Hi All,
Gardeners began working at the PGG early for week 7. It was 75-degrees and muggy when I arrived at the Project GREEN Gardens by 8:15 a.m. Two volunteers were watering different locations around the Gardens beginning at 8 a.m. Some of our coffee group arrived early before the usual 8:30 a.m. time and enjoyed sitting at picnic tables located on the Ashton House patio as others arrived. It’s a fun 1/2 hour to share a morning drink and chat about this and that. The two tables will easily seat 15, so please consider joining our group.
Fourteen volunteers were in attendance for our seventh week working at the PGG. The air quality was 60, considered “Moderate, acceptable.” Our rainfall for June remains the same as last week, 0.72 inches. Those in attendance were: Diane Allen (8:15 – noon), Dhyana Kaufman (8 – 11:30 + June 9, 3 hours. Sorry to have missed you last week, Dhyana!), Linda Schreiber (master gardener), Nick Goergen, Pat Yeggy, Jim Peters (3 1/2 hours), Linda Bergquist, Evelyn Frey ( 9 – noon), Monica Hoherz, Rina Sjolund, Mary Laughlin, Hetty Hall (9 – 11:45), Chris Ostrander, Susan Ahrens. There was lots of extra time spent at the Gardens since last week to record: Becky Hall (1 hour deadheading the line-out peony bed along Normandy Drive), Larry and Diane Allen (total 1 hour, watered 2 new goat’s beard plants on Tuesday morning), Jim Peters (marathon watering June 12, Thursday June 12 for 4-hours). Wow, I’ll need a calculator to add all this numbers!
Our goals included: watering, signing-up to greet guests at the Open Gardens Weekend (OGW) June 28 or 29, weed, help Pat Yeggy place labels in flowerbeds, and filling the Little Free Library. Below find pictures taken for week 7 at the Gardens.
Our goal is to show visitors what can work for their home gardens. Pat Yeggy makes the labels that are greatly appreciated at the PGG. Thanks Pat!), Monica Hoherz carries debris to a tarp located at the end of the long driveway. Steve Erickson and his crew with Iowa City’s Parks and Recreation Department pick up the debris weekly and place the folded, empty tarps in the garage to use again. Many thanks to Steve + crew!
Here are the numbers after 7 weeks work at the PGG. Weeks 1 – 6 + Week 7 = 353 1/2 hours + 41 1/2 hours
= 395 hours for Project GREEN volunteers after 7-weeks working at the Project GREEN Gardens! What an accomplishment for our very gifted and tireless gardeners. Your efforts help to make our Iowa City a more beautiful place to visit and live. Well done and thanks so much!
Here is our picture of the week. The lamium flowerbed planted three years ago needed some improvements in 2025. Volunteers filled empty spaces with silver mound and lantana plants. Doesn’t it look better? This bed is located at the entrance to the AH garage. Ignore the plastic containers in the bottom right corner…
Don’t forget to sign-up as a Greeter at the Project GREEN Gardens Saturday, June 28 (4 – 8 p.m.) or Sunday, June 29 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.). Would anyone be willing to help the OGW with map distribution to our business supporters? Give me a call or email me if you could help. We are hoping to get maps to businesses this weekend.
Our week 8 work session will be Monday, June 23 from 9 – 11 a.m. Hope to see lots of volunteers as we make preparations to show off the Project GREEN Gardens at the Open Gardens Weekend. Until then, happy gardening! Diane