CONNIE HANSEN GARDEN CONSERVANCY

The Garden: The Garden is about 1.25 acres in a residential neighborhood, with a parking area, and is open to visitors during all daylight hours, free of charge. It is unattended a good deal of the time, much like a park. The 2022 discovery of a pathogen of federal regulatory concern, Phytophthora ramorum, in the garden, continues to have detrimental effects. Additional plant removal was conducted in the fall of 2024, followed by ground cleanup and application of cedar chips to cover potentially contaminated soil. The irrigation project was finally completed but still requires some adjustment and fine tuning. Dissatisfaction with the irrigation project resulted in a decision not to use the same contractor for the drainage project, so that it is delayed indefinitely. Replacement planting began with the installation of 3 specimen trees in the northwest corner to provide some windbreak for other parts of the garden. The new tree procurement and installation and corrective pruning on some existing large trees was done by a licensed arborist. With permission from the City, an excavation contractor rebuilt some street right of way with rock and additional soil to provide additional parking and improve a planting area. Numerous annual and perennial plants were produced to provide filler and color where large plants had been removed. A group of volunteers donated about 2900 hours toward garden maintenance.

The Garden House: Originally the residence of a retired botanist who developed the garden over a twenty year period. The Garden House was remodeled early on to correct some deficiencies and make it more suitable to the mission of the Conservancy. It is approximately 1440 square feet. The building dates to the 1940's and is likely to need major renovation or replacement at some point. The Conservancy is accumulating funds for that eventuality. Some possible structural issues have beeen detected and were corrected this year. The remodel resulted in a five room, plus restroom, building. The main room serves as a meeting room, a gallery for local artists on a rotating basis, a class and event room, and a lunch room for volunteers. Other rooms include a horticultural reference library, a kitchen, a small garden related gift shop/host station, and a small office/store room. The House is now hosted seven days a week from March through early December. Volunteers donated about 1300 hours toward House operations.