Olivia White Hospice Home Garden Volunteers: February 2011

Gardens Founded in 2001 - Home in 2002

Echinacea - Photo by Laura Davis

The garden began in 2001 with the help of Norm Erickson, a Northland Hospice volunteer, at the corner of Switzer Canyon Drive and Turquoise. At that time the home had not been completed but a beautiful sign was placed on the corner. Norm continued to work on the beds on the east side of the sidewalk along Switzer Canyon Drive and in front of the home, until 2008. The rest of the gardens were developed by a core of Coconino County Master Gardeners initially led by Laura Davis and since 2007 by Loni Shapiro.

The garden crew is active from April-October and sometimes in November weather permitting. Work happens weekly throughout the garden season on Monday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. It also is scheduled for one Saturday a month from April through October. Cancellations due to weather will be posted by 6:00 am of the workday on this blog. You must attend a spring orientation to the garden and Northland Hospice & Palliative Care in order to work. A summary of the work that has been done is included on the blog. Look for weekly postings on this blog during the garden season.

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Volunteering in the Garden

2015 Calendar

April 13, 11:30-1:30 Lunch and orientation for new volunteers at hospice and TB testing for all

April 16, 9:15-10 TB tests read and 10:00 garden orientation. First Thursday workday 9-12

April 20, First Monday workday 9-12

May 2, Saturday workday 9-12

If you are interested in volunteering, please email CrysWells@gmail.com.

Please note: TB testing is required annually for all garden volunteers.

If you have current TB results that were done by a physician or at a hospital, these may be submitted to Northland Hospice.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact the volunteer coordinator Kathy Simmons (ksimmons@northlandhospice.org) to schedule a time for testing and orientation.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Hospice Garden Meeting Minutes 2/24/11

Attending: Sam Younger, Christine Pierce, Loni Shapiro, Linda Guarino, Nancy Palmer, Laura Davis, David Hockman, Karen Kent, Crys Wells, Marcia Lamkin, Rebecca Moore, Julie Holmes, Judith Chaddock.

I. Updates
Dave Hill and Zane’s Garden
Plans for garden continue. Zane’s water dish and paver shown to all, along with a copy of the memorial service from Tempe. Plans are for a garden dedication on the 5th of May weather permitting at 11am. The garden will be defined and a shrub planted on that day. Sam Younger will advise if ashes can be scattered in the garden.

Michael Moore Garden
Laura reported plant lists will be done in the next week. A blessing is planned with Michael’s widow. Nancy is working on typing the plant list and the ceramic sign for the garden. Laura is checking to see what another garden’s sign will look like. 5 people will help with the planning (Laura, Nancy, Marcia, and 2 new MGs (Maret Mitchell and Rebecca Moore). There may be 3 additional signs done by our sign maker for the 3 gardens. Loni requested a needed plant list for her planned trip to Santa Fe.

Mice in home
Sam reports that the problem seems under control with Simply Nolan working on mice and other animals (skunk). Garden staff was requested to make sure no food or seed items are placed in the garage without being contained in plastic or metal. Handles on seed cans must be up to prevent entry. Garden staff will monitor during the season and if problem returns will remove all seed feeders from around the home (just hummingbird food).

Garden materials updated except the Scavenger Hunt (Native Garden/General Info Sheet/Rose Book and Donor Book)

II. New
Ordered tags for last years donations – about 10 should be here in the next week.
Ordered 2 arbors and roses for parking lot area (6 roses ordered from David Austin (3 Falstaff and 3 Shorpshire Lad (red and peach/rose). Nancy, Linda, and Marcia each paid for 1. Remainder to be in the wish list book for donations.
Wish list book updating - List updated for display in the home. Gardeners requested to get any additions to Loni in March so a final list will be in the house April 1. Sam offered to check for donations on some items. Loni will get him dimensions for
the shed for a home depot donation. Sam to check on the Home Depot grant.
Possible group from Flagstaff Leadership Group (25). They are meeting on March 2 and
Wendy will advise if we are their project.
Schedule Plant & Garden Sale - Saturday or Sunday, June 25, from 10am-2pm. Christine will add a flyer to the race packet which is that morning. Loni to keep Christine up to date on project.
Loni to Santa Fe in April – probably 3rd week. Send any needs to her by the 1st of April
Loni to cover Mon/Thurs workday supervision need volunteers to sign up for 1 Saturday workday a month (April/October)except June. Dates needed, April 23, May 21, June Plant Sale, July 16, August 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15th. Please advise Loni if you can supervise on one of these days from 9-12.
Loni to do a herb garden class for CCC June 18th – we will plant a small herb garden at OW. Laura to help in the garden.
Jobs that need help! (We now have 12 regulars and several part-time people so I would like more help with specific tasks. Several new MGs have also expressed interest in helping this year and they can do some of these. Saturday supervision should be people who have been here a couple of years.)
Revising garden map to include front gardens – look for a new MG to do this.
Need someone to keep track of garden volunteer hours for 2011 – Julie Holmes
Need someone to visit the spring MG Class to solicit volunteers (I have materials you can use) – Cynthia K and Crys ? need to check with Hattie on day.
Linda & Carol would like 2 more people to help with the new drip lines. They will teach and supervise. Good learning experience. David offered to help on this.
Coming up with 2 seasonal Scavenger hunts (Summer/Fall) – Marcia will work on.
Need someone to adopt the front ½ circle bed for replanting. We can all help with this but someone needs to plan and organize it. Discussion about plants. Will schedule a planning meeting with Nancy, Karen, Linda and myself.
Michael Moore Garden – All will probably help with this garden at some point, but Laura & Nancy could use a couple of others to help with planning. Two new MGs to help with this (Maret and Rebecca).
Zane’s Garden – Loni is planning but could use one other person to help plan the garden and the ceremony tentatively scheduled for the first Thursday in May. Nancy &
Marcia to help Loni with the planning. Discussion about plants – those with Golden in their name, possibly teal for RAG, some grasses (stipa like a dogs tail), and a ground cover succulent.
Brief meeting once a week (Thursdays) during the season for updates and sharing garden tips (no more than 30 minutes). Purpose to fulfill educational piece requirement of MG Program and have gardeners all on the same page (pruning, planting, feeding, etc).

III. 2nd half of meeting at OW to clean sun porch and repot needed plants. Weather permitting we will also tour Michael Moore Garden, Zane’s Memorial Garden, and take a look at the compost. Cleaned up plants on sunporch, planted plants so each room has a plant again, repotted some plants that needed it. Unable to tour gardens due to snow.

IV. Scheduled March meeting for March 17th at 9am at the office (452 N. Switzer Canyon Dr.) We will have an update meeting and then work on some craft items. Items include, GreenMan boxes, updating some hats, painting birdhouses, making lavender sachets.

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Reporting OWHH Volunteer Hours

For the 2015 garden season all volunteers will report hours in the book on the back patio at the garden. If you are there on a scheduled workday the book will be on the table. If you come on a non-workday, maybe to water or complete something you wanted to finish, the keys and sign-in book will be inside the home in the table drawer to the left as you enter.

Please record all hours in the garden, at meetings, and for home activities.

At the end of each month the sign in sheets will be sent to the office so please get your hours in by the end of the month.

Wish List 2015

Wish list book is kept on the table in the lobby of the Olivia White Home. Check the book for further details. Contact one of the gardeners if you want to donate.

General plant related materials not available at Warners (where we have an account from a yearly fundraiser) – up to $250 (cash/gardeners will purchase as needed); includes special fertilizers, perlite, sand, soil, and other repair items. Purchase of unusual plants at other nurseries (Viola’s, NP & Seed & HCG).

Special feed for roses (we have 50) - $250 per season or what you want to donate. Gardeners will purchase.

4 Pruners/clippers - $10-40 (see book for ideas)

A variety of long/short handled, cut and hold, small and large diameter.

Craftsman Handi-cut for irrigation (see book for details)

4 Weeders – variety of long and short handled (see book for ideas)

4 Trowels – variety

Mud Gloves (8 Pair – 1 small-5 med-2 light weight) (see book for details).

Spray nozzles for hoses – prefer short handled with multiple settings.

Birdhouses for trellis (new or used in good condition).

Bat or butterfly house for grounds.

Hulled sunflower seed or chips for bird feeders ($28-85 depending on size).

We only use this type of seed, because of clean-up requirements for millet or black oiled sunflower. We also need niger seed (cost ?) for the goldfinches. This takes more than $500 out of our garden budget.

Replacement wheelbarrows-prefer metal with no-flat wheels. (1 needed)

Welcome to the Gardens at Olivia White Hospice Home

The gardens surrounding the home were created for all who find themselves here. The history below reflects the many hands that have worked in the gardens. The volunteer gardeners have worked to create a quiet, peaceful place to experience alone or with those you love. The garden design enhances the sensory experience. You can hear zipping hummingbirds, water fountains, and the sound of wind chimes. It is a place to stop and smell the roses or the soothing fragrance of lavender. The many vegetables and herbs grown allow residents and staff to taste the gifts of nature. You can feel the gentle embrace of the wind and touch the soft leaves of lamb’s ear or bunny tail grass along with other more prickly plants in a ‘touch pot’. Another design consideration was providing universal access to all visitors and special beds/pots that allow interested residents to participate in gardening. Sitting and standing raised beds, and ‘sensory pots’ accessible to wheelchairs are enjoyed by many residents.
Peace to all who enter…

History
The gardens were started by Norm Erickson, a hospice volunteer, before the home was built in 2001, on the corner of Switzer Canyon and Turquoise where the Olivia White sign is found. Norm also created the gardens directly in front of the home. In 2001 Laura Davis, a master gardener began designing and planning for the gardens that surround the home. Loni Shapiro assumed responsibility for garden coordination and planning in 2007. The first project in 2002 was to lay the cement pathway which was done by NAU’s Construction Management class led by Dave Grider. A flagstone patio was created east of the home by Joanie Abbott of Foxglove Gardening with the help of Heber Trunnel. The first two plantings by the master gardeners included an Inferno Strip on Switzer Canyon led by Terra Crampton, and a Rose Garden led by Hattie Braun with a large donation of roses by Bill Brechan. Coconino County Park and Recreation at Fort Tuthill donated many truckloads of compost, and Bill Eichinger used his bobcat to help edge with rocks the gardens you see today. In 2004 a core of master gardeners and hospice volunteers (Loni Shapiro, Karen Kent, Cynthia Katte, David Hockman and Nancy Palmer) joined Laura and began creating the many gardens here today. Today we have a regular crew of master gardeners and hospice volunteers, with two workdays each week throughout each spring and summer. They are supported by many other church groups, scout troops, AmeriCorp, college - high school - middle school groups, Coconino County Adult Probation Community Service, Upward Bound, and businesses throughout Flagstaff. Warner’s Landscape and Nursery needs to be singled out for their continuing support for the gardens since their inception with yearly fundraisers and discounts on plant and hardscape materials. In 2006 the gazebo designed by Jill Morris was completed with the help of Terry Payne and John Adams, from Christ’s Church, and Loven Contracting. John Adams along with the help of the Sunshine Lion’s Club finished it with a brick pathway. Foxglove Gardening installed the drip system over three years from 2008-10. Most of their time was donated. From 2010-2012 we received grants from the Bountiful Alliance to create a Native Medicinal Garden in honor of Michael Moore, writer and naturalist. The work on that garden continues along Switzer Canyon Drive. The garden was dedicated by a Navajo elder in 2012. A small garden was dedicated in 2011 to our long time therapy dog “Zane” Hill. Plans for 2013 include continued revamping of some front gardens, work on the corner of Turquoise with the installation of the FUTS trail, and landscaping our new shed area.

The gardens continue to evolve each year. Some have already been altered from the original plan, such as the Rose Garden, east front and ½ Circle gardens, and north Switzer Canyon beds. In addition, many other trees, shrubs, plants and hardscape items have been donated. A list of donors is located in the library of the Olivia White Home. The library also includes a binder of all the roses found in our garden (over 40). A map of the garden was completed under the direction of Cynthia Katte and Kathy Pate that includes the location of most of the gardens and the special features. This will be updated in 2013 to include the changes along Turquoise and Switzer Canyon. A copy of the current map is included with this handout and can also be found in the Rose binder.

Donations/Volunteering
A “Wish List” for donations is provided in the home that includes yearly needs as well as special projects. Our main fundraisers to help pay for materials and water are memorial bricks (brochures available in the home), an annual 10% of proceeds day at Warner's Nursery, and a summer Plant & Garden Sale at the home. In addition, we sell note cards made from original paintings of the garden, photo note cards, and earrings made from Job’s Tear seeds grown in the garden. All can be found on the table in the entry of the home. We are always looking for new volunteers to help in the garden. Our weekly garden activities during the year can be found on the Volunteer Blog (owhospicegardenvolunteers.blogspot.com) or by contacting,Sierra Gadsberry, Volunteer Cordinator at sgadsberry@northlandhospice.org.

Revised 11/12