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Garden in the Woods!

The Driftwood Garden Club of Marblehead not only offers educational meetings and maintains the gardens at Abbot Public Library and Marblehead Housing’s Farrell Court, we also take field trips!

Many DGC members recently enjoyed a guided walking tour of Garden in the Woods in Framingham. The 45-acre botanical garden, a member of the Native Plant Trust, was founded in 1931, and is the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in New England.  Their plantings include about 1,000 species including more than 200 rare and endangered native species.

Our volunteer guide was well versed in Garden in the Woods natural landscape of the pond, wetlands, rolling hills, and valleys. She pointed out interesting native trees and plants as we walked along the mile-long gravel loop. We were treated to fall foliage in its finest display of color.

Our trip ended with a fabulous picnic lunch, and a little shopping in the largest retail native plant nursery in New England. A perfect autumn day!

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Soil Preparation!

The Driftwood Garden Club’s October 2024 educational meeting was presented by Gretel Anspach, a Lifetime Master Gardener and Member of the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association. Gretel, a repeat presenter for DGC, is a retired engineer who knows the science of good soil.

Members learned the importance of soil that holds the right amount of water and has the right available nutrients. We learned plants like ‘fluffy’ soil and the steps to remediate soil compaction.

Our lecture included some ‘mulch math’ to determine the quantity of material to cover the square footage in compost. And we also learned about the Nitrogen – Phosphorus – Potassium (always listed in that order) ratio to amend soil.

Most of all, Ms. Anspach recommends soil testing in several areas of your yard to accurately determine the soil composition. UMass Extension Testing Laboratory forms and instructions are available online at 

https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory/ordering-information-forms

We were reminded to leave plant and leaf matter in the garden beds to decompose over the winter for organic nutrients to enhance our soil.  Your plants will thank you in the spring!