Junior Bloomers February 2007 Newsletter

Junior Bloomers Winter Newsletter

Hello from the Junior Bloomers - February 2007

In this newsletter :

Quick Quiz
What's the common name for Calendula?
What herb helps you have a good memory?
What plant is good for skin and cuts?
What is this spring flower: ropmsie
Where might you find bufo bufo?
On what common habitat would you find a meadowsweet?

We had our first meeting on the 17th of November 2006. We talked about what we wanted to do at Smithy Green. Smithy Green already has a herb garden, 4 tubs, a border and 2 trees. We want to put flowerbeds around the big trees, and to make it more colourful. We also want to attract wildlife, and make a wild flower garden.

We also have a competition: can you think of a good motto for the Junior Bloomers? For example, 'Gardening is Great!' There are lots of bulbs coming up in Appleton Wiske. We have already seen snowdrops and crocuses flowering. Daffodils are going to open soon in March.

Creepy Crawlies.........
Did you know slugs have shells too?
They are very small and are hidden inside the slug’s body!

A Harvestman, or Daddy-long-legs, has a small body and 8 long legs—but it isn’t a spider!

Woodlice are not insects—they have 7 pairs of legs and a hard shell, and are related to crabs and lobsters.

Gardening Tips from Whitegates
· Tidy up your garden by brushing up dead leaves
· Remember that bulbs might be under the leaves in your flowerbed so be gentle
· Leaves also become food for your soil
· Remove dead branches and flower stalks from perennials
· Start thinking about what flowers you are going to plant in your garden this year
· Are you feeding the birds regularly? There aren't many berries left in the hedgerows now
· Think about having a compost heap this year

Are you interested in the environment and you want to help look after our planet ?
Come and share your ideas!

How to make Bird Cake
You will need some bird seed; vegetable fat or lard; grated cheese; yogurt pots; mixing bowls; raisins; peanuts; knife; pencil; paintbrush; string; scissors; pine cones and a piece of wood.

· Carefully make a small hole in the bottom of the yogurt pot
· Thread string through the hole and tie a knot inside. Leave extra string at the end
· Cut up lard and put in a mixing bowl
· Add all other ingredients and mix
· Fill your pot with the mixture and put in fridge to set for about an hour
· You can also fill pine cones with the mixture and hang in a tree for the birds

Junior Bloomers
The Junior Bloomers are: Edward Hurhangee, Katherine Hurhangee, Holly Godwin, Anna Godwin, Maryam Watson, Jonathon Dawes, Katherine Wren. Sarah Portsmouth.

If you would like to come along to our next meeting and help do some gardening this spring and summer in Appleton Wiske, please check the Post Office notice board for the date of our next meeting.

Thank you to Mr. Blackwood for giving us 10 packets of wildflower seeds from the BBC breathing places.