Garden Club News

28 April 2005
Fellow Gardeners:

Many of you have asked about cutting bamboo from the stand located at the 
north end of the plots on west campus.

Chao Yang holds those plots and cultivates the bamboo.  I wrote to him and 
asked him if it was OK with him for people to cut bamboo from his plots and 
what "ground rules" he wanted observed if people went onto his plots.  Here 
is his reply:

--Anne-Marie

(AMNG)
As you may have heard, I have taken over for Nick as the GEWA
garden club president.  I wanted to ask you about the bamboo
growing on your plots.  I have had many inquiries from other club
members about whether it is alright for them to cut mature bamboo
from your plot for using in their own gardens as stakes, markers,
etc.  I had been told by some of the senior members that you only
grew the bamboo for the shoots and that you did not mind other
people going onto your plot and cutting mature bamboo.

(CYY)
          Correct, I welcome other people going onto my plot and cutting
          mature bamboo from the perimeter around my plot anytime.

          My original intention was for the pandas in the National Zoo
          when they had food shortage. They need only the top tender
          parts of the plant.

          This is the season for bamboo shoots harvesting after spring
          rain. The fresh shoots are delicatessen. You can never find
          in the can goods which can be as good texture and taste. I
          welcome fellow gardeners and friends to harvest them too.
          Hint to cook fresh bamboo shoots is to peel all outside shells
          off, then boil them in plenty of water, and discard the water.

(AMNG)
I wanted to confirm this with you, personally.  I would like to
distribute your answer to the club so that everyone will be clear
on what is/is not OK with you.  If you have specific "ground rules"
you want observed, please let me know what they are.

(CYY)
           Do not weed! Something special may mutate inside the plot which
           may delay the flowering of the bamboo plant.

(AMNG)
I am sure that Nick has told you that GEWA has asked us to get the
bamboo under control.  I have been telling people that they may cut
bamboo from the perimeter around your plot--which helps us meet
GEWA's request, but I have told them that they should not cut from
inside your plot until I hear from you.

(CYY)
             Correct. To cut a little inside of the perimeter is OK too.
             I usually trim inside from time to time and left those cut
             mature ones at the perimeter for people to take. The inside
             area has a preliminary design of an interesting mathematical
             labyrinth in the enbryo state. It may take a few more years to
             develope.

             Thanks again for asking,
             CYY