As I walked thru the neighborhood on this beautiful day it was nice to see how many people have added flowers and greenery to the front of their houses with window boxes and containers. And I would like to see more of this, that's one of the reasons the Fishtown Garden Club was started. Now, we would like to hear from the community what they would like to see happen to continue the greening of Fishtown. Some of the ideas we have come up with so far are

Fall bulb sale, plant and seed exchange, gardening workshops, road trips to places like Longwood Gardens.

So if you have any ideas, thoughts, feelings, dreams, please contact me. Is there a community garden you would like to be a part of but don't know how to go about it? Or maybe you would like to start one. Maybe you are dreaming of a wondeful plant that you saw somewhere but don't know how to find it. Whatever. If you would like to join us, the link is below. If you just want to give us your ideas, that's fine, just email me at

dmandy359@yahoo.com


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fishto...guid=147636433

Donna Marie

Hey Donna - I was reading this book I have on container gardening, and I read bits here and there about taking cuttings and growing plants from them. Maybe we can have little workshops where people trade cuttings.

Also we should try to come up with things in the winter months to do as well.

I also have a greenhouse in my house. It gets really hot in there (im looking into putting in some ventilation) to the point where Ive shocked and killed some plants - but I'd like to learn how to utilise it to grow plants and flowers. So, maybe there are people out there that can help.

And - I think that we should address the flower barrels that run along girard ave and throughout Fishtown. Alot of them have gone to waste and are filled with weeds. I know that steve and I talked to you about the ones around the cemetary?

A workshop on propagation is a great idea. Starting plants from cuttings is a great and cheap way to get plants and it's not sa hard as some people think.

As far as your greenhouse, summer isn't a good time to use one without ventilation, it just gets too hot, as you know. A greenhouse would be good when you start your seeds in the spring and for wintering over plants that won't make it thru the winter here.

We are trying to line up a truck to collect the barrels along Girard Ave. They were put out by FNA with promises from the businesses that they would take care of them. Some were used and others weren't.I'm not sure yet what FNA wants to do with them but if someone is interested in having one of these barrels, let me know.

I was thinking that in the winter we could still have workshops, maybe in December one about using plants to decorate for the holidays. And Feb wouldn't be too early to have a seed starting workshop. If you have any ideas please send them along.

Donna Marie

I would love a barrell or two. Or three. I also might know some people that would want some.

OR...why cant we start a new campaign to really take care of them ourselves to beautify Girard? I was walking up it from Day street the other nite and its in real need of some sprucing up - to say the least.

I've been trying to green the front of my house; it has a wraparound garden in front, and for the past two years I've diligently planted nice flowers and pruned the rose bushes, and nearly every day I find that yet another thing has been stolen out of my garden. Flowers, roses...It's like the natives wait just until the roses peek out of their buds to rip them from the tree. I've actually caught people tugging on the rose bush, and when I've stopped them and asked them WHY, they claim they feel entitled to take the roses because they're within reach (behind a fence, of course). It's like I'm bothering them by asking them to stop ripping up my garden...And these are mothers with kids in tow, hoards of Catholic school girls, regular old school Fishtowners.

There's also a perception that anything that CAN hold trash should, so I'm constantly picking all kinds of junk out of the flower beds and planters.

The people who lived there before me planted CHIVES because they knew no one would steal them...

AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!

Okay, I feel better.

Ugh. That's awful. Sorry to hear that.

I wish I had an solution for you that would stop people from stealing your flowers. This problem came up at a meeting that I attended and it seems that the only thing that seems to work is if more people on the block have flowers out fewer are damanged. Maybe it sends a message that people on the block really care and they shouldn't be messed with. If you look at Berks Street, between Gaul and Cedar, you'll see what I mean. I know this isn't a big help to you right now. Would it be possible to extend the height of the fence, even with some kind of netting? Without seeing your garden, it's a little hard to think of anything else.

As far as the barrels on Girard Ave, if someone wants to plant them and take care of them, go right ahead. By that I mean to keep them on Girard Ave. Just keep in mind that they will have to watered at least once a day because containers, especially in full sun, dry out fast. One idea is to ask some of the new businesses along Girard Ave if they would be willing to take on the care of them. But they could be filled with plants that do well in very dry conditions, so it is possible.

Here's my big suggestion...a workshop on growing ivy.

We have some great ivy growing on our fence out back. I'd like to know how to get it to grow up the side of our house. (and, for that matter, if I should!)

Maybe one day Fishtown University could even become an Ivy League institution!

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I love the look of ivy crawling up the sides of houses, but I heard it damages the masonry. ..Does anybody know if that is true? I used to let it grow all over the side of my house, but after being told that it might cause me to have to do repointing, I now redirect it...

My house inspector did say that ivy is bad to have growing up the house. My suggestion is to grow up it a trellace that sits against the side of the house, or install wires for it to grow on that are attached to the house.

This is from a google search http://www.pallensmith.com/newslette...bx_011003a.htm

"Ivy has a reputation for being an aggressive grower and can be alarming to some when it begins to grow on buildings. But I wouldn't really worry unless it was growing on a building of wooden construction. The leaves can harbor a lot of moisture and cause the wood to rot. However, with masonry there is not as much cause for concern except when the little aerial roots get into the joints between the stone or in your case, bricks."