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.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Workdays 7/18/11 & 7/21/11

On Monday we had a small crew watering, weeding, and doing general clean up.
On Thursday, Laura Davis, Rebecca Moore and Marcia Lamkin worked on the MMG. Linda Guarino continued to add to the drip in the gardens and spruced up the rock garden in preparation for Sunday's judging. Al Katte built some shelves in the greenhouse and made changes in the arbor construction. Cynthia Katte worked on the compost and deadheaded some plants. Gail Reed planted some house plants, and watered the back gardens and the sun porch. Betty Marcus worked on watering along with me. David Hockman and Joe Harte worked on transplanting a Starburst locust. Joe also brought some soil from the Landscape Connection. With all the heat Betty came on Saturday and help me water one more time plants not on the drip. On Sunday the Native Plant Society came for judging the Moon and Rock gardens.


While we were in the garden we spotted a strange beelike insect on the Shasta daisy, and it was acting and looking like a hawk moth. Rebecca Moore found this photo that seems to look like what we saw. It is called a Bumblebee Moth and it has a long proboscis to suck nectar from the flowers. She also spotted one at the arboretum.

New in the garden:
Shelving in the greenhouse thanks to Al Katte
A weed whacker and birdhouse from the Paul Montoya family

New blooms:
Shasta Daisy throughout the garden, more roses, all the yarrows, hollyhock

Upcoming:
Arboretum Docent Visit - August 2, 930am
Senior Companion Program Visit - August 5, 11am
Native Plant Society Extravaganza - August 10
Native Plant Society Garden Tours - August 14
Monthly Saturday Workday - August 20, 9am-12pm
"Hello Dolly" with David Hockman - watch for dates in September

Plans for this week include our yearly help from AmeriCorp
Creating a pet memorial area
Revamping the compost area (weeding, weedcloth and maybe pavers)
Weeding (several areas on the property)
Pot washing and putting away for the year
Cleaning the sun porch
MMG - several activities
Tree moving - digging and replanting
Extras - garbage on Turquoise, lavender bundles, flower pressing, watering as needed

Did you know that Victorians used plants and plantings to create a special language in the garden? Two that I thought you might find interesting are symbols of humility - morning glory and bindweed. I must say that symbol is appropriate as I work along the Inferno Strip. Lavender has several symbols - memory and peace - also appropriate. The smell seems to sharpen the mind (wakes you up) and leaves you in a peaceful state.

Thanks,
Loni

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