Hi All,
Fingers crossed our beautiful weather will continue for 2025’s summer and fall. The only piece missing is RAIN. Note to all: will do our best to water thirsty flowerbeds this week.
There were 8 extra-ordinary gardeners in attendance Tuesday, September 2 from 9 – 11 a.m. They were: Diane Allen (3 1/2 hours), Monica Hoherz, Mary Laughlin, Pat Yeggy, Lisa Haverkamp, Cindy Parsons, Barb Schintler, and Hetty Hall (3 1/2 hours). Our to-do list of 7 of 8 goals were checked after our two hours together. One goal for Tuesday was a new one, taking a tour of the REAP Grant trails and outdoor projects that will soon (?) be started. Cindy and Diane led this tour following red stakes showing locations for new trails with extra spurs. Fun! Ron and Susan Haffner (Larry and Diane’s neighbors) once again, donated plants for the PGG and volunteers. Many thanks for miscanthus & zebra grasses and hostas! Project GREEN greatly appreciates plant donations! Our temperature at 9 a.m. was 66 degrees and 11 a.m., 72 degrees. The air quality was 52, considered moderate with 65% humidity. Since week 17, the PGG received 0.07 inches rain. Extra time for Project GREEN volunteers since August 25 (week 17) was: Cindy and Diane who met with Ed Rinderspacher, Project GREEN’s project manager on Thursday for 2 hours each and met with Laura Hawks Friday for another 2 hours each, Diane spent 4 hours preparing, compiling, and sending off our 2026 plant order to Dawn Bouslog at Pleasant Valley Greenhouses, Sue Ahrens spent 3 1/2 hours September 1 and 2 1/2 hours earlier in the week caring for the Northside Garage Garden, Jim Peters donated 1 1/2 hours watering on 8/28, and Monica Hoherz planted 12 new coral bells and watered spending an extra 2 1/2 hours. Please remember to record any extra time spent at/for the Project GREEN Gardens. It does add up quickly!
Our Tuesday work session was busy with weeding, watering, planting, caring for containers + wagons, We decided not to fill a new flowerbed with Variegated Soloman Seal (VSS) this year as there were concerns of large equipment driving on this bed. Next spring we will fill this location with donated VSS. Our only unfinished goal was where to plant 100 daffodils & 60 globe alliums. Please let me know your ideas. By the way, the donated hostas from the Haffner’s were given to Project GREEN volunteers for their own gardens. Our Gardens are unable to accept plants rabbits and/or deer will eat as well as flood tolerant where there are concerns of the Iowa River flooding.
Here are pictures showing beauty found at week 18’s PGG:
Here are the numbers after working at the Gardens for 18 weeks. Weeks 1 – 17 + Week 18 = 752 hours + 41 hours
= 793 hours for Project GREEN 2025 volunteers, so far!
Congratulations to all the volunteers. The Gardens are truly a special place for visitors near and far.
Our next work session (week 19) will be Monday, September 8 from 9 – 11 a.m. I have an idea to explain an extra watering for our many flowerbeds during the week ahead. Ed Rinderspacher has piled two truckloads of mulch (yes, the good stuff!) near Evelyn’s Corner that will need spreading. We can use Fern to move the mulch where needed. Hope to see lots of volunteers to join in the mulching party! Until then, happy gardening. Diane