Subject: NEWS FROM THE GABLES
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Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:13:50 -0400

News from The Gables

By Betty Little

When the Gables opened in
2002, residents were encouraged to create their own gardens and to maintain a
common garden for flowers for the dining room.  The private gardens continue with help
from the outside. The common garden is being refurbished by The Gables, but
residents can still cut and arrange the flowers.

This year, a number of
people noticed the unsightly condition of the garden at the south entrance and
took action. Winkie Hamilton and Avis Turner formed a Gardening Committee.  Avis drew up a design, Jeff Freeman
removed the rosa rugosa which had been allowed to grow without attention and
prepared holes for transplanting some mugo pines. Avis, Winkie and Carol Freeman
bought coral bells, astilbe and lady’s mantel, a trellis for existing clematis
and additional mugo pines.  Avis’s
daughter donated two peonies. The committee still wanted to buy a burning bush
and more annuals and perennials. Pat Job, Terri Whalen and Ellie Lee reviewed
the plans with the committee and went to the Activities Committee for
funding.

They were impressed with
the Gardening Committee’s design for the south entrance and gave funds to cover
all costs to date and more to ensure that they  could complete the project. Now on
evenings after hot dry days, Winkie and Jeff can be seen watering the planting
at the south entrance. Everyone admires the new garden and the new south
entrance which are intended for public enjoyment. Thanks to Marcel Cye, Gables
staff, who designed and installed signs in the individual gardens which read,
“Privately Maintained.”

The Gables Activities
Committee holds a yard sale every spring to raise money for activities including
the gardens. To be able to make choices and work collectively for changes is
part of our definition of “indepen- dent living.” Thanks to our Activities
Director Sheila Gedney, her husband David, and to the many friends and neighbors
who shopped at our sale, we will be able to continue to support our own
activities at the Gables in the coming year.