Workday 4/22/10

On Thursday our first official workday, I actually cancelled due to snow and rain. I went to the garden thinking that some might not read their e-mail and to help place a brick for a loved one. Judith Chaddock and Marcia Lamkin did not read e-mails and came to the garden. Judith helped me clean up the gazebo floor - weeds and hollyhocks - place a couple of bricks, re-plant a couple of houseplants, and deadhead. Marcia helped place a brick in the gazebo.

Many daffodils and tulips are blooming in the garden, although a bit droopy with the cold weather. Below are species tulips blooming in the garden.





Next week we will work on continued dead heading, sanding the raised beds, preparing some new raised beds, planting a couple of shrubs and a tree, and putting out hardscape.


Some hanginng pots seen in the greenhouse.

Over the weekend I did my usual plant crawl in Santa Fe. I visited High County Gardens, Plants of the Southwest, and Agua Fria. They are all wonderful nurseries filled with draught tolerant plants. High Country Gardens pictured in the photo has the showiest plants, Plants of the Southwest has great shrubs and trees and native seeds, and Agua Fria has any tomato or pepper you have ever heard of as well as many native plants. My husband brought a book which he finished while waiting for me. Such patience!

Upcoming:
Workday with Coconino High School - Tuesday, May 4, from 830am - 1230pm
Looking for Master Gardeners to help supervise work
Workday Thursday, May 6, 8am-12pm - Rose Pruning with Marion Lopez

Come join us this week and next while we continue to clean up the gardens. Parking is available at the 1st Congregational Church lot on Turquoise just past Switzer Canyon Drive. Snacks and water are provided.

Thanks,
Loni Shapiro
928-522-8635

Earth Day Workday 4/17/10

On Saturday 4/17/10 some of our regular gardeners attended and we had 3 new volunteers that were given a tour of the garden. Marcia Lamkin helped place a brick in the gazebo, and Leslie Penick worked on the compost area. Colleen Copeland-Larabee, Cindy Murray, and Ed Skiba were oriented to the garden. Colleen helped with clean-up, raking and bagging pine needles and Ed cleaned up one of our perennial beds and watered. I spent my time cleaning a perennial bed and the shed. We had some winter visitors (probably mice) - who left shredded paper, styrafoam cups, and had opened plastic fertilizer bags.

Next week we will begin our first official workday on Thursday from 8am-12pm. Come for any part of that time. Jobs include, sanding raised beds, deadheading, watering, filling bird feeders, and getting out hardscape. Parking is available at the 1st Congregational Church on Turquoise just past Switzer Canyon. The roses need to be pruned and Marion Lopez our local expert, will be in the garden on May 6 to help direct rose pruning. We have more than 40 roses in the garden and they provide a good opportunity for learning pruning.

New blooms: many more tulips (species and regular)

Loni Shapiro
Volunteer Garden Coordinator

Garden Workday 4/15/10

Many volunteers from our regular garden crew came today and continued with clean-up. David Hockman started the season digging for 2 new roses for the arbor bench. They are from David Austin roses and were specially selected for their tolerance of shade and cold (Shropshire Lad/Zone 4). David also began our pine needle clean-up. Vickie Goodwin, Julie Holmes, Judith Chaddock, and Crys Wells hand watered. Our drip is not yet turned on but should be this week. Vickie also filled bird feeders, Julie began deadheading, and Crys gathered some rock for the bottom of our new raised bed trough. Judith watered and cleaned up plants on the sun porch and helped me place bricks. I spent my time cleaning part of the garage, placing some bricks and deadheading.

New blooms: many of our daffodils planted last fall, species tulips, and many of our regular tulips.




Clusiana "Cynthia"

We have another workday this week - Earth Day, Saturday 4/17 from 9am-12pm. Come join us for more clean-up. The new Director of Northland Hospice may join us - Sam Younger. Parking is available at the 1st Congregational Church on Turquoise just past Switzer Canyon Drive.

Regular Garden Crew Workday 4/8/10

We had our first regular outdoor garden workday on Thursday. I spent my time getting our raised beds ready for planting. Cynthia Katte made sure house plants were watered and helped with cleaning the beds/street in front of the house. Linda Guarino worked on deadheading and cleaning the beds in front of the house. Al Katte did some much needed repairs and construction of a small raised bed for vegetabiles. Vicki Goodwin returned to help fill bird feeders and also helped Linda clean beds in front of the house.

New blooms included species tulips in several parts of the garden along with many more daffodils.

Our next workdays include next Thursday (4-15-10) and Saturday (Earth Day 4-17-10) from 9am until noon. On the list is continuing clean-up (plants and the shed), placing hardscape, placing bricks, and feeding the birds. On earth day we may plant a small tree if the ground is soft enough and sand the raised beds.

On Earthday we will also orient people to working in the garden. Come join us!

Loni Shapiro
Volunteer Garden Coordinator

Earth Day Clean-up

On Saturday, April 17th from 9am-12pm the Olivia White Gardens will have a clean-up day and orientation for gardeners who want to help in the garden this season. Clean-up includes sweeping, removal of cinders from the Switzer Canyon beds, putting out hardscape, and beginning deadheading of last years perennials. We have one glider that needs to be restained, and several shrubs that need to be pruned of broken branches.

The orientation will begin at 10am and include a tour of the garden, procedures for outside (including keys for the greenhouse and shed) and inside (bathrooms and entry). Procedures also include signing in and out when working.

For those new to the garden we ask that you wear a hat, sunscreen, and bring gloves if you have them. Long sleeves/pants, and close toed shoes are recommmended. We have tools and provide water and snacks.

Parking will be limited on this day due to house procedures and many visitors in the neighborhood (the YMCA openhouse/a service for Karen Cooper at the First Congregational Church). Parking is available on the East side of Turquoise in allowed spaces and at the Gastro-Entrological offices on Switzer Canyon Drive. NO Parking at Olivia White/patient's families and staff only.

For any questions or concerns contact Loni Shapiro at maxmaddy@infomagic.net.

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.

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.