Workdays Week of 7/30 - 8/4

On Monday Laura Davis came to work in the MMG. Julie Holmes and I worked on beginning the weeding of the corner gardens. We removed the usual ambrosia (ragweed), sweet clover, some invasive grasses, mullein, and bind weed from the area along Switzer Canyon. The work there will continue on Thursday. We hope to clear the area in preparation for the 10th Anniversary of Olivia White Home on August 13th.

Tuesday morning brought Joe Harte and Laura Davis to the garden to place a new redwood arbor in the MMG. I stayed and helped make sure it was level until I had an appointment at noon, and then had Doris a volunteer from the house relieve me. The structure is up and adds a beautiful touch to the new garden and is permanently cemented in.

Joe Harte digging post holes.

Joe Harte adding cement & Laura Davis
holding up the other end of the arbor.

Finished arbor in the
Michael Moore Garden

The rain in the garden is now over 6 inches since the end of April. The drip system has been off for more than a week.

Laura Davis also came on Thursday to work in the MMG adding some of the rock collected recently. Several of the volunteers including me worked on weeding the corner gardens - Vicki Goodwin, Christine Orr, Judith Chaddock, Carol Lease, Crys Wells, and Marcia Lamkin. It has not rained in a couple of days so Marcia helped me water the pots, Carol  added some labels, and Christine took care of the compost. Linda Guarino took on the difficult task of removing soil from the front gardens and adding some rock around shrubs and trees. Several others helped her after weeding - Marcia , Crys , and myself.

On Friday the Senior Companion/Foster Grandparent Programs came for a tour of the garden and to eat lunch on a beautiful afternoon. Lunch included many salads and special drinks like watermellon smoothies and cucumber water.

Also on Friday Bruce and Nancy Palmer came by and added a new birdcage to the Rose Garden. It was a donated item from Laura Davis. Ir looks beautiful - watch for a photo next week.

Early in the week we had a new visitor(beetle) to the garden. Not sure what it was but it looked like a miniature watermelon.

Plans for next week:
Continue work on the front bed including adding good soil and planting 3 shrubs.
Continue weeding at the corner.
Deadheading lambs ear and shasta daisy
General clean-up in preparation for the Monday Anniversary Celebration (sweeping, putting away all unneeded items (watering cans, pots, brooms, etc.)
Labeling some grasses in the 1/2 circle garden.

Come join us this week for our usual Mon./Thurs. workdays from 8am-12pm. If you have extra time or want to come on another day, contact me for some specific weeding tasks.

Thanks,
Loni

Native Plant Society - Garden Tours

The volunteers at Olivia White Hospice Garden want to thank the Native Plant Society for 2 special awards for our Red and Purple Mini Meadow and for the Zane Memorial Garden. Thanks to all who came to visit the garden on Sunday. We did not have a sign-in but I am sure more than 100 came to look at the gardens which are at their peak with all the rain. In addition to the 2 legged visitors there were many 4 legged and winged residents of the garden who were boldly out to watch. Several people requested the lemon cookie recipe. It is my favorite cookie from Martha Stewart and here is the link. Enjoy!

Thanks also to the garden volunteers who helped make it a successful day.
Toni Barnes, Laura Davis, Nancy Palmer, Linda Guarino and Marcia Lamkin

Sometimes our season gets long with so much work to do, but having visitors come and admire what you have accomplished makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks again,

Loni Shapiro

Workdays 7/23, 27 and 29

On Monday, we had our usual small crew but were able to get many jobs off our list for the week. Our focus is to get ready for the Native Plant Society garden tours on Sunday. Laura Davis stopped by on her way to Phoenix and gave Nancy Palmer and Toni Barnes their assignments. Toni watered and Nancy and Toni moved all the rock that was gathered on Saturday to the MMG. Toni also moved our compost to the compost area. Katarina deadheaded and washed what was left of our pots. I added a few planting, worked on protecting our strawberries from the squirrels, and watered indoors.

Dave Brimhall, one of the gardener's from Riordan Mansion stopped by and picked up the last of our plants from the sale as a donation. The remaining garden items were taken to Hodge Podge. We made over $500 this year with minimal digging. The money will go towards rain barrels for the garden.

The house held an "ice cream social" which I made homemade ice cream for (strawberry & coffee), and one of the residents cut lettuce for a lunch salad.

Thursday, our crew spent most of their time getting the gardens ready for Sunday's tours. Linda Guarino worked on compost, protecting electric lines for the drip system, and weeding. Laura Davis worked in the MMG. Jeanette Sletten brought another volunteer and they worked on removing the Wood's Rose from underneath our apple tree. Carol Lease worked on a drip repair and made tags for new trees/shrubs and the MMG. Becky Lewis, burried drip lines in the FG, placed 3 bricks, and cleaned up the rose garden (weeds and debris). Judith Chaddock returned and took care of plants in the house, planted a few plants, cleaned up the sun porch and outside pots, and deadheaded. Marcia Lamkin cleaned up the cushion for the bentwood bench, and swept sidewalks. I spent my time doing various odd jobs, and keeping everyone else busy.

Several years ago we had 7 aspens donated that were planted by Gore. We lost 2 after the 1st year - one to winter plows and the other to deer. After that we fenced the trees. They have grown considerably and our pruner noticed that the one in back on the edge of the garden before it drops off is actually a cottonwood. It is much taller than the other trees and has a grey bark rather than white. Joe Harte removed the fence and pruned it. It should be big enough to withstand deer browsing.

On Sunday the garden was open from 11am-4pm for garden tours for the native plant society. We had two gardens recognized - 1/2 Circle Red/Purple Mini Meadow Garden and Zane's Memorial Garden. Many visitors came and enjoyed the garden, tours, and refreshments.

 

Plans for next week:
*Finish digging front beds
Compost
Watering as needed
Weeding corner garden
Clean up debris around iris, deadhead as needed

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 7/16 - 19 - 21

On Monday after a plea for help in planting trees and shrubs, Toni Barnes came early and finished digging our tree hole. She also removed a large clump of red hot poker so that a rose could be planted. Ruth Ellis came and cleaned up an area where the bell flower has taken over some roses. Nancy Palmer worked on planting some new finds from the Arboretum plant sale, and put in some new solar lights to the arbor bench. I spent my time watering a couple of new plantings and removing one of our lilacs so a new nectarine could be planted in it's place. Toni, Ruth, and Nancy planted our new Amur Maple, Toni planted a new Harrison's Rose (aka - the yellow rose of texas), and she helped me plant the new dwarf nectarine. All are safely in and just need irrigation lines. All in all a very productive day.

Amur Maple to honor Patty Kavanaugh, RN
donors - Northland Hospice Staff
planters - Toni, Nancy, and Ruth

Harrison's Yellow Rose

Dwarf Nectarine from Karen Overton

On Thursday, we had a small crew. Christine Orr and Linda Guarino worked on the compost. They turned over bins, sifted, chopped material and moved the completed pile near the main compost area. . Christine and Linda also removed some dirt from the front beds. Linda and Jan Busco planted some finds from the Arboretum Plant Sale. Jeanette Sletten watered and deadheaded lamb's ear. Carol Lease worked on adding irrigation lines to the new trees and shrubs. Laura Davis came for a short time and watered the MMG. There was a discussion regarding trees on the property. We will accept no more unless something needs to be replaced. We have one tree (cottonwood vs. aspen) in the small  grove, that will get quite large.  Our 1st Hawthorne needs to be moved. It appears to be too crowded where it is, and not getting enough sun.

On Saturday we held our annual 10% Day at Warners. Susan Holiday, Steve Raymer, and Becky Lewis all helped to host a table at the nursery. We sold some of our fund raising items (cards, magnets), answered some gardening questions, and shared information about hospice and the gardens at Olivia White.
Thanks to Warners and their generous spirit and helpful friendly staff.

New in the garden:

Amur Maple Tree, Harrison's Yellow Rose (aka: yellow rose of Texas), Dwarf Nectarine

Sunset Crater Penstemon, Morman Tea, variety of penstemons, Ornamental Oregano, lavendar (Royal Velvet and white), zauchineria..

Solar lights for the arbor bench

Upcoming:
Warner's Landscape & Nursery  10% of proceeds Day, July 21 9am-530pm
Native Plant Society Contest Awards, July 25, 630pm, Federated Church
Native Plant Society Garden Tours, July 29, 11am-4pm, OW Garden

Work for next week:
General clean-up of garden in prep for garden tours (sweeping, cleaning porch area, weed 2 native plant garden entries)
Make tags for new tree shrubs
Finish washing pots
Fill bird feeders and clean baths
Continue work on front beds (soil removal))

Loni Shapiro

Workdays 7/9/12 - 7/15/12

On Monday this week we had a few volunteers after the glorious rain. Tomi Barnes came early and worked in the MMG, dug up some juniper from the front beds, and planted some new shrubs. Betty Marcus watered some new transplants, fed and watered the birds, and cut some spinach and lettuce for the house. Laura Davis worked on putting in some new plants and watering the MMG. I spent my time washing pots, keeping everyone else busy, and taking care of some plant sales.

On Sunday we will have the Native Plant Society to judge a couple of our gardens for their contest (Zane's Garden & the 1/2 Circle Purple & Red Meadow Garden).

New plants in the garden:
      Sierra Pink Currant
      Lavender "Royal Purple"

Plans for the week:
     *Plant an Amur Maple after moving a small shrub
     *Continue getting the beds ready for planting (front of the house), removing plants & dirt
     *Remove red hot pokers & plant a yellow rose
    * Move dirt and compost from the north end of the house
     Compost care (chipping the juniper or tossing if not wanted)
     Watering as needed with the beginning of the monsoons
     Planting 2 lavender, and several annuals for the front pots
     Remove bell flower again from the area north of the rose garden
     *Weeding - Infernos and the 2 judging gardens
     Cut lavender for drying and press flowers
 

Upcoming:
Native Plant Society Contest judging July 15, 1130am
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 on Thursday.

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays - Week of 7/2 - 7/8

On Monday we had a small crew but managed to get many things on our list done. Julie Holmes worked on cleaning up and tagging plant sale items. Laura Davis worked in the MMG - planting and watering.  Toni Barnes got the fun job of digging in our very dry soil. She planted some daylilies behind the pet memorial area, removed a buffalo berry stump,  and continued removing plants and cleaning up the front beds. This week we will start removing soil and on Sunday will have AmeriCorp remove some shrubs. We have a new summer volunteer from NPA - Linnea - who spent her time watering several beds. Katarina Karjake watered and cleaned up the front beds.

Our plant sales are going well (about $250). I will send a revised list out at the end of the week. We will probably only go 2 more weeks.

On Thursday we had a good sized crew (10). Linnea came again and watered. She also cleaned the bird baths and made some hummingbird food. Laura Davis stopped by to water the MMG and leave some treats. Judith Chaddock watered indoor and helped with weeding outdoors. Christine Orr worked on the compost and helped Judith weed. Crys Wells came with her two nieces who come by each year to help in the garden. Crys watered and her nieces weeded a nasty area just south of the Faerie Garden. Debbie Crisp and Becky Lewis both had the least fun task of digging up dirt from the front beds in preparation for redoing the beds. Jeanette Stetlan fed and watered most of our  roses. Our Plant & Garden Sale continued with many visitors. Some plants and garden tools remain. Watch the listserv for details.

We had a large crew (9) on Sunday from AmeriCorp. They did many hard tasks over 3 hours in the garden. 4 shrubs were dug out of the front beds, and two (burning bush) were replanted. We missed David Hockmans' expertise with fishing out the large rocks, which we found many of, but managed to get the job done. Other jobs accomplished were removing weeds from the south rock wall, gathering some rocks to circle the new plantings, moving  sandstone to the MMG, and watering before it poured (yeah). Laura Davis helped me keep all busy and she watered the MMG, and tied up some of the grape vine in the gazebo.

2012 AmeriCorp crew planting a shrub

Watering

Plans for next week:
Watering as needed
Dig up red hot poker - plant Harrison's Yellow Rose
Plant new current
Compost pile
Weeding - 1/2 Circle Garden & Switzer Canyon Inferno Strips
Continued work on front bed garden -soil removal
Remove bell flower
Cut lavendar and press flowers 

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,
Loni