Historical September–October 1998 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The two community gardens of Skinker DeBaliviere have had very productive summers thus far, thanks to the dedication of many neighbors and the guidance of Gateway Greening and the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council.
The McPherson Community Garden won %Honorable .Mention in the Post-Dispatch “Great Garden Contest” this year and we are very proud.
The McPherson Garden was on tour with 20 other gardens of other varieties, both community and private, and photos of the McPherson Garden were on display with other winning gardens at the Kemper Center at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for the months of July and August. Later in the summer, Gateway Greening sent master gardeners to the McPherson garden to demonstrate for all Gateway Greening community gardeners how to identify and spot problems and pests that menace our plants.
As usual, some plants (especially tomatoes this year) took a few hits from Mother Nature. but the gardens recover and go on with little extra -effort.
The two wildflower gardens at the entrance of the McPherson Garden exploded in size and color from early spring time, and are still in -fall array.
The sunflowers burst forth in such abundance and we were taken by surprise. Squirrels had planted seeds from last year’s sunflowers in our wildflower garden and the’ esults were bright red and yellow varieties of sunflowers we had never seen before. Our squirrels proved to be fine cross-pollinators.
The butterfly garden in the center of the McPherson Garden is packed so tight with flowering plants it is bursting out of its terraces.
The raised beds are full in both community gardens and we are all learning more about how to manage our plants.
The Block Unit 1035 Garden, under the leadership of Ronie Haliburton, with help from Michael Butler, the Beautification Committee and the SDCC, has been doing fantastically this summer.
Also under the guidance of Gateway Greening, this garden is bright, healthy and productive.
This once-vacant lot across from the Hamilton Elementary Community Education Center is now a beautiful sight, with flowers and vegetables growing tall and proud. Mrs. Haliburton and other gardeners from the 5800 block of DeGiverville have also been maintaining the triangle park at the intersection of Waterman, DeGiverville, and Laurel, with plants from Gateway’ Greening and Operation BrightSide. Both community gardens have come a long way in a very short time.
The McPherson Garden is less than a year and a half old. Next time you need to stretch your legs, come by and visit our gardens.
Original photograph caption
Community garden volunteers and planting. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 1998.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1998_09.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
