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April 30, 2008
Olivia White Garden Project
We had another busy week in the gardens at Olivia White Home. On Tuesday, our we held our annual Orientation Day in the garden. We had several Master Gardeners attend along with some friends of Northland Hospice, promising a productive spring in the garden. Karen Kent, Leslie Penick and Cynthia Davis all came to show the ropes to the new volunteers. We talked about hospice, the history of the garden, plans for 2008, and procedures for working in the garden. While we were talking Marion Lopez did her usual spring visit to begin pruning the roses - to be continued on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Misti Warner-Anderson and her husband and son came and planted a tree for Arbor Day. Warners has been a big supporter of our gardens from the beginning. Many of our plants, shrubs and trees would not be there without them. They have helped us stretch our limited budget and helped with advice on many purchases. This tree is another beautiful "Paul Scarlet" Hawthorn and it was planted at the end of the Rose Garden. It has beautiful pink-red flowers in the spring and an open canopy to allow the sun to shine fully on the roses. Check them out at Warner's. They do very well in the Flagstaff area, and have an interesting biblical history.
On Thursday, we had our 1st official workday in the garden. Regulars attending included Karen Kent, David Hockman and Elsie Ellis. They pruned rosess, worked on compost, put up a trellis and a hose minder, watered the back garden and cleaned and filled bird baths. We also had a new master gardener come and help move some heavy cinder blocks as well as getting our faerie back in the garden. I spent most of my time continuing to repair the drip, and getting emitters back on plants.
Marion Lopez came to finish pruning the roses. We had a great deal of die back this winter with the heavy snows. With the cool dry spring, their return will be slow this year. Of note is that the Canadian Roses had very little die back and almost no pruning. I think we need more of them to cut down on our work and plant loss.
New Blooms:
More hyacinth, tulips and the iris are about ready to pop.
Plans for next week:
Thursday, May 8th, 8am-12pm
Continuing work on the rose garden drip lines
Deadheading
Watering
Fencing a replacement aspen
Filling bird feeders and cleaning bird baths
Get out the remaining hardscape
Removing hanging baskets, benches from the gazebo
Saturday, May 10th
Re-stain the gazebo - work crew from Coconino County Adult Probation
God made rainy days, so gardeners could get the housework done. UnknownNeedless to say my house is a mess as I spend most of my time watering.
Happy Gardening,
Loni Shapiro
Posted by maxmaddy at April 30, 2008 8:34 PM