Thank You from Peggy Sheldon-Scurlock to the Gardeners

On this windy wintery day with the hope of Spring peeking through the snow I want to express my gratitude for the OWHH Gardens and Gardeners. 

Numerous times the patients at OWHH, their families, the neighbors and many in the community have shared with me how much they value the OWHH Gardens.  They see the gardeners working and people outside enjoying the gardens, engaging in the seasons that such an environment offers, a true reflection of the seasons of life.   Many have said they see these gardens as being one of the most sincere places of the heart here in Flagstaff offering respite, beauty, solace peace and the hope of new life.

These Gardens have become a steadfast  ambassador for the Norhtland Hospice programs in a most vibrant way with the various colors, blossoms, wildlife and stages of growth that life offers.

Thank you Loni and All Hearty Gardeners.  We are all fortunate that you like to play in the dirt, wield pruning shears, move rocks, attract bees, conserve water, propagate native plants, extract brambles, nurture beauty, envision landscapes and plant hope!

With gratitude,
Peggy Sheldon-Scurlock
Patient Care Volunteer
Olivia White Hospice Home  

February Garden Meeting Minutes

Hospice Garden Meeting Agenda

February 21, 2013 9am-1030am

9am-930am (coffee/tea available)

Introductions done.  Attending: Loni Shapiro, Betty Marcus, Judith Chaddock, Debbie Crisp, Rebecca Davis, Joe Harte, Diana Watt, Megan Woodson, Christine Orr, and Vicki Goodwin. I have recorded your hours.

I.             Updates

                A.            Financial status for end of 2012

Our balance is currently 3136.06 (much of that is from 2011 about $900 from last year).

We also have a balance of 1084.03 in our Warner’s account.

Dave Hill has said he is willing to make another garden donation this year.

We have earrings for sale again and Linda is making some pendants and necklaces. We have already collected $135. No other fundraisers will be done this year. No plant sale! If you know someone who needs something we have too much of, tell them to contact me and we will arrange for them to dig some up. We will focus on gardening.

                B.            Need a new coordinator for the 2014 garden season.  This will be my last year – anyone interested? I am trying to do fewer hours in 2013 (450 last year) so I am looking for people to assume responsibility for gardens and special projects for 2013 (coordinate, clean up, plant or replant as needed). We will have new volunteers to help you.

If you have any tips on possible coordinators for 2014 let Loni know. A sharing of the task – 2 people- may make it easier to find someone.  She would like to get someone on board before the end of the season. She will attend the MG class next month and Hattie is also looking for someone.

                                                MMG & Tea Garden – Laura

Laura is working ½ time at FMC as a patient advocate. We will see less of her in the garden this year and most likely on Mondays. Loni will be meeting with her to work out routines that can be done by other gardeners in both areas.

2nd Meeting Agenda 2/21/13

Hospice Garden Meeting Agenda

February 21, 2013 9am-12pm (Room is reserved until 12 but we will most likely finish early)

9AM-930AM
I.             Updates

                A.            Financial status for end of 2012

                B.            Need new coordinator for 2014 garden season – anyone interested? I am trying to do fewer hours in 2013 so I am looking for people to assume responsibility for gardens for 2013 (coordinate, clean up, plant or replant as needed). We will have new volunteers to help you.

                                 MMG & Tea Garden – Laura

                                 Moon Garden, Zane’s Garden, New Hummingbird/Penstemon bed, Sensory Pots –
                                       Loni

                                 Veggies & Herbs & Fruit – Rebecca Davis ? (should be 2 people)

                                 Faerie Garden – Vicki ?

                                 Rock Garden/Compost – Linda

                                 Irrigation – Linda & Carol

                                 Front ½ Circle and new front bed – Kay ? (needs help as she is still working)

                                 Rose Garden

                                 Native Garden (north end of house)

                                 Corner Garden (all will help with the plan but getting the work done)

                                 Inferno Strips (includes planting new area with added sidewalk)

                                 Shed Area (all will help with the plan but getting the work done)

                                 Indoor Plants – Judith

                                 Trees – Joe

                                 Creating Sandstone Pathway from Switzer sidewalk to Rose Garden  -
                                       AmeriCorp ?                     

930AM-1030AM              

II.           HIPAA Orientation – Megan Woodson

IV.          Next meeting 3/14 9am at the garden weather permitting

1st Meeting Minutes for 2013
Olivia White Garden

I.             Updates

                a.  2012 review

                     1.  Accomplishment for 2012 – see handout (posted on blog)

                     2.  Correspondence (Marge Erickson, Diana, Lois’s family, Warners, Bonito St. Garden)
Correspondence circulated for those who have not seen these previously.

                     3.  Hours for 2012.
Hours circulated for individual review. Summary for 2012 1456.5 and 101.5 for groups.

                     4.  Financial status for end of 2012.
Not received from the office prior to meeting. Will report when received.

                                                Recent donations/possible 2013 donations
Received 2 donations - one from Nancy Palmer's in-laws ($?), and $100 from Peggy Shelton-Scurlock. Our last bench donation has been received. Will arrive for the garden season. Dave Hill has expressed interest in helping us again this year. Maybe with the shed area?

                                                Leftovers from 2011
$2224.29 - after meeting with Diana last year

                b.  Volunteers and requirements for 2013

                     1.  Volunteers
Many of last years volunteers returning - some as drop ins. David Hockman is having back problems again and may not return. Christine Orr will be traveling all summer. We may see her in the fall but maybe not until 2014. Laura has a job at FMC - 1/2 time but working more so will be in the garden when she can. The Michael Moore garden will be part of our weekly work. Anyone who wants to work there regularly should brush up on native plants in the garden and spend a little time with Laura. Nancy will not be in the garden much this year. I have several new people interested in helping this year - Rebecca Davis from Hozhoni, Lynn Overend, and two people new to Flagststaff (not MGs).

                     2.  Review general orientation to garden handout
The general orientation to the garden has been updated to reflect changes for 2013. I will e-mail it to all - please read as a reminder and to see the changes.

                     3.  HIPAA
Errors made by Loni this past winter were discussed. All garden staff will have to do 3 activities for 2013 - read the information - take a quiz - and participate in a brief inservice by Megan. Loni will send out the 1st 2 parts by e-mail. Take the test and return to Megan.

Agenda for 1/31/13 Meeting

Hospice Garden Meeting/Breakfast Agenda

January 31, 2013 9am-12pm

I.             Updates

                a.  2012 review

                     1.  Accomplishment for 2012 – see handout

                     2.  Correspondence (Marge Erickson, Diana, Lois’s family, Warners, Bonito St. Garden)

                                3.  Hours for 2012.

                                4.  Financial status for end of 2012

                                                Recent donations/possible 2013 donations

                                                Leftovers from 2011

                b.  Volunteers and requirements for 2013

                     1.  Volunteers

                     2.  Review general orientation to garden handout

                     3.  HIPAA

                c.   Hodge Podge recently lost a long time volunteer – want to fund something for her (small

                      penstemon garden?)

                d.  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.  Revise the corner garden (Turquoise & Switzer) after the FUTS trail completion.
              Plant the new inferno strip on Turquoise west of the new sidewalk. Scatter wildflower
              seeds along new pathway in the fall.

2012 Accomplishments

Olivia White Hospice Garden

Accomplishments for 2012 Season

Usual garden maintenance (bringing out hardscape, weeding, watering, planting (annuals and lost perennials), repairing and adding drip lines, repairing walkways, general garden maintenance, composting, harvesting vegetable for the home).  Worked 2 weekdays (Mon. & Thurs.) and one occasional Saturday a month.

                Drip lines repaired and added to the re-landscaped front bed, and all new plantings

                Drip in front ½ circle dug up with suspected leak (replanted). break in city water line in same bed required replanting again

                All walkways repaired.  New entries added to the sheds, and one walkway enlarged to accommodate a new swing glider.

                Repairs done on an old rain barrel - two new rain barrels added in the fall

                Repaired redwood benches on back porch

                Produce harvested for the home included:  tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, choi, kohlabi, potatoes, onions, peppers (variety), squash (variety, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and herbs                                       

                Continued tree care – pruning, removal of Elm, and protecting from animal damage. Several new trees planted

                Cleaned the garden and weeded the corner of Switzer and Turquoise in preparation for the 10th Anniversary

                Transplanted shrubs from the corner (4) in preparation for FUTS trail work

                Removed vines from gazebo in preparation for repairs and resealing

Orient master gardener program and new volunteer gardeners, and provide education individually.

                Orientation done for the Master Gardener class, groups, tours, and individual new volunteers

               

Work at improving the bed directly in front of the house.

                Planning meeting in January for re-landscaping

                Added trellis and clematis/trumpet vine

                Dug up large juniper shrubs and small plants

                Lowered soil level and added new soil/compost

                Landscaped and planted

                                Sandstone, large rocks, and wood pavers added

                                New plants and shrubs added, as well as transplants from other parts of the garden

                Drip irrigation added

                Rock mulch added

                Fencing added

2012 Season Thank You

Thank You for Another Successful Year in the Gardens of Olivia White Hospice Home. Thank you to all our regular volunteer gardeners (master gardeners & hospice supporters) for a very successful garden season. We had a difficult year with few regular volunteers due to age related injuries, but Mother Nature came through with a great monsoon season to make our gardens more beautiful than ever.  Special thanks go to those groups that continue to support us throughout the year with their generous donations of time and or materials. Warner’s Landscape and Nursery continued with a 10^th year of 10% of proceeds day for Olivia White Hospice as well as discounts for purchases.  Other groups who helped with their time included;  Flagstaff High School, NAU Honors Class, Girls for Good, and AmeriCorp. The Bountiful Alliance Foundation awarded another grant to continue to develop a garden to honor Michael Moore (writer and naturalist).  Work on the Native Medicinal Garden began in 2010 and continued throughout this year.  Last of all Dave & Terri Hill continued their generous support of the gardens with a donation of an outdoor table for residents, families, and staff.  

One of our many groups - NAU Honors Class

We entered the Native Plant Society contest and received 2 special recognition awards for the best Mini Meadow Garden (Kay Balzer) and most Heartwarming Canine Memorial (Loni Shapiro). Other major work included revamping the front garden beds, and beginning a remodel of an area where two ponderosa trees were removed and two sheds added.  That work will continue next year along with work on the corner garden. Thanks to the City of Flagstaff we will have an Urban Trail surrounding the property extending all the way to the Y.

The gardens and Olivia White Home continue to be an inspiration for all residents in Flagstaff. They help those in need of the services offered, need a quiet place to contemplate life, celebrate others lives, just enjoy passing by, and as a place for gardeners to learn.  This year visits included:  the Native Plant Society Annual Garden Tours, the Senior Companion/Foster Grandparent programs, and the Arboretum docents and staff. We also had a large group of visitors in the garden for the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Olivia White Home in August. The Mayor declared it Marilyn Pate Day - the founder of Northland Hospice and the Olivia White Hospice Home.

We begin our season in January with monthly planning meetings until April when weather permitting we began cleaning up the garden. Watch our blog (owhospicegardenvolunteers.blogspot.com) for dates and beginning orientation to the gardens. We are always looking for new volunteers.

Flagstaff ….. thank you again for your generous spirit!

“Gardens are not inherently meaningful in many ways; but, making a garden and caring for it creates meaningfulness.
If you plant it, they will come."   
-   Michael P. Garofalo, Pulling Onions  

Loni Shapiro, Master Gardener

and the volunteer gardeners of Olivia White Hospice Home