Those GVG members who did not make it to the Members' Activity at the end of May missed a wonderful event, as the docents provided a series of historical discussions to supplement the displays. The new GVG projects were viewed, and a pizza lunch was enjoyed under the shade of the mesquites. Accompanied by the light breeze, it was a nice place for chatting with other members, many of whom were heading north soon. A big hug and thanks to Marita Ramsey and her team for making the arrangements with Valerie Samoy and Robert Vaughn of the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation. The HCR staff deserve our deepest appreciation for all their work in preparing the site, including moving chairs to accommodate the GVG members inside the Jr House. This also allowed those participating to view the new plantings in the courtyard, watered by the recently installed irrigation system. We could not have accomplished the planting without the combined work of the HCR staff and our GVG volunteers.

If you noticed a bare area on the west side of the Jr Courtyard, near the gate, we are reserving it for planting milkweeds, which will be planted in the fall. This is to establish enough plantings to fulfill the requirements for designation as an official Monarch Way Station, like the one at the Desert Meadows Park.

At the Grijalva House (GH), one of the original inhabitants, who spent many years at HCR as a child with his family, undertook a fantastic discussion of the demonstrations in the GH and the history of the Braceros from Mexico. The Braceros provided farm and ranch help during WWII when our folks were away doing the fighting. Our GVG members were able to see the new irrigation system at GH, which enabled the recent plantings of tomatoes and peppers along the north wall of the courtyard.

Our thanks to our very special group of GVG members, PCNN and the HCR staff for all their work to achieve development of these new projects during a short break in the hot weather.