Help Grow the Dirt Girls Greenhouse

As we enter the summer solstice, we say farewell to spring.

Clarkia amoena, a California Native Plant, is commonly referred to as “farewell to spring” because it signals the shift in season. Building on the propagation work from the last report, I distributed four varieties of Clarkia plants. Nearly 100 friends, supporters, or community members received the plants, spreading joy and possibility. 

During June, I gave the plants away at the local Farmers Market. I can tell if people are interested in having one when they slow their pace while walking past the table. Some stop to ask how much the plants cost. Others are lured to the table when I ask if they have a garden at home. Either way, the looks on their faces when they receive the gift of a (free) plant is priceless. I'm now collecting the seeds of the Clarkias in my front yard. 

Our next propagation challenge will be narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). I’ve already prepared the seeds by placing them on a wet paper towel in a plastic bag and sticking them in the fridge. Around the same time, I planted 32 plugs in a holding area. In a few weeks, I’ll propagate both: planting the seeds and taking cuttings from the plants. 

With a local source of milkweed, we can continue the work of planting Monarch Waystations in school gardens. We successfully completed our first project this past spring. 

Thanks to your support, we can continue to grow the Dirt Girls Greenhouse. 

Gratefully,

Carrie

Links:

• Collaborating to Support Monarch Butterflies