The Gardens on Spring Creek

Winter squash previously grown in the Garden of Eatin' What’s Blooming: Winter Squash and Pumpkins by Mary Miller, Community Garden and Outreach Coordinator, Gardens on Spring Creek With leaves changing and the first hard frost behind us, the season of winter squash and pumpkins is upon us. The array and diversity colors, shapes and sizes of winter squash is stunning, and the taste, texture and color of the flesh of the different squashes is equally diverse.   While many people are familiar with the most popular varieties of butternut, acorn, delicata and spaghetti squash, there is a dizzying number of other excellent varieties.   Let’s dive into the wonderful world of winter squash – also known as hard squash.   Botanically, pumpkins are the same as winter squash, though . . . . we know as a pumpkin when we see it!   Members of the cucurbit family of crops include summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and gourds along with winter squash.   H...

  Sundew ( Drosera ) Growing Carnivorous Plants by Bryan Fischer, Horticulturist, Gardens on Spring Creek   Last winter, I made the ill-fated mistake of dropping a large Mangave on my carnivorous plant collection. The event was crushing in more ways than one. In homage to the collection that was, I wanted to share regarding my experience growing these quirky plants. Not just the ubiquitous Venus fly trap, carnivorous plants encompass a diverse and fascinating group of plants originating from areas with very poor soil or water concentrations of essential nutrients. While they still photosynthesize to produce their energy (carbs, like other plants, because even plants can’t leave carbs alone), they use insects to supplement the limited nutrient spread provided by the relatively nutrient-poor soils or water in which they grow. I had long ago given up on cultivating carnivorous plants after killing my fair share of Venus fly traps and pitcher plants, among the most common...