Organic Bananas Are Tastier

If you are concerned with your health and your family's, you have probably turned to organically grown fruits and vegetables because you  know that eco friendly foods contain no synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, and most conventional pesticides.

Adopting an organic lifestyle not only allows you to take better care of your health, but it also provides you with the opportunity to minimize your ecological footprint. Green shopping means to buy local produce, food that was grown near you, especially seasonal fruits and vegetables.

In addition, there is the 'taste' thing. An organically grown apple, for example, tastes much better than that from an orchard  which has been treated with pesticides and chemicals.

On top of all that, the issue of social and environmental sustainability stands out as a challenge that is increasingly being overcome. More and more family farmers are choosing organic production and  joining the eco movement across the world.

In southern Brazil, especifically on Rio Grande do Sul's North Coast, family farmers assisted by Centro Ecologico - an NGO that has promoted organic production since 1985 - use agroforestry systems to grow fruits organically and seek to reproduce the Atlantic Forest biome.

These pictures show banana plants and açai palm-trees growing harmoniously together. Banana plants are exotic whereas açai palm-tree is not only native but also a key species in the forest. Birds, felines, rodents, and insects feed on açai palm-tree.

 In November-December 2014, Centro Ecologico welcomed a Swedish student, Tuva Wrenfelt, who came to Brazil for some experience on organic farming. Here's what she said about growing organic bananas:


"I am right now in southern Brazil, specifically in the small coastal town of Torres in Rio Grande do Sul. Here I am a trainee at the organization Centro Ecológico which is working to help small farmers  to convert to organic and agroforestry. Here I have learned something enormously when I visited farmers, walked through banana plantations (both organic and conventional) and helped on farms. If there is something that really makes a big difference in the life of the peasants that is  when you choose to consume organic produce. In Brazil and many parts out of South America it is awful pesticides that cause farmers to get severe cancer and children are born with really serious birth defects. I've talked to farmers and heard their stories. I have deliberately asked why they chose organic farming, to see their reactions and hear their views. In any case, I have been looking as if I were stupid to even ask the question and then long explanations. To shorten the answer is that they feel better. Which is visible. After more than 50 days here, I think it is obvious here that farmers  like feeling better.You may not be the one who normally buy organic. But if you want to make a small effort, buy organic bananas instead of the "ordinary" conventional ones. It makes a huge difference." (originally published in Swedish).

What about you? What is your choice?

Schoolchildren Learn How to Eat Healthier Food

An initiative of EMATER/RS, the main agricultural agency in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state, is developing successfully at municipal schools in IMBÉ, a coastal town in the so-called Litoral Norte region.

Oriented by EMATER's technicians, the schools are growing their own veggie gardens, and schoolchildren are learning to eat healthier food.

An idea to be multiplied! Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ixlqf8rBaI

How to Get Rid of Garden Pests

 Are the plants in your garden showing signs of weakness? Do they display spots on their leafs? Do they look somewhat unhealthy?

Perhaps they are infected with parasites or pests. In this case, you must act soon or they may die or even  infect the plants around them.

 I - Sugar Kills!

A very easy, economical solution is to spread some sugar in plant pots and flowerbeds as well. Yes! SUGAR! Surprisingly enough, this will create a hostile environment for parasites as these microorganisms feed on sugar and increase the amount of organic matter in the soil, which will help eliminate them.

Sprinkle a little sugar in your pots and flowerbeds or, if you have a garden, apply 2 kg of sugar per 25m2 of soil.

This is a simple, environmentally-friendly solution that will keep your garden protected.

Mealy bugs

II - White Vinegar X Mealy Bugs

Mealy bugs, one of the most insidious and common pests, may be eliminated  by soaking q-tips (cotton swabs) in white vinegar. Nip them in the bud by dabbing insects with full strength white vinegar.

How to Grow Petunias

Petunias are a great choice for a brightly colored garden. They are annual flowering plants, native to Argentina, and bloom from spring until frost. The petunia family includes great variety: single and double blooms, ruffled or smooth petals, striped, veined or solid colors, mounding and cascading habits and even some fragrance. Most of the petunias sold today are hybrids, developed for specific design purposes.

Among the several varieties of petunias, you will find grandifloras and multifloras, the two oldest types of these flowering annuals. Both are somewhat mounding. Grandiflora has larger flowers, but Multiflora holds up better in the rain.

Spreading type petunias, which include The ‘Wave’, ‘Supertunia’, ‘Cascadia’ and ‘Surfinia’ series are some of the most popular petunias because most don’t need deadheading and they can be used as bedding plants, ground covers or trailing in containers.(Source: About.com.gardening)

Site and Soil

There is one essential thing petunias require to grow beautifully: it is a location with plenty of light. They need at least five or six hours of good sunlight; they'll perform even better when located in full sun all day. They will produce more flowers if they get more light. In case you have shady places, your choice should fall on impatiens, which bloom better there.

Since petunias  grow in moist ground, you will want to keep them well watered. Petunias don't require terribly rich soil, but it must be one that drains decently. "It's always useful to improve garden soil by conditioning it with organic matter, such as baled peat moss, well-rotted leaf compost or manure"(Deborah Brown, Minnesota University http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg1120.html).

Spread the organic matter two to three inches thick. Then incorporate it into the soil to a depth of eight to ten inches, using a rototiller or garden fork. This helps open up heavy clay soil, which improves drainage, but can also increase the ability of light, sandy soil to hold moisture and nutrients.

Planting Tips

The following tips were taken from "Growing Petunias", by Deborah Brown, University of Minnesota. She recommends:

"Wait until soil warms to about 60 degrees and frost danger has passed before transplanting petunias into the garden. Space grandifloras and multifloras about twelve inches apart in full sunlight, or several inches closer together when planted in a shadier location. Milliflora petunias can be spaced as close as four to six inches, but the spreading ground-cover types of petunias should be planted at least one and a half feet apart. Petunias must be planted much more closely together in containers in order to look attractively full right from the start.

Plan to provide some protection from midday sun for the first few days, if weather is hot or windy with few clouds at transplanting time. When grandifloras or multifloras grow about six inches tall, pinch them back to encourage rapid formation of flowering side shoots. Do not pinch millifloras or "spreading" petunias.

Whenever feasible, it's a good idea to remove faded flowers, including the portion below each flower where seeds will develop. This practice, called "deadheading," encourages blooming by preventing seed maturation. Although it may not be practical to deadhead masses of petunias in the garden, it's a must for flowering annuals in containers. Deadheading not only helps prolong blooming, it also keeps plants looking fresh, healthy and well-groomed."

Hopefully, you will enjoy the sight of your brilliant petunias as they bloom in your garden throughout summer.

How To Produce More Flowers In Your Garden

More Flowers in Your Garden

If you are seeking to increase the production of flowers per plant, then you should consider using castings or vermicompost (earhworm excrement), which is well-known for improving aeration, porosity, structure, drainage, and moisture-holding capacity of soil.

Vermicompost is less variable and much more stable than conventional composts, eliminating the need for additional fertilizer when mixed to the planting medium. A great advantage, indeed!

 

Since humus is believed to aid in the prevention of harmful plant pathogens, fungi, nematodes and bacteria,  redworm castings, which are the richest and purest humus matter in the world, should be on top of your checklist  for a more flowery garden.

The use of earthworm castings help to increase height, stem diameter, enhance root growth, increase dry weight, and produce more flowers per plant than peat moss. 

Check this out: one pound of worms can convert one pound of pig manure into compost in 48 hours! Worms consume three times their weight a week or more. Red wrigglers are very active, reproduce quickly and consume their own body weight of waste every 24 hours. Therefore ten pounds of worms will eat ten pounds of waste in 24 hours!

For your information, microbial activity in worm castings is 10 to 20 times higher than in the soil and organic matter that the worm ingests.

Now that you know how beneficial worm castings may be, let's see how to use it in the garden to produce more flowers:

a) when planting vegetable and annuals line the rows and holes with about two inches of castings. About every eight weeks side dress the plants with one-half cup of castings per plant or one cup per foot of row;

b) for perennials work one-half cup of castings into the soil in the spring, middle of summer, and early fall;

c) for pots and hanging baskets add one-half inch castings to the top and water in. Then reapply every eight weeks;

d) roses appreciate four cups of castings per plant;

e) if you are starting a new lawn, add 15 pounds of casting per 100
square feet when sowing. Once established use seven pounds
per 100 square feet.

After following these tips, you will probably take pride in your work as your garden will be full of flowers.

Spring and Autumn

Photos by Melina Duarte

In the northern hemisphere, people are beginning to bring their pot plants indoors. The pictures on this page show beautifully grown geraniums, African violets and hibiscus in Umeä, Sweden. It is amazing how tropical plants like hibiscus can bloom so well even in a country known for its low temperatures. However, when properly cared for, plants do surprise us. Good soil, sun and water make wonders...

Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, the opposite movement is going on, I mean, people are looking forward to springtime, and getting outdoors to start off the first steps to clean their gardens, prepare the soil, sow the first seeds.

If you are thinking of having a flowery garden next summer, you'd better begin now. Spring is a few days away only, and you may start thinking about or choosing which varieties you are going to grow this season.

Geraniums are a good choice as they are hardy enough to withstand transplanting while they have buds or flowers, but transplanting a flowering geranium when there is still a risk of a spring frost will kill the flowers. Check what Lisa Chinn has to say about planting and growing these beautiful flowers.

Springtime is Coming

 Flowers, flowers, flowers

Today, I must admit, I'm too lazy to write a regular post. So, I'm publishing this poem
by Julia A. Moore which describes precisely what we all long for at this time of the year in the southern hemisphere. Hope you will like it.





 Springtime is Coming

Julia A. Moore

Beautiful Spring is coming,
Ah, yes, will soon be here,
For the clear bright sun is shining
All human hearts to cheer.
One the brightest gems of nature
Is the orb that o'er us shines,
And o'er the wide creation,
It'll shine to the end of time.

The birds will soon be singing
On shrub and bough of trees,
Their notes will soon be ringing
Out, forth so merrily.
They love the merry spring time,
Those little birds we love,
They love the pleasant sunshine
That comes down from above.

We can hear them sweetly singing
From early morn, till night.
They make music in the woodland
Those little birds; so bright,
We should dearly love them,
Those little harmless things,
And when we hear their music,
We know that it is spring.

Food Sovereignty and Income Generation

More food, higher income, more social justice

The Centro Ecológico NGO  designed this Project, supported by Heifer International, on Food Sovereignty and Income Generation in 2009 and since then they have been helping and working with low-income families from Sanga da Madeira, an underserved community in Passo de Torres, SC, southern Brazil.

The project aims to teach those families to grow their own veggie gardens, and, as a result, eat healthier food. Last but not least, they will be able to trade some vegetables with neighboring communities as well.



The families joining the project have been harvesting their  tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, and giving the example that anyone may grow their own food and eat better. So far they can only count on a patch of yard, but that has been enough for them as they are now eating flavorful, nutrient-rich food.

The pictures on today's and Tuesday's post clearly show how simple a solution to end hunger may be provided well-intentioned people get together and dig their hands in the dirt.

The Greek philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis said that while there are flowers, children and birds, there is hope to the world. I would add that while there are people willing to make a difference, we can be assured that a better world is possible.

Successful "Grow Your Own Food Program"

Grow Your Own Food and Eat Better

 

The "Grow Your Own Food Program" is being developed in a very poor area in southern Santa Catarina, a state in southern Brazil, involving low-income families and helping them get out of  malnutrition and bad eating habits.

The photos taken at one of those families' yard speak for themselves. The effort and dedication of both the families and their instructors have begun to show the first results.

The families who have joined the program are certainly eating better. This will lead to other effects, i.e., better health, higher self-esteem, more social development.This initiative, although not unprecedented, may be replicated everywhere and used to help other communities to grow their own food and live a better life.

Springtime Is One Month Away

Winter is almost gone

If you are like me, you get fed up with the cold weather and long not only for warmer temperatures but especially for the flowers that blossom out everywhere in springtime.

In the northern hemisphere, people are still enjoying summer with all its good things while we, in the south, are having a hard time coping with this freezing cold.

Fortunately, springtime is only one month away. This means that a month from now we will be seeing the first blooms... gardens will be filled with flowers...trees will be greener...and people will rejoice with nature.

How To Grow Vegetables in a Small Area - 2

Growing Veggies in a Small Area

 Eat Better By Growing Your Own Food

You may have your fresh green salad every day, and eat your own organically grown veggies even if you can't count on a large lot. It's all very simple as the only requirement is that you "dig your hands into the dirt and start gardening". The result is so rewarding that you won't think of doing it otherwise.

Initiatives and examples of people growing their own food are everywhere, and the number of families that have joined  programs like this one - http://www.proudgreenhome.com/article/181990/Gardens-are-growing-within-communities?rc_id=509 - is increasing.


Check out on the photos a friend of mine has sent me. A few families in her apartment building are sharing a sunny open area in the building to grow their own veggies, from lettuce to beets (!!!).

You too can start with a pot of herbs, and slowly grow into a full-fledged garden, if you like.

How To Grow Vegetables In a Small Area

Is it possible to grow vegetables in a small area?

You like to eat fresh vegetables, but you live in an apartment building (like this friend of mine) and there's no room for a veggie garden. At least that's what you think. And you dream of having a small yard where you can grow your own lettuce, your own parsley... Imagine being able to get fresh arugula for your green salad. Wouldn't it be just great?

Well, the good news is that you may have that. You may grow your vegetables in pots!!! And you'll be surprised at how easy that really is.

All you need to do is find a sunny spot in your apartment or in the balcony (if you are lucky to have one), and choose a container (http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/ContainerVeggie.htm) that you will want to fill with soil or potting mixes. The advantage of potting mixes is that they are relativily sterile and pH adjusted. 


Check out the pictures illustrating this post. The vegetables look just as great because the gardener used good soil to start her mini-veggie garden. Her secret is to add juice pulp to the planting soil because this helps increase oxygen, retain moisture and provide nutrients to the plants. The result is amazing!

Weeding The Garden

Well...after getting rid of (or trying to ) brown spots, plant rust, and aphids, we must turn our eyes to the weeds that are threatening the garden's health! And we must take action as soon as we spot any of these unwanted plants. It's amazing how fast they grow and spread all over if we don't stop them.

Weeding the garden isn't my favorite pastime, but I must admit that if I don't do it, I'll regret the consequences later. And I believe you feel just the same.  

So,  let's get to work before the yard is overgrown with weeds. We may choose  different methods, depending on the area to be weeded.

Mechanical Method - It consists of the use of tools such as hoes  or similar ones to pull off  the weeds.

Biological Method - It is the use of biological agents to control unwanted plants. An example of this method is the use of some animals that have a preference for feeding on certain plant species.  Fungi are also used.

Chemical Method - It is the use of chemicals or weed-killers, herbicides. It is one of the most widely used methods on large plantations, for their efficacy and selectivity, but the use of these products should only occur under the guidance of a qualified agronomist.

In small areas, the preference should be for the mechanical method  as it's less agressive. But the best thing to do is undoubtedly to take preventive care, I mean,  use only certified seeds,  clean the tools after using them, and, last but not least, watch out for any sign of a weed in the garden.

How To Get Rid Of Brown Spots (Bipolaris fungus)

If you take proper care of your garden, it's unlikely that your plants will be damaged by brown spots - a disease caused by a parasite (a fungus that can grow as a mold in semi-dry environments ) called Bipolaris. The bad news is that such parasite is very hard to get rid of, but there are a couple of steps you may take to help you lessen the damage.

Healthy plants growing in nutrient-rich soil are naturally resistant, but, since such fungus may be spread by the wind or, at short distances, by rain or irrigation, it's important to be on the watch for any sign of the disease. Round dark brown spots on leaves, stems or grains should call your attention, specially if they show a light-greyish center and a light yellow halo. Once set in, brown spots are hardly controlled.

So, in order to avoid such trouble, you should look to avert the conditions for the development of these fungi in your garden, specifically mild temperatures associated with high relative humidity and frequent wetting. Also, keep plants pruned so that  there is ventilation and the irrigation water does not remain ponded on the leaves, this way both the temperature and humidity will be regulated. 

Since it's difficult to get rid of brown spots, the solution is to act preventively and apply fungicides such as Bordeaux mixture ¹,which might control the disease.

The best solution, however, is to choose seeds,  seedlings, and mature plants very carefully, purchasing the healthiest ones only, making sure you buy varieties that can resist such parasites.

Last but not least, remember that Bipolaris is a potential allergen and is the leading cause of allergic fungal sinusitis. Some people may even experience hay fever, or asthma. So, stay away from plants that show brown spots if you are allergic. :)

How To Get Rid Of Plant Lice (Aphids)

There is nothing more distressing than see your cherished plants  fading away because of those unwanted insects that can destroy the whole garden. I'm talking about these highly destructive insects called aphids.

Aphids are small sap sucking insects that can multiply rapidly, causing serious economic losses for farmers in general. They are also known as plant lice, greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies. There are over 4,000 species, of which at least 250 cause agricultural losses. They feed on plant sap by piercing the conductive vessels. In addition to direct losses, the aphids spread diseases among plants and favor the emergence of fungi.

Their reproductive cycle is very interesting, and in the warmer months of the year females produce other females parthenogenetically, ie, without fertilization in a viviparous manner, whereas in the fall, there is mating between males and females, and they become oviparous .

Depending on the species, aphids may show different colors, displaying  brown, green, yellow, red, gray, black, or almost colourless bodies. Natural predators of aphids are ladybirds, syrphid (flower-flies), beetles and wasps, but there are numerous other animals capable of preying them. Some ants, in order to get protection from predators, make use of an aqueous solution rich in sugars the aphids excrete.

It is possible to control aphids  naturally by introducing  predators and parasites in the affected areas. Other traditional, efficient forms of combat include spraying  tobacco syrup and mineral oil on the plants. Commercial insecticides should be used only when the plants are not flowering and fruiting, as they also kill beneficial insects to plants such as bees.

How To Get Rid Of Plant Rust

Time jetflies...it's May already, and this blog hasn't been updated since January, when hot sunny days were still going on in the southern hemisphere. Now that wintertime is getting closer, we have to look at our cherished plants more carefully to check if they've got any disease, and take the necessary measures to get rid of the unwanted intruders.

It's annoying to find those yellow-reddish or red-yellowish lesions on the plant leaves or on the stems, and you will want to get rid of them ASAP. That's plant rust which is a general term that refers to a rather large family of fungi that attack plants.

Rust fungi are very easy to identify on the plant. They can be characterized by a rust color on plant leaves and stems. The rust will start out as flecks and will eventually grow into bumps, appearing on the underside of the leaves of the plant.

Plant rusts often benefit from mild climates with moderate temperatures and high precipitation. There are higher incidences in wet years, which are prone to the formation of dew on leaves. These factors are ideal for the spores to germinate. So, do not overwater your plants. Also make sure that your plants have good air circulation inside the branches and around the plant itself. This will help it dry off its leaves faster.

The damaged caused by plant rust is irreparable as the plant tissues have no regenerative capacity. Thus, the best thing to do is work on prevention.Remove affected leaves at the first sign of rust color on plant leaves. The faster the affected leaves can be removed, the better chance your plant has for survival. Be sure to dispose of these leaves. Do not compost them.

Then treat your plant with a fungicide. Continue to remove leaves and treat the plant until all signs of the plant rust are gone.

An efficient fungicide is the homemade Bordeaux mixture. It consists of a mixture of copper sulphate, hydrated lime or quicklime and water.

Applications should be made preventively, as the Bordeaux mixture acts by contact, after a few days or after a rain of average intensity, new application must be made. Do not apply directly to all the plants; instead,  test it on a few leaves and see if there is no toxicity.You can dilute or concentrate the syrup if necessary.

Summertime Flowers

Back again to blogging...

After the last post, time simply flew...other projects came in the first place, and  I ended up putting off this one that should have been my priority in 2010. After all, it was the idea of creating a blog like this that helped me to get through the first months of the year as a retired teacher. I found in it a substitute for the classes I no longer had to teach. And, in the end, blogging turned out to be a great pastime.

But, once a teacher, forever a teacher... my teaching practice was required, and my blog was set aside for a while.

So, after a few months, here I am writing about summer flowers - which are just gorgeous. Every garden, every corner is filled with colors, from bright pink to light rose, from dark purple to light blue, not mentioning the numerous varieties of yellows.

The bougainvilleas this year are incredibly colorful and so are the gracious hibiscus. My neighborhood is specially blessed with so many beautiful gardens. Were not for the boiling heat this summer and I would say this is my favorite season.

Parsley

Well, I am finally getting around to writing another post. After nearly three months away, I'm now back to blogging...which I surely missed, in spite of the excitement the projects I got involved with brought about.

So, here I am again to share with you great ideas FOR and FROM the garden. 

And it was by looking at my garden that I chose today's topic: parsley.

It looked so green and vibrant that I couldn't help taking a few pictures
to post here.


Parsley is a multi-purpose herb you shouldn't do without in your kitchen.

Often regarded as a simple table garnish, parsley is much more than that. Besides its delicious taste, parsley is highly nutritious, and has healing properties as well.

Very few people know that, but a serving of parsley contains vitamins   K, C, and A plus folate and iron.

As to preparation, the list is endless: you may use parsley in fresh salads, soups, and sauces. Chopped and mixed with melted butter, it is wonderful over fish or to glaze vegetables. It may also accompany chicken, veal, and other meat if you briefly deep-fry it and serve as vegetable.

You may easily grow parsley as it doesn't require any special care save sunshine, water and good soil...just like any other herb.

Pools And Fountains In The Garden

It’s been 13 days now since the last post but it seems I haven’t written in ages. Over the web, where instant communication is king, time has another dimension. One day or even a few hours away from the online world might appear that you’ve been away for months. It’ s amazing, isn’t it?

Well, such subject could lead us to an interesting discussion about how we spend our time ( or waste it ), how precious time becomes as years go by, how fast it is passing these days… But this isn’t our purpose here. On this blog, you and I address a more permanent stuff, right?

Ok,  before it’s too late, let’s get back to the blog theme and see some ideas to make your garden look prettier this summer. Yeah! Summer is just round the corner, and with it comes heat…

So, you might want to bring relief from the heat by using any form of water source in the garden, especially water in movement. The sound of running water is soothing , ideal for an end-of-workday family gathering.

A garden pool, a splashing fountain or a narrow little brook running through the grounds are some ideas that may be easily implemented.

A pool in the garden highlights the good features of your setting, and it should always be placed in the central part so that its surface will be seen from several points, or at least from the most frequented spot in the garden.

Make sure you choose both the appropriate shape and materials of the coping around the pool. Flagstone, brick and tile are all good depending on the degree of formality of the pool. Sometimes the best solution is no visible coping.

As to fountains, they  can be made with only a small supply of flowing water, and the same water can be used over and over if you install a small motor and pump for an electric pumping system. You might need extra help to do that but it’s all inexpensive while the final effect is awesome and worth your effort.

Three Steps To A Healthy Lawn

Nineteen days from now summertime will be knocking at our doors.  Thinking about packing up and going   somewhere to enjoy vacation with your family? Nice, but before doing that, take some time and  look around your lawn and check (in case you haven’t done it yet ) whether  it needs some maintenance. Oh, you might say, I’ll hire someone to take care of it, it’s so much work, a time-consuming task, I can’t do it myself.

Well, actually, it’s not as hard as you believe. Once you have a few guidelines and tips – and some spare time -  you may easily get a healthy green lawn just in time for the first backyard BBQ of the season.

Let’s see what should be done :

1.       Revive your lawn by fertilizing it properly. Fertilizer is the key to ensuring strong healthy growth of the yard grass which will grow greener and thicker. 

Typically, you want to fertilize two times a year. If you’re less concerned about perfection, in the north you can get away with feeding just once a year: in the spring or fall. In the south, with its longer growing season, you will need to feed twice, spring and fall.

Start in early spring, approximately 30 days before the growing season begins in your area, continuing through the growing season until fall. But be careful, though: don’t use too much fertilizer.

If you’d like to fertilize organically, check out the variety of organic products at your garden center. Or, just rake 1/4 inch of compost atop the soil.

2.       Mow your lawn properly, that is, do not cut too much off the grass top. Instead, set the mower  to a mid-position so you won’t “scalp” the lawn, which can be disastrous. (Check out the post of May 6th)

3.      Also remember to control the weeds by pulling or digging them, being sure to get as much of the root as possible. If you fail to get enough of the root, you will simply be doing a prune job. With dandelions in particular, it’s important to get at least the top inch of the plant’s long, narrow taproot.

With these tips you are ready to take care of your lawn and make it the perfect place for summer gatherings. 

You may want to check out May 6 post for other ideas.