Workday and Orientation

Our first official workday in the garden on Thursday was very productive. Betty Marcus came and she watered for almost 4 hours and filled bird feeders. The drip system is off with a possible leak so we will be doing that for a while, as it is being checked out before we turn it on. Any extra help watering will be appreciated as it take 3 full workdays for 1 person to water the entire garden. Linda Guarino returned and got the compost area clean-up for the start of the season. Some compost is available to use for planting on the tarp in the compost area. I am going to ask Linda to do a mini update on composting for all the next time she is in the garden. Two new volunteers were in the garden. Leslie Stone spent her time sealing the raised beds, and Rebecca Davis watered and deadheaded. Joe Harte and Becky Lewis worked on putting cement in to keep our mailboxes upright. The house mailbox will need to be repaired as the bottom rotted, probably from the leak we had last year. Laura Davis and Crys Wells came and finished their orientation and also did some work in the garden. I am not sure exactly what they did as I was busy orienting some new volunteers (possibly 6). I also managed to plant some potatoes, get out some hardscape, and filled the bird feed cans.

We hauled away another redwood bench, and have a new bench that was donated (not sure who) that Diana Watt sanded/painted and stained. It will probably go in the area of the sheds, facing the rose garden.

Next week: we will work on:
More deadheading
Repositioning the raised bed
Bringing out hardscape
Feeding and watering the birds
Planting some seed
Feeding the trees
Watering - indoors and outdoors
Some raking of pine needs and filling some beds with mulch from the downed elm
Mail box repair and rain barrel work
Irrigation only if the repairs are done
Sign-ups for Thurs. snacks and mini update on compost if Linda is available
Workdays are Mon. & Thurs. from 8am-12pm, and Saturday from 9am-12-pm. For those who are new orientation is from 10am-12pm.

Future happenings:
2nd Orientation - May 4, 10am-12pm
Eagle Scout projects in the garden (trellis and pathways) - dates TBA
Warner's 10% of Proceeds Day - Saturday, July 13 - 9am-3pm

Blooming in the garden:
Plum trees, nectarine, creeping sand cherry, many bulbs, Pasque flower

Hope to see you sometime this week.

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 4/15 - 18 & 20

On Monday, I worked on the front 1/2 circle, with Julie Holmes, and Leslie Stone. We deadheaded, weeded (yes they are back already), and added a bit of rock to areas that were sparse from last year where the area was dug up. The two front beds were watered thoroughly. I put out another birdfeeder, but havwaterede not seen any hummingbirds as yet.

Diana Watt stopped by to update me on the cities plans for construction in the area over the next few years. They will put in a new water line next year in the middle of Turquoise - going up the hill from the corner. They are exploring traffic changes for the corner of Switzer/Turquoise. They will do one of 3 options - a circle, a light, or stop signs. All will take another piece of our corner garden - the circle taking a very large piece requiring moving the sign. This would happen within 5 years. Keeping that in mind we will make less extensive changes to the corner garden. I still want the large juniper removed and Diana will see if Norvel can help us with his bobcat.

On Thursday, we had a small crew but got a great start on deadheading in the garden. Betty Marcus came and filled birdfeeders and watered . Joe Harte worked on leveling a rain barrel & removing tree trunk covers. Nancy Palmer worked on putting out hardscape in the Faerie Garden and finished hanging birdhouse on the trellis. Rebecca Davis came for the first time and spent her time deadheading the inferno strip and watering the back gardens.I spent my time deadheading and with general clean-up.

On Saturday, we had a very successful Earth Day with 9 people helping to clean up the garden. Many of them were new to the garden. Betty Marcus and Laura Davis two of our regular joined us and Diana Watt came to help and orient people to hospice. We sanded the 2 raised beds, moved some day lilies, watered, and bagged up many pine needles while deadheading. More than 25 bags. Deadheading happened in the Inferno Strip, some of the Rose Garden, and many of the beds east of the Switzer sidewalk. You may not recognize the place. We also stabilized a bench in the Faerie Garden, got out hardscape including the umbrella, water feature (unfilled as yet), and moved the rain barrel and standing raised bed. Cleaning up revealed many bulbs blooming in the garden - species tulips, grape hyacinth, daffodils, and our 1st spring blooming plant a Pasque flower. The plums and nectarine are already blooming.

Species tulip

Pasque Flower

Visitors this week included: some residents, Dave and Murphy, and the Ciritello's who donated a bench and added a tag for it.

Ed Ciritello and Diane Stearns and their daughter
Donors of a Glider in Memory of her Mother

Workdays this week Mon./Thurs. 9am-12pm.
Work for this week includes:
More deadheading
Sealing the raised beds
Planting potatoes and lettuce
Adjusting the standing raised bed
Watering indoors and outdoors (the drip is off)
Orientation for new gardeners on 4/25 at 10am. This will also include HIPAA/Hospice orientation from Megan for regular gardeners who have not done it as yet.
David if you  are available we have a bench that needs to be fixed.

I heard from Kay Balzer and she will be in the garden in mid-May.

Loni

Workdays Week of 4/8 and 11

Spring is wonderful with all the bulbs blooming and new growth on perennials, but looking at the deadheading to be done is depressing. Spring at Olivia White sometimes feels overwhelming. We don't do much deadheading in the fall, but it does protect our plants roots and provides some winter food for the birds. Oh well! Fast forward to Memorial Day when things will be looking great.

A large elm was removed from the back of the Faerie Garden. I can't believe how much mulch they left us from one trees limbs. The large pieces of the trunk are still in the canyon. We may be able to take one or two  for decorative stumps. The tree was removed because each year it was dropping limbs in the garden and had become dangerous.

I spent Monday in the garden for a few hours. I deadhead a few plants until the rain, hail, snow began and then did some work indoors. The bird feeders were cleaned and I began cleaning the shelf in the garage. In between showers I cleaned the back porch and set it up for the Thursday workday.

On Thursday, we had a small crew but much was accomplished. Nancy and Bruce Palmer came and set up the birdhouse trellis and began to set up the Faerie Garden. As I mentioned earlier the large elm on the NE corner was taken down. It opens up the garden with more light. Nancy and Bruce brought a couple of logs up into the FG which they will place later and a group of carvers will stop by to pick up a few more. The rest will be remove by Joan Joyce.

Betty Marcus came and filled bird feeders, did some general cleaning, and began to rake the FG. Joe Harte assembled our new glider, got cement and sand out of my car into the garden for some projects, and began to get the rain barrels ready. Judith Chaddock helped us haul things around, and watered the indoor plants. I spent my time doing some deadheading, and filling some holes left by the ground squirrels.

In Zane's garden, we found a cat collar hanging on the trellis. It belonged to Max the cat we were always calling his owner about, because he was always crossing Switzer Canyon Drive. I guess he crossed one to many times, but his collar was left in the right place. We will wire it onto the trellis to provide company for Zane. I also added a Ben's Bell I bought in Tucson. I found it at the Book Sale in the local animal shelter booth. It is a nice addition to the garden.

On Saturday, Leslie Stone stopped by with her family and an Eagle Scout. It looks like we will have help with our trellises by the sheds, and the pathways from Switzer to the Rose Garden and on the corner. They may also help with other work in the garden. Whenever work needs to get done the "Project Faerie" seems to sense it.

Work for the week of 4/15-18:
Lots of deadheading - emphasis on the front of the house
Adding some rock to the front beds
Planting some potatoes/onions weather permitting
Raking pine needles and general cleaning in the FG

Earth Day - April 20, 9am-12pm
Raking, sweeping
Continue FG clean-up as needed and bringing out hardscape
Sanding the raised beds
Removing mulch from some of the FUTS trail beds
Watering as needed
Earth Day is everyday!  anonymous 

Hope to see you sometime this week!

Loni

Beginning Work for the 2013 Season

With the weather warm and dry the season for regular gardeners will begin on April 8 & 11, from 9am-12pm. This is only for those who are cleared for volunteering by Northland Hospice. Others will have to wait until they complete their requirements. We will also have a workday on April 20 for Earth Day and hope to get some community help with clean-up (sweeping, raking, sanding raised beds, and bringing out hardscape).

The primary work on Monday will begin with clean-up - deadheading, composting, and beginning to put some items out in the garden (swing, table & chairs, bird baths and feeders), planting potatoes and some seed, watering. Judith Chaddock has begun to replace plants in the house and she may need some help.

For those who are interested, the FUTS trail is complete and they have sprayed a green substance on all the disturbed beds. It is a mulch to stabilize the disturbed ground with some grass and wildflower seed. We will remove some of it in beds we plan to plant this season.

Come join us if you can.

Thanks,
Loni

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.

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.