Olivia White Hospice Home Garden Volunteers: June 2012

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.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Workdays June 25 & 28

Two new master gardeners Toni Barnes and Katrina Karjala came on Monday and helped water, worked in the MMG with Laura Davis, and helped get plants back into the 1/2 circle garden. Cynthia Katte also returned and watered indoors and deadheaded outdoors. Julie Holmes had the fun task of cleaning up garden pots for the plant sale. That much help on a Monday was helpful in getting the work for the week done.

David came from Foxglove Gardening and closed up the holes in the front gardens. The drip there has been open for a week and there have been no leaks. A couple of the plants are a bit stressed, having been removed and replace, but otherwise the garden looks good. Some additional rock will be needed to make it presentable for the contest evaluation (July 14 or 15). The week of July 9 we will do the last minute touch ups (weeding, etc.)

I am working on a local crew from AmeriCorp to come and help did up the large shrubs in front of the house. They will most likely be coming on Sunday, July 9th, if you want to help (9am-12pm). Depending on how many we have we will have them do weeding and help Laura in the MMG.

On Thursday our crews worked on several parts of the garden and we hosted our annual Plant & Garden Sale. An e-mail will be sent with what is left from this weeks sale. Christine Orr came and worked on the compost and then watered a front garden bed that is being redesigned. Becky Lewis came and removed most of the perennials plants. Some will be added to our sale and others will be saved for putting back in the bed. Judith Chaddock came and cleaned up the sunroom plants and the outside geraniums. She spent the remainder of her time pricing garden sale items. Linda Guarino returned from a long vacation in Equador and worked on sprucing up the 1/2 circle garden, the drip system, and watering the north Switzer Canyon beds. Laura Davis continued work on the MMG - planting and watering. Crys Wells came and watered several beds in the East gardens. I spent my time tagging new plants, selling plant sale items, and watering new plantings.

New in the garden:
Decorative wheelbarrow in the Native Garden
More perennials for the Plant Sale

Plans for next week:
Watering as needed
Compost pile
Weeding - west and south of FG, south of gazebo
Pruning Wood's rose
Begin removal of front shrubs and soil

Upcoming:
AmeriCorp Workday: July 8, 9am-12pm
Native Plant Society Contest judging July 14 or 15
Warner's Annual 10% Day for Northland Hospice & Olivia White Gardens July 21 - 9am - 5pm
Saturday Workday - July 28 9am-12pm
Native Plant Society Evening Event July 25
Native Plant Society Public Tour July 29 11am-4pm

Hope to see you this week for volunteering or shopping!
Loni

Friday, June 22, 2012

Workdays June 18 & 21

This week we sprang a leak in the drip system. Foxglove Gardening and several other consultants are trying to figure out where it is coming from. In the meantime, one of our newest gardens (entered in the Native Plant Contest) has be partially dug up. Toni Barnes came earlier this week and helped me water the entire garden by hose from the house. Between the 2 of us it took about 5 hours to do that. We are praying for rain this weekend, especially if the drip is not repaired.

Nancy and Bruce Palmer dropped by and added some new birdhouses to the arbor bench.

On Thursday we had a large crew to make sure everything was watered. Carol and Lee Lease were there when I arrived and Lee put together a small decorative wheelbarrow for the native garden. Carol worked on the back sand patio - repairing and resanding it. Peter Weiser came for the plant sale and dug up some raspberries for his garden and we had a few other shoppers (penstemons were popular). We will continue the sale for the next several weeks. A neighbor of Carols, Jeanette Sletten, just came up from the valley for the summer, helped us water. Vicki Goodwin did some work in the Faerie Garden and some major weeding in the north beds with Christine Orr. She also pulled some of that spreading Bellflower that was taking over some roses. Christine also worked on the compost pile. Betty Marcus was there before I arrived (6am) watering. Susan Holiday a new MG came and labeled all our plants for the sale. Laura Davis worked in the MMG and also planted some clematis in front of the house. Julie Holmes planted a replacement carpet rose for the Rock Garden area. Katrina Karjala came on Monday and Thursday and helped water. Joe Harte came and worked on pruning the woods rose back so our apple tree gets some sun. It is a difficult job (lots of stickers) and will have to be completed next week. I spent my time getting sand for the patio,keeping everyone busy and doing some watering.

The plant sale will continue. In addition we will have garden related items for sale this week (pots, books, tools, etc.)

New in the garden:

A decorative wheelbarrow in the Native Plant garden

Arbor bench with new birdhouses

New blooms:

Shropshire Lad David Austin Rose

Poppy in the Moon Garden

Work for next week:
Pricing sale items
Continue back patio work and Wood's rose pruning
Begin digging the front bed plants out
Deadheading iris and other spent blooms
Watering as needed
Weeding - beds south of gazebo this week
Planting - some replacements plants and 1 shrub

Upcoming:
Native Plant Society Contest judging July 14 or 15
Warner's Annual 10% Day for Northland Hospice & Olivia White Gardens July 21 - 9am - 5pm
Saturday Workday - July 28 9am-12pm
Native Plant Society Evening Event July 25
Native Plant Society Public Tour July 29 11am-4pm

Thanks to all who helped this week - my e-mail brought many out to help with the watering.

We will be in the garden next Monday and Thursday. The plant sale will continue and we will have some garden related materials (pots, tools, books, etc.).

Loni

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Workdays 6/11 & 14/12

On Monday I was off attending a class on Native Plants at CCC. Laura Davis was in charge for the day and several regulars came to help water, along with a new master gardener trainee and Peggy Sheldon-Scurlock. Special thanks to Betty Marcus who filled in last week on several days to water in my absence.
On Thursday, we had a small crew with many regulars vacationing or out ill. Carol Lease worked on some plant tags and put in our new oblesques and added a clematis to each. They are both located in the front of the home.

Carol Lease and new trellises

Laura Davis and Betty Marcus both watered along Switzer Canyon. I watered new planting and made some soil for pots. Joe Harte came and worked on the pathway from the rose garden to the parking lot.

Because our crews have been small we have been unable to dig up enough plants to do our annual plant sale. Instead we will offer what we have already dug up on our workdays beginning June 21, for about a month. We will have plants, pots, books, and other gently used garden materials and our fundraising items for sale
.

Sale Plants

Plans for next week:
The decorative wheel barrow has arrive and needs to be assembled.
There are several plants - large and small - for a variety of gardens that need to be put in the ground.
The back patio need to be re-sanded and some pieces buried more.
The woods rose is taking over one of our apple trees and needs to be pruned and some dug up
We need to begin removing plants from the front garden bed that will be redone
Weeding inferno strip and deadheading iris.
Watering indoors and out
Compost management

New in the garden:
Most of the vegetable have been planted
Deer are enjoying the strawberries
Half dollar sized apples on our granny smith tree for the first time
2 new oblesques made into trellises in front of the house

Hope to see you in the garden this week.

Loni

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Workdays 6/4 & 7

On Monday, we had a small crew working. Laura Davis came to water the Michael Moore Garden, Betty Marcus watered the beds in front of the house that are not on the drip. Julie Holmes continued to work on deadheading the lavender which has more dead woody parts after our dry winter. The plants are old and this problem seems to increase not only with low water but age. It may be time to replace a few as they do very well in the garden and seem to keep the deer from the rose garden. I spent my time putting in some veggies from the CSA and watering new plantings. Vicki Goodwin stopped by to check out her new plantings in the Faerie Garden.

On our second workday of the week, there were several regulars in the garden. Carol Lease did her usual problem solving with the drip (replacing broken lines and adding new ones). Even with the drip the plants are looking much more stressed this year (no rain since April 26th). Betty Marcus worked on supplemental hand watering many of the beds, and I watered all the new plantings. I have been doing it daily for the last several weeks. Carol also tagged our iris so that when we thin in the fall we will know the colors. Becky Lewis, Christine Orr, and Marcia Lamkin worked on digging up new plants for the plant sale. Christine also did her usual management of the compost area. Judith Chaddock watered indoors and moved some of our indoor geraniums into pots along with aloe. I planted the pots in front of the house with some perennials but mostly annuals, and a small rock rose on the third anniversary of the loss of my mom. Laura Davis continues to work on the Michael Moore Garden and the Tea Garden. Joe Harte came by and worked on pruning trees.

Blooming:
The most striking blooms (there are too many to list) this week are the John Cabot Rose and the Missouri Evening Primrose

Plans for next week:
Watering as needed
Last week to dig plants for the plant sale. This will be our big push this week so the plants have time to settle in before being sold.
Next week we will return to garden maintenance and remove some large patches of bell flower that are taking over.
I will be taking a class on Monday and Laura Davis is in charge.

Hope to see you this week. Anyone interested in helping with watering until the monsoons start please let me know.

Thanks,
Loni

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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