at 9, there were gardeners with their carts lined up down Beech Street.  The sale featured a wide variety of high quality annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees for sale.  Master Gardeners and Interns were available to assist and give plant advice.  Soil testing was also available.

Master Gardeners and Interns had a booth at the Forest Park farmers' market on May 7th and 14th. On May 7^th, the group fielded multiple questions and concerns regarding gardening.  The gardening quizzes and games were a hit, and instructions for soil testing were handed out.  May 14^th was a cold raw day, but they again manned the booth and did soil testing. Even with the weather, people came by to ask questions, and a few will bring soil samples for testing at the next scheduled day, June 4^th, which is the last date for spring.

 

Longmeadow Days was May 18 and 19.  Master Gardeners and Interns helped to assemble Eastern Hophornbeam, Sugar Maple, Persimmon, and White Spruce saplings  tagging them with planting information that were given out at the Longmeadow Tree Committee booth.  Master Gardeners and Interns also helped to man the booth.

Hopefully, Master Gardeners have had a chance to meet some of the Interns at the various sites.  Remember that the Summer Meeting is June 20^th at the Berkshire Botanical Garden.  It is a great time to see old friends and meet new ones.  Hope to see you there!

 

 

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