Hidden Gems

Our native plant collection has grown over the years to well over 100 species, supporting all kinds of insect and bird life here at Ulloa. It also provides for the kinds of discoveries you can usually only find out in the wilder parts of the Bay Area. For example, hidden in a corner of our garden we have one of my favorite shade-loving plants: Wild Ginger. The leaves and Stem actually smell like the ginger we're so used to cooking with, although it is in a different plant family. Native Americans once used the plant as a tea for stomach pains, though now we just use it as a tool to talk about micro-climates and as an example of a plant used by First Peoples.

Senses in the garden

Purple mustard, bright orange California Poppies, red carrots, deep blue native ceanothus flowers, pink this, purple that..lemon and rose scented geraniums, mint, fragrant culinary spices, spicy leaves, sweet strawberries

..soft cotton-like leaves, rough ones..the sound of water dribbling down our new stream or splashing out of our pump, the buzz of small insects..every day the senses are being engaged and reveled in in the garden!

Carrots!

Carrots are FINALLY ready! The students have been watching and asking about them since we planted them in January. 100 days is just too long to wait when you’re seven! The peas have provided a good distraction, but it is all about the carrots and the intrigue of pulling them. We play “Carrot Lotto” now, and nobody knows what they’ll get-a red one? A long skinny one? A round one with two roots? Fun..and flavorful! Here’s a picture of students washing their carrots with the built-in scrub brushes (carrot tops).

Neighbors

I’ve been having some nice interactions with neighbors around the school lately-one lady likes to stop and chat, and it turns out she spent her career in the Philippines teaching nutrition and gardening at a school there! She takes the long way home so she can walk past our garden. I share friendly greetings with neighbors all the time and we share tips on growing veggies, catching gophers or what have you, and it is nice to know folks are appreciating what’s happening here at Ulloa! One neighbor was very concerned and brought me a bag to clean up a small bit of vandalism in the native plant walk. Here’s to the good neighbors of Ulloa!

Composting

The school is in full swing with the municipal composting program, and the garden is in full composting swing too! With the spring rain and longer days the weeds have provided us with great fodder for our piles, and the students are learning what it takes to make good compost-browns and greens, oxygen, and big piles that get warm inside! We’ve been sifting our finished compost and mulching the garden with it for our summer crops, but the number one most popular thing to do with compost piles is to observe the bugs-I will never stop being amazed by how long insects can hold the attention of a student!

Plant Diversity at Ulloa

Well, my progress on cataloging all species of native plants on campus has been slow of late, but the list is over 80 plants long now! We truly do have a special and extensive collection! I’ve been collecting seed and cuttings from wherever I find desirable additions, as well as talking with local naturalists to flesh out our collections. We’re slowly getting permanent labels on key examples of the perennial species, and the database, linked to images and indicating approximately where these plants are to be found in the garden is a work in progress, but maybe someday it will come in handy as our garden becomes recognized as the significant teaching tool and bio-island in the city that it is! I’ve found Calflora (http://www.calflora.org/) to be very useful, along with CNPLX (http://www.cnplx.info/index.html

Of wind and peas

The one problem with the vegetable garden situation at Ulloa is the wind. It is less sheltered than almost anywhere on campus, and some plants take it hard. It also means the garden isn’t as warm as other parts of the yard. These things have brought up some interesting conversations with students about micro-climates and ways to shelter plants. Everyone wanted lots of snow peas, so we came up with a creative way to keep the plants upright during these early spring storms. The plants are happy!