The volunteer gardeners at
Olivia White Hospice Home would like to thank the Flagstaff community for their
support during this garden season. We
had a spectacular year with many volunteers and a very wet monsoon season. The gardens, especially the roses, were more
beautiful than ever. As usual we had
both financial and physical support from many.
Warner’s Landscape & Nursery continued by adding an 11th “10%
of Proceeds Day” for the gardens. All the nurseries (Warner’s, Violas, Native
Plant & Seed) provided discounts on plant material and advice during the
season. Five new master gardeners signed up as seasonal volunteers along with
two community gardeners, to help our regular crew. Special thanks go to those groups that continue
to support us throughout the year with their gift of time. Boy Scout Troop 7129
helped us with several projects. Two of the boy scouts working towards Eagle
Scout, completed big projects for us in the garden. One built two large redwood
trellises with donations from the community and work by their troop, families,
and friends. The 2nd scout
had his group put in two stone paths again with donations. AmeriCorp came this year with some volunteers
from the American Conservation Experience (ACE). This was their 7th
year to visit and they built a sandstone pad, lined a stone path with weed cloth,
and finished another stone path. The
Girls for Good came for their 2nd year. During the garden season
they came twice weekly to feed and water our birds. At the end of the season
the group came and removed pine needles from the canyon water area and washed
many of our pots.
This is my last year
coordinating the gardens at Olivia White and I want to thank each and every
individual and business that helped me make this a community project. My job
was made so much easier by all the material and support I received over the
last 10 years. The master gardeners will continue to make this one of their
garden projects, so keep supporting them with your kind and generous spirits. Gardens provide so many benefits to our
health; lasting friendships,
opportunities to learn and teach, continuous sensory experiences, food, reminders
of the cycles of life, physical activity, distraction from physical or mental
pain, and of course at hospice a way to give back to the community. Create a garden at home (small or large) or
find one to work in. It has made my retirement meaningful, fun, at time
challenging, and rewarding.
As the garden grows so shall
the gardener.
Old Proverb
Loni Shapiro, Master Gardener
and the volunteer gardeners of Olivia White Hospice Home
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