Somerville Garden Club

July 16, 2010
by Head Gardener
1 Comment

Somerville Garden Tour

Peppers from the garden

Peppers from the garden, by Colin Murtaugh

Sunday, July 25, 2010
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Incredible Edible Gardens of Somerville: a self-guided tour

This year’s Somerville garden tour celebrates the city’s expanding community of food growers and their growing environments. Every version of the urban farm—from tiny rooftop gardens to expansive community plots—will be among the over two dozen public and private sites where fruits, vegetables, and herbs create a delicious medley. Gardeners will be present to share their experiences and demonstrate gardening tips and techniques.

Reserve Sunday, July 25, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., to visit these interesting and productive gardens.

Garden tour program booklet/ticket is $10.00 and contains a map and description of the 31 gardens and the demonstrations that will be offered that day at different sites.

Advance Booklet Sale Locations: July 1th – July 24th

  • Pemberton Garden Center (2225 Massachusetts Avenue, just outside Porter Square, Cambridge, MA)
  • Sherman Cafe (257 Washington Street, Union Square, Somerville, MA)
  • True Grounds (717 Broadway, Ball Square, Somerville, MA)
  • June 9 & July 14: Somerville Garden Club meetings

Day of Event Booklet Sale Locations: July 25th , 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  • Somerville Community Growing Center (22 Vinal Avenue, just outside Union Square, Somerville, MA)
  • Davis Square, Statue Park (opposite the MBTA)

Sponsored and organized by the Somerville Garden Club

To volunteer contact Lisa Dezmelyk, dezmellisa@yahoo.com, or Alan Schwartzman, alan_s@mit.edu

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Publicity, fundraising and advance ticket sales
  • Day of tour: – Ticket sales and information tables
  • Balloon and name tag delivery – Photographing the gardens

July 7, 2010
by Head Gardener
Comments Off on Asian Long Horned Beetle spotted in Boston Area!

Asian Long Horned Beetle spotted in Boston Area!

Asian Long Horned Beetle - credit J. Forman Orth, MDAR

Asian Long Horned Beetle – credit J. Forman Orth, MDAR

This weekend a small infestation of Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) was found in Jamaica Plain (Boston). The site is at Faulkner Hospital (click to see map), just across from the Arnold Arboretum. Six infested maple trees were found so far, in close proximity to each other, and have already been removed by USDA/DCR. Surveys will continue this week.

It is extremely important that we get the word out ASAP to everyone in the Boston, Brookline, and Newton area to be on the lookout for:

1) Adult Asian longhorned beetles (shiny black beetles with white spots and long, banded antennae) – check out this handy pocket guide

2) ALB exit holes (dime-sized, perfectly round holes, especially in maple, but also in birch, elm, horsechestnut, willow and other hardwood trees…but not oak)

3) ALB egg-laying sites (divots in the bark ranging in size from 1/4 to 3/4 inches across – fresh pits often have oozing, foaming sap)

Anyone seeing anything suspicious should report it immediately at http://massnrc.org/pests/albreport.aspx or toll-free: 1-866-702-9938. Take photos if you can.

Spread the word, not the beetle! Get all the latest ALB news at:
http://massnrc.org/pests/alb