Week 13, July 31, 2025 Project GREEN Gardens (PGG)

Hi All,

We cancelled our usual Monday work session (July 28) as early morning rain and high humidity with HEAT interfered with our plans.  A few Project GREEN volunteers went ahead with the Monday plans and put in time for weeding.  Otherwise we organized our week 13 plans for Thursday, July 31 from 9 – 11 a.m.  

There were 4 Project GREEN volunteers who were able to meet for week 13.  Our goals were to plant two Green Velvet boxwood and one Shenandoah switchgrass.  The rest of our time was spent weeding the large flowerbed on the west side of the Bridge, that leads to the Ashton House.  Check, check, and check – all our goals were accomplished by 11 a.m.!  When we started at 9 a.m., the temperature was 68 degrees and by 11 a.m. it was 72 degrees.  Our rainfall since July 21 was 3.09 inches – whoopee!  No watering for week 13!  The air quality was 154, considered unhealthy and humidity of 87%.   Those in attendance for Thursday were: Diane Allen, Nick Goergen, Pat Yeggy, and Hetty Hall.  Those in attendance earlier in the week were: Lisa Haverkamp (3 hours), Monica Hoherz (2 hours), and Linda Bergquist (2 hours).   

It was a good opportunity to take Fern (our John Deere gator) out of the garage & for a drive around the 8+ acre park. Nick Goergen was our driver with a very large Shenandoah Switchgrass in the back.
The grass looks dry in 2021, but the Circle flowerbed was gorgeous! The colors were red, white, and blue annual salvia. I believe each color
was planted in concentric circles. Please pretend the purple salvia as blue.

The Normandy Drive peony line-out bed was cut back by Project GREEN volunteers Connie Goeb and Chris Ostrander. I’m not sure who was weeding the Memorial flowerbed in the background. All of these chores are still included with our yearly goals. Some things don’t change… I’m guessing Connie and Chris pulled the heavy tarp to the end of the Ashton House driveway for pick-up by Steve Erickson + crew.

The Triangle flowerbed was filled with summer treasures for any hiker/biker passing by. In the center canna lilies, fountain grass, and cleome were blooming and the Triangle’s sides filled with lantana and celosia. In the back of picture 2 you can see the Little Free Library. Our first Project GREEN park bench was to the north of the Triangle on its own concrete pad. All great memories from the past!
Rina Sjolund took care of planting & maintaining the containers in 2021, as she continues to do in 2025. In 2021 Rina used a ladder to plant and maintain a container located above the beautiful stone pillar seen from Park Road. The junipers in front of the pillar continue to grow and eclipse the words identifying the Ashton House and its address. Also, tree branches next to the pillar spill over making the container planting difficult. Rina was sorry to end planting of this container. She now has 6 containers in front of the Ashton House and two red rider wagons to fill with beautiful flowers that last from spring through fall.

Monica Hoherz cares for Dashes 1 – 7 located on the east side of the hiking trail. Each Dash is filled with annual and perennial plants and shrubs that are perfect for their daily sunlight. Behind Monica is Barb Hanson filling a plastic muck bucket with weeds. This 2021 picture is showing Dash 3’s (I think?) perennial shrubs. Monica continues to care for the 7 Dashes in 2025.

The dry river bed has been weeded and cared for many years by Project GREEN volunteers. This 2021 picture showed results after volunteers sat on the ground, starting at the end of the long driveway and curving with the rocks towards the culvert leading to the meandering Iowa River. Lots of work for volunteers, yearly!

Here are the numbers after 13 weeks caring for the Project GREEN Gardens. Weeks 1 – 12 + Week 13 = 626 !/2 hours + 15 hours

= 641 1/2 hours for 2025 Project GREEN volunteers! Many thanks to each and every one of our volunteers, in 2021 and 2025!

Pat Yeggy has looked into the particulars of calling Project GREEN Gardens a Botanical Garden. Anyone interested in joining Pat in these efforts please get in touch with her: pat.yeggy@gmail.com.

Our next week 14 work session will be Monday, August 4th from 9 – 11 a.m. I promise to take lots of 2025 pictures to share. Until then, happy gardening! Diane

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