Hi All,
Another week has passed as Project GREEN volunteers continue to care for the 2025 PGG. Time has gone quickly.
Fifteen volunteers were in attendance on Monday, September 22, better known as the autumnal equinox. They were: Diane Allen (3 hours), Pat Yeggy, Mary Laughlin (1 hour), Rina Sjolund, our newest volunteer Kara Frankman (MG), Barb Schintler, Sue Mullins, Hetty Hall, Monica Hoherz, Chris Ostrander, Lisa Haverkamp, Jim Peters (3 hours), Cindy Parsons, Susan Ahrens, Linda Schreiber (Master Gardener). Volunteers who spent time after last Monday (week 20) were: Monica Hoherz (1 1/2 hour) and Lisa Haverkamp (1 hour). The 9 a.m. temperature was 67 degrees and 11 a.m. 73 degrees. The humidity was 93% and air quality 45, considered “good.” There was 0.24” rain since last Monday and declared “Not enough!”.
Volunteers mulched, watered, and weeded. Containers + red wagons were watered and fertilized, Little Free Library filled (always needing donated children and adult books!). A few volunteers were asked to write short articles telling of their 2025 efforts at the PGG for the fall Project GREEN newsletter. If anyone does not remember receiving last fall’s newsletter, please write your mailing address after signing in Monday. Cindy will collect the addresses to add with our nearly 3000 mailings. Volunteers signed a thank you card for their dragon winged begonia gift from Margery McCardell, a neighbor of the PGG. Thank you to all the volunteers for their continued hours caring for the PGG!
Here are two pictures of the “Welcome to the Project GREEN Gardens!” maintained and created by Sue Mullins. Sue has agreed to write a few paragraphs about this bed for the fall newsletter. Thanks to Sue!
Here are the numbers after 21 weeks working at the Project GREEN Gardens. Weeks 1 – 20 + Week 21 = 873 hours + 29 1/2 hours
= 902 1/2 hours for 2025’s Project GREEN volunteers!
Oh, it looks to me our 1000 volunteer hours’ goal for 2025 will be easily accomplished! Bravo to all and many thanks.
On Monday morning, we will meet at the Normandy Drive peony bed. Since last week Project GREEN was told 10 feet of the southernmost peony, line out bed is in the way of the new sidewalk’s grading. Thanks to Laura Hawks 5’ of the peonies have been dug and is located in the AH garage. I believe there are 10 peonies. Some may need dividing. The other 5’ of peonies will be dug by Ed Rinderspacher on Monday morning. Ed has prepared a new flower bed for transplanting the 10’ of peonies.
Here’s a Youtube video site to review transplanting peonies:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-UmxH_NgrJs?si=bXhPSopm3oIg0e6w
Please bring your favorite tools for transplanting. If we have time, there are daffodils and allium in the garage that can be tucked into the new bed. Also Ed will bring a trailer full of mulch to cover the two beds. We will need to cut down the peonies in the original bed and weed before mulching. Jim is working on extending the AH hoses to water the new plantings. It’s possible we may need more than the usual 9 – 11 a.m. and extend volunteer hours ending at noon. Please check your calendar to see if this would work for you. Also I plan to get to the PGG by 8:30 a.m., if anyone wants to volunteer early. This is an exciting addition to the PGG that was not expected!
That’s it from me after 21 weeks together! It’s an honor and privilege to care for the PGG. The Project GREEN Gardens volunteers are a special group and I’m grateful to call each of you friends. Have a wonderful weekend. Happy Gardening, Diane