Several weeks ago I answered a E-mail from Shane VanOosterhout, director of the Ottawa County Master Gardener program. It was the typical E-mail that said volunteer ops. To laypeople it means ‘there is a volunteer opportunity available, so check it out if you are interested’. I always open up the E-mail to see where the opportunity is, and usually it is in Grand Haven. Well, not this time, it was in my backyard. It gave a name to reply to if I was interested. I wasted no time and immediately wrote out a quick E-mail and sent it to Haven Park Christian Nursing Home. I stated that I lived two blocks away and would love to see what the opportunity involved. During the mid 80’s I worked as a Certified Nurses Aid on second shift at the nursing home. I received a reply back that they would get back to me.

Last week I met with two women from the Gillead Unit staff who talked about their expectations and hopes, for a enclosed area adjacent to the lunchroom, shared by the dementia patients. It is a place where children , friends, families etc. can take their loved ones and enjoy the out of doors. The staff would like it to be calm but colorful, easy for wheelchairs to maneuver and patients spend some hands on time. As we walked around the area it became very apparent to me how much passion these women had for the residents. One of the first things they wanted, was to cover a chain link fence with vines. I now can see why. Fences are meant to either keep people in or out. They want to soften the lines of the fence so it does not look like a fence.

It is a very welcome area away from the noise inside, enclosed for privacy and out of the wind for warmth. I see it as a opportunity for Zeeland as a whole, family, friends etc. to give back to the older generation what they deserve. Dementia strikes almost every family in one way or another. Beyond the physical area of what we can plant, I can see a opportunity for families giving a memorial that all can enjoy in the form of seating, statuary, bubbling fountain and a whole mix of wonderful, colorful shrubs, plants and bulbs for enjoyment but also raise some easy vegetables.

The more we talked the more excited I got just thinking about the possibilities. The area has a wonderful gazebo and wide sidewalks. It also has a nice stand of trees just waiting for bulbs and shade plants to be dug in. I was told that the area has underground sprinkling already in place. What more could we ask for?

I can see making a list of needs, wants and wishes that the community of Zeeland and their families may want to give as a memorial. I remember stating this in one of my earlier blogs how much I believe that giving a plant that can be reused such as Hosta ‘Praying Hands’, Hosta ‘Remember Me’, especially if I knew the person well, was in good taste, and much appreciated. There are many gardening features that could compliment this area.

I volunteered to help co-ordinate this plan and see where it goes. It may take a number of years before it is finished. But gardening is never finished, there is always room for one more. I have already E-mailed the plan to Shane from the Ottawa extension and his reply was “ Yes, this is wonderful, and a perfect match for Master Gardener Volunteers. I’ll send out emails for volunteers whenever you need, keep me posted”.

I am Carol A. Gras and live on Michigan Street in Zeeland. You may call me at 748-1535 if you wish. I plan on volunteering my time and some of my plants to help get this project started. Depending on the response from the wonderful, close knit, caring people who make up our city of Zeeland, this project could be one of the first of its kind in Michigan.

Yes, this is the same content that was first written several years ago. Our project is at a standstill at the moment. Over the winter I grew new starts of several different vines for the chain link fence. I need to figure out a way to mark this vine so it doesn't get mowed down. Taking out the sod is going to be a big task as it needs to be dug out on both sides of the fence. Getting the vines out of the way of the lawnmower and keeping it looking nice . We planted several donated grasses and they too were mowed down. Getting assistance from Master Gardeners is not a problem. Our current needs are:

1. Four or five bags of good potting soil.

2. Fertilizer

3. Wires of some kind with bright flags to mark the plantings of the vines.

If any one has some items along this line to donate please call me at 748-1535.

My Favorite Thing in My Garden is