Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Oregon Grape at the U.S. Post Office

THREE RIVERS currently has 5 public buildings whose gardens were designed by the Redbud Garden Club members with horticulture and landscape design expertise. These gardens are in highly prominent sites, mostly along Highway 198 (Sierra Dr.), so that the community and visitors may benefit from their beauty.

THE REDBUD GARDEN CLUB celebrated its 60th anniversary in May 2011. About 8 years ago, the club began reviewing its historical garden projects with a closer focus on their sustainability, since plantings in earlier projects didn't always survive the harsh climate extremes of Three Rivers.

IN 2004, the club was asked to develop a Fire-safe Garden at the Cal Fire Station, teaming up with local groups to plant a garden that was beautiful, sustainable, and friendly to the environment, while featuring magnificent foothill plants.

THUS BEGAN a series of requests from the community for sustainable gardens. All are the result of wide community support from local businesses; clubs such as the Lions, the Woman's Club, and the Alta Peak Chapter of the California Native Plant Society; agencies such as the Community Services District and the National Park Service; and many individuals.

THE GOAL is to have the gardens maintained and funded by the agencies whose sites they are on, although the Redbud Garden Club continues to support some gardens.

GARDEN WATCHERS monitor the gardens and do the fine-tuning, so that the gardens remain community treasures as well as educational tools and inspiration for the home gardener.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

U.S Post Office


THE THREE RIVERS Post Office is a hub of the community, where many residents have boxes and visit daily. The native plant garden, originally planted in 1996, was extensively reconfigured and redesigned in 2007, at which time a formal dedication was held in memory of long-time Redbud Garden Club member Jean Darsey.

THIS HAS been the largest and most widely funded project of the club and perhaps its most perplexing garden. While lovely in the spring with rain providing irrigation, the club has been challenged with high salinity content in the well water used during the hot summer months. However, this has provided an opportunity to educate property owners about salt-tolerant plant choices in case they are facing similar challenges in their own yards.