Time to remove the ribbons!

Thanks to all who supported the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens last year in our successful bid to renovate and expand the Greenhouse.

Special thanks to those of you who showed your support by tying green ribbons on your trees. Now, for the sake of the tree’s health, if you still have any ribbons up, we ask you to please remove all ribbons. This will prevent the ribbons from constricting growth or providing habitat for harmful bugs that may hide underneath.

Heavenly Blue morning glory

Bedding plants can be expensive. Instead, try sowing the seed directly into your garden bed or flower pot. They take just a little longer to come into flower, but it is well worth the effort.

These annual flower seeds can sown between May 10th and June 1st: bachelor’s button, calendula, cosmos, marigolds, larkspur, morning glory, nasturtium, poppies, sweet alyssum and zinnias. Always sow seeds twice as deep as they are wide and keep the area moist until they germinate. Be sure and provide a trellis for most morning glories as they grow as a vine. Mark the location where you plant seeds with plant tags to help you discern weeds from the new flowering plants. Unlike perennial flowers these annual flowers, once they start blooming, they will continue to bloom until frost.

It can also be used as a lawn fertilizer. Unlike chemical fertilizers kids can help you spread it with their bare hands. It also adds much needed organic matter to stimulate the growth of your turf. Apply about 20 to 30 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn.

There are many common questions that we get about this upcoming construction.
They include:
Q. When will construction begin?
A. We currently anticipate August 2013

Click on this image to see full size road changes

Q. How will the roads be changed in the park during and after construction?

1. The intersection of Carey Ave. and South Lions Park Drive will be relocated to the south, creating a safer “T” intersection at Carey Ave.
2. The current Botanic Gardens parking lot will be relocated to the area south of the old greenhouse and the Herb and Rose Garden.
3. The road between the Botanic Gardens Parking Lot and the Paul Smith Children’s Village will be removed. Access to the boat docks will be from the north entering on the same road to the Kiwanis Community House on North Lions Park Drive.
4. Temporary parking for the Paul Smith Children’s Village will be relocated to the Old Community House’s parking lot located just east of the Village.
5. A temporary parking lot will be built south of the old greenhouse and entrance to the greenhouse will change to the double southern doors.

Q. Will the Botanic Gardens be closed during construction?
A. No. We will remain open throughout construction. There will be a temporary period when all operations (bedding plant production, etc.) will move into the new greenhouse/conservatory, while the old greenhouse will be refurbished.

Q. What will become of the old Greenhouse?
A. It will be totally refurbished and then it will mainly be a plant production facility (bedding plants, food, flowers etc.). It will also include some offices and a volunteer locker room and volunteer break room. It will be open to the public on most days.

Q. Will there be any trees removed in the park?
A. Every effort has been made to minimize the removal of trees. However there will be some that need to be removed. These include:

1. A few smaller trees east of Discovery Pond for road access.
   

   Click to see which trees are to be milled into lumber for construction

2. A number of ponderosa pines located between the old greenhouse’s parking lot and the Children’s Village– to make room for the new greenhouse/conservatory. We should note that these trees will be milled into construction lumber and used in the new building. In their place will soon be tropical trees growing that the public can enjoy and sit under in the new tropical greenhouse/conservatory.
3. A number of other smaller trees will be relocated to new locations.
4. There will also be a number of new exterior replacement trees in the landscape surrounding the greenhouses.

Q. What are the estimated phases of construction?

1. Aug. 2013 – Nov. 2013: Road and parking construction.
2. Nov. 2013 – Nov. 2014: Construction of new greenhouse.
3. Dec. 2014– Feb. 2015: Move all operations out of old greenhouse and into new greenhouse.
4. March 2015 – Oct. 2015: Begin total renovation of old greenhouse.
5. Nov. 2015 – March 2016: Finish plant-scaping in new greenhouse and move plant production operations and some staff operations back into old (newly renovated) greenhouse.

 Q. What are the impacts of this new construction on the overall green space in Lions Park?

A. The relocation of South Lions Park Drive will actually be shorter than the old road location (by almost a third), and because the new parking lot is not much larger than the original parking lot, there will be a minimum loss of green space in Lions Park.

Approximate location of un-irrigated southeast Lions Park set to be irrigated. Click to enlarge

The new Greenhouse technically is a building, but it is green inside with tropical trees, flowers and plants. Therefore this area should be considered green space.
In addition, the Cheyenne Parks and Recreation has decided to add additional new irrigated turf in an area in southeast Lions park where there is currently no irrigation to make up for irrigated park land that is lost due to the construction associated with the renovation and expansion.

Click here to see the
new features, capabilities and programming
available after the renovation and expansion work is completed

•      When daffodils bloom, it is time to plant peas.
•      When apple blossoms fall it is time to plant corn.
•      Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrels’ ear.
•      Plant peppers and eggplant outside when bearded iris is in bloom.
•      When dandelions first bloom, plant beets and carrot seed.
•      When elm leaves are the size of a penny, plant beans.
•      Tomatoes can be set out when lily-of-the-valley is in full bloom.

Never, ever add lime to either your soil or your compost pile. Doing so increase the alkalinity of our already alkaline soil, and thus reduce your plant’s health and overall growth.

2013 Schedule

March 14– Rose varieties including miniature roses
April 18– Rose gardening in the county
May 9 (rescheduled) Rose gardening in the city
June 13– Fertilizers
July 11– propagation
August 8– Rose rustling and view other gardens in the city
September 12– winding down for the winter
October 10– winterizing

Everyone is welcome to attend as meetings are open to the public.
For information call Rhea Halstead at 307–637-3114.

Upcoming schedule–
Thurs. May 16th at Chris’ home 3439 Luckie Rd. The program will be on container gardens. They will be having a plant exchange so bring your plants. Everyone is invited. Contact edithcook@comcast.net or Chris at 638‑9985
May 23rd Meeting moved to May 16th
June 27th “Installation of Officers” and potluck at a member’s house.
For more information contact Edith or Chris at 307–638-9985.