Workdays 9/12/11 & 9/15/11

On Monday I worked alone after a bad hail storm cleaning up debris and trying to prop up 3 locust trees that were almost on the ground. I pulled out all the veggies in the sitting raised bed, because they were shredded by the large hail.

Luckily, a large crew came on Thursday to help clean-up after several more storms and hail. Victoria Oehlbaum was the first to arrive and she watered indoors and worked on cleaning up the front 1/2 circle - leaves and weeds. Becky Lewis spent her time picking the remaining tomatoes and emptying the pots. Linda Guarino worked on the compost (chopping and layering), staked our locust trees with me, and planted a dogwood shrub from our Switzer beds in back of the house. David Hockman, Jim Woods, and Joe Harte planted two more large shrubs along Switzer Canyon (burning bush and serviceberry). Betty Marcus spent her time gathering seeds (hollyhock and Mexican hat). Judith Chaddock picked hollyhock and deadheaded. Kay Balzer dug up a juniper in the 1/2 circle garden with Joe's help and replanted it in our north beds. Marcia Lamkin worked on planting leftover plant sale items with Kays help. All are now safely back in the ground for winter. Marilynn VanWagner worked on the compost material, deadheaded, and watered some geraniums that don't get water. Crys Wells finished cleaning up the tomato pots and planted some fall mums.

Our season is winding down earlier than usual with all the hail in the last week. Happily all our tours and special events are over for the year. The trees, shrubs, and vines are beginning to change color (maple, sumac, virginia creeper). In the next several weeks we will begin re-organizing the sheds in preparation for putting away hardscape for the winter, adding mulch to the roses, planting fall bulbs, and continuing with general clean-up. We may be done by the 1st of November this year.

Upcoming:
Fall Harvest Lunch - Saturday September 17th, 12-2pm, at Judith Chaddock's
Northland Hospice Lunch - Friday, September 30th, 12pm-2pm, at the Raddison
Fall Bulb Planting - October (date TBA)

New in the garden:
Fall Mums/Asters have been added for a bit of color, and many perennials have returned.

"They have climate in England; we have weather."
Helen Rutherford Ely, A Woman's Hardy Garden (1903)

Thanks for all you do for the garden and to help me,

Loni

Workdays 9/5/11 & 9/8/11

Monday was a holiday and not an official workday, but Julie Holmes came and watered. I headed out to the county fair to pick up all our ribbons.

On Thursday Cynthia Katte was the first to arrive and she worked on the compost, along with Jim Woods. She also helped Victoria and Linda Guarino unload soil for a new bed for wildflowers. Betty Marcus watered several areas and collect hollyhock and Mexican Hat seed. David Hockman worked on the Rose Garden Pathway, sanding and adjusting bricks. Kay Balzer weeded the front 1/2 circle, planted some thinned gaillardia, and some iris. Becky Lewis worked on cutting iris back and planted some of our plant sale plants. Judith Chaddock watered indoors and deadheaded throughout the garden. Rebecca Moore and Laura Davis worked in the Michael Moore Garden.

Dave Hill and Murphy were back and out in the garden with residents. Leslie Pennick delivered her Colorado peaches and Becky brought some more homemade goat cheese. In the afternoon between rain storms we had visitors from the Arboretum staff. While they were there a female and baby deer were hanging around munching grass below the garden.

Upcoming:

Saturday workday 9/10 10am-12pm - Flagstaff High Honor Society
Annual harvest lunch 9/17 12pm-2pm - Judith Chaddock's
Volunteer Lunch provided by Northland Hospice 9/30 12pm-2pm Raddison Hotel

New in the garden:
More fall mums

This weeks workday:
Plant 3 shrubs
Water as needed
Plant leftover plant sale items
Deadheading (especially roses)
Help in Michael Moore Garden
Composting
Drip lines

The season is winding down with cooler temperatures but we will still probably be in the garden until the 1st part of November if you want to join us. We will be deadheading, planting bulbs, mulching for winter, staking gardens for winter snow removal, and putting hardscape items away.

Workdays 8/29/11 & 9/1 & 2/11

On Monday's workday this week Kay Balzer came and planted some large pots of daylily after weeding the front 1/2 circle. I spent my time watering and weeding.
On Thursday, Carol Lease worked on many little projects adding drip lines, filling the fountain, and making labels. Becky Lewis, Victoria (a new mg) and Kay Balzer worked on thinning iris and cutting tops down. Marilyn VanWagner and Crys Wells watered the front and back gardens. David Hockman and Jim Woods planted a couple of new shrubs. Jim also put our new Grass Hog together. Cynthia Katte worked on the compost and also deadheaded and cut iris tops. Nancy Palmer worked alone today in the MMG - weeding, watering, and spreading weed cloth. I spent my time doing orientation and gathering flowers for our annual entries in the County Fair. The flowers this year were hard to find. Most of them are already waning with the hot dry weather from the last several weeks.

On Friday, I also set up a display table in floriculture at the fair. It included a sensory pot for all to experience (aroma), sample cherry and yellow pear tomatoes, and a very large container with iris for fair visitors to take home.



New:
Awards at the county fair included 7 blue ribbons, 9 red, and 4 white. A special award was given to the 1st place coneflowers (pink double).

We have a new brochure for memorial bricks and other donations that now includes a pet memorial area.
2 Sumac shrubs
Blue Mist Spirea
Many daylilies

Thank you to my neighbor Mitchell Ulberstine for a new electric Grass Hog and extension cord. He also donated 3 hanging plants which are now gracing the front of Hodgepodge.

Upcoming:
September 10 - workday with National Honor Society Flagstaff High 8-10am
September 17 - annual Harvest Lunch at Judith Chaddocks 12pm-2pm
September 24 - monthly Saturday workday
Workdays will continue on Mondays and Thursdays from 8am-12pm probably into November weather permitting. Watch the October calendar for some bulb planting. It will be mostly tulips this year as the squirrels have dug up most of what we planted last year. We will try chicken wire cages for them this year.

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 8/22 & 25/11

On Monday, I worked with Kay Balzer in the garden and Laura Davis came to water the MMG. I spent my time watering, weeding, and deadheading Shasta Daisy. Kay removed a large grass in front of our angel statue, dug some iris, and weeded in the front 1/2 circle. There is no end to the ragweed and bell flowers even after revamping the garden.

On Thursday several regulars were off doing other things in their life, but we were able to get many things done. David Hockman planted another Sumac and reinforced the rebar surrounding our new willow. Becky Lewis and Crys Wells thinned and cut back iris. Marcia Lamkin and Rebecca Moore helped Laura Davis in the MMG. Laura gave us a short in-service on the progress with that garden and plans for the future. Cynthia Katte worked on the compost and deadheading throughout the garden. Judith Chaddock took care of the sun porch and house plants and deadheaded. Betty Marcus watered pots and new plantings. I spent my time deadheading, watering, and planting some new plants by our angel.

New plants:
Rock Rose and Dianthus (FG)
Sumac (Rose Garden Walkway)

Upcoming:
Coconino County Fair Sept. 2-5
Fall Harvest Lunch - Sept. 17, Judith Chaddocks, 12pm-2pm
Northland Hospice Volunteer Lunch - Sept. 30 12pm-2pm
Monthly Saturday Workday - Sept. 25, 9am-12pm

Plans for this week:
Help with Fair entries
Continue iris thinning/cutting back
Deadheading
Plant another Sumac
Plant some day lilies
Need 1 load of soil/compost for north garden
Compost - shredding material
Drip - continue adding lines

The extension of the FUTS trail will not happen until next spring so we have plants that we need to get rid of. We will plant 4 large pots of Shasta daisy and keep 3 shrubs for planting on the corner. Free plants (gaillardia, Shasta daisy, day lily) and iris available on Monday/Thursday workdays. Donations accepted.
CMGA 2012 Calendars for sale

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 8/15 & 8/18 & 8/20/11

On Monday, after heavy rains on Sunday, I worked alone in the garden. I spent my time cleaning up, deadheading, and watering pots that are sheltered from the rain. It rained heavily in the afternoon after I left. Between Sunday and today we had almost 5 inches in the rain gauge.

On Thursday, we again had a large crew. Laura Davis, Rebecca Moore, Nancy Palmer, and Marcia Lamkin all worked in the MMG. Carol Lease made some plant tags and helped with the iris thinning. Becky Lewis planted some new additions and also helped with the iris. Linda Guarino worked on the compost, drip system, and instructed others in iris thinning and planting. Gail Reed, worked on the compost area, transporting dirt to surround our pavers, and helped with the iris thinning. Kay Balzer spent her time cleaning up the 1/2 circle and thinning some gallardia in the back gardens. David Hockman did his usual tree hole digging and then put a fence around the new tree. He was helped by Jim Woods who also planted a couple of aspens in the MMG. Marilynn VanWagner and Betty Marcus watered some of the gardens. Marilynn also managed to pick some lettuce for the house. I spent my time watering, finding jobs and material for people, and picking some more vegetables.

On Saturday Nancy Palmer had a small crew - Debbie Crisp and LInda - and they worked on the MMG, watering, weeding, and thinning iris.

New plantings:
2 Double Coneflowers - white and orange
More Kinnikkinnik
Navajo willow tree behind the faerie garden
2 Aspen in the MMG

New blooms:
Asiatic Lily and some fall asters
Signs of fall include some red leaves on the virginia creeper

Upcoming:
Coconino County Fair - Sept. 2-5 (plant entry preparation 8/31
Fall Harvest Lunch - Sept. 17 - at Judith Chaddocks - 11am-2pm
Northland Hospice Volunteer Lunch - Sept. 23 - details TBA

Plans for workdays 8/22 & 25:
Thinning iris
Gathering hollyhock seed
Deadheading
Weeding
Watering as needed
Work on pathways (leveling and adding sand)
Planting a new shrub and tree

Thanks,
Loni

Workdays 8/8/11 & 8/12/11

On Thursday, Kay Balzer came and worked on the 1/2 circle garden and dug up some native phlox for the Native Gardne. Laura Davis worked on the Michael Moore Garden and I spent time watering and deadheading.

On Thursday, Joe Harte, Laura Davis, Kay Balzer,David Hockman, Carol Lease, and I worked on getting ready for the garden tours on Sunday. Joe trimmed some trees and weed whacked around the compost area. Laura worked on the Faeried Garden. Carol Lease put up our new fencing between the arbors at the garden entrance. I helped her a little but spent most of my time as usual running around to help people find things or start other tasks. David Hockman put in our new Pet Memorial paver area. Joe Harte pruned trees and took down an elm tree behind the Faerie Garden. Marcia Lamkin stopped by to say hi and tell us she was busy with feeding birds. The garden is ready for the Sunday tours except for watering some new plantings and transplanted tree and shrub.

On Sunday the tours began on a cloudy day with the sound of an impending storm about an hour after we opened. The birds were very active in anticipation of the visitors. With the exception of about an hour (heavy thunderstorm with 1.5 inches accumulation) we were very busy all day. We didn't take a count but are sure we had close to 100 people. Some came to just enjoy the beauty of the garden and others had many questions. The most frequent "What is that?" was the pink double coneflower. It is a hybrid that we purchased 2 years ago and it has done wonderfully. From one small plant (quart) we have a nice grouping of flowers. It won a ribbon at the county fair last year. Most frequent request was for hollyhock seeds. If you need some we are about 1-2 weeks away. You are welcome to come and gather seeds when we are in the garden on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Upcoming:
August Saturday workday, 8/20, from 9am-12pm
County Fair Entries and Display in Floriculture - 9/2-5
Annual Fall Harvest and Potluck - September/date TBA

New in the garden:
Fencing at garden entrance
Pet Memorial area
Lilac shrub donation (150 year old tree original specie from Europe. Has travelled throughout the US

Thanks to all who came to visit the garden on Sunday. It gives us the opportunity to show off all the hard work we put in, and see others of all ages appreciate it. special thanks to Nancy Palmer, Kay Balzer, Marcia Lamkin, and Laura Davis for hanging out in the rain with me on Sunday

Loni

Workdays - week of 8/1-6/2011

We had another busy week in the garden which is looking wonderful after all the rain. It looks better than it has since I have been working in it. On Monday, we had a small crew - Susan Thompson worked on watering, while I washed pots. Kay Balzer came and tended to the 1/2 circle, weeded, and sprayed some nasty weeds.

On Tuesday some of the docents from the Arboretum came for a tour of the gardens for their monthly Brown Bag. On Friday we had the Senior Companions and Foster Grand Parents touring the garden. Both groups enjoyed seeing parts of the garden not visible from the street and hearing about the development of the gardens.


On Thursday we had a large crew working in the garden. Laura Davis, Rebecca Moore and Nancy Palmer all worked on weeding, hardscaping, and planting in the MMG. Kay Balzer and Joe Harte went out to retrieve a lilac from a recent resident of OW. It was replanted after David Hockman dug a hole in the Switzer Canyon beds in front of the house. Linda Guarino worked on sifting compost with Christine Orr and continued to add lines to the drip, she also found time to plant a couple of succulents in our strawberry pot. Christine washed pots and put them back in the greenhouse. Gail Reed weeded several beds. Julie Holmes deadheaded flowers. Judith Chaddock helped deadhead, watered indoors, and they both cleaned up some donated house plants. Crys Wells deadheaded and help clean-up in prepartion for the senior tours on Friday. Carol Lease worked on plant labels, the fountain, and general clean-up.

Visitors this week besides our groups included the: Bermans to look at a bench donation, and Catherine Sickafoose taking photos for painting. As usual Dave Hill was in the garden on Mon. & Thurs. with Murphy and many of the residents.

Plans for next week include:
Rose fertilizing
Deadheading and weeding
Placing pavers in the Pet Memorial Garden
Watering as needed
General clean-up in prep for the Garden Tours on Sunday
Moving some native phlox into the gardens from the east side of the property

New blooms:
More roses, some agastache, 4-o'clock, honeysuckle berries

For picking:
lettuce, spinach, some herbs, zucchini, crookneck, arugula, beginning tomatoes

Upcoming:
Native Plant Society Extravaganza - August 10, Federated Church
Native Plant Society Garden Tours - August 14, 11am-4pm OWHG
Monthly Saturday Workday - August 20, 9am-12pm
Coconino County Fair - Sept 2-5 - OWHG Display in Horticulture

Thanks,
Loni