Workday 5/13/10

On Thursday, with a chill in the air in the morning, several volunteers came to work in the gardens. Judith Chaddock and Colleen Copeland-Larrabe finished pruning the roses and adding their initial feedings. David Hockman dug several holes to plant new shrubs and vines. Nancy Palmer came and finished mounting bird houses on the trellis. Joe Harte returned for the season and pruned several trees and shrubs, while cleaning up debris in the canyon below the garden. Julie Holmes filled bird feeders and helped Vicki Goodwin weed and clean up the south Switzer Canyon beds.

Most of the daffodils and tulips are gone after the hard frost last week, but other shrubs and plants continue to grow each week.

Our first Saturday workday was held without anyone attending. The Saturday workdays were scheduled for those unable to work on weekdays, but if there is no interest they will not occur. Future Saturday workdays will be with RSVP required by the Friday before. They are the 3rd Saturday of each month through September. Contact Loni Shapiro by e-mail or phone - maxmaddy@infomagic.net or 928-522-8635.

New plantings:
Arnold Red Tartian Honeyshuckle shrubs (2), Hops
Native Garden - Rocky Mountain Columbine, Creeping Barberry
Moon Garden - Dusty Miller, Evergreen Candytuft, Mt. Atlas Daisy
Rock Garden - Creeping Basket of Gold Alyssum
Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden - Pincushion Penstemon, Blue Glow Globe Thistle, Sunset Hyssop
Sensory Pots - Pineapple Sage, Curley Parsley
Perennial Bed - 3 Poppies - 'Royal Wedding', 'Brilliant', 'Victoria Louise'
A variety of vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower
Greens - lettuce, choi, mustard greens, spinach

New blooms:
Crabapple trees, Apple trees
Faerie Garden - Prairie Smoke
Cement Patio area - European Pasque Flower

On our regular workday, Thursday, May 20, from 8am-12pm we will be weeding, watering, cleaning and deadheading the Switzer Canyon beds, doing drip repairs, and planting a few hardy perennials. We still have some hardscape to be placed in the garden and will need to fill bird feeders and clean baths. Come join us for any or all of that time. Parking is available on Turquoise or at the First Cogregational Church. Those new to the garden should arrive by 830am for orientation.

Workday 5/6/2010

On Wednesday, Norvel Owens came by the garden with his bobcat, and helped us move a rock pile that has been sitting at the corner of Swizer and Turquoise for more than a year. Rocks were added as a backdrop to the large sign on the corner and to line the beds that are between the corner and the house. This will be the location for a new "Native Medicinal Garden" to honor Michael Moore. Some of the smaller rocks were piled near the sign to create a shady rock garden. Norvel made short work of a really big job. Many of the rocks were not only large but very heavy. Watch our progress as we work to improve these gardens (more natives and more drought tolerant).




On our regular Thursday workday we continued to clean up the gardens and began to prune our roses. There was more damage than usual with the heavy snows. David Hockman did his usual hole digging and planted a new tree. Hattie Braun came to give instructions on pruning to some master gardener trainees and those new to rose pruning. Vicki Goowin and Marilyn VanWagner found time to water much of the garden, while Hattie, Colleen Copeland-Larrabee, and Judith Chaddock pruned. I spent my time getting ready for a Saturday "Container Gardening" class in the garden. Nancy Palmer spent her time getting the birdhouses up on the trellis. Leslie Pennick came late and worked on the compost pile.

On Saturday, after spending a couple of hours in the classroom, attendees came to Olivia White and planted tomatoes, a shade basket, stacking herbs, and a wine barrel full of natives. The class of 8 made short work of their assignments and then planted a pot to take home.

Next week in the garden on Thursday, we will be finishing rose pruning, checking the drip system, watering the front gardens, and beginning clean-up of the south beds. We have a couple of shrubs to plant in front of the house and some hardscape to bring out. Joanie Abbott's crew turned on the water for us so the timers need to be set.

On May 15th, from 9am - 12pm we will have our first Saturday workday. The weeds are multiplying, and we will continue to deadhead all areas of the garden. Work will focus on the beds on Switzer Canyon for clean-up. We will begin creating new beds in those south gardens in June. Native medicinal plants will be added to the Michael Moore garden.

New in the garden:
Lasagna bed for veggies (variety of kale), potatoes and lettuce planted, two tomatoes planted and covered with frost cloth, stacking herb pot.

New blooms:
Pasque flowers, Guinea-Hen Flower (fritillaria)


We are not sure where this bulb came from. I looked through our old lists of planted bulbs and it is not something that was purchased. We order many bulbs in the fall and it may have come with some other small bulbs by mistake. It is beautiful!

Newly planted:
Native Garden - Limber Pine
Native Garden Pot - Alpine Strawberry, Yarrow (red & white (Greek), Shenandoah Switch Grass, 'Blue Lips' Penstemon, Blue Avena Grass, Tickseed, Wine Cup
Tomatoes - Juliet, Green Zebra
Herbs - Sage, Rosemary, Oregano, Parsley, Dill, Chocolate Mint, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Basil
Shade Basket - Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine

Workday 5/4/10

Beautiful container from Santa Fe Nursery

Last week I did my yearly crawl through the nurseries in Santa Fe. I started at Santa Fe Greenhouses(High Country Gardens) where I found many drought tolerant/cold hardy plants. Next was Plants of the Southwest, where they have an abundant selection of native trees/shubs and many unusual herbs. Last of all was Agua Fria Nursery that has so many plants it boggles the mind, but I was looking at vegetables. They have more than 20 tomatoes and more than 25 chilies and peppers. It is always fun for me to explore these nurseries, so I spend a whole day and way to much money.

Yesterday, we had a large crew of seniors (12 and a leader) from Coconino High School who came for their annual senior project. Julie Holmes, Crys Wells, Marcia Lamkin and me helped direct the clean-up work. In about 3.5 hours they managed to move a pallet of bricks, collect rocks for the bottom of a large raised bed, raked and bagged pine needles, filled bird feeders, sanded and stained our raised beds, brought out much of our stored hardscape, and weeded a nasty area on the corner of Turquoise and Switzer Canyon. Next time you drive by you will notice the difference. It is beginning to look like a garden again. With our limited crew it would take us weeks to get the work done that they accomplished in one morning. Thank you for a job well done.


Coconino High School crew

On Thursday, May 6, we will have our weekly workday. Plans include: pruning roses, planting some seed and transplants from the seedling CSA, weeding a small area in front of the house, planting some shrubs, repairs and mounting some signs, and watering.

On Saturday, May 7, I am doing my annual "Container Gardening" class for CCC. This year we will be planting some pots in the hospice garden.

Come join us for any part of the day on Thursday. Hattie Braun will be directing rose pruning beginning at 9am. Marion Lopez our regular rose expert is ill and we wish her a speedy recovery.

DO NOT PARK AT THE HOUSE! PARK ON THE EAST SIDE OF TURQUOISE OR AT THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Workday 4/29/2010

On Thursday between snowflakes, Judith Chaddock, Julie Holmes and me mangaged to get some work done in the hospice garden. We spent most of our time dead heading - Moon, Tea, and Rock Gardens along with most of the East back gardens. About 10:30am we spoted more than 15 deer just north of the garden (males, females, and youngsters). We thought they might not be seen this year with the new YMCA, but they are here frequently and in large numbers. As much fun as it was to see them we have many tulips chewed off at the top. Lets hope they find new digs when the roses begin to bloom.



Next week we will have two workdays. On Tuesday 5/3, Coconino High School will be doing their annual give back to the community workday. We plan to weed, move some pavers, water, sand raised beds and do general clean-up. On Thursday we will have our regular workday. Marion Lopez will join us to help direct rose pruning for those who want to learn. We have more than 40 rose bushes. We will also be putting out our hard scape that was stored for the winter, and continuing general clean-up.

Come join us for either of those workdays. Tues - 830am-1230pm and Thurs. 8am-12pm.
Questions: contact Loni Shapiro maxmaddy@infomagic.net.

Donations:
Olsen Grain has agreed to help us feed the birds for another season.
Linda Guarino has donated $100 towards 3 new shrubs for the garden.

Loni Shapiro

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.