Week of 8/25 - 8/31

On Sunday, we had a goodbye potluck at Judith and Don's beautiful home and garden. More than 25 attended (current gardeners, past volunteers, and spouses) on a rainy day. The weather was threatening, but we were able to enjoy the garden all evening. It didn't start to rain until after 7pm. We enjoyed the beautiful drought tolerant garden, the company of good friends and their spouses, speeches, gifts, party favors, and our usual great meal. Oh! and even Murphy came. All attending were clean and well dressed for a change. All in all it was a very special evening. It is a good thing I don't live there because I would never get anything done. I would spend all my time just relaxing in the garden. We will do one more potluck in the garden - Annual Harvest - to include other good friends.

Monday only 3 of us managed to get to the garden. It rained lightly on and off throughout the morning, but Betty Marcus deadheaded and filled bird feeders, and Carol Hudenko and I weeded on the corner. It was almost to wet to weed. That's a first in Flagstaff. By the time we finished we were about 6 inches taller - mud on the bottom of our shoes. On Thurs. we will plant at least 1/2 that area with bunch grasses while it is still wet.

Thursday brought a small crew to the garden. Linda Guarino worked on the compost, and thinned some iris beds. Rebecca Davis finished creating a rock garden in the native garden with a couple of purchases and many transplants from other parts of the garden.

Rock Garden Bed in Native Garden

Sue Ordway worked on treating some blackspot on our copper roses, and Crys Wells gathered some seed from the Mexican hat and hollyhock. I worked on iris, watering a few pots, and raking the corner in prep for seeding grasses.

Work for the next few weeks:
Plant an Amur Maple
Weeding as needed after more rains - focus on Switzer area west of sidewalk and east of trees on corner, and under the aspen trees
Watering as needed (ha)
Deadheading
Fill bird feeders and baths
Move a couple of roses
Harvest seed for planting on the FUTS trail
Stain redwood benches on back porch
Continue thinning any needed iris

Upcoming:
Sept. 5 - Visit to Joe Harte's garden
               This is a workday but at 11am we will head to Joe's garden to see what he is up to.
Sept. 5 - Northland's 30th Anniversary Event to honor volunteers (RSVP to the office)
Sept 12 - Tree Planting -1030am
Sept. 19 - Tentative date for Fall Harvest Picnic - 12pm - details to follow
Oct. 19 - Saturday - 9am-12pm - Clean-up with Girls for Good

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."-  James M. Barrie  

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." -  Marcel Proust  

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 8/19 & 8/22

Monday brought our usual small crew. Leslie Stone returned and worked on gathering rocks for a small garden. She cut lettuce for the house and then helped me begin weeding an area behind the trees on the corner that we will seed with bunch grasses. Mary Natali deadheaded, weeded, and filled some bird feeders. Julie Holmes removed some invasive grasses from the Inferno Strip and then transplanted other grasses and yarrow to fill that area.

On Thursday, we had a good crew working in the garden. Betty Marcus deadheaded, Linda Guarino worked on the irrigation and helped several of us weed on the corner in preparation for seeding some grass. The corner crew included myself, Sue Ordway, Whitney Fessler, and Lori Tamblingson. There is still about 1/3 of the bed to do but we will seed at least part of next week while it is still raining. It will be seeded with bunch grasses (Blue Gramma and Sheep Fescue). Rebecca Davis spent her day creating a small rock garden on the north end of the house. Next week it needs to be filled in with soil and compost, and transplants from other parts of the garden. Carol Lease worked on painting a new donated birdbath for Doris Johnson from the Hodge Podge crew.

Doris Johnson's Mini Garden & Birdbath

Joe Harte worked on pruning some trees and removing many of the elms lining the garden. Becky Lewis worked on the roses. She planted 2, and then spent her time working on black spot that recently appeared on our Copper Roses for the 2nd year. Treatment requires removing all the affected leaves, and then treating with a spray  insecticide for the remaining leaves. Next year it is suggested that they be treated with Neem oil just after leafing out in the spring. Becky was on for treats and brought homemade goat cheese for all who were interested.

Work for the week:
Weeding as needed after more rains - focus on Switzer area west of sidewalk and east of trees on corner, and under the aspen trees
Watering as needed
Deadheading
Fill bird feeders and baths
Fill rock garden and transplant some natives to the bed
Harvest seed for transplanting
Stain redwood benches on back porch
Begin thinning any need iris

Blooming:
White valarian, white fall asters and a few purple

Ready to pick:
Some hopi beans, purple beans, squash, strawberries, kale and chard

Squash

Corn and Bean

Upcoming:
Garden Potluck - dates to be advised in September
Volunteer Event - Sept. 5, 530 pm - Woodlands Hotel
Girls for Good - Oct. 19, 9am-12pm, garden clean-up

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays week of 8/12-8/17/13

Monday we had a small crew and we worked on clean-up for the upcoming tour on Saturday. Betty Marcus deadheaded and watered the MMG. Carol Hudenko continued her work weeding on the corner of Turquoise. Mary Natali weeded and filled bird feeders. Marilynn VonWaggoner stopped by for a short time and filled the birdbaths. I spent my time weeding, watering a few pots, and putting up one more bird feeder and bath. I received a note from Katarina Karjala that she has broken her ankle so we won't see her for a while. The plant tags have finally arrived and many have been placed in the garden. On Thursday we will place a sign for the master gardeners.

During Thursday's work in the garden it rained off and on, but the people who came worked through the showers. We occasionally had to head to the porch for cover but it was mostly light rain. Jane Reukema and Sue Ordway worked on weeding a small area next to the Faerie Garden and then worked whereever they could find weeds. Carol Hudenko continued her work on the corner - weeding. Betty Marcus deadheaded and filled feeders and bird baths. Judith Chaddock worked on the plants inside and finished with some deadheading. Jeanette Sletten planted a couple of new shrubs and some perennials. She also did some cleaning in the MMG. I spent most of my time weeding, cleaning the gazebo floor, and adding a couple of annuals to some pots. Joe Harte came and pruned some trees and took down several elms. Special thanks to those who tolerated some rain. Carol Lease stopped by and dropped off some plant tags done at home. A master gardener sign was placed in the garden along with this season/last season donation signs.

On Saturday we participated in the Flagstaff Garden Tours. My thanks go to Lori Tamblingson, Betty Marcus, Carol Lease, Judith Chaddock, Jackie Clark, and Jane Reukema for helping. We had about 20 visitors. The gardens looked more beautiful than I have seen in my 10 years there, and it did not rain until after 11am.

Work for the week:
Weeding as needed after more rains - focus on Switzer area west of sidewalk and east of trees on corner\
Watering as needed
Deadheading
Fill bird feeders and baths
Gather rocks for a small rock garden - native bed
Remove some invasive grasses - inferno strip - move some natives to the area
Harvest seed for transplanting
Begin cleaning area behind pines on corner to plant some native bunch grasses
Spray paint new birdbath
Stain redwood benches on back porch

Blooming:
Most of the roses (Morden Sunrise and Ketchup-Mustard look spectacular), Valerian (FG), some wildflowers in the native garden,

Morden Sunrise

Ketchup and Mustard

Upcoming:

Saturday August 17, 10am - Flagstaff Garden Club Tours
Sunday August 25, 4pm - Thank You Potluck - Judith Chaddocks

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 8/5 & 8/8

On Monday, I spent my day tying up grapes and clematis in the gazebo, weeding, watering tomatoes, and helping Jane Reukema remove invasive plants choking out a couple of roses. Betty Marcus deadheaded and made sure our corn was watered (a ear is beginning to appear on 1 plant). Carol Hudenko worked on the corner - weeding and spraying some weeds with our vinegar/soap mix. Mary Natale worked on removing pine and elm tree seedlings. Sue Ordway weeded the native garden.

On Thursday we had a good sized crew again. I spent my time watering pots and directing traffic as usual. Rebecca Davis dug up some twinflower snowberry that had traveled near the new generator. With Joe Harte's help she put up a bird feeder/bath that was removed from the generator area. It was placed near the new bench by the new trellises to cut down on foot traffic there. Jane Reukema weeded in the MMG garden and removed some noxious weeds from across the street on Switzer (Dalmatian Toadflax). Whitney Fessler spent her time weeding the north Switzer beds. Betty Marcus deadheaded and did general cleaning in preparation for a Friday tour. Joe Harte pruned some trees. Becky Lewis worked on some of the roses. Linda Guarino planted a small bed of perennial polinators that we received to honor Doris Johnson from HodgePodge. She also finished the irrigation for the north Switzer bed.

A group of 10 women who live or work at the Peaks bungalows came and toured the garden on Friday. They were treated to ginger/lavender lemonade and lavender/lemon cookies.

New in the garden:
Small bed of perennial polinators for Doris Johnson from HodgePodge - north Switzer bed

Blooming:
Most of our roses, beginning ears on our Hopi blue and greasy corn, tomatoes (cherry), squash (crookneck), red runner beans, purple coneflower, asiatic lilies, Rocky Mt. Bee in the MMG

 

 

Photos by Betty Marcus

Plans for the next couple of weeks:
Watering as needed
Continue work on the corner garden (weeding and planting some grass seed)
Weeding as needed throughout the garden
Deadheading and clean-up in prep for some garden visits
Work on a small rock garden in the Native Garden
Labeling - especially all the roses

Upcoming:
Thank you Potluck - August 25 - 430pm-7pm Judith Chaddocks home

And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.-  Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels

Thanks,
Loni

Week of 7/28 and 8/1

On Monday, most of us worked on weeding which is major with all the rain. We even have weeds coming through the weed cloth on the corner. Katarina Karjala, and Carol Hudenko worked on the corner and the inferno strip, Jane Reukema worked on the bed north of the gazebo, and I worked on the front half circle. Betty Marcus deadheaded and cleaned throughout the garden. A friend from the senior companion program stopped by and dug up some abundant perennials for her companion (alyssium, geranium, lamb's ear) for her companion. Julie Holmes stopped by to pick up our monthly sign-in sheets. The Girls for Good came and filled bird baths and feeders.

Thursday brought a large crew. We had 12 volunteers working throughout the garden. Linda Guarino worked on the irrigation system - new shade garden, FG, and the north Switzer beds.  Rebecca Davis and Becky Lewis worked on the corner finishing the weed cloth and weeding. Becky also spent time checking out all the beautiful roses blooming. Rebecca helped finish spreading the mulch left this spring. Betty Marcus continued her work cleaning up and dead heading. Jeanette Sletten planted a few more perennials in our sidewalk shade garden, and in the Moon Garden. Lori Tamblinson worked on cleaning up the front of the house - weeding. Carol Hudenko continued her focus on the corner - weeding and spreading rock mulch. She tried a sample of a natural weed killer - vinegar and soap- that we will check out on Monday. Since it  has alot of acid we will only use it on very difficult areas such as the corner. Carol Lease finished re-sanding and adjusting a bench brick pad. Joe Harte spent his time tangling with locust tree pruning. They are dangerous to work with and spread prolifically. I remember Laura trying to talk me out of buying these trees - but I thought the flowers were so beautiful. They are but not sure the work is worth it. Crys Wells transplanted some blood grass in the 1/2 circle and several people took home some for their yards. It is a beautiful grass, has spread but does not seem to be invasive. Judith Chaddock and Betty spent some time weeding in the MMG and Judith watered indoors. The gardens are looking beautiful with all the rain and help this season. They should be wonderful on the garden tours over the next couple of weeks. This was the last day for the Girls for Good who will be starting school next week. Thanks to them for making our work easier, especially Adrian who along with her Dad helped the entire month of July.

New in the garden:

Photo by Loni Shapiro     

Shade garden along the Switzer sidewalk - Knickknick, Heuchera, Vinca, Hosta, Bergenia
Completed weed cloth project for the corner
Some new perennials in the Moon and Zane Gardens (Balloon Flower, Echinacia, Choc. Flower, Succulent
Weeding and pruning in the Native Garden and lots of wildflowers coming up

New blooms:
Many roses - Peace, Shroppshire Lad, Coffee Bean, Julia Child - photos by Betty Marcus

Red runner beans - flowers and beans

Photos by Loni Shapiro - Birdhouse Trellis

Plans for the next couple of weeks:
Watering as needed
Continue work on the corner garden (weeding and planting some grass seed)
Weeding as needed throughout the garden
Deadheading and clean-up in prep for some garden visits
Work on a small rock garden in the Native Garden
Labeling - especially all the roses

Upcoming:
Peaks Bungalow garden tour - August 9 - 1230pm
Flagstaff Garden Club Tour - August 17 - 10am-12pm
Thank you Potluck - August 25 - 430pm-7pm Judith Chaddocks

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.  ~Lindley Karstens, noproblemgarden.com

Thanks,
Loni