The season for Docents and Guest Guides begins on Oct. 1 and runs through Mothers' Day the following May. Oct. 1 was a Tuesday, so we Tuesday Docents were the first ones back. And because our Tuesday co-captains were out (one in Europe and one teaching a class), I was one of two who volunteered to be in charge. I was the first to arrive and it is a good thing I arrived early - much of our gear and props had not yet been put out at the various stations we monitor. I ended up making several trips bringing carts full of gear to the various stations and moving the display cabinets and umbrellas into proper position at the stations (they had been delivered but every cabinet and every umbrella needed to be repositioned). But it all led to a beautiful blue sky day with plenty of visitors. When I was at the sajuaro station, I got to see the updated solar powered stop action cameras used by the BBC - as succulents absorb water, the pleats expand and as they use water, they contract. My understanding is that they are taking one photo every 60 seconds so that we can see the expansion and contraction of the cacti.
Later, when I was staffing the cactus station on the main trail, I noticed these beautiful barrel cacti nearby.
Each year, the garden hosts a different artist's work in the garden. This year it is the Cracking Art Cooperative from Milan, Italy, with their recyclable plastic sculptures - more than a thousand items for the Desert Botanical Garden. Cracking Art has had displays in more than 400 locations around the world and this is their first in a desert garden. I volunteered to help on two days, Thursday and
Saturday. I started wirh bringing the wolves to Stardust Plaza, unwrapping them and saving the bags for when they will be shipped in the spring, either to another installation or back to Milan. The adult ones are about five feet tall and the young ones are about three feet tall.
After unwrapping them and storing the bags, we then had to attach heavy metal bases to each one, and then carefully place them among the cacti in the cactus gallery and in Stardust Plaza.
After five hours, my shift ended. As I was heading out, I got to see some starfish cacti that had blooms open.
My shift on Saturday involved installing large birds and eggs.
Other volunteers had installed penguins and meerkats at the entrance.
Large frogs were installed outside the gate.
A large crocodile was installed in the cardon garden.
I helped deliver, unpack (saving the plastic bags) and place a couple dozen bears on one trail.
And I found more starfish flowers open.
Monday, Patty and I attended the monthly VIG meeting (Volunteers In the Garden) and learned more about the artwork. I only had a minute to take a couple photos of the fish suspended in the succulent gallery.
And we saw these beautiful blooms, not sure what they are but I think they are related to Texas Sage.
The second Tuesday of the month is Community Day - the garden is open to all and it is free. This year, all the public schools were on break so it was the busiest Community Day that anyone can remember seeing. - long lines to get in, full parking lot, and just a lot of people to deal with.
Next up will be Members Only day for viewing the artwork after it is all in place!
Later, when I was staffing the cactus station on the main trail, I noticed these beautiful barrel cacti nearby.
Each year, the garden hosts a different artist's work in the garden. This year it is the Cracking Art Cooperative from Milan, Italy, with their recyclable plastic sculptures - more than a thousand items for the Desert Botanical Garden. Cracking Art has had displays in more than 400 locations around the world and this is their first in a desert garden. I volunteered to help on two days, Thursday and
Saturday. I started wirh bringing the wolves to Stardust Plaza, unwrapping them and saving the bags for when they will be shipped in the spring, either to another installation or back to Milan. The adult ones are about five feet tall and the young ones are about three feet tall.
After unwrapping them and storing the bags, we then had to attach heavy metal bases to each one, and then carefully place them among the cacti in the cactus gallery and in Stardust Plaza.
After five hours, my shift ended. As I was heading out, I got to see some starfish cacti that had blooms open.
My shift on Saturday involved installing large birds and eggs.
Other volunteers had installed penguins and meerkats at the entrance.
Large frogs were installed outside the gate.
A large crocodile was installed in the cardon garden.
I helped deliver, unpack (saving the plastic bags) and place a couple dozen bears on one trail.
And I found more starfish flowers open.
Monday, Patty and I attended the monthly VIG meeting (Volunteers In the Garden) and learned more about the artwork. I only had a minute to take a couple photos of the fish suspended in the succulent gallery.
And we saw these beautiful blooms, not sure what they are but I think they are related to Texas Sage.
The second Tuesday of the month is Community Day - the garden is open to all and it is free. This year, all the public schools were on break so it was the busiest Community Day that anyone can remember seeing. - long lines to get in, full parking lot, and just a lot of people to deal with.
Next up will be Members Only day for viewing the artwork after it is all in place!
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