Hi All,
I will begin with a BIG thank you to all the Project GREEN Volunteers! I was not at the Tuesday, May 26 beginning of Week 4 this past week. Our Week 4 goal was to water and plant as many of the annuals, perennials remaining on the long driveway, in front of the Ashton House driveway. This was a big job as hot weather had settled over our beloved Iowa City. Volunteers needed to water! Our time together was 9 – 11 a.m., but many if not all volunteers stayed until noon.
The following volunteers collected 3 hours each on Tuesday, May 26 unless otherwise noted. Cindy Parsons 5 hours, Susan Ahrens 5 hours, Nick Goergen 6 hours, Rina Sjolund 8 hours, Monica Hoherz, Linda Bergquist, Chris Ostrander, Evelyn Frey 8 hours, Lisa Haverkamp. Cindy Parsons did an extra-ordinary job filling in for me!
There were extra hours put in by volunteers since our Week 4 began on Tuesday, May 26. Watering teams were put in place Thursday, May 28 beginning 9 a.m. and Saturday, May 30. The Thursday team was Diane Allen 4 hours, Lisa Haverkamp 2 1/2 hours, and Rina Sjolund 2 1/2 hours. Nick had a red salvia experience that’s worth repeating. “I passed the gardens today and noticed the red salvia next to the little free library (LFL) were starting to wilt yet again in spite of receiving a drink yesterday. I turned our new sprinkler on them for 30 minutes so I’m crossing my fingers they got all the water their little roots need so they might only need a little sip when you’re in watering tomorrow. Hopefully their fortitude improves as they establish!” Thanks to Nick for the “heads up” about extra watering the reluctant red salvia on Thursday. The red salvia next to the LFL was looking fantastic when the Thursday watering team left. The Saturday watering team were: Cindy Parsons 2 hours, Nick Goergen 3 hours, Susan Ahrens 2 hours. Many thanks to the watering teams. I add 3 hours weekly by writing this summary. I just now got an email from Susan Ahrens telling her extra 14 1/2 hours for Week 4 . Thanks Susan!
I believe all the extra time has been added along with Tuesday’s Week 4’s regular work session. As usual, PLEASE let me know any extra time given to the PGG since Week 4 began. I will include these times with Week 5’s totals.
Here are the numbers after Week 4 at the 2026 Project GREEN Gardens. Weeks 1 – 3 + Week 4 = 242 hours + 77 1/2 hours
= 319 1/2 hours for our 2026 Project GREEN volunteers after four weeks caring for the PGG! Many thanks to all!
Here’s a video put together by Jack Brooks telling the story of 1250 prairie plugs planted along with new trees and shrubs. Check it out!
https://youtube.com/shorts/EgfXoOQOKUw. Enjoy a quote from Jack to our volunteers, “Thanks again for participating in the video and making our community spaces so beautiful and healthy!” 😀
Also please put June 27 and 28 (Saturday and Sunday) on your calendar. Project GREEN is hosting Open Gardens Weekend (OGW) on these two days. The Project GREEN Gardens will be on the tour where visitors can collect their map for gardens to visit. We will also provide cold water for guests and the restroom will be available in the Ashton House lower level. Of course, the Gardens will be open to all! I will collect names of volunteers willing to greet guests Saturday from 4 – 8 p.m. and/or Sunday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at a later date.
Here are a few pictures taken by Cindy Parsons this past week:
Our goal for Week 5 will be to water (if necessary) and get the plants in front of the garage door into the ground. The 6 Korean Spice Viburnam are reserved for planting behind each new park bench. There are 3 new park benches that will have two Korean Spice Viburnum behind each with a Shenandoah Switch Grass between each pair of new bushes. Otherwise I’m not sure which plants belong where, but we’ll figure this out Monday morning. Also we will have two new volunteers that will join us tomorrow. Jerri Harding and Mo Harding (sisters-in-law) are planning to join our band of merry gardeners June 1, which is tomorrow!
Wishing all the Project GREEN volunteers past and present a wonderful Sunday! Hope to see lots of you tomorrow as we begin our Week 5 together. Happy gardening, Diane