Celebrating the finish Line
Our youngest, Cooper, graduated college this past Saturday. It was a fantastic weekend full of ceremonies, celebrations, friends, family, eating... a little drinking... and some reflection.
The reflection I’m referring to, was by me.
For the past 26 years, my wife and I have been raising our kids. It got easier over the years, but nonetheless, there were still responsibilities. Well, it hit me Saturday, we’re done!
I get that you’re never really done. We do love our kids, but you know what I mean. We’re no longer riding on the “raising kids train.” We have arrived at our final destination.
I guess our next step is... grandkids? Wow, where did the time go?
I’m still trying to wrap my head around it!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Anyway, last weekend was a blast! We got to spend a lot of time together as a family, and we got to attend the college graduation ceremony together. That was cool, because unfortunately, this was the only college graduation ceremony any of our kids got to have. (I had kind of forgotten about that part.)
Our girls both graduated college during the height of Covid, so their chance to trek across the stage and capture a brief moment in the spotlight didn’t happen. That really sucked for them, as well as a whole lot of others.
We all missed out on a lot over through those years...but times are better now!
I know there are a lot of others celebrating graduations out there this spring as well. Congratulations to all of you! And a belated congratulations to all those, like our daughters, that had to sacrifice celebrations due to Covid. I wish you all the best.
And to our son, Cooper...
We’re proud of you!
—Cameron
What’s New?
Chinese Fringe Tree
This one isn’t exactly new, but it has been a few years since we’ve had anything bigger than a seedling to offer... so I thought it would be worth talking about.
Chinese Fringe Tree is a beautiful, small to mid-sized flowering tree that’s best know for the amazing floral display it puts on each spring.
Blooms come on in May, a few weeks after the leaves have emerged. Flowers are pure white, lacy and envelope the canopy with their display. They’re easy to grow, tough and durable, and best yet—they’re show-stopping!
Now here’s a little local back story, as I know it. It involves a horticulturist, giraffes and the Topeka Zoo.
Back in the 1930s, at the time when the Topeka Zoo was being developed, the Topeka Park Department had a nursery growing area located within Gage Park. The new zoo was to occupy that area.
At least some of the trees growing in that nursery area were left in place, including several Chinese Fringe Trees. They became part of the old giraffe exhibit we all knew as kids.
Thanks to a wise horticulturist that worked in the park department for many years, seed was routinely collected from those trees, grown out, and ultimately transplanted into park areas across the city. You can see evidence of his dedication to this amazing tree each May when blooms unsuspectingly erupt in unexpected places all over town.
One of the best displays is located in Gage Park, between the swimming pool and the rose garden. There, the blooms of two large groves of Chinese Fringe Tree can be enjoyed each spring. I look forward to it every spring, and it just happened. It was quite a show!
We’re doing what we can to keep this lineage going. Each fall, we collect seeds from those trees. We plant them up in growing crates... and then we wait.
The seeds of Chinese Fringe Tree have what is known as a “double” dormancy. That means they need to go through two winters before they start to grow. So, we plant them, and then we wait... for TWO years!
The newest ones are coming up now. (These were planted in the fall of 2021.)
We try to have a new crop to offer each year. That doesn’t always work out, but we do our best to make it happen. These seedlings will spend the rest of this year, and maybe next, gaining size before we harvest them and pot them up for retail.
This is a cool tree with an even cooler “local” story, and we want people to be able to enjoy them for many years to come.
The Chinese Fringe Trees at Gage Park
“Thymely” Advice
Keep weeds under control
Weeds are always an issue, but when crops are young, they’re especially problematic. Their competition can stunt or even choke out the plants you’ve worked so hard to plant. Don’t let them!
Now that new gardens have been planted, stay on top of things.
Cultivate — Control weeds growth by lightly cultivating or by pulling regularly. Going out shortly after a rain while the soil is still soft helps with both.
Mulch — Mulch crops to cut down on weed growth to begin with. Alfalfa mulch or straw work well in the veggie garden. Wood mulches are best for permanent plantings.
Herbicides — There are a variety of herbicide products, both pre-emergent and post-emergent, that can be used to control unwanted growth in the garden. If you need recommendations on those, just stop by and ask.
sweet potatoes
Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
Sweet potatoes…
Even though I am not a fan, there are millions of people out there that are. This is the time of year to get them into your garden so that you can enjoy them down the road.
A couple years ago a new variety of sweet potatoes were developed by Pat FitzGerald and Louisiana State University Ag Center. Together they developed the Treasure Island series that combines beauty and edibility. The colorful leaves will trail in your garden or planter and taste great in salads and smoothies. Five months after planting, the tubers can be cultivated and used in your favorite sweet potato dish.
It’s not that often that a plant comes along that is a triple treat! If your feeling adventurous, Treasure Island sweet potatoes are a great gamble.
