The Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership (GGP) has a new gig going: social gardening.
It’s weekly on Wednesday evenings around 6 to 7:30 p.m. We are inviting folks to come on down to the GGP site on the Riverwalk in Centennial Park and (your choice): sit and watch folks take after the bind weed and hoary cress, join in on the effort, bring a guitar (as one fellow did) and play music for everyone to enjoy, sit and simply watch the river pass in the cool breeze of the evening, or more.
The benefits are many. First is community — just getting to know folks. Second is there is much to learn from GGP members and from one another. Third is that weeding, planting and watering are good therapy, as is simply chatting with a new or old friend. Fourth is that the GGP is recipient of a PPAN grant which will allow us to replace the afore mentioned bind weed and hoary cress with pollinator plants. You are invited to help.
On the site already by way of pollinator protection is the Audubon Native Plant Garden (Habitat Hero-certified) on the west side and the Rotary garden on the east side.
Both offer more than 50 species of pollinator-friendly perennials ranging from early flowering prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) and Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) to mid-season flowering blanketflower Gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata) and golden currant (Ribes aureum) to late-season rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus).
Then we have signage on the western end of our site about native plants and their role in supporting native pollinators with vital nectar and pollen. On the east side, we have signage that addresses water-efficient, xeriscaping techniques.
In between there are a number of solitary-nesting bee boxes that support robust numbers of mason and leafcutter bees in spring and summer. There is also signage and QR placards that provide education on why native bees are important.
The current clearing and planting effort is focused on the interior of the site; however, this time planting will be a little different. There will be native plants, but also generous quantities of edible plants, like berries (raspberry, gooseberry and current), vegetables (squash, zucchini, corn and potatoes) and herbs (basil, sage and oregano). In this garden largely along the Riverwalk, folks are invited to harvest, take what you need and give what you can.
The giving is easy — just lend a hand — or, if not possible, then drop a bit of change in the soon to arrive outdoor proof change box.
In any event, come on down and hang out with the GGP gang and your neighbors.
