Planting Day - 2/25/12

Hard to believe it - we've got the garden mostly planted.  CSU Dominguez Hills greenhouse volunteers Karen Schaffer (with husband Dick), Celina Henderson and Connie Vadheim moved the plants from the Biology Dept. greenhouse to the garden on Friday.  After placing the plants, they watered the planting holes in proparation for Saturday's planting day.

There still was too much decomposed granite (DG) in the pathway; but other than that we were ready for planting.



Planting day was refreshingly cool. Joaquin Berazza and Kelley Dawdy worked on laying the mortarless brick pathway.



Beginning to lay the brick

At the end of the day



Our planting team started in before 9:00 a.m. with the large central 'Gardena heritage/habitat garden' area.  The plants in this area are primarily those that once grew in the local area.



 

Celina Henderson and Rosalie Preston planted the rain garden - mostly rushes and sedges, but including a few other wetland species like Sweetscent (Pluchea odorata) and Seep Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus).

Bob Newcomb and Evelyn Mendoza (CSUDH) worked on the shade area, planting Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea [Sambucus cerulea], Catalina Perfume (Ribes viburnifolium), Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis) and other shade-loving natives.

 

Fortunately, we have plenty of good wood chip mulch from the City of Gardena.  While Fran Woods brought loads of mulch, Amanda Ceballos and others carefully spread it between the plants.

Yannick Nga and Ricardo Arechiga converted the mountain of decomposed granite into a pathway, one wheelbarrow load at a time.  Many thanks to them for finishing this tough - and dirty - job.

Mary Hollifield, Karen Schaffer, Rick Nolan and Carol Roelin continued planting into the afternoon.  Along the wall the team is planting a native hedgerow with Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia),  California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica [Rhamnus californica]), Chaparral Whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis) and Lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia).



Soaker hoses were placed, then the entire area covered with mulch



By the end of the day, about 3/4 of the garden was planted.   Karen Husmann and Connie Vadheim carried many loads of brick to the bricklayers, making their job go more smoothly.  

Many thanks to all our hardworking volunteers!