FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN PERENNIAL GARDEN PROJECT
The perennial garden area of the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens was once a gravel pit. The first garden to be put on the site was a cactus garden, built in 1934. The site was converted into a perennial garden in 1983.
Because Head Gardeners of the Botanic Garden have such large areas they must maintain, it is difficult to keep all areas in prime display condition at all times. In 2003 some of us decided we would like to help restore and maintain the perennial garden area. Kim Snyder first sought and received permission to the area a Master Gardener project. When Kim moved out of state, Patsy Johnson took over as chairperson of the project.
We spent almost an entire year ridding the area of an overgrowth of ruellias and violets. We began to mulch, add plants and bulbs towards the end of the year. We began to map the garden area.
In 2004 we divided the garden into areas, and chose one Master Gardener to be over each area. This would allow us to more easily become familiar with plants in each area, and know the care they must have. It will also help with identification of plants for labeling and mapping purposes. Cindy Woelke, with the help of Joyce Colegrove, has taken the South and West hillsides. Lou DeSantis has the woodland area. Charlotte Berck, with the help of Janet Riley, has been redesigning the south part of the middle garden. Deborah Garrison has started redesigning the ‘herb garden’ area. Patsy Johnson, with the help of Mary Nell Hubbard, redesigned and planted the north part of the middle garden in 2004. It is now in maintenance mode. Toni Moorehead, Intern, is now our official photographer. You are enjoying her work along with this article.
We welcome all of you to join us any time you can. We meet every Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM and work until 10:30 AM (summer hours; in the fall we will return to 8:30 AM through 11:30 AM). Feel free to come whichever Wednesday you can, and work only as long as you can. IN THE HOT SUMMER BE SURE TO BRING WATER WITH YOU.
We can use a variety of talents: mapping, identification, garden design, someone who loves gingers and lilies, and even people who like to weed.
