Olivia White Hospice Home Garden Volunteers: March 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.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Minutes for Meeting 3/17/11

Hospice Garden Meeting Minutes
March 17, 2011
Attending: Loni Shapiro, Cynthia Katte, Judith Chaddock, Julie Holmes, Crys Wells, Nancy Palmer, Karen Kent, David Hockman, Laura Davis, Rebecca Moore.

I. Updates
Dave Hill and Zane’s Garden
Dedication of this garden will be on May 5th at 11am. The perimeter of garden will be created and a shrub planted that day. Loni will bring photos and the memorial from the RAG newsletter. Dana Prom Smith will do the dedication. Come ready to share stories about Zane. The planning committee is meeting on April 4 in the garden at 9am. Anyone is welcome to join.

Michael Moore Garden
Marcia reports that Zack Zdinak will be helping with drawing some symbols for the garden signs. The committee will meet with him today. Marcia has asked Mountain Meadow Farm for some greenhouse space – no response as yet. Cynthia Davis has some greenhouse space.
Rebecca reported she has been working on a final plant list. Done but needs approval of Phyllis Hogan. Loni reports she has the catalog from Plants of the SW and may be able to get some seed from them on her trip to Santa Fe.
Nancy reported about the sandstone they found at Landscape Connection. They need to purchase before the FLP workday. Loni will find out by next Monday when the workday is and if they are helping with the sandstone or engraving. If not, the owners at Landscape may give us a discount. Nancy stated that they need to pick out the pieces. Nancy also showed a picture of the native American bear symbol they may use. MM was a large bearsized man.
Laura will be meeting with Phyllis Hogan and she reported activities planned for the workday. Loni suggested that we try to get the bobcat before the workday so that more work can be accomplished. The bobcat would also be helpful in moving large rocks out of the ½ circle garden.

FLP Workday & Fundraising
Loni reported that the workday will be either the 9th or 16th of April. When Wendy returns she will give us a date and Loni will check on the status of the sandstone. There are 25 people as part of the FLP but not all will be able to attend. The group is also doing a fundraiser for the OWG during the 1st Friday Art Walk at the Rainbow's End and other small businesses in the courtyard area. Loni will provide them with our sign and some fundraising brochures. She will also see if they want seeds to distribute to those who donate. They will also sell note cards.
Workday tasks beside the MMG
Sweep walkways removing cinders especially along Switzer Canyon
Put arbors together
Stain one bench
Sand standing and sitting beds
Bring out hardscape
Clean sun porch – removing plants
Water
Raise sheep troughs
Drip?

½ Circle Garden Planning
Loni, Karen, Nancy, and Linda met to plan the beginning work on the ½ circle garden. The crabapple, juniper, red osier dogwood will be left in the garden. All other plants removed to be used for the plant sale or other parts of the garden. We will try to get this done before the FLP crew comes so they can help us remove the rocks and some of the soil to bring it to ground level. The garden will become a meadow garden with several grasses and flowering plants (reds and purples). The reds will be 2 types of penstemons (pine/barbatos) and a Japanese Blood Grass. The purples Rocky Mt. penstemon, lavender and salvia. Other grasses will include 2 already in the gardens Karl Forester and a mulenbergia, and boutoula. Chrys has two grasses that may work for us a penistemon (zone 5) and a red grass similar to Japanese Blood Grass.

Saturday Workday sign-ups
Dates needed, May 21 (maybe Marcia), June Plant Sale, July 16 (Cynthia K.), August 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15th. Others may be able to help but dates uncertain. Please advise Loni if you can supervise on one of these days from 9-12.

Jobs that still need help
Revising garden map to include front gardens (mention to the MGS)
One more person to help with the drip lines. We have enough to do this – Linda, Carol, Cynthia, David, and Joe.
Seasonal scavenger hunts – 2 – help Marcia Lamkin. See Marcia if you want to help.
½ circle garden replanting and adoption – The garden prep will begin in April, but not planting until later. Loni to see if Kay Balzer might be interested in heading up this project once the planting starts.

MG Class Orientation
Crys and Cynthia will do on March 29th. Loni will get materials to Cynthia before that date. Orientation to the garden will be sometime in April on a Tues. morning before they go to class. Loni to check with Hattie on the best schedule.

Running tally for work hours in the garden – Julie
Julie will do monthly. Make sure you sign in legibly each week. Julie may work with Crys on signing in on-line. Loni will need to get approval from hospice for this.

Green-man plaque done by Karen Meyers - donated by Loni.
Faerie Garden – tree door and lady bug donated /donors unknown. Loni will do a brief donor form for the house to use when things are dropped off – so we can thank them.

II. New
Tools purchased – trowels, weeders, 2 shovels. Will make sure all hospice shovels have blue tape for ID.

Wheelbarrow repair – Joe replaced a tire on one wheelbarrow. We will have only 3 this season unless a grant comes through. The 4th is in poor condition and not worth replacing a tire. Al says we need to sand and paint and treat the wood handles.

Arbors have arrived
Loni will have FLP put these together, but they will need to be placed by the drip crew because of lines.

Scheduling group workdays (Coconini High School, Warner’s, AmeriCorp, CREC?)?
Loni will try to schedule Coconino for weeding and garden clean-up (May). She will also tell AmeriCorp to come again in July (project later). If the MMG wants additional help after the FLP is here we can contact them to see if they can help. Loni will also contact Peggy to see if FALA wants to do something. There is much garbage on Turquoise.

Greenhouse help – Cynthia Davis has some and Marcia is checking with Chuck McDougal for more.

Confidentiality forms – all signed forms which will be required each year in the garden for non-hospice volunteers only.

III. 2nd half of meeting to work on crafts:
Updating some hats – Thanks to Judith we finished all the hats.
Green Man boxes for volunteers – Several people did a green man boxrs and others took materials home. Opportunities will be provided again.
Painting birdhouses – people took home birdhouses to paint
Lavender sachets – all bags filled with lavender and lavender combination (rose buds/lemon verbena, chamomile). Loni to see if Celia wants to work with patients to fill the remaining. She is looking for simple projects to do with them – minimal hand function.

IV. Schedule for April
Workdays (Mon/Thurs 9am-12pm starting in April). Saturday workday for April still to be determined.
April - 2 garden talks (tool care - compost?) Loni will start with tool care for the 1st Thursday workday and Linda will talk about compost care next.
Monthly volunteer sign up for snacks. This will be done on the 1st workday. We will try to get 2 to sign-up for each (fruit/sweet). Since we have 2 workdays this might mean about every 6 weeks.

Submitted 3/17/10
Loni Shapiro

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

1st Friday Art Walk Fundraiser for Olivia White Gardens

The Flagstaff Leadership Program has chosen the Olivia White Hospice Garden as their project for 2011. They will be spending a workday in the garden, helping us to get the garden started for the season in April.

In addition they will be doing a fundraiser for us on 4/1 in conjunction with First Friday Art Walk in the courtyard in front of Rainbow’s End, Black Bean, Flag Brewery, etc. There will be music at Rainbow’s End, which is always packed full of people in that small space. There may be music on the outdoor stage at Flag Brew. They will have members of the class at each of the businesses, with OWH brochures and a donation jar. The members will solicit funds and the amount gathered will be matched by the businesses up to a certain amount (which has not yet been determined).

Please come and join in the fun while supporting the gardens at Olivia White.

Loni Shapiro
Volunteer Garden Coordinator
Olivia White Hospice Home

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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