Just a reminder, this Saturday, August 13th at 9 am is our Annual Garden Harvest Breakfast Celebration and Garden Meeting. Come and meet some of the other gardeners and enjoy a delicious pot luck style breakfast.
Here are some the details:
We gather from approximately 9 to 10 am near the picnic tables by the entrance. Come for as long as you can.
We are short on picnic tables this year, so please bring a folding chair if you have one.
Bring a food item to share with everyone. Items brought in the past include: bakery, hot breakfast casseroles, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, etc.
Paper plates, napkins, plastic ware, coffee, milk and OJ are provided.
We hold a short garden meeting around 9:45 am. Let’s talk about what is working and what can be improved. I welcome your suggestions.
We keep our gathering brief since we know you may other things planned for your summer Saturday! 🙂
Hope to see you!
As of today, the weather looks amazing for Saturday morning. If that changes, be sure to call 262-548-7788 Saturday morning and listen to my outgoing voice mail message. If weather is poor or rain is predicted during that time period, I will cancel.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Ann Wied
Update on New Water Connections at the Gardens
Published on May 30, 2023
We have a new setup for water connections at the Gardens this year.
There are six water sites at the Gardens and each site has one connection for a hose to be hooked up and one short hose for filling buckets and watering cans. Please only hook up your hose when you are actively using it. If you water and then take a break to do other gardening, please unhook your hose from the connection so it is available to other gardeners to use. Remember, no sprinklers are allowed.
Do NOT yank or tug on your hose after it is attached to the water connection. This can loosen a connection and cause a water leak. We pay for every drop of water at the Gardens and rental fees are directly related to water costs.
The plots corners were marked and the plots were labeled today, so the Waukesha County Rental Gardens are officially OPEN for the season - four days early!
Garden is NOT Open
Published on May 12, 2023
The Waukesha County Rental Gardens were tilled this morning, but are NOT open. Before the Gardens open, we need to put markers on the borders of each plot and a plot ID marker in front. The Gardens are scheduled to open on May 20 (whether permitting).
By the way, there has been a lot of activity up at the Gardens already this spring. That is because half of the plots rented at the Gardens are referred to as "permanent" which means they are not plowed each spring. The Garden opening and closing dates do not apply to those plots.
The Waukesha County Rental Gardens are sold out for the 2023 gardening season!
If you would like to be on the waiting list for a plot for 2024, please fill out the google form at https://forms.gle/JaVgRPF1985kK4yNA.(Please note that our 2024 waiting list is quite long and we may not have a plot available for you until 2025.)
Check out our Tips for a Successful Rental Garden Season here!
Gardens reservation forms are in the Mail!
Published on February 14, 2023
The Reservation Forms to renew plots for the 2022 season are in the mail to those who gardened with us in 2022. Those gardeners have until March 7th to return their forms and payments. After that date, we will know how many plots are available and begin contacting those on the waiting list for a plot in 2023.
Water is Off at the Gardens
Published on October 5, 2022
The water at the Rental Gardens has been turned off due to the forecasted lows in the upcoming days. Remember, to bring water from home.
September Garden Connection Newsletter is Now Available
Just a reminder, this Saturday, August 13th at 9 am is our Annual Garden Harvest Breakfast Celebration and Garden Meeting. Come and meet some of the other gardeners and enjoy a delicious pot luck style breakfast.
Here are some the details:
We gather from approximately 9 to 10 am near the picnic tables by the entrance. Come for as long as you can.
Bring a food item to share with everyone. Items brought in the past include: bakery, hot breakfast casseroles, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, etc.
Paper plates, napkins, plastic ware, coffee, milk and OJ are provided.
We hold a short garden meeting around 9:45 am. Let’s talk about what is working and what can be improved. I welcome your suggestions.
We keep our gathering brief since we know you may other things planned for your summer Saturday! 🙂
Hope to see you!
As of today, there is a chance for showers on Saturday morning. Be sure to call 262-548-7788 Saturday morning and listen to my outgoing voice mail message. If weather is poor or rain is predicted during that time period, I will cancel.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Ann Wied
Water Tanks Empty
Published on August 9, 2022
The water tanks at the Gardens have been emptied and will remain empty through the end of the season. Please don't attempt to refill them. We are trying to make the Gardens less attractive to critters.
Cost Associated With Water Usage at the Garden Rising
Published on August 3, 2022
We received the first invoice of the year for our water usage at the rental gardens and it was over $800. We get charged for every drop of water we use at the garden. I realize that when it is dry (no rain), we are watering more, but I feel that we can do a better job of wasting less water.
I am asking for your help. Please take a few minutes to tighten your connection before using your hose to reduce water loss at the connection point, tighten connections if you see water spilling out of any water tank or spraying out of the tanks, and notify our office of any leaks you notice. Continued water waste will increase our water cost which will impact the cost of garden rental plots next year. Thank you for your help!!
August Garden Connection Newsletter is Now Available
We are 10 days ahead of schedule, but the Gardens opened this afternoon!
The water is not yet hooked up. We hope to have that done by the planned opening date of May 21. We sometimes run into problems with leaky hoses or connections at the start of the season. We appreciate your patience. In the meantime, don't forget to bring water from home before you head out to the Gardens!
You can expect the first Garden Connections Newsletter in June.
Check out our brand new Tips for a Successful Rental Garden Season here!
Gardens reservation forms are in the Mail!
Published on February 15, 2022
The Reservation Forms to renew plots for the 2022 season are in the mail to those who gardened with us in 2021. Those gardeners have until March 7th to return their forms and payments. After that date, we will know how many plots are available and begin contacting those on the waiting list for a plot in 2022.
Garden Waiting List
Published on December 8,
We maintain waiting lists for rental plots at the Waukesha County Rental Gardens year round. Open garden plots are rented to those on the waiting list on a first come first serve basis. The sooner your name is on the list, the better your chance of getting a garden plot. We have separate waiting lists for regular plots, organic plots and permanent plots.
In this issue, you'll find tips on preparing for next year and cleaning up your plot.
Annual Garden Harvest Breakfast - Saturday, August 28
Published on August 24,
Our Annual Garden Harvest Breakfast is this Saturday, August 28th at 9 a.m., followed by a brief Garden Meeting which begins around 9:45 a.m. All Gardeners are welcome to come, meet some of the other gardeners and enjoy a delicious pot luck style breakfast.
Please bring a food item to share with everyone. Items brought in the past include: bakery, hot breakfast casseroles, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, etc. (I have already heard from one gardener who is brining OJ and milk.) Paper plates, napkins, plastic ware, and coffee are provided.
August Garden Connection Newsletter is Now Available!
While the Gardens were scheduled to open this Saturday, the dry weather allowed us to get it done a few days early. As of right now, there is water available at four of the six water tank locations. We are still working on making water available at the other two. We sometimes run into problems with leaky hoses or connections at the start of the season. We appreciate your patience.
You can expect the first Garden Connections Newsletter in June.
Garden letters and reservation forms will be mailed out to last year's gardeners on February 15. Gardeners will have until March 5 to return their signed reservation form and payment to retain their plot in 2021. (If you are a gardener and know you will not be returning for the 2021 season, email Lisa at lboyer@waukeshacounty.gov.)
Garden Waiting List
Published on February
We maintain waiting lists for rental plots at the Waukesha County Rental Gardens year round. Open garden plots are rented to those on the waiting list on a first come first serve basis. The sooner your name is on the list, the better your chance of getting a garden plot. We have separate waiting lists for regular plots, organic plots and permanent plots.
Email your name, address, phone number and which waiting list(s) you’d like to be added onto to lboyer@waukeshacounty.gov.
Garden Closes October 19th at 9 a.m.
Published on
Reminder … all produce must be harvested and garden plots cleaned by 9 a.m. on Monday, October 19th. Clean up includes the removal of everything you brought into the garden such as fencing, stakes, string, tomato cages, plastic, etc. Smaller plant material can be pulled and left in the garden to decompose but larger, thick-stem vegetables (i.e., Brussels Sprouts, corn, sunflower, large weeds, etc) need to be removed. Questions? Contact Lisa at the Extension office at 262-548-7775 or lboyer@waukeshacounty.gov.
Water Will Be Turned Off by Thursday, Oct. 1st
Published on
Due to the weather predictions, the water will be turned off at the Rental Gardens on Wednesday or Thursday of the week of September 28th.
Horticulture Helpline (for general gardening questions): (262) 548-7779 uwex1@waukeshacounty.gov
Extension Waukesha County 515 W Moreland Blvd AC G22 Waukesha WI 53188 262-548-7770
Office Hours: M-F, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Civil Rights Statement: An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.
