Western Colorado Gardening Foundation
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Feb. 10-12, 2006
WCGF again participated at
Landscapes West. Below is a picture of our booth.
Winners
of the two prizes we gave away are:
Steven Arthur from Fruita, CO, won the autographed book "The Well Tended
Perennial Garden" by Tracy DiSabato-Aust.
Phoebe Norwood from Loma, CO, won the 2 dozen beautiful long-stemmed red roses.
October 3, 2005 We are celebrating and you are invited to the dedication ceremony for the North Shade Structure on Friday, October 21st at 1:00 p.m., at the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office at 2775 Highway 50, Grand Junction, CO.
With the beautiful fall weather we are experiencing here in Grand Junction, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge the Colorado Garden Show, Inc. and the Bacon Family Foundation for the $10,000 grants they each awarded to the Western Colorado Gardening Foundation (WCGF) for the unique shade structure during the dedication ceremony. Mesa County Commissioners, and Grand Junction Mayor and City Council members have been invited to participate in this media event.
The Shade Structure was designed, constructed and installed by Jeff Bates, Sky River Ranch, 1398 16 Road, Fruita, Colorado. On May 13, 2005, the structure was completed and a large crane hoisted the shade structure into place. There was collaboration between members of the Western Colorado Gardening Foundation, Colorado State University, Mesa County Cooperative Extension, Contractor Jeff Bates, Bacon Family Foundation and Colorado Garden Show, Inc. In addition, Dr. Curtis Swift documented the construction of the shade structure on the web at http://WesternSlopeGardening.org.
Stop by the office for the ceremony, enjoy refreshments, and see the progress being made in the Mesa County Arboretum At The Gardens.
If you have any questions, please call 523-1865.
July 6, 2005 Just an early reminder of our July 30th member meeting.
Mark your calendars to attend the Saturday, July 30th 10:00 meeting of the
Western Colorado Gardening Foundation. Master Gardener and WCGF member
Mary Mastin will present the program. Earlier this year, Mary Mastin
explored the Drakensberg Mountains in north central South Africa. The
focus was wildflowers of midsummer in South Africa. The trip was
sponsored by the North American Rock Garden Society, led by Panayoti
Kelaidis, Director of Outreach at the Denver Botanical Gardens.
We look forward to hearing Mary's remarks and having her share her travel
experiences with us.
This meeting will be held at the Mesa Mall Community Room, between Mervyn's
and Penney's on the east entrance of the Mall. If you have any
questions, please call 523-1865.
Sylvia Sharpe
President
Western Colorado Gardening Foundation
May 25, 2005 Dear Foundation Members,
Although we haven’t met as a group in quite a while – your Foundation has not been resting on its laurels – in fact, quite the contrary. This Newsletter will bring you up-to-date on recent events.
* Your Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant to Colorado Desert Herb Society for a permanent fence to surround the herb gardens adjacent to the Western Colorado Botanic Gardens. The fence will protect the plants from deer and other animals. The herb gardens are enjoyed by residents and visitors strolling down the adjacent river walk.
* The April 16, Hidden Treasures Yard Sale was a great success. It was a fun day, lots of bargains for treasure hunters. WCGF profits for the day were $580.00.
* On May 7, The Foundation in association with Cross Orchards Living History Farm gave visitors an educational look at “Life on the Trail of Lewis & Clark” on Saturday, May 7, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the explorers’ journey. In spite of the inclement weather, approximately 130 visitors toured the facility. All expressed thanks to the Foundation and the Museum of Western Colorado for planning, organizing and executing this event. Attendees enjoyed participation by the Native American Student Council, Mesa State College; Mesa Fiber Arts Guild; Grand Mesa Muzzle Loaders; Trapper Johnny; Colorado State University, Mesa County Extension Service and Tri-River Area Master Gardeners; Collbran Job Corps Center; U.S. Forest Service; Grand Mesa Historic Scenic Byway; Colorado State Forest Service; and other individual performances by painters, blacksmiths, singer and cowboy poets, book author, shawl dancer, taffy cannon shots, and a visit by Sacagawea herself. The National Geographic Film, “Lewis & Clark, Great Journey West” was also a great hit. For photographs of the day, visit our web site at www.wcgf.org
* The Foundation wrote two separate grants for CSU Cooperative Extension to build a $20,000 north shade structure over the existing demonstration gardens. We received $10,000 from the Colorado Garden & Home Show, Denver, CO, and $10,000 from the Bacon Family Foundation, Grand Junction, CO. The shade structure was constructed and hoisted in place by Jeff Bates, Sky River Ranch. A huge crane lifted and installed the Shade Structure at CSU on Friday, May 13th . A formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for later this summer. For more information and photographs, visit the web site at www.westernslopegardening.org
* $500 grant for Phase III Tree Planting was just received by Orchard Mesa Middle School. WCGF sponsored this grant for the third year. The Plan includes creating a xeric planned courtyard plaza near the library for students, visitors and general public benefit. A drainage system has been installed. During the summer months, grading and contouring of the courtyard plaza to include bermed areas will be completed and formed concrete pathways to direct student traffic will be poured. Using CPRA grant money, five xeric low water or moderately low water trees will be planted in the Plaza in the fall of 2005.
* Wingate Neighborhood Park dedication, May 19, 2005. It was great to be present last Thursday, May 19th, representing the Foundation at the Wingate Neighborhood Park dedication ceremony. As many others have aptly stated, this was a community first involving many groups, across many organizational levels, coming together to accomplish a common goal for the benefit of the entire community. Thank you to the Western Colorado Community Foundation for the grant of $500. The funds presented to Donna Dennison, Principal, Wingate Elementary School, will be used to purchase plant identification labels/markers for the interactive site and the printing of a brochure detailing plants in the Park. The WCGF will continue to support the students in the design of the brochure lending our horticultural knowledge and experience.
* The Mesa County Arboretum At The Gardens at the Mesa County Fairgrounds is well under way. Donations to the Arboretum have started to trickle in through WCGF and CSU in Ft. Collins. One of WCGF objectives is to support CSU in the development of the Arboretum, not only receiving funds, but writing grants to help pay for the $300,000 + necessary to complete the project in the next several years. To that end, Curt Swift, Beverly Duzenack and I will be attending Rural Philanthropy Days in Telluride, CO, June 5-7. Since 1990, Rural Philanthropy Days has been a successful tool in building stronger rural communities throughout Colorado. This is a unique opportunity to connect grant seekers from the nonprofit public sectors such as WCGF in the Western Slope with statewide, national and governmental grant makers. We expect to make connections and develop a rapport with grant makers who will support the Arboretum and be open to receiving grant applications. Remember donations are tax deductible – consider the Arboretum when you personally contribute this year.
* July 30 Member Meeting. Mark your calendars to attend this member meeting at 10:00, Mesa Mall Community Room. Earlier this year, Mary Mastin explored the Drakensberg Mountains in north central South Africa. The focus was wildflowers of midsummer in South Africa. The trip was sponsored by the North American Rock Garden Society, led by Panayoti Kelaidis, Director of Outreach at the Denver Botanical Gardens.
* Water Garden Tour, Saturday, August 27, 2005. Planning for our Third Water Garden Tour is just starting. The selection process is beginning this Friday, May 27th. There should be eight new gardens with water features to enjoy, long with the anticipated ice cream social to follow. Dale Taylor, WCGF member will host the Social at his home in the lovely Quail Run complex north of I-70. If you would like to be a committee member for the Water Garden Tour, please send an email or call me.
Enjoy the summer months – wonderful weather to garden and enjoy living in western Colorado. See you at the July 30th member meeting.
Sylvia Sharpe President Western Colorado Gardening Foundation 970-523-1865
This page has a copy of our latest membership
Newsletter
and various news items used for Press Releases.
Landscapes West Booth |
 | May 10, 2004 -- Press Release 9 -- Botanical Gardens gets grant for signage |
| May 7, 2004 -- Press Release 8 -- OMMS TREE PLANTING CELEBRATION |
| March 27, 2004 -- Press Release 7 -- HOSPITAL RESPITE GARDEN |
| July 15,2003 -- Press Release 6 -- Water Garden Tour announced |
| May 3, 2003 -- Press Release 5 -- Jill Wooten Makes Chicken Dishes |
| April 25, 2003 -- Press Release 4 -- Trees Planted on Arbor Day |
| March 12, 2003 -- Press Release 3 -- New Website Launched |
| February 28, 2003 -- Press Release 2 -- Foundation Moves Forward |
| January 12, 2003 -- Press Release 1 -- Foundation Announced |
| ![[New!]](images/smallnew.gif){kind=small} |
| Evening news, KJCT channel 8 TV, August 23, 2003 |
| Evening news, KKCO channel 11 TV, August 23, 2003 |
| Beth McKee; In The Garden, G J Free Press Newspaper, Aug. 16, '03 |
| Home & Garden, The Daily Sentinel Newspaper, August 16, 2003 |
| Morning news, KNZZ radio 1100 AM, May 20, 2003, Jim Davis interviewed Sylvia |
| Home & Garden, The Daily Sentinel
Newspaper, March 22, 2003 Foundation hopes to grow green for horticulture |
| Gardening News, New West Living, Magazine, March 2003 issue |
| News, Palisade, Newspaper, February, 2003 |
| Evening news, KREX channel 5 TV, January 25, 2003 |
| In Brief, The Daily Sentinel Newspaper, January 18, 2003 |
February 2003 
Phil Frisk, Sylvia Sharpe and Doug Johnson pose at the Landscapes West booth on February 22, 2003.
Information about WCGF and membership applications were available at the
table. Over 250 conference attendees visited our booth.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors for the Western Colorado Gardening Foundation.
Front row,
left to right:
Kathy Kimbrough, Beverly Duzenack, Sylvia Sharpe and Jill Wooten.
Back row, left
to right:
Phil Frisk, John Moore, Candy Wagner and Doug Johnson.
January 2003 Meeting
Our
"Annual Meeting" held on January 25, 2003 was attended by 28 members. The
Board of Directors for the year 2003 was elected.
John Moore presented an interesting, educational talk on butterflies. He showed some of his collection of butterflies and discussed plants we can put in our home gardens to attract butterflies.
KREX Channel 5 TV was there to interview our officers and cover the meeting.
December 2002 Meeting
Treasurer, Jill Wooten, accepts a check to open our bank account from Board Member, Phil Frisk.
The funds were made available and transferred to the new organization by the former members of the now dissolved Tri River Area Master Gardeners Association.
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Last modified: 07/25/07 |
