Spring Time at Olivia White Hospice Garden

Thursday April 24 was our first workday of the season. Several new gardeners joined us for orientation and a few stayed to work. Marilyn Schwind and Carol Chicci deadheaded around the garden. Ed Skiba prepared the vegetable beds for planting next week when the first CSA delivery arrives. April Smith collected pots for new cuttings she started to put in patients' rooms. Crys Wells and Becky Lewis watered trees and gave tours for new volunteers while I started on drip repairs.

Thanks to Judith Chaddock and Whitney Fessler for watering indoor plants during the winter. 

May 1 will be the first official workday of the year. We will be in the garden from 9 am -noon. Please join us.  

2014 Planning Meeting

You’re Invited

to a Soup & Salad Pot-luck Lunch 

for Current and interested volunteers of the

Olivia White Hospice Home Gardens

Current volunteers are being asked to bring a salad or dessert to share as we welcome interested new volunteers.

Thursday, January 23, 2014 11:30 a.m.

Coconino County Extension Office 2304 North Third Street

We will get to know each other a bit,

talk about some things that will be changing, make plans for the upcoming gardening year, and make sure you know how you can

be informed and involved.

Won’t you join us?

RSVP by Monday, January 20, 2014 

CrysWells@gmail.com 

928-380-2494 

2013 Goals/Accomplishments

Olivia White Hospice Garden

Goals/Accomplishments for 2013 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 north Switzer Canyon Bed, and all new plantings

-Drip in front ½ circle partially dug up with suspected leak  (near mailbox). Bed replanted and                      mailbox repaired and moved to north Switzer Bed.

-All walkways and brick pads repaired.

-Repairs done on 3 rain barrels – leveled and supported ground areas

-Added two new stone paths – corner from Turquoise to Switzer Canyon Drive sidewalk and Switzer sidewalk to rose garden.. Each lined with malapai rock.

-Produce harvested for the home included:  tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, potatoes, onions, squash (variety), Hopi corn, beans, sugar snap peas, 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 throughout with frequent rain during July/August

-Replanted and landscaped the corner or Turquoise and Switzer Canyon

-Landscaped the area surrounding the sheds

-Landscaped shade garden along Switzer Canyon

-Landscaped the north Native Garden

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

Replanted and landscaped the corner of Turquoise and Switzer Canyon
-Weeded a large area frequently due to extensive rain

-Pruned ponderosa pine and several other trees

-Put stone back on corner and added some perennial flowers and grasses

-Rock pathway put in by Boy Scouts from Turquoise to Switzer

-With weeds returning quickly on the path, weed cloth was added

-Area behind the sign weeded and bunch grass seed added to cut down on weeds          

Landscaped the shed area

-Boy Scouts built 2 new trellises.  One to block the view of the parking lot and another to camouflage the shed.  Donor sign added to the project.                            
-Red runner beans and clematis planted on the shed trellis.

-Clematis and honeysuckle planted on the large 8 foot trellis to block the view of the parking lot

-AmeriCorp put in a sandstone pad with material donated by Diana Watt

-Bench from anonymous donor refurbished by Diana Watt and placed on the sandstone pad

-Bird feeder/bath added to the area to cut off walking in between trellises          

-Small shrub donated last year placed at front corner

Landscaped the Native Garden where sheds were moved last year
-Wildflowers scattered on the south side of the walkway

-Weeded north side and removed many New Mexican Locust that had spread

-Sandstone pad done by the Palmers on the east end of bed
-New bench donated by Crys Wells

-2 colorful pots added to that pad area

-Rock garden added at the west end of the bed S of the walkway. Plants transplanted from other
parts of the garden.

                

Work on improving storage and safety in the garden, and adding additional hardscape.
-Two page orientations to the garden updated for seasonal gardeners and a one page for one day   volunteers with new requirements by Northland Hospice.  32 volunteers cleared for work
-New green bench donated and assembled by our crew

-Moved 1 rain barrel and leveled all three with cinder blocks

-Mailbox repaired and moved. All mailboxes cemented in for safety
-Removed outdated chemicals.

-Removed pine needles from canyon in water flow area again    

               

Add and revise Educational items for visitors, residents, and volunteers

-Sign on back patio with:   Food available to pick, What’s blooming?, Rainwater levels, What’s new in the garden?
-Revised general info about the entire garden, the individual garden plant lists, garden map, Rose Book, and Donor Book                            

-Individual plant lists added to the blog

-2 Garden Lectures for volunteers (Composting-Linda Guarino & Weeds-Dorothy Lamm)

-Continued to add new signs for plants throughout the garden.  Special sign added to recognize the Master Gardener contribution in the gardens                                                .

Continue to schedule group workdays

-Regular crew of master gardeners and hospice volunteers (10 new seasonal)

-Earth Day (6)

-Boy Scout Troop 7129 – 2 crews (15 & 12)

-AmeriCorps/ACA (9)

-Girls for Good (Seasonal Bird Care)

-Girls for Good (Make a Difference day -14)

Publicity
-Tours for special groups - Flagstaff Garden club, Peaks Bungalow Residents

-Continued the blog for weekly updates on the garden - (owhospicegardenvolunteers.blogspot.com)

-Donations:  Arboretum Soiree Basket ($100), Seeds and potpourri Coconino County Fair

                                

Fundraising
-Cards, seeds, potpourri, jewelry, and bricks for gazebo
-Sold fundraising items at:  CMGA Plant and Garden Sale, 1^st Friday Art Walk

-Annual 10% Day at Warner’s

-Wish List Book Donations - Garden Bench ($600), Other items donated (see attached for detailed list)

                                   

                

Daily Sun Thank You 11/2/13

The volunteer gardeners at Olivia White Hospice Home would like to thank the Flagstaff community for their support during this garden season.  We had a spectacular year with many volunteers and a very wet monsoon season.  The gardens, especially the roses, were more beautiful than ever.  As usual we had both financial and physical support from many.  Warner’s Landscape & Nursery continued by adding an 11^th “10% of Proceeds Day” for the gardens. All the nurseries (Warner’s, Violas, Native Plant & Seed) provided discounts on plant material and advice during the season. Five new master gardeners signed up as seasonal volunteers along with two community gardeners, to help our regular crew.  Special thanks go to those groups that continue to support us throughout the year with their gift of time. Boy Scout Troop 7129 helped us with several projects. Two of the boy scouts working towards Eagle Scout, completed big projects for us in the garden. One built two large redwood trellises with donations from the community and work by their troop, families, and friends.  The 2^nd scout had his group put in two stone paths again with donations.  AmeriCorp came this year with some volunteers from the American Conservation Experience (ACE). This was their 7^th year to visit and they built a sandstone pad, lined a stone path with weed cloth, and finished another stone path.  The Girls for Good came for their 2^nd year. During the garden season they came twice weekly to feed and water our birds. At the end of the season the group came and removed pine needles from the canyon water area and washed many of our pots.

This is my last year coordinating the gardens at Olivia White and I want to thank each and every individual and business that helped me make this a community project. My job was made so much easier by all the material and support I received over the last 10 years. The master gardeners will continue to make this one of their garden projects, so keep supporting them with your kind and generous spirits.  Gardens provide so many benefits to our health;  lasting friendships, opportunities to learn and teach, continuous sensory experiences, food, reminders of the cycles of life, physical activity, distraction from physical or mental pain, and of course at hospice a way to give back to the community.  Create a garden at home (small or large) or find one to work in. It has made my retirement meaningful, fun, at time challenging, and rewarding.

As the garden grows so shall the gardener. 

Old Proverb

Loni Shapiro, Master Gardener

and the volunteer gardeners of Olivia White Hospice Home

Last Week of 2013

"One of the most delightful things about gardening is the freemasonry it gives with other gardeners, and the interest and pleasure all gardeners get by visiting other people's gardens. We all have a lot to learn and in every new garden there is a chance of finding inspiration - new flowers, different arrangement or fresh treatment for old subjects. Even if it is a garden you know by heart there are twelve months in the year and every month means a different garden, and the discovery of things unexpected all the rest of the year."-  Margery Fish, We Made a Garden, 1956 

In our last week in the garden we finished all work needed to close the garden for the season. On Monday, Julie Holmes and I took down the grapes and clematis in the gazebo while Betty Marcus watered trees and shrubs. The gazebo is cleared if there is need to stain in the spring.

On Thursday, we had a small crew finish the work. Sue Ordway, Rebecca Davis, Betty Marcus, Becky Lewis, Judith Chaddock, Whitney Fessler, and Linda Guarino worked for a couple of hours then joined me for a walk through of the garden. They watered indoors and out, removed some annuals from pots, cleaned up the compost, finished up putting away irrigation, deadheaded, disconnected hoses, put tables, chairs, swings away, and covered a bench and birdhouse. Josh Bangle joined us for the walk through. It included location of materials, ideas for next year, and some procedures. See Linda Guarino for questions. Books left are a Rose book and donor book in the house library, and a Review with pictures of 2013 with a Wish List book on the entry table in the house.

Thanks to all who helped in my last year at the garden. It wouldn't have happened without each and every one of you. I will think of you when I am in my own garden next year, and as I am getting one of many massages at Flagstaff Face & Body. Don't work too hard next year. I will see you all in one of the many venues gardening in Flagstaff has to offer.

"Out of gardens grow fleeting flowers but lasting friendships."-  Beverly Rose Hopper

"I've learned that things change, people change, and it doesn't mean you forget the past or try to cover it up. It simply means you move on and treasure the memories." -  Alicia Boxer

With love and gratitude,
Loni

PS   I am adding my thank you from the paper to the blog in case you missed it. You will also find a list of all our accomplishments.

Workdays Week of 10/21

With one more week to go, we had a good Monday crew. Betty Marcus watered the Switzer beds trees and shrubs, due to the very dry weather. Katarina Karjala and Jane Reukema deadhead the Mexican Hat and hollyhocks so the seeds do not spread anymore. Becky Lewis filled niger bird feeders with seed that is still  left and cleaned the last of the two sunflower feeders. All sunflower feeders have been replaced with suet feeders. Our winter indoor crew will replace those as needed. I spent my time organizing the greenhouse so all the hardscape will fit. I also worked on our shrub list to make sure it is complete.

On Thursday Betty Marcus watered some trees and shrubs, Rebecca Davis as usual finished several tasks. She removed annuals from pots, covered tree trunks for the winter and cleaned out the small shed and tools. The shed is so clean I hate to use it on Saturday. Lori Tamblingson deadheaded throughout the garden. Sue Ordway cleaned up the compost area for winter. Judith Chaddock worked on the indoor plants. The large Christmas Cactus is in full bloom. I spent my time reorganizing the greenhouse, and checking out our tree and shrub list for the donor book.

"How can those who do not garden, who have no lot in the great fraternity of those who watch the changing year as it affects the earth and its growth, how can they keep warm their hearts in winter?"-  Francis King 

Saturday, brought the 2nd Annual visit by the Girls for Good. They helped finish cleaning up the garden and property in the canyon. They removed a large pile of pine needles that had swept in with the heavy rains this year. We probably have more than 20 bags. The rest of the girls worked on cleaning all our pots from this season. After they were done with the heavy duty tasks they did some general clean-up, sweeping, deadheading, and cleaning up more piles of pine needles in the garden.

Girls for Good and families 2013

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

Work for our last week:
Watering as needed
Last check for deadheading
Add covers to a couple of tree trunks
Put table and umbrella on patio
Put swing in garage
Fill 2 bird baths
Take down bird hook at entry
Put stakes up for snow?
Finish cutting back clematis on gazebo
Move mulch to back of greenhouse
Work compost 1 last time
Empty front annual pots
Have Linda check irrigation line on Switzer Canyon

Come join me for my last week in the garden,
Thanks,
Loni

Work the Week of 10/14

On Monday there were three of us working again. Julie Holmes worked on emptying the Faerie Garden hardscape and putting things away for the winter. Betty Marcus watered the trees and shrubs in the back of the house and the main garden. I did some clean-up of the vegetable beds and then helped Julie.

Thursday brought a larger crew and we all worked on putting away the garden. I spent my time with the vegetable beds and sensory pots, mulching and adding some compost. Linda Guarino worked on the garden map and helped others finish projects. Sue Ordway took down gazebo pots, and worked on the compost. Judith Chaddock and Whitney Fessler watered indoors and cleaned up plants. Whitney will help during the winter. Crys Wells worked on emptying and cleaning the rain barrels for the winter. Joe Harte came and disconnected the rain barrels and help put away the bird baths. Leslie Stone finished tying up roses, taking down birdhouses, and cleaning/putting away hardscape.

To do the last few weeks:
Water indoors and outdoors as needed
Remove plants from front of house
Organize the greenhouse
Clean the small shed and tools
Deadhead Shasta daisy, hollyhock and Mexican Hat
Cover tree trunks
Spread the last of the mulch
Put the table, umbrella, and chairs away
Put bench in north garden away
Girls for Good - Wash pots and clean pine needles from the canyon

For the next few weeks we will work from 9am-12pm, as the weather is cold and we are almost finished.

Thanks,
Loni