Week of May 18

We had beautiful spring weather all week and the garden is looking lovely! On Monday Carol Chicci started removing mulch from the roses. She will do only half now and then remove the rest once danger of freeze is past. Carol also thinned ground cover around the rose trellis with help from Becky Lewis and Katarina Karjala. Vic and Carol Hudenko worked on Switzer Corner and moved some transplants down there from elsewhere in the garden.

We had a big crew on Thursday. Judi Manoogian and Brenda Mitchell continued thinning ground cover and other plants growing where they shouldn't. This seems never ending, but the hard work is beginning to pay off. The remaining plants look so much better now that they aren't so crowded. Carol Chicci finished removing half of the mulch from the roses. Hope Gibbs continued her transformation of the Fairy Garden. She repainted some of our existing yard art and made new miniatures. It is so cute - you need to stop by and see it. Joe Harte set up birdbaths, benches and other hardscape. It's finally starting to look like a garden with all of our yard art in place. Ed Skiba planted the first vegetable bed ala square foot gardening. I am interested to see how it turns out. The plants are much closer than I am used to putting them. I worked on drip irrigation. There are always so many repairs after the winter. We should have everything working by next week. In the meantime, we will hope for more rain. Judi and Carol brought homemade goodies for our break time.

 The iris and clematis were especially beautiful this week. Unfortunately, we don't have pictures to post because Crys Wells was out of town. Hopefully we will have even more blooms next week.

The garden will be closed on Memorial Day May 25th. Back to normal schedule on Thursday.

Week of May 11

This week, the weather was beautiful on Monday, but rainy on Thursday. The good news is that we didn't suffer much damage from the freeze over the weekend. I usually judge spring by the gambel oaks, which had leafed out at my house. Unfortunately, it was too early for them there and they completely froze back. But they are hardy and should be fine in the long run. It must have been warmer at Olivia White because all the trees look fine.

On Monday, Carol Chicci and Brenda Mitchell weeded in the Rose Circle garden. Katarina Karjala fed and watered the irises and did some more weeding. Hope Gibbs worked in the fairy garden and Becky Lewis weeded cheat grass throughout the garden. On Thursday, we had a small and very wet crew. Carol and Vic Hudenko brought treats for us all and thinned ground cover in the North Inferno Strip. Ed Skiba worked on amending the vegetable beds and he should be planting there soon. Joe Harte trimmed some trees and finished setting up the rain barrels, which are now full. Crys Wells weeded in the House Back area while I weeded and thinned in the Half Circle Garden.

Crys took pictures of our Thursday crew.

Week of May 4

We had another good week in the Olivia White Hospice Garden. It was raining on Monday, but Carol and Vic Hudenko bravely showed up to help Becky Lewis with winter clean-up and weeding.

On Thursday, Carol Chicci finally finished pruning the roses and started on the grapes. Hope Gibbs starting bringing out the hardscape and the garden looks much livelier with all of our garden decorations in place. Joe Harte pruned shrubs and cleaned up the rain barrels. Ed Skiba brought in some lovely new garden soil and wonderful compost for the vegetable beds. We should get a good crop of veggies this year with all of those goodies for the soil. Judi Manoogian continued beautifying the rock garden area and Brenda Mitchell worked on ground cover. They are both trying to define plant space to give a more planned appearance to the garden. Many of our plants, while desirable, have taken over more than their allotted area. Crys Wells ordered the new standing vegetable bed and I starting working on the drip system.

Here are some blooms from the garden. The choke cherry is usually beautiful in the spring, but this year it seems especially showy. Two weeks ago, we thought we'd lost all of our lilac blooms because most of the buds seemed to have been killed in a frost, but this week they are back. Crys and I tried to identify the orange flower. An internet search suggests that it is helianthemum, also known as sunrose. it is supposed to be a summer bloomer, but it certainly looks good now!

Week of April 27

It's the last week of April and the garden is almost ready for spring. We've had a good crew working on raking, weeding, deadheading and thinning for the past three weeks and we can finally see the structure of the garden. In the next few weeks we will be replacing plants and filling the pots. The garden should really come alive!

Carol Chicci worked both days and finished the rose pruning. They look beautiful and we should get a good crop of blooms over the next months. On Monday, Katarina Karjala worked in the rose perimeter and Julie Holmes watered inside the house.  On Thursday, Ed Skiba showed up early to prep the vegetable beds. We should be planting there soon and will purchase a new standing bed to replace our old one, which is showing its age. Brenda Mitchell thinned and weeded along the rose trellis. I'm sure the roses will appreciate having more growing space around their roots. Judi Manoogian worked in the rock garden and it is looking totally transformed. Hope Gibbs took on the big task of thinning mint in the Fairy Garden and all the gardeners were able to take some home if they wanted. We now have room to replace some plants that were crowded out by all that mint. Hattie Braun stopped by to consult with Carol on the roses and give general advice. Crys Wells brought treats and I worked in the North Switzer bed, trying to fill in some tire tracks. I guess someone lost control coming down the hill last winter. No photos this week, but I'll post some next week. We should have lots of spring blooms to show.

Week of April 20

April 20 was our first Monday workday for the year and we had a good turnout. Julie Holmes, who kept the indoor plants watered all winter, was back. Katarina Karjala weeded and deadheaded the Moon Garden. Brenda Mitchell worked on the Rose Perimeter. Carol Chicci pruned roses. Carol Hudenko, Vic Hudenko, and Laura Davis worked on garden cleanup. With the garden just coming to life, it's a good time to review the status of plants and make plans for new plantings.

On Thursday, Hope Gibbs worked in the Fairy Garden. Hope has assumed responsibility for that garden in addition to the Tea Garden and it is definitely in need of some loving care. We will look forward to that transformation. Judi Manoogian wants to take on the Rock Garden and it definitely needs some taming and direction. Brenda Mitchell continued working on the Rose Perimeter. She is working her way around that bed, trying to keep the ground cover under control. Ed Skiba came to amend the soil in the vegetable beds. Carol Hudenko weeded and deadheaded in the inferno strip, and Carol Chicci continued working on rose pruning. Crys Wells and I were busy helping everyone else. Thanks to everyone for a productive first week in the garden. 

Here are some photos that Crys took yesterday. Looks like we may get some crabapples and quince this year. 

Opening Day in the Garden - April 16

We opened early this year because the plants are already growing and blooming with all the warm weather. We had a good group for opening day and three new, very enthusiastic gardeners showed up to help. Hope Gibbs, who is taking responsibility for the Tea Garden spent the cleaning that bed and is busy making plans to tame the herbs and replace missing plants. Judi Manoogian helped me clean the Switzer front beds. Brenda Mitchell worked on the rose perimeter, where she is trying to tame bellflower and lambs ear, which have both outgrown their allotted spaces. Carol Chicci, recently appointed Rose Maven, and Hattie Braun had a conference about rose trimming and Carol has been busy since working on the roses. Carol and Vic Hudenko are back and cleaning up Switzer Corner. Rumor has it that the corner construction will not be completed for at least two more years, and they will continue working beautifying that area. Crys Wells brought needed refreshments at break time and managed to help in spite of her knee problem.

Here are some pictures of the garden in early spring. We talked about the hellebore during our luncheon.

Orientation Luncheon for Garden Volunteers

You’re Invited

to a luncheon for

Current and interested volunteers of the 

Olivia White Hospice Home Gardens

Monday, April 13, 2015 11:30 to 1:30 

Northland Hospice Office 

452 N. Switzer Canyon Dr.

We will get to know each other a bit, make plans for the upcoming gardening year, provide mandatory Hospice Orientation and TB testing, and make sure you know how you can stay informed and involved.

Won’t you join us?

RSVP by Wednesday, April 8, 2015 

CrysWells@gmail.com 

928-380-2494