Hi All,
I’m looking forward to checking the official rain total at the PGG for Week 9 at the Gardens. When I write Week 9, it means from last Monday, June 29 through Sunday, July 5. Our Week 10 will begin Monday, July 6 and last through Sunday, July 12. Got it? It’s challenging, but looking at a calendar helps me. If you want to count extra time spent at the Gardens since week 9 began this can help. Please remember to include any extra time when signing-in for Week 10. Gez, it’s tough to work backwards and forwards at the same time.
There were 14 volunteers this past Monday, June 29 the beginning of Week 9. They were: Diane Allen 4 hours, Rina Sjolund, Chris Ostrander, Monica Hoherz, Nick Goergen, Kara Frankman MG, Sue Mullins 3 hours, Linda Bergquist, Mary Laughlin, Lisa Haverkamp MG, Susan Ahrens 3 hours, Jim Peters 7 1/2 hours, Evelyn Frey 4 hours, Cindy Parsons 3 hours. Our volunteering is from 9 – 11 a.m., which is 2 hours. If there is a number after your name, it means something other than 2 hours.
Open Gardens Weekend (OGW) was a wonderful opportunity to show off the Gardens. Volunteers were asked to help as hosts Saturday, June 27 from 4 – 8 p.m. and/or Sunday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They were: Diane Allen 8 hours, Nick Goergen 8 hours, Susan Ahrens 1 hour, Judy Terry 8 hours, Rina Sjolund 4 1/2 hour, Evelyn 4 hours, Larry Allen 2 hours, Cindy Parsons 8 hours, Chris Ostrander 4 hours, Barb Schintler 1 hour, Mary Laughlin 2 1/2 hours. The OGW Project GREEN Chair, Beth Cody, is tallying up maps taken and will have information to come regarding how many attended the 2026 OGW. As always, please let me know if your name is missing from this list and how many hours you were a host. Thanks!
June 29 was another hot Monday. At 9 a.m. the temperature was 82 degrees and when volunteers were leaving at 11 a.m. the temperature had risen to 86 degrees. The air quality was 53 described as “moderate.” Moderate means “to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.” Please keep this data in mind when volunteering. I include this information at the top right of our weekly sign-in page. There was good news for Week 8 (6/22 to 6/28)! The PGG collected 1.32 inches of rain during this period! All our Monday goals were accomplished! Nick Goergen reported about the Gardens’ art installation titled “Lunar Horizon, moongate”, weeding was updated at the Quilt, Memorial Bed, Mary’s Tree, and the Triangle, we began watering where needed, we pulled daffodil leaves at Mary’s Tree, we filled water bags of new trees and watered new plantings, and our ongoing goal to straighten the garage. Quite a list for another hot Monday, but NO PROBLEM for our Project GREEN volunteers! All were encouraged to drink lots of cold water and reminded we keep cold water in the lower level of the Ashton House refrigerator. Always help yourself! Everything looks beautiful now, thanks to our volunteers.
Malorie Smysor asked me to send information to our volunteers about Saturday, July 25. ” I wanted to give you a heads up that we will be hosting our annual ADA birthday bash at the Ashton House this year. The event will be on Saturday July 25, 12:30pm – 3pm. We are going to have a band this year, and we are planning to have them set up in front of the garage. I wanted to let you know that your group will not be able to access this space from 12pm -4pm on that day. We will be blocking off the driveway to the garage and blocking access. I hope this isn’t too inconvenient.”
This coming week will be a big one for the PGG. Nick Goergen has coordinated with the Weber Stone Company as they deliver two 1700 pound limestone blocks and more, Friday, July 10 late morning. The Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department, lead by Tyler Baird and Alex Lorack will be at the PGG with big equipment to unload the limestone and put it into place on either side of the moongate. Nick will tell us all about it on Monday, July 6.
Here are the numbers after working at the Gardens for nine weeks. Weeks 1 – 8 + Week 9 + OGW host hours = 496 1/2 hours + 36 1/2 hours + 51 hours = 584 hours + 3 hours for writing this “essay”
= 587 hours for Project GREEN volunteers after nine weeks working at the Project GREEN Gardens! Congratulations to all! Well done!
Here’s a sweet message from our very own, Chris Ostrander. “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust”. Thanks to Marcel and Chris for a wonderful description of our Project GREEN volunteers.
Our next date for Week 10 at the Project GREEN Gardens is Monday, July 6 from 9 – 11 a.m. Hope to see lots of gardeners in attendance! Until then, happy gardening! Diane