Summer of Drought
Oakleaf hydrangea flowers in early July before turning blue in August and brown in September
In early July, flowers like tiger lily, hosta, weigela, burdock, echinacea and milkweed bloomed normally, but by the end of the summer, the worst drought in Boston history had taken its toll.
We were able to harvest a great crop of peas planted by the environmental club, but someone else got the pears.
Before and after: The first photo below shows the uncut suckers from a box elder stump before being removed in the second photo. The third photo shows a couple of volunteers using the weed wrench to remove invasive black locust trees, and in the last picture, the tree root is raised triumphantly.
In the outdoor classroom, pods hang from the catalpa and lots of daisies bloom in the urban meadow. A couple of sunflowers share the enviro club bed with strawberries and violets.
A butterfly bush blossom surrounded by Virginia creeper - whose leaves of five can stay alive; the only bed with new soil still managing to keep some vegetables alive; and a surprise appearance by some achillea planted long ago.
Before its removal, a common elm, dug in at the edge of the stone monuments, shared the space with some black eyed susans. Afterward, only a long white root remains.
Here lies a pile of black locust, burdock and multiflora rose branches which were pulled from the ground, roots and all, by the great weed wrench. In the next photo, you can see the thorns that protrude from the branches of the black locust, and in the final photo, a part of the schoolyard that is thankfully no longer covered with these invasive trees. Unfortunately, this year, in spite of the drought, invasive trees seem to be doing very well.
Photos and text by Alicia Zipp, for more info: email [email protected]
Please use the donation link below to help us raise money for the Everett so that we can continue to maintain, improve and beautify the schoolyard as we educate our students about the natural and creative worlds.
Please specify the name: Friends of Everett Schoolyard, A/C # 38915
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/bedf
Checks can also be made out to the Friends of the Everett Schoolyard and sent directly to the school at 71 Pleasant St, Dorchester, 02125
Please use the donation link below to help us raise money for the Everett so that we can continue to maintain, improve and beautify the schoolyard as we educate our students about the natural and creative worlds.
Please specify the name: Friends of Everett Schoolyard, A/C # 38915
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/bedf
Checks can also be made out to the Friends of the Everett Schoolyard and sent directly to the school at 71 Pleasant St, Dorchester, 02125