Someone asked the other day what I’ve been up to lately so I started a list:
Even before my final project was turned in for my Landscape Design course (yea! 100% A+), I started my 8-week landscape design internship with Jeremy Swihart. Great person to do my internship with, very knowledgeable and willing to share what he knows. Of course, May and June are the Busiest months of the year so the pace was frantic.
At the same time I was backing out of Wright State University after 20 years, there were many details to attend to on campus but it was definitely Time. The Grounds Crew turned the Campus Garden into a wildflower bed and the Student Success Center was completed in April so just the LEED paperwork to compile so the architect can get it submitted. Last month I cleared my office, handed in keys and said some farewells but I’m doing so many other interesting things, well, isn’t retirement wonderful? YES!
I’ve also stepped up my involvement with one of my favorite organizations, the Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO). Another 20 year relationship that I now have more time to support as a member of the Board of Directors and the membership committee. I am also serving as Communications Committee Chair as well as Co-Editor for the quarterly newsletter. Great folks doing much needed work with the general public, teachers and students to increase awareness and understanding of environmental issues and impacts of climate change while fostering appreciation of the natural world.
There’s also exciting news on the Local Food front (and I should know, given that I’m on four food-related groups in the Dayton area). In a meeting of one of those groups, the Montgomery County Food Summit Advisory Board, it was mentioned that the long-awaited RTA Hub fresh produce market had startup funding from all three Montgomery County Commissioners. A couple of us, along with Cathy Startzman who works with Comm. Judy Dodge, started in on the logistics of how to bring the market into reality. We met, looked at the space, batted around ideas and I set to work on some preliminary design plans. More discussion, more meetings and Teri Schock started building the rolling cabinets to store and display the produce while other folks secured commitments from food growers to supply the market and from guest chefs to do demonstrations, share recipes and cooking techniques. The market will be open for business the end of August! Just in time to enjoy the abundant harvest of fresh, locally grown produce.
And last but certainly not least – landscape design projects!In addition to a 20’ X 25’ raised bed garden built from scratch this spring, I designed and built a Shade Garden, complete with my first retaining wall. It is the perfect spot for Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Hostas – they're thriving and loving it.
The other major undertaking was a pond-less water feature (pond-less for canine and kid-safety reasons). Inspired by a water feature at Denver Botanic Garden, I set out to design one on a slightly smaller scale. Collecting and cleaning the rocks took many hours (yes, I collected a pick up truck bed full of rocks of varying sizes from several nearby locations – I certainly earned my official Rock Hound badge).
We should have posted a video of the process from the start with a small jackhammering project, much digging and moving of Dayton Ohio clay, installation of a solar-powered pump, piping and outflow box, building the mound (many Thanks to my Master Helper, John!).
Then came the process of hand placing hundreds of scrubbed rocks (you name the rock type, its there – granite, limestone, marble, schist, slate, sandstone and more) and finally planting various varieties of sedum and other hardy sun-loving plants on the back side.
Looks great, doesn’t it?
Relaxing soothing, peaceful sounds of trickling water falling gently over the stones.
And that's what we need it after a crazy busy summer like this!
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