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.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Workdays Last Week of April

Our regular Thursday workday was cancelled this week due to rain. We had .6 in our rain gauge and the garden looks very happy. David from Foxglove Gardening came this week to turn on our drip system. He spent some time with Linda and me showing us where all the valves are located, and thinks that one of our clocks needs to be replaced. One clock was turned on the other awaits a decision on purchase.

On Saturday we had a special workday. Chela and Peggy Sheldon-Scurlock and Diana Watt came and helped us clean-up. Regulars Judith Chaddock, Julie Holmes and me all worked on clean-up also. Much was accomplished in just 3 hours. Raking and bagging pine needles, deadheading, weeding, sanding raised beds, and planting some Asiatic Lilies. We spent some time working on dandelions at the corner and weeding the south inferno in preparation for the MMG dedication.

Becky Lewis stopped by to pick up items for a basket for the Golf Tournament. Included were: Job's tears earrings, seeds and potpourri from the garden, a photo magnet, blueberry facial mask, tea from Winter Sun, and a summer cooler mixture with chamomile and peppermint. These will be used for the silent auction for Northland Hospice.

For those who have missed them, Dave Hill and Murphy will be returning to volunteer this Thursday. Terri Hill his wife has written a new book with a chapter about Zane which he can tell us about.

Plans for next week include:
Watering as needed and checking for drip winter damage
Continuing pine needle clean-up
Deadheading
Weeding
Planting some daylilies
Sealing the raised beds

Upcoming next week:
Pruning roses

Scheduled workdays next week:
Monday 4/30 - 9am-12pm
Thursday 5/3 - 8am-12pm
Saturday 5/5 - Last Orientation for the season 10am and dedication of the MMG

New Blooms:
Trees - crabapples, two other apple trees, flowering plum (check these out they are beautiful)
Almost ready to pop - alliums and iris
Still blooming tulips and some daffodils, Pasque flower

"Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people, if he ever had a chosen people."
Thomas Jefferson from Notes on the State of Virginia 1787

Thanks,
Loni


Saturday, April 21, 2012

Earth Day Workday

On Saturday, 4/21/12, Earth Day we had a small crew working on cleaning up the garden. We had one student from the Grand Canyon Youth who cleaned pine needles and planted two mums he brought in our front gardens. Marcia Lamkin came and helped bring out hardscape for the the Faerie Garden. Debbie Crisp weeded a front garden in prep for adding some donated tulips on Thurs. & Sat. next week. Laura Davis worked on weeding in the MMG and watered that garden and the north Inferno strip. I worked on cleaning up the Moon Garden/Zane's garden and helping with bringing out hardscape.

New blooms:
Pasque flowers in several areas

Tulips (variety)

Thundercloud Flowering Plum

Heath in the Moon Garden

Donation:
2 mums Ben Kelty

Our next workday is on Thurs. 4/26 from 9am-12pm. Focus will be on continuing clean-up:
Raking pine needles and bagging
Planting tulips donated this spring
Bringing out hardscape
Deadheading last seasons plants
Watering before the drip is turned on
Planting daylilies

Thanks,

Loni Shapiro
Volunteer Garden Coordinator

Friday, April 20, 2012

1st Workday for 2012

We had a beautiful day for our 1st workday for the 2012 season. Many of our regulars came and 3 new drop-in master gardeners were oriented to the gardens. Laura Davis worked on cleaning up the tea garden (deadheading and removing pine needles). Judith Chaddock did her usual magic on the sun porch (cleaning, feeding and watering the plants). Our red amaryllis is blooming for the 5th year, and many of the geraniums are also in bloom. Linda Guarino got the compost season started by turning, sifting, and general cleaning of the area. Christine Orr returned for her 2nd season and learned about the compost, cleaned around the front entry way (weeding and removing pine needles). Marcia Lamkin worked on cleaning the Faerie Garden in preparation for taking out some hardscape on Saturday. Crys Wells cleaned some of the front gardens (weeding, deadheading, and removing debris). I spent my time setting up for the workday, filling a couple of feeders, and doing an orientation for some new gardeners.

Linda also planted our new rose bush that was purchased to honor a long time resident and garden visitor Lois. It is a ketsup & mustard rose and it was planted near Zanes garden, one of her favorite friends. Later this season the rose and a brick will be dedicated.

Scheduling for the next couple of weeks include:
Earth Day Clean-up - Saturday, April 21, from 9am-12pm
2nd Workday - Thursday, April 26, 9am-12pm
1st Monday Workday - Monday, April 30, 9am-12pm
2nd Orientation - Saturday, May 5, 10am

Activities to work on:
Bringing out hardscape
Planting tulips
Watering as needed
Connecting up rain barrels, fountain
Expanding a brick pad
Putting together a swing/glider
Sanding and sealing raised beds
Deadheading and general clean-up

For those volunteering, parking is only available at the 1st Congregational Church or on Turquoise. Please wear close toed shoes, long sleeves and pants and a hat suggested (there is little shade in the garden). Snacks and water (in a large container so bring a small one if you want to carry it with you) are provided.

Thanks,
Loni Shapiro

Friday, April 13, 2012

Garden Opening Schedule for April

Hi all,

With some of the warm spring weather we have had many of our bulbs blooming already - daffodils, squill, crocus, hyacinth, and even some tulips (mostly the specie tulips). Most of the trees and shrubs are budding, a couple are blooming (mostly plums) and the perennials have green shoots at the bottom. In another month we will be pruning roses. I don't think we have seen the last of the snow.

On April 19th at 9am our 2012 season will begin. The workday is from 9am-12pm. There will also be an orientation for new gardeners beginning at 10am for about 1 hour.

April 21 is Earth Day and we will have our 1st Saturday workday of the season to continue spring clean-up. Activities for both days include: planting donated tulips and some new day lilies (different colors), cleaning up the Faerie Garden and putting out some of the hardscape, beginning pruning and raking individual gardens, extending a bench pad for a new bench/swing, bringing out bird baths, cleaning up the compost, putting together a new bench/swing, and connecting the rain barrels and fountain.

Our 1st Monday workday will be on April 30th, from 9am-12pm.

Our 2nd and last orientation for new gardeners will be on Saturday, May 5, at 10am.

Come join us if you are interested in helping this year.
Parking is available only on Turquoise or at the 1st Congregational Church lot.
Please wear close toed-shoes, and long sleeves/pants, and a hat are suggested. We provide tools, water, and a snack.

Thanks,
Loni Shapiro
Volunteer Garden Coordinator
(928-522-8635)