Desert Meadows Park

Most of our posts have been related to our RV travels.  However, Gary and I spend considerable time periods in our retirement community in Green Valley, AZ.  Today’s retirement schedule can be every bit as busy as being employed fulltime!  Our generation seems to be more focused on volunteering than that of our parents.

For the past 18 months, or so, we have worked many, many hours, along with many other volunteers, to help develop Green Valley’s first public park

A local neighborhood owns about 4 acres of common land, but asked our nonprofit service group, Green Valley Gardeners (GVG) to become the land’s caretaker. GVG accepted the challenge to transform this land – starting with some picnic tables, a few old trees, and minimal shrubs and/or grass  - into a real park. 

The land at the start of development of the park

Our first priority was to provide our town with a community food garden  

Completing a community garden area required lots of labor to produce both in-ground and raised beds.  Fortunately, collaboration with another nonprofit (contractors teaching young men and women job skills) was a great help! But months were spent getting this completed.

Students working on form for the poured concrete raised bed

Community Garden  raised beds and in ground plots)

One of the next sections developed was the hummingbird/butterfly gardens -- (with two existing ramadas (covered picnic tables) which we planted with habitat for these wonderful pollinators. 

Entry to the hummingbird/butterfly garden and picnic area

 Other volunteers focused on designing a section of the park with desert plants.  We were very lucky as more people found out what we were doing, to have members of the community donating plants from their yards (keeping costs down is always appreciated).

Cactus Garden 

A rectangular trail system existed before GVG was involved.  We have since expanded the trails (used by many for dog walking, bird watching, etc.).  The project manager says he keeps track of community park usage by the increases in dog poop deposited in waste cans! 

Gary and I decided our focus would be along the east trail and southern end of the park.

This is a great area for wildlife, not just birds, but also lizards, snakes, bats, javalina and squirrels (the latter are visitors from a pecan orchard “next door”). 

Our section focused on addition of more trees/shrubs/grasses to expand the native animals habitat needs.  All plants in these areas are native, or adapted to, the Sonoran Desert (therefore, low water users!).

Wildlife planting area on the right (about 400 feet long)

Also, in the section we are working on, was a great mesquite bosque (grouping of trees).  Over time, our imaginations took over and we have developed a great little “oasis” – commonly called in this part of the world, a “Barrio Garden”.  

Enclosing the bosque/garden with a low wall, adding shade loving plants common to this area, and repurposing donated items has created a popular space for relaxing, reading, birding, etc.  It has also become a popular event space, used this fall for group picnics, and a wedding!

Barrio Garden picnic area 

Shade garden within the Barrio Garden picnic area

Our grasslands habitat is coming along (native grasses are fast growers!).  Inspired by the “artsy”, colorful repurposed items in the garden, we worked with a club member who is a great mosaic artist – the result was a 10 ft x 10 ft mosaic patio in front of a shade structure designed and completed by a couple of other members/volunteers!  Everyone is enjoying seeing changes occurring at the park. 

Shade structure and mosaic depicting a stream in the dessert

We are not finished yet – BUT we have decided to take a break and do some RV traveling! 

Currently we are in TX hill country on our way for a Christmas family gathering near Destin, FL. 

After the holiday, we will be spending January in FL hitting wildlife areas (not Key West this trip – think wilderness areas, state parks, and National Parks).  Mostly, we will be visiting friends who have retired or spend the winters in FL.  More on all this in future postings.