Poynette Area Garden Association

06/12/2026

With all the rain we've had, you may want to consider doing this.

The 'Bucket of Doom' Could Be Your Secret Weapon Against Mosquitoes This Summer. A backyard game changer.
By Rae Ford Published on June 10, 2026
Rae Ford is a veteran writer based in the southern U.S. She began her career as a staff newspaper reporter.

How to Make Your Own Mosquito Bucket of Doom
The mosquito bucket is an easy way for anyone to make the outdoors more comfortable while also protecting beneficial insects.
The materials you’ll need include:
• 5-gallon bucket
• Water
• Yard debris (a large handful)
• BTI disc (found at your local hardware store or garden center)
• Chicken wire
“Find a shady spot on your property to set your bucket, toss in some leaves and sticks, and fill up your bucket about halfway,” says Brooke Addison, sustainable landscape designer and owner of Lark Haven Studio.
BTI is considered safe for humans, pets, birds, fish, and most beneficial insects. Though you should, of course, always monitor small children and pets around the mosquito bucket. “If you have a koi pond or bird bath, you can use BTI in those to prevent mosquitoes from using them as breeding grounds,” McKendall says.
If you want to prevent small animals, lizards, and frogs from entering the bucket and possibly drowning, secure chicken wire on top to keep them out. “It’s really that easy,” adds McKendall. “You’ll spend more time buying everything at the store than you’ll spend putting one together.

05/20/2026

Check out Main Street
The Poynette Area Garden Association (PAGA) wishes to thank many of our local businesses and families for sponsoring a 2026 "Adopt a Planter" to beautify our downtown Main Street.
PAGA volunteers have spent the past five weeks nurturing these planters in their greenhouse, and they were officially placed along Main Street this past Monday. Next, we will begin planting flowers at the Veteran’s Memorial and in various Village flower beds.
We hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend.
Happy Gardening!
The Poynette Area Garden Association

05/20/2026

Here are more reason to join a garden club!
[email protected]

Did you know...Gardening and mental health...
Gardening and strong mental health seemingly go hand-in-hand. A study published in 2018 in the journal Clinical Medicine found that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to both physical and mental health. Penn State Extension says working with the soil and plants can help relax the mind and have a grounding effect on the gardener, as gardening can help to reduce stress anxiety and even built-up anger. Gardening also helps a person connect to the current moment and not be caught up in their mind. Nearly all forms of exercise, gardening included, can lighten mood and lower levels of stress and anxiety. Also, routine, such as spending a certain portion of the day weeding or tending to gardening needs, creates a soothing rhythm to ease stress.
Happy Gardening!

05/20/2026

Looking for some outdoor activities? Check out the following:

Class: Bluebirds and the Arboretum Trail
Saturday, May 23, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Learn about the fascinating lives of bluebirds, their behavior, why their populations declined, and restoration efforts. Instructor Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist, created the Arboretum bluebird trail in 1988 and has monitored it for more than 30 years. Indoor presentation followed by a walk of the trail. Fee: $25. Register by May 19 @ https://arboretum.wisc.edu/classes/class-bluebirds-and-the-arboretum-trail/ . Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Scenic Stroll @ the Arboretum
Sunday, May 24, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This gently paced stroll through the gardens is well-suited for a multi-generational outing. Learn about plants, animals, and fungi; phenology; and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks take place rain or shine, except in unsafe weather. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Blue Moon Night Walk @ the Arboretum
Saturday, May 30, 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, listen to the night sounds, and experience the darkness on this naturalist-led walk (full moon May 31). Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather and insects. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, register through Eventbrite by May 26: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Nature Hike in the Grady Tract @ the Arboretum
Sunday, May 31, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Walk
Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, these longer walks may cover some sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come seasonally prepared for weather and insects. Walks take place rain or shine, except in unsafe weather. Free, no registration required. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd.
University of WI Arboretum
1207 Seminole Hwy.
Madison, WI 53711
608/263-7888 or arboretum.wisc.edu

Restoring Land and Enriching Lives

05/04/2026

Another timely article from the UW Wisconsin Horticulture - Extension Department
Beginning Vegetable Garden Basics: Site Selection and Soil Preparation

Starting a vegetable garden may seem overwhelming to a first-time gardener, but it can be quite easy. This article focuses on how gardeners can select and prepare their garden site to ensure success.

04/10/2026

RESCHEDULED
Friends of Rowan Creek - Spring Clean-up Day
Trail Clean-up Day
May 2, 2026
9 - 11AM
Calling all nature enthusiasts! Friends of Rowan Creek are rolling up their sleeves for a trail-clearing extravaganza! Mark your calendars for 4/18, from 9 to 11 a.m. We'll gather at Paquette Park's parking lot by the ball field on Main Street. No power tools required, but if you've got some trusty loppers, please bring them.
And heads up—some spots might be a bit soggy, so don't forget your boots!
Brush pile collection requirements:

● Brush piles are to be no larger than 4 feet wide by 4 feet tall by ten feet long. (4’x4’x10’).
● Large tree limbs should be no larger than 8” in diameter and no longer than 10 feet.
● Material (sticks) smaller than ½” in diameter needs to be placed in a container weighing no more than 30 pounds.
● Public Works will collect the sticks and leave the container.
● Materials 4” to 8” in diameter must be trimmed of small branches and cut into pieces no longer than 10’.
● Such branches must be stacked neatly in the same direction.