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On Thursday, October 19th, the Board of Directors of Gila Commu
What We're Doing Now
2008
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Waterwise Seminar |
| On Saturday, May 31, 2008 the High Country
Xeriscape Council of Arizona hosted a Waterwise Seminar at the
Ed Lydic Memorial Garden located on the grounds of the Gila
Community College, Payson Campus. The Mexican Primrose, Yarrow,
Coreopsis, and Potentilla were in full bloom in the entry
way garden delighting visitors as they walked up to the
registration desk. |
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Karen put up signs along the major streets to point people
to the Seminar |
People were asked to sign in at the registration desk and
everyone was given a ticket for the drawings for door prizes |
A large
poster was at the entrance with the times, the speaker's
names and the subjects they would be addressing |
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Bruce Wales, a local resident, spoke first regarding
rainwater harvesting. He used a PowerPoint presentation to
show how he has successfully harvested large amounts of
rainwater to sustain the waterwise landscape and benefit
wildlife |
Chris Jones, Gila County Extension Agent, spoke about
Maintaining a Firewise Landscape. His PowerPoint
presentation had a number of photos that showed fire wise
plants, as well as materials and landscape design that make
a property firewise |
Dennis
Swartzwell of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery brought a
number of waterwise plants to show attendees. His PowerPoint
presentation had photos of these plants showing how
they would look when mature. His handout listed the plants
along with information regarding each one |
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Door Prizes |
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Door Prizes: A
great number of businesses and local artist, Jan Ransom,
donated items to be given away as door prizes. There were a
total of 30 prizes and everyone was delighted with the
generous gifts |
Mountain
States Wholesale Nursery generously donated all the plants
they brought with them for their booth and Dennis'
presentation |
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Information Booths |
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Ace Hardware: Harvey Clifford talked to attendees about the
advantages of using drip systems to save time, water, and
money when taking care of waterwise plants |
David Wise, a
local resident spoke to people about the practability of
gray water systems to conserve water. He had photographs of
his system and handouts with tips for the homeowner |
Jim Dougherty of
Perennial Golf Scapes:
brought samples of artificial turf and
was happy to answer any
questions regarding the benefits of artificial turf. It looked so
good even this little dog was impressed |
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Plant Fair Nursery
brought a number of low water use plants that do well in the
Rim Country. Also on display were products to help protect
plants from foraging wildlife |
Martin De Masi,
Town of Payson Fire Chief was on hand to talk to people
about
firewise landscaping, living with fire, importance of
defensible space and resources to help homeowners.
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The Town of Payson Water Department was well
represented by Karen Probert and Viki Holmes. They had a lot
of free information as well as a number of free gifts to
encourage water wise living |
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During
the Breaks |
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During the breaks people
meandered through the demonstration garden to seek
inspiration |
The kiosk at the garden has
a number of free handouts, pictures, and information
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Another view of the garden
and the information booths set up in the shade |
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The Food |
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There were free donuts,
coffee and tea in the morning and they were very popular |
Chef Gary Bedsworth of the
High Country Xeriscape Council grilled brats and hot dogs to
be served for lunch for a nominal fee along with all the
fixings. They were lip smacking good! |
2007
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The local Xeriscape Council
recently received a grant from The Arizona State Land
Department in order to expand the plant pallet and drip
system in the garden. Council members continue to work hard
to maintain and update the garden. All members are
volunteers and freely give of their time to work on the
garden. The public and anyone wanting to learn about Xeric
landscaping is welcome to come and help with any of our
workshops. Watch
the home page of this site for notices of the next workshop
or call Karen Probert of the Town of Payson Water Department
at 474-5245, ext.2235. |
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On Saturday May 19th, a
group of volunteers worked to prune, weed and inventory the
existing plants in preparation for future workshops. |
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While some pruned,
others worked on the existing drip system which will be expanded as
more plants are installed in the near future. |
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The newly planted
Gaillardias (Blanket Flower) were immediately hooked up to
the existing drip lines. |
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A large group of people showed up on Saturday, June 30th to
plant some of the new perennials which will give the garden
vibrant color when they bloom. |
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Monty is
Jan's Labradoodle and he came along to all the workshops and
patiently waited and watched while the volunteers dug holes
and installed the drip irrigation. |
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In some places the digging was hard but all worked together
to dig the holes, add mulch for the new plants and water
them well after they were planted. |
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After the
plants were installed, other volunteers hooked them up to
the expanded drip system. |
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Drip systems are easy to install. The lines bend around
corners so cutting and connecting lines is kept to a
minimum. All that is required is punching a hole in the main
line and inserting a connector with the small tubing that
goes to the plant. No gluing is necessary. |
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Local potter, Linda Nannizzi, created this small basin to
provide water for the small wildlife in the garden. A
dripper in the basin insures it will get water every time
the system turns on. Creeping Thyme and Grey Santolina
provide shelter for the little guys. Lois, 2007 Chairwoman
of the Xeriscape Council, says the lizards love laying in it
in the hot afternoon. Unfortunately, there weren't any
enjoying it while our photographer was there. |
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A black
butterfly was enjoying the purple flower of this Verbena
Rigida while everyone was busy working around it |
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While the volunteers were putting the final touches on the
new plantings and hooking up the drip system on July 28th,
some welcome visitors stopped by to ask questions about the
plants |
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There are a
number of hummingbirds that enjoy the various flowers in the
garden. This one was very busy working the Agave blooms. |
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