Project Orange Thumb

I'm always amazed at how quickly time goes by.  I think about blogging about our garden often, but it's making the time to do it that is the hard part.  When I noticed the other day that it has been 2 months, I decided that the laundry could wait, the dishes could wait; everything else could wait so that I can update you all on our garden progress.

We (GNG, Goettingen Neighbors Group) have been busy these past couple of months.  We gather once a month to continue to weed and maintain the garden.  I just noticed yesterday that we have a native plant growing, Miner's Lettuce!  Larry just pointed out this native to me just a couple of weeks ago and now that I know what it looks like, I found at least 4 patches growing on the hill!  We have been talking about adding natives, including some California Poppies and groundcover.  It was a nice surpise to find the Miner's Lettuce.  I made sure to let everyone know what it looked like so that we can let it grow and proliferate.  If we decide we don't like it, we can always pull it later.

Another surpise is the copious amounts of dog feces that we find on the hill.  We have one kind GNG member who is our pooper-scooper (Thank you Laura!)  We have identified 2 neighbors who we have seen with their dogs on the hill.  At this point, we are trying to decide how to approach them and ask them to help us keep the hill clean.  Not only is the smell horrible, the feces poses a health risk to all of us as we have to navigate the hill for cleaning, weeding, and planting.  The dogs have ruined a few plants and the paths that they have created are not helping with the erosion problem we continue to have on the hillside.  We are willing to accept that the garden can be enjoyed by all animals, but we are hoping we can get their owners to agree to pick up after them!

After many months of waiting for the installation of the water meter, we finally have confirmation that the funds have been paid to the PUC.  We have been reassured that the meter will be installed before the end of April.  This has been an arduous process involving many layers of city leadership.  Even after the installation, we still will be strict with our water usage.  We are in a serious drought here in California and want to do our part to conserve as much water as we can.

We have also been busy working on utilizing the three grants we have been given.  We have quotes from a couple of landscapers and a plumber.  The plumber will hook up the bib and hose once the water meter is installed.  They will also run a pipe up the hill to hook up to the irrigation system.  One of the landscapers will do a few other things to get the irrigation system up and running as well as get more plants in the ground.  Another landscaper will continue the retaining wall at the bottom up along the staircase and install a small wall adjacent to the western edge of the staircase.  We expect to have some money left over and would like to purchase more plants to fill in the hillside.

One more thing....the concrete bench has finally been permanently installed at the top of the hill next to the big pine tree.  It's wonderful to sit there and enjoy our beautiful view of San Francisco!

I hope to post pictures soon.  I've run out of time, I hear Simone (my four-year-old daughter calling for me!)  Surely, we'll have some great pictures after next Saturday.  We are having our 2nd annual plant sale fundraiser.  I forgot to say that.  We've been working hard preparing for this event! 

Happy Spring and Happy Gardening!

It’s always nice to know that the hard work you put into a project is appreciated. Especially when that acknowledgement is given to you by the community and recognized by the Mayor of our great city, San Francisco. A couple of months ago, back in November 2008, Goettingen Neighbors Group (GNG) was recognized at the Neighborhood Empowerment Network’s 2008 NEN Awards. We shared an award with another group; we were chosen as “Best Community Building Project” for our Goettingen Neighborhood Garden Project!

The Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) is the first of its kind partnership of city agencies, local non-profits and neighborhood organizations.

During this evening, we were also recognized as winners of a Community Challenge Grant. The funds from this award will be used to set the bib and hose for our water meter as well as continue our efforts to stabilize the hillside. The grant was awarded to us to install a water meter for the hillside; however, the water meter has been secured within the previous Fiskar’s grant we received last August. Perhaps we can use the funds to stabilize the hillside with edging along the staircase to keep the hill from eroding or maybe even the beginnings of another retaining wall at the extreme slope on the hill. We are still working out the details of the Community Challenge Grant, but hope to have them finalized in the next couple of weeks.

I have to agree with Mayor Newsom when he states, “ By celebrating what’s right in our communities and providing crucial resources directly to neighborhood groups to assist them in taking the lead in improving their quality of life, these two programs [The Neighborhood Empowerment Network and the Community Challenge Program] are ultimately making a difference in the lives of every San Franciscan.”

We are excited and motivated to continue our work throughout 2009!

Happy holiday's and New year to all. Sorry for such a great delay in the response. My bad again....

Well I hope the weather is treating you well in your neighborhood. It is an adventure here in Oregon. Or at least it was.

The garden is doing well and appears to be taking root, but let me back up to the October 17th planting...  We could not have asked for a better weekend to have planted the first step Nuestra Zemlya Garden!

After school on October 17th employee's of Al's garden center showed up ready to get dirty. The kids from Lincoln elementary school were introduced to the Al's employee's and chose a planting partner. The plants were already laid out and in their general ideal spot. After introductions and a brief explanations on what we were doing and how we were going to do it, we got to work. The colors were magnificent! Orange FISKAR's shirts, purple Al's shirts, rich brown dirt and various shades of green! The Al's Garden crew was there to help plant the plants that they had provided for our garden. This was also an educational time for the children of Lincoln Elementary to work side-by-side with a person in the field of botany, horticulture or nursery stock. The students went to town on the planting of the garden. I had to ask them to slow down, as to leave some plants for the middle school students who were arriving shortly there after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Middle School students arrived about an hour later ready to work and highly energetic. Mr. Agenbroad was followed by some other staff members from French Prairie Middle School. One was Kim who is head of the middle school kitchen. We owe her a huge thank you for the hard work she did in helping us with the initial grant proposal and idea.

 

 

 

 

 

The Middle school kids got right to work and getting dirty. They planted some ferns, red twig dogwoods, a vine-maple tree, and numerous bulbs of Camas and Lilies. That took the better part of an hour or so. After words we took a step back and looked at all the hard work that was accomplished in such little time. The best part, the planting. The time that makes all the prior weeks, months and years all worth it. It was DONE! well almost....

The next day we had a class from Chemeketa Community College come out. Earlier in the day the students had been learning about rain gardens, the proper plants to use and how to do all the proper calculations so that the garden functions properly. (wow that’s a lot of proper’s!) There was about 8 or so total. We met up around 1 o’clock. Introductions were made and then some analysis of the site was done. It was interesting to here the ideas on what might happen in the winter. Mr. Agenbroad and myself were excited to get all the positive and constructive criticism. On this day we were to plant more bulbs and the sedges that were to go alongside and in the dry creek bed. Once again a highly functional day as well as educational.

 

 

The following weekend the Eagle scout who put in the original patio was back out there. He came with a crew ready to reinstall the patio. Shortly into the project a visitor was looking at the garden and work that was being done. The man was an unexpected visitor, and he mentioned that he work in landscaping. The fellow traveled from Tigard (20 minutes north) to see our project. He says that someone he ran into had mentioned the project to him?! Being a landscaper he was interested in the rain garden idea and wanted to see an example. WOW! just the idea we had set out for, a demonstration functional garden on school grounds, put in by students. When the man went to leave he pointed out that the patio bricks were slightly cricked from the side walk line. Basically they were not parallel, something that escaped our untrained eye. Otherwise he seemed impressed with the project.

The first phase is done! The ball is rolling! We are planning on doing the ribbon cutting in the spring when the plants are in bloom. The exact date is unknown right now. But we will keep you informed on when it is and any other up coming projects we are doing with the space.

Have a successful, healthy and fruitful year!!

Take care of all and all will take care of you.

On a crisp January morning we were out there weeding. GNG organized a New Year posse on January 4th to clear the hill of weeds again. Around 10 am we had 6 volunteers navigating the slope to conquer the oxalis. Sure there are a few other weeds that manage to poke their heads through but the oxalis is the most prevalent and tenacious. It had recently rained so the soil was moist, which was helpful when pulling weeds but made traversing the hill trickier than usual. The task was completed with no major injuries.

Since the initial installation we have lost a few plants. GNG is plotting to replace them with native, drought-tolerant plants. This plan will minimize the amount of water needed and native plants have the additional benefit of promoting the local ecology. They provide food and shelter for the local creatures while hopefully eliminating habitat for the skunks and feral cats.

Later in the day our neighbors, Mikki & Chris, hosted a holiday cookie party at their house. It was a nice way to visit with friends and relax.

Up here in Wisconsin it has been bitterly cold over the past few weeks, warmed up a little for the holidays but mostly it's been below zero.  Because of days like this, when I can hardly feel my own nose, it makes me long for spring when all this snow will begin to melt and I can start plotting. Plotting what I am going to get my hands into first, what new flowers would I like to put in my window boxes, will I add another raised bed to my veggie garden???  I know if you enjoy gardening as much as I do many of you are thinking the same things. 

Although it seems far away it will be here before you know it, and it's always a relief to be prepared before hand.  Right now, while there is still snow on the ground, is the perfect time to get your family and other community members involved and excited about gardening too!  Every community or city has a least a handful of locations in which you drive by and think about how great that plot or empty space COULD be.   So although your backyard is definitely something to be proud off don't keep it all for yourself, share this passion and all the great benefits of gardening with your community and neighbors.   

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Groups interested in doing projects like this in their communities should consider applying for a Fiskars Project Orange Thumb grant.  The grant provides recipients with the tools and up to $1000 in green goods to help them achieve their gardening goals.  The application can be found at www.projectorangethumb.com.  Applying now before the February 17th deadline, ensures if you receive one of the grants that you will have your tools and green goods just in time for when the snow melts and your ready to get your hands in the dirt and get to planting.  

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Have a great New Year everyone!!!

 

Here is a local news cover on our rain garden project.  It has some nice shots and a great interview with a local 3rd grade student.  Enjoy!

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=9121@koin.dayport.com&navCatId=156&articleID=9121

In early November, 2008 we had a successful neighborhood gathering to weed the hill but now that it is late December we need to get out there again. The winter rains are here and invigorating the oxalis. Oxalis is a clover-like, non-native plant that covers our land as soon as the winter rains begin. It can be pretty when the small, trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers bloom but if you allow it that much growth you may loose the battle as it is invasive and will soon take over. The removal of oxalis is quite a chore as any gardener from Northern California can attest. No one is exempt from its onslaught but vigilant gardeners can work to minimize its impact. We need to control this beast! Hand pulling is the only method of removal that has any lasting effect. You can never remove the bulb unless you dig every plant out but you can starve the bulb by removing as much of the plant as possible before it grows much.

The neighborhood skunks have also left their mark on the hill. They make a path from the nearby woods across our beloved hill to their favorite food source. The local animals, primarily skunks and feral cats, knock our mulch down the steep incline of our hill as they march across it. Don’t they see that we are trying to keep this area beautiful?

We are planning another work day after the New Year but the weeds will have quite a jump on us by then! The other issue that we are working on is the control of soil down the slope. At the edge of the stairs where the soil meets the concrete our earth is flowing over the barrier. We could build a small retaining wall or figure out which plants are best at retaining our soil. In the end I have a feeling that we will use a combination of the two techniques. We need to be sure that any new plants are drought-tolerant so we do not have to water them much during our 7 month dry season. (In May through September we total an average of less than 1 inch of rain. I also include April and October in our dry season.)

 

 

 

 

Almost Turkey Day!!  I know that everyone is busy with the holiday season now upon us, but I wanted to remind everyone of the Project Orange Thumb grants that are now available. All of the participiants on the Project Orange Thumb blog are previous recipients of the grant.  If some of their projects seem like something you would like to do in your community or if they inspire you, or even if you have your very own dream of what your community graden should be then I strongly encourage you to get to the website, check it out and get your application in.  You can fill out your application at www.projectorangethumb.com.  Grant recipients receive up to $1,500 in Fiskars Tools and up to $1,000 in green goods.  If you have any questions contact orangethumb@fiskars.com.  I am looking forward to seeing all of your applications, make sure and tell your family and friends!!   -----Nicole

 

 

 

 

Oh my Gosh it is so COLD here in Wisconsin,  we have finally have had a few good freezes!!!!  But the gardening isn't over.  We will be traveling to much warmer climates in Orlando to garden in December, more details to come, but it will be fabulous:)  This garden will be some what similar to what we have done in San Francisco and Chicago.  It is so exciting to begin the planning process of an entirely new garden with new plants and people! 

We had the chance to check in on our previous site, completed back in August.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves but I think it's pretty obvious the neighborhood has done a wonderful job maintaining the garden and everything looks absolutely wonderful!!

We had a phenomonal summer and fall. Our garden produced so many tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, zucchinis, and much more that there was always enough to share with our students and neighbors at the Lawn Street Garden.  Our garden was still producing so much at the end of summer, that we had to have another group of 15 volunteers from Carnegie Mellon University come in and help us out to clean out those weeds and clean up the garden in general. The Fiskars tools really came in handy and the volunteers found the work a lot easier using the aluminum rakes and hand tools to remove all those weeds. And who can forget the Kangaroo Hoppers. They were fantastic!

As Summer turned into fall everything became to slowly stop growing in the garden. We celebrated the end of the garden with our Annual Commuity Garden Day. The children from the CHS After-School Program came down to the garden and helped to pick all the juicy watermellons that took so long to grow. We had a lot of fun activities for the children. We had a Treasure Hunt, painting, sketching, weeding and clean up, harvesting, and we finished it off by eating watermellon and popsicles. The kids had a really great time!

Later on in the fall, volunteers from the University of Pittsburgh helped to remove plants and prepare the garden for the winter. The students from CHS After-School Program are looking forward to our next project of removing the rest of the dead or dying plants and beginning to put down hay and cardboard on the garden pathways so we won't have to deal with those pesky weeds as much next growing season.

Thanks so much Fiskars for making this growing season so terrific! It was truly the best and most productive year for the Lawn Street Garden! Also, a special thanks to Paul Pagoda and Lizzie Anderson who really kept the blog in order over the summer and made our garden grow!

September 21st The Green Team picked up trash, repainted benches, replaced the upper overlook railing and tended to our trees.  We then ate!  I then jetted off to Churchill Manitoba for two weeks and am just catching up.  Check out http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/hovey/ to see my near arctic adventure.

 

 

 

This Wednesday!!!! NOVEMBER 12TH !!!!!!

We are planting 60 more trees!!!!  We are planting 25 on The Peninsula but also are going to start encroaching on Old Bailey Woods!!!!  The adjacent property with similar afflictions....separated by The Buffalo River. The bare root trees we will be planting are white oak, red oak, pin oak, serviceberry, hawthorn and Kentucky coffeetree.  They are provided by ReTree Western New York.

 

 

 

 

Throw the water sampler in, pull it out and test the contents for pH, Turbidity, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Biological Oxygen Demand and Temperature.

 

 

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810210327

Here is an article about us, Nuestra Zemlya Garden in the local Statesman Journal based out of our capital city Salem Oregon.  The article was published on the 21st of October by Mackenzie Ryan.  Thank you Mackenzie Ryan for your work. 

 

 

 

 

Digging postholes for the Greenhouse/Shed.  Two teachers, a daughter, and seven students from South Park joined the staff from The Dulski Center and a few area youths to dig the foundation holes for a gardening building adjacent to the center.

 

 

 

 

It has been a while, but in our fashion we seem to put some time in between the blogs. We have finally had some time to rest. But as we promised this is the time to do some planting here in Oregon. Just as predicted the rains have started and there is no real end in site.  Well maybe there will be a break or two in the cloudy sky.

On October 2^nd we had four cubic yards of 3 -6 inch river rock delivered to our garden site. The landscape fabric was laid down to keep the rocks and soil separate just little longer than normal. The pile was large and intimidating even though it was composted of smaller river rocks. I (Mr. Niktab) approached as Mr. Agenbroad was getting stuff ready to go. Just behind me showed up two high school helpers. Yes! The word got out. We were stoked to have help, but the girls looked in awe and started to giggle. Mr. Agenbroad introduced himself, the garden and described what we would be doing that day. The four of us dug in and within an hour and a half we completed the project. The river bed was created! We were on our way to completion now, no turning back. Going straight ahead!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Thursday that followed 10 cubic yards of a 3 way mix was delivered. This deal was a bit frustrating, but there had to be a bump in the road somewhere along the way. We worked it out and everything was fine and dandy. At this point the weather was sunny and the few rains we had helped clear the sky.

The following Wednesday our plant order from Al's Garden Center had arrived. It was not the full order but plenty of plants to start with. The light of excitement and a sense of completion was shining through our over worked hearts, weary minds, and tired bodies. But as always Mr. Agenbroad brought restlessness, leadership and moral support, and I whispered of hopes and dreams. The big day was coming!

After a long Wednesday, and an even longer Thursday, we rendezvoused at the garden to finish off the berms and place the plants in their proper place for the big planting. The help that was coming must have traveled down the wrong beaten path or been distracted by other phenomena or beauties of nature. So Mr. Agenbroad and I looked at the pile realizing that it wasn't going to move itself. Thankfully, the weather could not have been better. Sunny, cool, almost clear sky and crisp autumn air. Just as we started a valiant and steady working middle school student helped us with the job. This was a huge help and as always was well appreciated.

Soon this student's mother (a coworker of mine at Lincoln Elementary) showed up and started to help with the shovel-haul-dump method of our berm creation. The berms were completed and I placed the plants in their proper locations just in time to drive myself to Portland for a show I was invited to play. Mr. Agenbroad stayed behind and did the clean up, the worst and (what seems to be) the longest part of any landscaping job. Many kudos for Mr. Agenbroad on his relentless restless energy.

So we are left with plants in their place, berms created a dry river bed, anxious hearts and minds. Students restless to help out. Community partners ready to get dirty. And less than 24 hours until the beginning to the end of the first phase...

Sorry to leave you hanging but I promise to return with the rest of the adventure, story and more pictures within the next few days. But let me say one last thing...

The small pebble that was trumbling down the hill several years ago has now finally gained enough momentum and inertia that the whole hillside was coming with it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“EASY-TO-PLANT FREE BULBS AND SEEDS GIVEAWAY” FOR NON-GARDENERS

 

Orange Thumb got the credit last Thursday night when Tilling Tigers partnered with a local elementary school to help increase parents’ attendance at their Parent Teacher meeting (Picture #0085). 

 

An announcement in both English and Spanish was sent home the week before.  Non-gardener types were encouraged to come by and get bulbs and seeds that could be planted once, forgotten about and then would appear as if by magic in the spring.

 

Tilling Tigers were thrilled to report that attendance was up by 30% for the meeting, and we’d like to think it was because of our Giveaway.

 

 

Over 200 cannas were dug up from the gardens so that 100 families were able to take home 2 cannas to plant (Picture #9739).  100 families were excited to receive a pretty orange sack that contained 8 packets of seeds (Picture #0078), and another sack of 2 canna plants (Picture #0080).   We distributed 100 pretty envelopes of Texas wildflower seeds that had been donated, but the other 700 packets were ones the Tilling Tigers packaged and labeled themselves (Picture #9741).

 

Tilling Tigers used recycled materials for most of the seed packaging.  They asked friends and family to collect the plastic sleeves newspapers are delivered in.  Dried hollyhock stalks looked pretty in these see-through sleeves.   Folks were also asked to round up the envelopes that are sent with unsolicited credit card solicitations.   Each envelope accommodated a couple of dried flower heads such as Echinacea, or zinnia*.  Three different types of hibiscus seed pod heads were also offered (under the *category of “these need a bit more care.”)   (This made seed saving and the lack of seed “cleaning” very easy.)  Seed envelopes carried just the name of the flower.  A “Planting Instruction Sheet” was given out separately, in both English and Spanish, to describe how easy these would be to plant, and each seed’s description and growth characteristic was described.)   Cannas and daylilies can be planted with no soil preparation – they can go right in the grass for you to completely ignore until they appear – like magic – in spring.

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The elementary school chosen is a Title 1 school.  At least 80% of those who attended the PTO meeting were Hispanic.  This particular school finds it a challenge to entice those parents who may be intimidated by the language barrier to get involved in school meetings.  We had no idea how appealing free plants and seeds would be to this population especially.  Every single family who attended chose to take home a sack of cannas and their Orange Thumb sack of seeds.   We had just enough for each family who attended, and we promised to return with more Orange Thumb goodie bags for the teachers.

 

Hunt County Master Gardeners who are helping the Tilling Tigers with this project found this successful program very valuable since it had “quantifiable results.”

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

So for starters I am sorry that we had gone dormant on the FISKARS crew.  Please forgive us.  But we are back now recharged and ready to put on some girth and growth before THE rains come our way.  Oh yes the joy of Oregon... late hot summers followed by torrential down pours.  Alright now enough of my babbling, let's get to the point shall we...

Although we here at Nuestra Zemlya Garden have slipped below the radar we were still busy getting things in order for this up and coming time.  First we would like to address that truthfully speaking this is one of the two best times of the year to do some planting.  Thus, though we have seemed to be slow-growing, this is when our metamorphous will take shape.

Over the summer, Mr. Agenbroad has made several new contacts within our local community.  One is with a local horticulturalist, that offers several seminars, workshops and classes here at the community college in town.  The weekend seminar that will be taking place on October 18th is on rain gardens.  Coincidentally, that's what the whole first stage of what our garden is about! As the connections were made so was the fact that our garden could be used as a hands-on learning spot for our fellow good stewards of the earth.  The initial planting of our rain garden should begin at that time.

Before all this, let me back track to the up-coming week...

We just finished a "series" of meetings with Ron Crouse from the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and our liaison, Lora Keddy from Al's Garden Center. 

Lora will be helping us acquire landscape fabric for the beginnings of our creek bed.  She will also be working with Mr. Niktab on a mostly if not fully native plant line up for our living laboratory.  Al's Garden Center has been patient with us and are extremely excited to see that the project is in full swing, alive and moving.  

After the fabric is laid out the river rock will be purchased with funds from another grant (explanation soon to follow).  This heavy project will with out a doubt be carried out by Mr. Niktab and Mr. Agenbroad.  Currently, Mr. Niktab is attempting to provide alternative, active and educative ways to help high school students acquire their quota for community service hours. So, we have our fingers crossed that local high school students will catch the message in the breeze, join us, and gain graduate credit hours while helping establish our school garden.  These two activities are tentatively planned for September 26th or 27th.

Shortly there after we will receive nutrient rich organic matter from Al's to help improve our "blond" soil.  At the begging of the third week of October we should have our river bed in, final berms established, the area laden with smelly dark soil and all the native photosynthesizing material we shall need for a few days of planting.  Like I mention the first will be with Saturday college rain garden seminar.  But to top of the event the following Monday will be the final planting! There will be school children and their parents present, SMILE club, and our liaisons from Al's Garden Center, Marion SWCD, Chemeketa Community College, Public Works, and of course teachers! And the sun!

 

PS. Back to the "other" grant...

Last spring Scott Eden from Marion SWCD was working with us in the early stages of the rain garden.  Working in the field of soil and water conservation we felt that he would rapidly increase our curve on rain garden knowledge.  In this time Mr. Eden handed Mr. Niktab a grant that was sponsored by the Marion SWCD.  This grant, better known as the CLEAR grant, specifically had to do with water conservation, education and public awareness.  Between wedding planning, work and community gardens Mr. Niktab finally got the CLEAR grant turned in.  About a month later and by third person notification we received notification that we got the grant!

Ron Crouse, education and outreach coordinator for Marion SWCD will assist us to make some professional interpretive signs and brochures.  These are some of the implements Marion SWCD would like to see with our project.  How will we obtain this information for the brochures and interpretive signs?  Through out late fall and winter students from the Middle School and elementary school will be performing research, studying the designs, plants and biology of the Living Laboratory.  Journals will be kept. Entries made with scientific detailed drawings and graphs. Data will be gathered on the micro and MACRO functions of our Living Laboratory.  Eventually, all that data and info will be published on interpretive signs and brochures.  To show our love for nature, culture and education all info will be translated into a vibrant innovative trilingual display of Nuestra Zemlya Garden's hopes and aspirations!

 

The morning after the installation of our garden, I was standing at the bottom of the staircase looking up at the beautiful transformation that had occurred the day before.  It was quiet, still.  It smelled nice and clean.  It was amazing to think back to less than 12 hours prior when there was a busy commotion of people scrambling to complete the project on time.  I stood there and just enjoyed the beauty.  And it was so peaceful.

While we were standing there several people walked past us either up the stairs to the high school or down the stairs to one of the grade schools.  One mom was walking with her young daughter.  I asked her what she thought of the new garden.  She was amazed and proceeded to tell me that for 10 years she walked her children past this hillside on their way to school.  It was always dirty, trashy, and ugly and many times she passed people on the stairway that were not positive influences for her children.  She was grateful and very appreciative for the beautiful hillside, and offered to help out anyway she could to maintain the hillside and continue to improve the neighborhood.  Talking to her confirmed with me the reason why we wanted to do this project:  to build a community where our children can safely walk the streets and our neighbors know and look out for one another.

I left "the hill" that morning filled with peace.

Even when you think you know a lot about gardening -- there's still so much to keep learning. The importance of proper watering cannot be overemphasized! It's so easy in spring to think, "Of course I'll water faithfully if it does become dry" but the underlying thought may actually be "...this year maybe there won't be a dry spell". Contrary to solid information that late summer is always dry and HOT! So plants urgently need watering even if by August, they're pretty big and look tough. And you just have to accept it takes time to water adequately, especially if there are trees nearby, which will suck up every drop they can get. We did manage it, running a hose about 250 feet from the spigot on a water fountain in the playground that looks close by, until you start rolling out the hose, and 100' goes out and you're not even at the garden's edge! More hose, with a hose cart that can hold 300' solves that problem. So do a couple of critically-timed thunderstorms and a hurricane or two.

The groundcovers we are trying out are interesting. The Plumbago on the sunnier side is now flowering, such a fabulous true blue. The shadier side is slower, it's shadier than we had thought. The Chrysogonum is beginning to spread after getting trampled inadvertently, while the Adenophora took off from the beginning but is very small-leaved, fine in texture, and makes a small mat. We want a look that's larger leaved but holds soil well, and spreads pretty fast but not out of control so we don't want Lamium or barren strawberries. Tho' if they run out into the lawn and get mowed regularly, maybe we could risk them. It's really important to protect tree roots, and groundcovers do this better than lawn that competes for water, and has to be mowed which damages shallow tree roots and gnarled root buttresses. This is important in this garden, since we have two massive English elms, 3 magnolias, and a huge Himalayan pine in the immediate area.

We've added some Heuchera and Sweet Woodruff and Echinaceas in the annual beds, so there'll be something growing after the annuals give out. And next year. Echinacea and Rudbeckia do better than we thought, we have more sun or they tolerate more shade than we expected, which is cool!

I don't know what happened to the bushy, bright yellow marigolds that were doing so well until about mid August. They were massing together well, foliage dark and moist, big abundant yellow blooms. Then the 2 or 3 at the edge of them in front of the big elm got kind of dried out, the flowers stayed yellow longer but turned brown. Then it was the next 3 or 4 toward the middle of the bed, then like 6 or 8. The foliage turned dry, grayish-green, and looks stippled as if some insect was sucking out the sap. Thrips? I pulled out the dead plants and cut off as many browning flowerheads as I could among the still-green plants. I thought marigolds were foolproof. It may be a chemical from the old elm, which oozes sap from wounds and cankers which may affect plants underneath.

I hope to leave the annuals in as long as they're flowering, but the light is already much different, more slanting and less intense. We are planning what bulbs to put in and may move some perennials. We added some cribbing to prevent erosion and may add more. Gardens are cool because one creative idea comes to an end, or the season ends - but we can keep on looking forward to the next, learning from what worked and didn't work and building on all of it. Growth follows a cycle but you never have to stop, you just find a way to incorporate what's growing and what's dying. And it's exciting to try new things, see what else will work in your conditions!