It had rained all night and more rain was forecast, so we
seriously considered calling off the zoo work day. The other
volunteers wouldn't mind!
Are we glad we didn't miss the day.
We walked into the garden with our pole pruners just as the
giraffe's keeper came by to collect some mulberry.
"What luck! We're pruning it today! Where should we put the
branches for you?"
As it turned out we got to put it right into the giraffe's
mouth.
Enjoy the fun!
You can download these photos; just click on the link following
the caption. Those of you who were there might like higher
resolution copies; just email to let us know which ones to send to
you.
Oh -- and we also got a lot of gardening done, from rescuing the
Helen's flowers from rot to measuring a hilly garden for new
design, to restraining roses and removing shade perennials from
places gone sunny with tree loss!
Ready to prune this overgrown mulberry N8288.jpg Left
to right: Lorraine Varns, Ward Varns, Sandy DesJardin (seated,
front), Judy Storrs, Michele Armstrong, Phil Gigliotti, Debi
Slentz, Dawn Miller (kneeling), Debi Slentz, Mary Topf, Susan
Campbell, Karen Thompson, Shelley Welch.
Above, left: We planned just to thin it but got an offer on
the clippings that made us a Bit Goofy. N8300.jpg Above,
right: Maybe we were even carried away (don't tell that we did
this). N8304.jpg
You see, we had been invited to deliver lunch to a neighbor.
N8305.jpg A
neighbor who needs LOTS of lunch. N8306.jpg
Come on gardeners! Hurry, don't be late, it's just down the
way past the bears. N8307.jpg
EVERY gardener came to this luncheon. N8308.jpg
Waiting to see the neighbors come to dine. N8311.jpg
Excited as waiting for royalty to appear at the balcony: Where ARE
they?! When will they come?! N8316.jpg
Keeper explains, "No worries. You see, all hoofed
mammals..." N8323.jpg
...will come to eat mulberry." N8329.jpg
"Just hold the branch like so and..." N8332.jpg
"...let him strip the leaves." N8333.jpg
Kristen and Jackson serve a branch. He's 10 months old. N8346.jpg
Kristen and Jackson's adoption just became official. N8347.jpg "Hold
tight, he pulls hard as he strips the leaves." N8351.jpg
He sure does! N8353.jpg Behind
the servers: It's a smile-long line waiting with more offerings.
N8356.jpg
But Zoos are for kids so we just wait... N8357.jpg
...let Kristen and Jackson have lots of time. (Besides, it's pure
fun just to watch them!) N8358.jpg
This guy's strong but gentle N8359.jpg
Oh, oh. Do you see them fidgeting, all those other
"kids?" N8364.jpg
You know, there are Kids of MANY ages! N8360.jpg
Shelley says, "Here, Sir, we cut these just for you" N8362.jpg
It's a day we hope to remember. And hope he will, too. N8365.jpg
So much fun... N8368.jpg ...we promise
we won't let go of this memory. N8371.jpg
"Oooo, my grandbabies should be here!" N8374.jpg
Manners! Don't eat so fast! N8375.jpg Oh,
go ahead... this is delightful N8377.jpg
Phil shows us his technique. N8383.jpg
Reserved, as usual, he says, "Wait here we can cut you more... do
you want one tree or two?" N8388.jpg
Dawn's turn. N8398.jpg
Like most zoos, this one has a 100% re-use policy, no "yard
waste." Use the greens: No fresher food. (And they gave the larger
trunks to the porcupines to strip the bark!) N8400.jpg
More of the big kids, aren't they cute? N8411.jpg
We're all glad just to be there. N8414.jpg
Just think, this mighta been a rain out, we could be home dusting
shelves. N8419.jpg
As Mary serves the 3rd course... N8422.jpg
...of this 12- or 20 course meal... N8425.jpg
Lorraine's on deck. N8428.jpg
Giraffe seems to smile, "Mmmm mighty tasty branch,
Julie!" N8432.jpg
Now Karen's on deck N8433.jpg
When we say, "Let's go finish the garden," the giraffe drawls,
"Y'all come back now!" N8440.jpg
Well, no, not really. But we did yield the floor... N8445.jpg
...as the giraffe appears to plant a kiss on the new server.
We leave with a new respect for mulberry. N8446.jpg