Vertical Gardening on Saint George Court, Warwick, RI Reaches New Heights!

Amazing things are happening in the gardens on Saint George Court. Butternut squash was planted at the base of the grape arbor, as it was last year. The location produced about a hundred pounds of butternut that lasted until the next spring and we knew that we would replant there again. With just one catch...

The squash would go vertical.

Instead of creeping and climbing like an octopus with fifteen foot long arms I would train it to climb up the arbor towards the canopy of grapes overhead. With a bit of garden wire the butternut vines have been lifted and teased into the strong trunks of the grapes.

In this photo to the right you see butternut squash approximately two months in the ground. It has been gradually trained up the trunks of the grape vines forming a weave of squash blossoms.

The baby squash are peeking out of the vines everywhere!

Saint George Court, Warwick, RI - Butternut Squash Bounty of Governor Francis Farms Gardens

While we've been enjoying the splendor of these last few weeks of summer some mighty big things have been happening on Saint George Court. Butternut squash that was planted by the base of Turtle Pond Wines' grape arbors has been steadily producing a bountiful harvest!

Bird's Nest Fungi on Saint George Court, Warwick, RI Tropical Mushrooms in Governor Francis Farms

While watering tomatoes this week I noticed a cluster of teeny-tiny 

cup shaped mushrooms in the compost. Memory flash to the guide books 

I read last year on identifying local fungi; I had seen this one before. 

Yes indeed, a quick trip to Google gave me the positive ID I needed. 

I had found Bird's Nest Fungi!

Notice the immature fungi; creamy beige, with a raspy exterior. 

They will soon open up to spread their spores.

Read more about the fungi here: Bird's Nest