The Port O’Connor Community Garden has had some unexpected visitors! Deer certainly appreciate a well-tended garden, especially in the colder months when food is scarce. New strategies have been put in place to protect the plants and shut down the “deer buffet.”

Gardeners have received much communication regarding cold-weather protection tips for plants during freezing weather, such as hydrating plants before a freeze and using mulch. Gardeners are staying well-informed and proactive in protecting their plants from the cold and animals.

On January 23rd, gardeners met at the Library Multi-purpose room to discuss and learn about “Seed Starting.” January is the month to start our warm season gardens. Gardeners plan a club of “Seed Starters” within the group. Together, we’ll learn as we GROW! This exciting initiative will be a wonderful way for gardeners to share knowledge, troubleshoot challenges, and enjoy the process as a community.   During the meeting, we learned that starting from seeds allows you to grow a wider variety of plants, including many that are not available as transplants from local nurseries. We watched President Val Tiemann present a hands-on seed starting demonstration with the actual supplies needed. Watching a demonstration was especially helpful and made the experience very engaging.  We also learned about the minimal space, time and costs involved. Many attendees found the meeting to be a valuable learning experience, gaining insights on how to prevent issues and achieve successful seed starting.