Enabling Garden
HELLO 2022! NEW YEAR, NEW FEEL, NEW CHANCES, FRESH STARTS: Every new calendar year tends to signal change. Due to time constraints, Christine Barker is stepping down as one of the chairs at the Enabling Garden. She became a Master Gardener in 2006. In 2008, she agreed to be one of the chairs of the garden. Her leadership and administrative skills have proven to be a huge asset during the garden’s expansion years. In addition, she served one year as Steering Committee Chair for 2019/2020 Polk County Master Gardeners. We are so grateful she has chosen to remain involved as ‘one of the crew’ at the Enabling Garden. Thank you, Christine!
SPEAKING AT THE BOTANICAL CENTER on March 5, 11:30 AM: Enabling Garden’s Judy Goshorn will be one of two Polk County Master Gardeners discussing Purposeful Gardening: Volunteers Impacting our Community. Please put this date on your calendar and come support Judy as she shares volunteerism through the lense of being involved with the Enabling Garden.
Learn On Saturdays at the Botanical Gardens runs weekly through January, February and March from 10:30 to 12:30. Check out their schedule, speakers and topics on the website. You will be invited to register for classes and given the option to participate either in person or online. There is a $10 entrance fee if you are not a member of the Botanical Gardens. This is a beautiful opportunity to pick up educational hours prior to the spring beckoning us back into the garden.
PROJECTS IN 2021: With the passing of another year, it seems an appropriate time to review all the projects we completed in 2021. As you read through the list, you’ll notice that some projects involved only a few; others relied on everyone, even former Enabling Garden volunteers. If you were sought out for advice and suggestions, you contributed. If you offered praise and affirmation through a post, email, or in person, you contributed. “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” by Elizabeth Andrew
1. Rain Garden: A retaining wall of large stones was installed. Previous rain garden plants were replanted in the four basins along with additional shrubs, perennials, and grasses.
2. Restoration of Arbor Garden pergola: Arbor beams were sandblasted, powder coated, and reinstalled along with reinforcement of the supporting structure.
3. To alleviate flooding issues in the south end of the garden, a dry riverbed leading to a French drain was completed. The surrounding garden area was planted with donated perennials.
4. We hosted two plant sales which helped support the Polk County Master Gardener’s projects and programs.
5. Children’s Garden: The Tic-Tac-Toe table was refurbished, an addition of new building blocks and stepping-stones were added, a table redone, all signage sanded and repainted, the tepee was rebuilt, and the west flower bed was redesigned with new plants.
6. We hosted the annual Children’s Art program with 172 children participating. There were a total of 10 stations including a StoryWalk and participatory music station.
7. The vegetable garden produced a total of 1,080 pounds for the Caring Hands Food Pantry.
8. A hard surfaced ramp was constructed leading into the vegetable garden and extending as a walkway through the middle of the garden. Those unsteady on their feet or in a wheelchair will now be able to navigate through the area with ease.
9. Water Feature: The bubble rock was lifted and reset on a brand new basin. The strategic placement of smaller rocks, plus plantings of new perennials and shrubs, were arranged to compliment the entire area. Photo attached.
10. The wooden porch swing and one bench were scraped, sanded and painted.
11. Purchase of a new “Share a note with us” mailbox: It was first painted with flowers by a local artist. Then it was equipped with a notebook and pens, and installed near the Learning Center and the Bubble Rock.
12. Additional Seating: We received and installed a new glider bench made possible through the contributions of extra funds. Patio chairs were donated to provide extra seating in the learning center.
13. Eleven flower beds were redesigned using perennials, bulbs, shrubs and trees.
14. New trees were purchased and placed throughout the garden. They included a Firebird Crabapple, American Larch, Frontier Elm, Yellowwood, Ann Magnolia.
15. Other plant additions: Rose of Sharon, Korean Spice Viburnum, two Easy Elegance roses, three Coral Knockout Shrub roses, six Mini Red Knockout roses, Artic Blue Willow, Fine Line Buckthorn, clematis, several hydrangeas, three Blue Star Junipers, Dark Night Caryopteris.
16. One thousand spring blooming bulbs were planted in the fall.
We can all agree. 2021 was a very busy year. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Submitted by Ruth O’Connor and Marlene Olson
