Olivia White Hospice Home Garden Volunteers: March 2010

Gardens Founded in 2001 - Home in 2002

Echinacea - Photo by Laura Davis

The garden began in 2001 with the help of Norm Erickson, a Northland Hospice volunteer, at the corner of Switzer Canyon Drive and Turquoise. At that time the home had not been completed but a beautiful sign was placed on the corner. Norm continued to work on the beds on the east side of the sidewalk along Switzer Canyon Drive and in front of the home, until 2008. The rest of the gardens were developed by a core of Coconino County Master Gardeners initially led by Laura Davis and since 2007 by Loni Shapiro.

The garden crew is active from April-October and sometimes in November weather permitting. Work happens weekly throughout the garden season on Monday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. It also is scheduled for one Saturday a month from April through October. Cancellations due to weather will be posted by 6:00 am of the workday on this blog. You must attend a spring orientation to the garden and Northland Hospice & Palliative Care in order to work. A summary of the work that has been done is included on the blog. Look for weekly postings on this blog during the garden season.

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Volunteering in the Garden

2015 Calendar

April 13, 11:30-1:30 Lunch and orientation for new volunteers at hospice and TB testing for all

April 16, 9:15-10 TB tests read and 10:00 garden orientation. First Thursday workday 9-12

April 20, First Monday workday 9-12

May 2, Saturday workday 9-12

If you are interested in volunteering, please email CrysWells@gmail.com.

Please note: TB testing is required annually for all garden volunteers.

If you have current TB results that were done by a physician or at a hospital, these may be submitted to Northland Hospice.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact the volunteer coordinator Kathy Simmons (ksimmons@northlandhospice.org) to schedule a time for testing and orientation.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

3rd Garden Planing Meeting Minutes 3/25/10

Switzer Canyon River looking north

Attending: Loni Shapiro, Linda Guarino, Val Bryant, Joe Harte, Julie Holmes, Crys Wells, Marcia Lamkin, Judith Chaddock

Before the meeting a tour of the garden revealed some of the beginnings of spring!

Miniture Dutch Iris

Crocus
Also visible were Siberian squill, snowdrops, yellow Dutch iris, and the beginnings leaves of a variety of tulips.

1. General updates

A. MG Class orientation – April 6/Loni & Cynthia at 1pm at East Side Library
In garden orientation - General orientation will happen on Earth Day, Saturday, October 17th, from 9am-12pm. Thursday work in the garden will be dependent on weather in April.
B. Update on grants
Michael Moore grant approved - start time undecided - Laura Davis in charge.
Home Depot grant - April 1
C. New and returning volunteers (Ed Skiba/Val Bryant/Julie Holmes/Judith Chaddock)
D. Resident participation - participation by new residen one time but too ill to repeat. We have a second good candidate to help water indoors.
E. Shady climbing rose for arbor bench - from David Austin roses two (Shropshire Lad) ordered (Zone 4, climber that does well with part shade)
F. Update on group participation
1. CREC - possible work on Native Medicinal Garden, let Loni know if you have any
other big projects. This crew often does trail work. I may have them redo part of the native walkway.
2. Outward Bound - 10-12 students who will be in the garden for the month of June on Tues/Thurs afternoons. Last year I had them water, fill bird feeders and baths, stain benches, weed, and some planting. I will need help in supervising this crew on some of the dates, or leading our crew on Thursday morning so I can be there in the afternoon. If your interested let me know.
3. Arizona Leadership Corp. (Americorps and CREC) on July 29th (luckily a Thurs. in the am) I will need help with transporting them from NAU to the garden. The only big project I gave them was the new Native Medicinal Garden, but may add walkway repairs, and clean-up. Again if you have a big project you want done let me know.
4. Grand Canyon Youth Corp - probably work in the fall for clean-up
5. Coconino High School - need to ask Jacque where this is.
G. Update on greenhouse - talked with Joe Costian and we cannot remove the floow. He suggested we paint with porch paint or tile. In addition we need to insulate the back wall and cover with wood. John from our old jail crew will stop by when the weather improves to see what it might cost.
H. Update on rocks - moved to new Native Medicinal garden for backing and larger rocks behind the OW sign to give it more emphasis
I. Reporting MG hours - you can now report hours on our blog site for the MGs. You still need to sign the weekly sheet.
J. Info circulated on herb classes offered in Flagstaff (foraging and making things from them (salves, tincatures, etc).
K. Info circulated on Warner's 10% day (e-mail out to Misti on a request for a date)

2. Plans for 2009

A. Look for people to adopt gardens/activities
Birdbaths/Feeders?
Native Garden - ?
Norm’s Front Beds - ?
Saturday workdays?
Upward Bound students?
Watering pots/front garden until drip in?

B. Immediate material needs
Compost (Loni to call our usual source because they will load with bobcat - also need to contact Leslie for help with truck) , soil for pots (Warner's)

C. Additional goals for season
Plant & Garden Sale - possibly in July if garden not ready to take transplants

D. Re-plant house plants, clean sun porch area.
Thanks to all, all but 1 plant transplanted (several cylamens, pothos, spider plants, schefflera and palm. Loni gave the ficus a haircut and it will be transplanted when we find an appropriate pot. Loni to see if Julie has one we can use.

Schedule April meeting: Schedule to be advised. Next meeting may be in the garden weather dependent. Workday on Earth Day from 9am-12pm for garden clean-up and orientation to new gardeners.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Garden Update 3/18/10

Looking southeast from the house

Looking towards Turquoise

On Thursday I stopped by at Olivia White Home to check on houseplants, and to try to get into the greenhouse to get some large pots. I had to jump a couple of large moguls and the raging Switzer Canyon River in order to get there. Along the way I spotted damage to some of our hardscape (apple tree trellis, bird feeder hangers, a birdbath in front of the house, and some of our solar lights).

This has been a tough winter for the garden. The good news is the new green benches look great and the gliders work fine. I also took a photo of the first sign of spring. Some beautiful Dutch iris planted in the fall of 2009 by the Grand Canyon Youth Corp. were visible in the gardens in front of the house.

Reminder:
Our next meeting is on Thursday, March 25 at 9am at the Olivia White Home. We will have a short meeting followed by transplanting 3 large pots in the home. We also will transplant some cyclamen donated by the cancer society.
I will bring a treat and some fruit, so just bring yourself to share ideas for 2010 and get started with indoor planting.

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Reporting OWHH Volunteer Hours

For the 2015 garden season all volunteers will report hours in the book on the back patio at the garden. If you are there on a scheduled workday the book will be on the table. If you come on a non-workday, maybe to water or complete something you wanted to finish, the keys and sign-in book will be inside the home in the table drawer to the left as you enter.

Please record all hours in the garden, at meetings, and for home activities.

At the end of each month the sign in sheets will be sent to the office so please get your hours in by the end of the month.

Wish List 2015

Wish list book is kept on the table in the lobby of the Olivia White Home. Check the book for further details. Contact one of the gardeners if you want to donate.

General plant related materials not available at Warners (where we have an account from a yearly fundraiser) – up to $250 (cash/gardeners will purchase as needed); includes special fertilizers, perlite, sand, soil, and other repair items. Purchase of unusual plants at other nurseries (Viola’s, NP & Seed & HCG).

Special feed for roses (we have 50) - $250 per season or what you want to donate. Gardeners will purchase.

4 Pruners/clippers - $10-40 (see book for ideas)

A variety of long/short handled, cut and hold, small and large diameter.

Craftsman Handi-cut for irrigation (see book for details)

4 Weeders – variety of long and short handled (see book for ideas)

4 Trowels – variety

Mud Gloves (8 Pair – 1 small-5 med-2 light weight) (see book for details).

Spray nozzles for hoses – prefer short handled with multiple settings.

Birdhouses for trellis (new or used in good condition).

Bat or butterfly house for grounds.

Hulled sunflower seed or chips for bird feeders ($28-85 depending on size).

We only use this type of seed, because of clean-up requirements for millet or black oiled sunflower. We also need niger seed (cost ?) for the goldfinches. This takes more than $500 out of our garden budget.

Replacement wheelbarrows-prefer metal with no-flat wheels. (1 needed)

Welcome to the Gardens at Olivia White Hospice Home

The gardens surrounding the home were created for all who find themselves here. The history below reflects the many hands that have worked in the gardens. The volunteer gardeners have worked to create a quiet, peaceful place to experience alone or with those you love. The garden design enhances the sensory experience. You can hear zipping hummingbirds, water fountains, and the sound of wind chimes. It is a place to stop and smell the roses or the soothing fragrance of lavender. The many vegetables and herbs grown allow residents and staff to taste the gifts of nature. You can feel the gentle embrace of the wind and touch the soft leaves of lamb’s ear or bunny tail grass along with other more prickly plants in a ‘touch pot’. Another design consideration was providing universal access to all visitors and special beds/pots that allow interested residents to participate in gardening. Sitting and standing raised beds, and ‘sensory pots’ accessible to wheelchairs are enjoyed by many residents.
Peace to all who enter…

History
The gardens were started by Norm Erickson, a hospice volunteer, before the home was built in 2001, on the corner of Switzer Canyon and Turquoise where the Olivia White sign is found. Norm also created the gardens directly in front of the home. In 2001 Laura Davis, a master gardener began designing and planning for the gardens that surround the home. Loni Shapiro assumed responsibility for garden coordination and planning in 2007. The first project in 2002 was to lay the cement pathway which was done by NAU’s Construction Management class led by Dave Grider. A flagstone patio was created east of the home by Joanie Abbott of Foxglove Gardening with the help of Heber Trunnel. The first two plantings by the master gardeners included an Inferno Strip on Switzer Canyon led by Terra Crampton, and a Rose Garden led by Hattie Braun with a large donation of roses by Bill Brechan. Coconino County Park and Recreation at Fort Tuthill donated many truckloads of compost, and Bill Eichinger used his bobcat to help edge with rocks the gardens you see today. In 2004 a core of master gardeners and hospice volunteers (Loni Shapiro, Karen Kent, Cynthia Katte, David Hockman and Nancy Palmer) joined Laura and began creating the many gardens here today. Today we have a regular crew of master gardeners and hospice volunteers, with two workdays each week throughout each spring and summer. They are supported by many other church groups, scout troops, AmeriCorp, college - high school - middle school groups, Coconino County Adult Probation Community Service, Upward Bound, and businesses throughout Flagstaff. Warner’s Landscape and Nursery needs to be singled out for their continuing support for the gardens since their inception with yearly fundraisers and discounts on plant and hardscape materials. In 2006 the gazebo designed by Jill Morris was completed with the help of Terry Payne and John Adams, from Christ’s Church, and Loven Contracting. John Adams along with the help of the Sunshine Lion’s Club finished it with a brick pathway. Foxglove Gardening installed the drip system over three years from 2008-10. Most of their time was donated. From 2010-2012 we received grants from the Bountiful Alliance to create a Native Medicinal Garden in honor of Michael Moore, writer and naturalist. The work on that garden continues along Switzer Canyon Drive. The garden was dedicated by a Navajo elder in 2012. A small garden was dedicated in 2011 to our long time therapy dog “Zane” Hill. Plans for 2013 include continued revamping of some front gardens, work on the corner of Turquoise with the installation of the FUTS trail, and landscaping our new shed area.

The gardens continue to evolve each year. Some have already been altered from the original plan, such as the Rose Garden, east front and ½ Circle gardens, and north Switzer Canyon beds. In addition, many other trees, shrubs, plants and hardscape items have been donated. A list of donors is located in the library of the Olivia White Home. The library also includes a binder of all the roses found in our garden (over 40). A map of the garden was completed under the direction of Cynthia Katte and Kathy Pate that includes the location of most of the gardens and the special features. This will be updated in 2013 to include the changes along Turquoise and Switzer Canyon. A copy of the current map is included with this handout and can also be found in the Rose binder.

Donations/Volunteering
A “Wish List” for donations is provided in the home that includes yearly needs as well as special projects. Our main fundraisers to help pay for materials and water are memorial bricks (brochures available in the home), an annual 10% of proceeds day at Warner's Nursery, and a summer Plant & Garden Sale at the home. In addition, we sell note cards made from original paintings of the garden, photo note cards, and earrings made from Job’s Tear seeds grown in the garden. All can be found on the table in the entry of the home. We are always looking for new volunteers to help in the garden. Our weekly garden activities during the year can be found on the Volunteer Blog (owhospicegardenvolunteers.blogspot.com) or by contacting,Sierra Gadsberry, Volunteer Cordinator at sgadsberry@northlandhospice.org.

Revised 11/12