Greetings Horticulture Volunteers,
What a transformative past few weeks for the garden! We want to send out a special thank you all for your hard work and dedication to our gardens and horticulture programs. During the past month we have:
- Dug and sold 100, 000 tulips
- Turned over and planted nearly 40 display beds with summer annuals (we’re almost there!!)
- Began our education program at the Gardening for Wildlife cart
- Hosted a very successful Pollinator Carnival
- Weeded many of our Native Gardens onsite
- Got our nursery up and running for the summer season
- Hosted a very successful Native Plant Sale at Bowyer Wetland
- Made a number of improvements to the Native Plant Nursery at Bowyer Wetland
During the next few weeks we can expect to:
- Finish planting annuals
- Plant mixed containers for summer display
- Begin weeding and pine fine mulching annual beds
- Continue to maintain our fine Native Gardens
- Continue improvements and plant care at the Native Plant Nursery and Bowyer Wetland
- Continue our pursuits in public education at the Gardening for Wildlife station and What’s Blooming Ladder
SAVE THE DATES
“First Thursday Education Sessions”
June 7th – Garden Tour with Deb Zureick – Explore the history of the garden, tree legacy program, and more!
July 5th – Browse Tour with Lyn Lutz – Become acquainted with the different plants grown onsite that are used for animal enrichment at the zoo.
August 2nd – Summer Pizza Party – Location TBA
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
During the summer, we often change our gardening hours from 9 am – noon to 8 am – 11 am to avoid the mid-day heat. We are still a few weeks away from this change, but when the change does occur, I will be sure to let you all know via email and hotline message. We understand that some volunteers cannot arrive earlier than 9 am and that is fine. Just follow the instructions on the message to meet the gardening group when you arrive.
Here are a few reminders as we approach the hotter months of the year:
- Remember to HYDRATE! Drink plenty of fluids (especially water) before, during, and after volunteering in the garden.
- Remember to TAKE BREAKS when you need to.
- Remember to bring water, snacks, sunscreen, light-long sleeve shirt (to protect from sun), hat, towel or bandana, and anything else that you might need for a few hours of gardening in the sun/heat.
- PAY ATTENTION to your body. You know yourself better than anyone else—don’t take on more than you can handle.
- KEEP AN EYE ON EACH OTHER. We’re all in this together and want to stay safe, fit, and healthy so we can keep coming back!
Again, many thanks for all that you do for the gardens!
Tosh Dobias