Olivia White Hospice Home Garden Volunteers: March 2013

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.

Friday, March 15, 2013

3^rd Garden Planning Minutes

NHPC office - March 14, 9am-12pm

2^nd hour meet at garden (weather permitting)

Attending: Loni Shapiro, Megan Woodson, Betty Marcus, Crys Wells, Rebecca Davis, Laura Davis, Lynn Overend, Leslie Stone, Christine Orr, Judith Chaddock, Joe Harte, Linda Guarino, Katarina Karjala

I. Read TB skin tests

II. Updates

1. New people

Several new volunteers: Lynn Overend, Leslie Stone, Whitney Fessler. Jeanette Sletton and Carol Lease will return.

2. MG class – April 3

Orientations April 25 or May 4 10am (2 hours) – about 2 hours

3. CMGA Award

Several MG from Coconino attended the Sonoran Desert MG Conference. We set up a table for our county and won 1^st place for the best table. This was mostly due to hospice material: Crys’s poster, Betty’s seed packet, and my 2012 garden book which drew people into the space. We won two garden books for the extension.

4. Tree Planting

Loni attended several good workshops. One of them was about planting trees and root pruning. Once we are in the garden I will do a mini inservice on the info during a break.

5. Earrings – sales? – new rack for selling

Possible places to sell since we won’t be doing a plant sale:

Farmers Market (Megan will check with Heather Babbitt)

CMGA Plant Sale June 2 ($10 for a table)

Run for Life

6. Photos of bench

Loni circulated photos of the coffee table from the storage locker. It is too large for the north area where the sheds are, but on our walk in the garden we found a good space on the FUTS trail. Loni will contact Diana on her return.

7. Hodge Podge donation for long time volunteer

Loni reported a change from the donors. They want to add blackberries from the garden of the volunteer. Several people expressed objections due to non-native material that could be invasive. Loni will check with Tom DeGomez for recommendations (Director of the Extension).

III. Garden activities for 2013

1. Regular workdays 2 days a week – Monday & Thursday with 1 Saturday a month if help available. General garden upkeep (weeding, watering, planting, dead heading, compost, etc.).

2. Orientation for new gardeners (April 25, May 4) 10am. Megan will start with NHPC/HIPAA orientation. Loni will finish with garden orientation (total about 2 hours).

3. Landscaping projects for 2013 - Corner Garden, new area around the sheds, north front bed along Switzer Canyon (Penstemon/Pollinator garden), sandstone pathway from sidewalk along Switzer to Rose Garden, Native Garden area.

4. Update vegetable, herbs, and fruit garden areas

5. Continue planting and create signs for the Michael Moore Native Medicinal Garden. Install drip.

Laura will add info to the grease board for this garden. She will do some mini reviews for people interested in working there on what to weed/water.

6. Level all rain barrels

7. Move standing raised bed and rain barrel

Several questions about why it needs to be moved. Loni will clarify with Diana. Barrel will have to be raised to be functional on the ground.

8. Replant gazebo area as needed after re-staining

9. Continue other fundraising activities with material on hand (note cards, jewelry, bricks, Warner’s).

Earring samples from Linda.

10. Educational information updates (will be available for review)

Update general garden info sheet (Loni Shapiro) - done

Update donor list through 2012 (Loni Shapiro) - done

Revise map of garden to include new gardens & Switzer Canyon Beds (Linda Guarino)

Complete yearly book for house on garden activities for 2012 and begin 2013 (Loni Shapiro) – done

All books brought except donor (described contents) for show and tell.

Revise Wish List Book (all gardeners contribute to this) – temporary done

Linda added a Craftsman 2 7/8 in. Handi-Cut for the irrigation equipment

11. No Native Plant Society contest for 2013

12. No plant sale or County Fair entries

13. Added to the list – all 3 mailboxes need to be cemented

14. Several large branches of elm in FG down. This tree has become a hazard and may need to be removed.

15. Mt. Ash on Switzer is dead and needs to be removed. Loni will talk with Native Plant & Seed about replacement.

16. Many broken outside solar lights, metal bracing, and lavender dug up – probably plow- near the pathway from the parking lot to rose garden. Most of stakes in front mangled and people continue to drive into this garden bed. Any ideas appreciated!

IV. Plans for possible group help

A. Possible groups to schedule as needed or requested – Megan – Brandon – Loni

Earth Day/Make a Difference Day?

1. Girls for Good

2. Grand Canyon Youth - Loni

3. High Schools – Coconino/Flag High/NPA

4. NAU – Honors Class

5. AmeriCorp/CREC - Loni

6. Others as requested

Loni will contact Americorp and Grand Canyon Youth. We will need additional crews for weeding in the spring. Megan will help us find some (some past people listed above). Coco High usually does a spring volunteer day in May. Megan will check. We may do a Earth Day clean-up advertised in the calendar in the newspaper – April 20.

V. Garden planning for 2013 (meet at about 10am at garden– weather permitting) – all welcome

This will be about concepts for landscaping– further meetings to finalize specific plantings for Corner, Shed, and front garden.

1. Corner redo

Discussed removing large juniper (Joe maybe) and replacing it with a Utah Serviceberry (red fall color), leave the other juniper and add some drought tolerant plants(lavender, sulfer buckwheat, Rocky Mountain Penstemon.) Rock Garden just south of the rocks behind the sign (horehound. Showy oregano.). Kay may help with this when she arrives.

We need to recreate the pathway from Turquoise to the sidewalk on Switzer. This may be an Eagle Scout project or CREC. A special meeting is needed for more planning. Loni will contact Karen and try to schedule.

2. Shed area planning

Leslie Stone’s son will do a screen for an Eagle Scout Project. Loni to contact Diana on return to run idea by her, then set up a meeting with the Eagle Scout.

3. Sandstone pathway from sidewalk to Rose Garden area

Placement on the south side of the arbor bench – hose stand needs to be moved. This may be AmeriCorp or another Eagle Scout.

4. Hodge Podge Hummingbird Garden area

This needs to be revisited with the Hodge Podge crew after Loni talks with Tom DeGomez.

5. New cement bench placement

Loni to meet with Diana when she returns to talk about placement.

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