FOSG October 2023 Newsletter
Celebrating a Milestone
A great celebration was held on the evening of September 18th. The weather was glorious, and the garden looked beautiful. The festivities began with the introduction of a guest, Mary Ella Wolverton, who shares her age with the garden, each being 96 years strong and resilient. Mary Ella is a third-generation member of the Wednesday Shakespeare Club and is the granddaughter of the first leader of the club.
Following Mary’s introduction, the group was privileged to be introduce to Benedick and Beatrice, presented by Scot Hughes and Jennifer Smith. Their enactment of three different exchanges from the play Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare provided a glimpse into the humor that the Bard could bring to his plays. Our thanks to Scot and Jennifer for their fabulous performance.
Other reports included a short introduction to the Wednesday Shakespeare Club and a historical overview of the origins of the garden itself. Important updates were shared by members of several committees. Natalie Ross, Landscape Architect and designer of the revitalized garden, discussed the current progress of negotiations with the City and plans for Phase I. Gloria Johnson and MJ Crane shared information regarding the selection of plantings. Al Pierson gave the group an update regarding the support of the Northwest Neighbors Neighborhood Association. Lois Buntz shared the important progress with the capital campaign and what’s next. Lisa Ramlo shared thanks to everyone that has been a part of the project to date and awarded well-deserved tokens of appreciation to members of the groups. Lisa further encouraged everyone to involve other volunteers as we move forward.
View photos from the evening on our website: https://friendsofshakespearegarden.org/events/phase-one-kick-off
Horticulture Committee Report
The planting season of 2023 has been both rewarding and challenging. The gardens look amazing thanks to MJ Crane and the crew of dedicated garden volunteers. It’s rewarding to see the number of people using the garden for weddings, family celebrations, community events, graduation, and family photos. Plus, many simply enjoy the peacefulness of the garden.
The challenges center around the lack of rain and the necessity to have volunteers water daily. It was a monumental challenge, and the FOSG volunteers pitched in to keep the pots and gardens hydrated.
On September 20th, the garden hosted its first educational training. Master Gardener Deb Walser demonstrated to over 20 master gardeners and community members how to dig, divide, and replace the historical peonies. The replanting of the peonies could not have happened without the amazing group of volunteers.
We have scheduled two upcoming horticulture meetings, and everyone is invited. On October 25th from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m., we’ll empty the pots, dig up the cannas and dahlias, plant spring bulbs, and trim. On October 30th from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the Ellis Landing Condos, we will be selecting the annuals and some perennials for the 2024 growing season. We’ll focus on the containers and the front garden beds, since Phase I of the Woodlands restoration will be in process. This coming year, we’ll also have an area dedicated to herbs featured in Shakespeare writing. This is a new feature at our garden, and each herb will be identified by the play in which it was featured. For all event details, please visit friendsofshakespearegarden.org/events.
Permits & Engineering
The Shakespeare Garden construction documents are coming together, thanks to several designers and engineers. These plans will be used to obtain required permits through the City of Cedar Rapids, the Iowa DNR, and the Army Corps of Engineers. They will also be used as the basis for getting bids from contractors and will act as part of the Park Department’s contractual agreement with the chosen contractor.
The civil engineer, Brain Engineering, has completed a detailed survey of the garden and is working on a grading plan to ensure proper drainage of the future site, as well as ADA compliance on all new paths. Brain will also be putting together a demolition plan and an erosion control plan, all required by the city.
The electrical engineer, KF Engineering, is working on plans for an updated electrical meter and panel, as well as power to new light fixtures and power receptacles. And, our structural engineer, Dave Loomis, will be consulting on the metal structures, as well as required footings.
These drawings and plans will be used to apply for a Commercial Building permit to review ADA access. They will also be used to apply for a Floodplain permit, which will review the design and ensure that structures are adequately designed to minimize damage in the event of a flood.
We are on track to apply for permits and submit all of our construction documents to the Parks Department this year.
About Shakespeare
Learn more about the life and legacy of William Shakespeare in this free documentary: https://youtu.be/4r7hbr_ZEU8?si=uv4XMlS-hCgT7-2k
Connect with FOSG
Visit https://friendsofshakespeare.org for more information about our organization, the history of the garden, upcoming events, and how to support our volunteer team and community members as we continue to restore and care for this important part of the community.
To contact us about volunteering or with questions, please visit https://friendsofshakespeare.org/contact-us or email friendsofshakespearegarden@gmail.com.