Evergreen MD Xeriscape Applic - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

- - - - - - - - - tI jJ 6E/f-T SfJ/2/Nh 199b Planting to start soon at new Evergreen community garden by Liz Hamilton A new community garden is taking shape at the Evergreen Metropolitan District headquarters near the dam in downtown Evergreen, The district's treatment plant upgrade work created a wonderful opportunity to enhance the area with a community garden that could be both educational and beautiful. The Evergreen Metropolitan District Board of Directors contacted the Evergreen Garden Club to see if members would be interested in a project to design and plant the landscape, Club members agreed to work on the highly- visible area and design and plant a garden that would become a place of education and enjoyment, A committee headed by Peggy and Dale Fetchenhier was formed late last year, and landscaping plans were drawn by Lucille Link with the design help of other committee members and Master Gardeners Arlene Fitterer, Karla Briggs, and Diana Martin, Landscaping plans were submitted to the district and were approved in the initial stages, The location presented some special challenges, It has a unique climate in that it rarely has snow cover to protect plantings in the winter. it receives many hours of hot and drying sun in the summer. with extreme temperature differences throughout the area year-round, The plans include several different types of gardens, including an herb garden, rock gardens, and flower gardens, with a flagstone plaza surrounded by benches as the focal point in the center, This would offer a convenient stopping place for people as they walk around the lake. or a place to sit quietly and ponder life, The area will be planted with an emph::\sis on water presef\'ation, .-\n efficient drip system will be installed to sa\"e water from e\'aporation. and altitude tolerant native and xerisC:J.pe plants and shrubs have been carefully chosen for the area, The extensive list of plants includes: shrub roses, yarrows, daisies, and iris with an abundance of bulbs scattered throughout, Water-thirsty grasses have been left out of the plans Ornamental grasses will be planted in the beds, but the areas between the gardens will contain sun-loving ground covers such as woolly tyme, Planting will start in the late spring, once the soil is amended and the hardscape is installed, Water district managers ,Jerry Schulte and Dave Lighthart are excited about the plans and feel that this handicapped accessible community garden will be enjoyed by young and old, Not only will it offer an education place for community members to learn about the kinds of plants that co.n be grown at Evergreen's altitude, it also preserves natural resources at the same time, - - - - - - - - - -