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.
_________________________________________________________________

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.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Zane - Friend and Therapy Dog Extraordinaire


Nancy Palmer with Zane at our Fall Harvest Lunch

On December 24th, our friend and therapy dog Zane, passed over the "rainbow bridge". He succumbed to lymphoma after working at the Olivia White Home for more than 6 years.

Zane was the Pet Idol of Flagstaff for 2006, but was more more than just a pretty face.
As a hospice volunteer and friend Zane had “all the right stuff”.
He was kind, gentle, and comforting to all he met.
He was playful or serious as the situation indicated.
He always made each person he encountered feel special and important by sensing what they needed.
He knowingly lay quiet by their side or nudged them for his favorite treat.
When you stroked or petted him he always made you feel you found just the right spot.
He soothed residents, family members in time of sorrow, staff on a busy day, and volunteer gardeners between chores.
It is hard to imagine the Olivia White Home without his presence. He will bring a smile to the face of all who think of him when visiting the home and garden. They will remember how he would place his head on a resident’s lap, lay quietly near a sleeping resident, drink from the bird baths (even though he had a dish), seek out those he knew had treats, lie on the ground with his tongue hanging out after a massage, and chase an occasional squirrel or fox. The garden and home came alive with his presence.
Through the tears I smile just thinking of him.

Loni Shapiro
Volunteer Garden Coordinator
Olivia White Hospice Home

No comments:

Post a Comment