Weed Identification

I took photos of the weeds in the Patch.  At another
place and time, these guys would just be leafy green
friends minding their own business, but as long as
they are competing for space with the critters we
are raising, they pose a threat.  The weeds in the Patch
are common to wide areas of the United States.

Common Purslane, or Portulaca oleracea

Lamb's Quarters, or Chenopodium album

Carpet Weed, or Mollugo verticillata

Large Crabgrass, or Digitaria sanguinalis

Spotted Spurge, or Euphorbia maculata

Here is a useful Virginia Tech website that will help
you identify weeds in your own garden.

http://www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm

Go Hokies!!!

Weekly Weed Erradication

Check out these before and after photos.
It takes about two hours to weed all six
beds.  That's not to mention gallons of
sweat and dirt packed finger nails.
YUCK!  It's a tough job, but worth it
for all the plants in the Patch!

What is a Weed?

weed  

/wēd/

Noun A wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.

Verb Remove unwanted plants from (an area of ground or the plants cultivated in it).

Synonyms weed out Mrs. Diaz's Definition - Basically, a weed is a plant that is growing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sunflowers in Art and in Nature

Here is an image of one of Vincent van Gogh's
sunflower paintings.  Compare it to the photo
Ms. McCann took of sunflowers in the
Panther Patch.  It's easy to understand why van
Gogh and so many other artists have been
inspired by these bold, brilliant, TOWERING
flowers!  Come to the garden with a sketchbook
and paints to create your own sunflower masterpiece.
Then, take a trip to the National Gallery of Art in
Washington, DC to view van Gogh's stunning
work of art!

Recommendations for Children's Books Related to Gardening

Follow these links to find some great garden-related children's literature!

http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/2011/05/30/gardening/

http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/picturebooks/tp/garden.htm

Creativity Zone

   Mrs. Diaz's class made two stepping stones for the

   garden.  The octagonal stones are made of cement

   decorated with glass beads, mosaic glass and sea

   shells.  

   Mrs. Diaz's class transformed the garden

   into an outdoor museum with educational 

   signs to provide information about the 

   plants and critters that live in the Panther 

   Patch.  The students did online research

   to gather information.  Then they published

   the facts in short articles glued to decorative

   paper with a picture of each plant.  We hope

   you have a chance to stop by the garden 

   for a self guided tour!

  

What's New in the Panther Patch?

    Thanks to our summer waterers!  

    They are keeping the Panther Patch 

    green and gorgeous!

   The fourth grade planted a three sisters

   garden, similar to the gardens the Powhatan

   Indians may have planted.  The corn grows

   tall to form a sturdy trellis for the bean vines.

   The squash and pumpkins grow along 

   the ground.  

   A variety of flowers thrive in the Panther Patch.  

   Here, you see brightly colored sunflowers and marigolds.

   The strawberries returned for another year.  We 

   have a few returning visitors, including basil, sunflowers,

   marigolds, zinnias, and tomatoes.  

   The fifth graders planted two types of cabbage.  As

   you can see, they love their new neighborhood.

   The corn started out as tiny plants very 

   similar in appearance to their cousin, lawn 

   grass.  Over time, the corn distinguished

   itself in terms of its height and width of its

   leaves.  Soon each stalk will bear dazzling

   ears of sweet yellow corn!