JUNES GARBENj
Village of Flowers (cont'd.)
Tapestries
of
rainbow
colors grown from tiny flower
seeds to mature gardens of
beauty
that
surround
the
Chamber of Commerce building
and 33 post planters throughout
the business district of Cannon
Beach
are
created
by
the
talented
and
expert
Master
Gardeners Jan and Allen Fenton
from Arch Cape.
Six years ago Fentons were
inspired to volunteer to plant
a garden that would enhance the
distinctive style of the new
chamber building that had been
completed in 1990.
The build
ing's style is best described
in
a brochure
Rob
Spooner
wrote, ."The building radiates
'an essence of place,' embel
lished by the special skills of
local craftsmen and artists
giving the structure a regional
identity." The gardens Fentons
create each season now add the
beauty the building deserves.
In
1992,
working
with
Nancy
Littell
who
was
the
director of the Chamber of
Commerce at that time,
the
Fentons started the garden by
adding new top soil and humus.
Transplanting donated plants,
mostly perennial, to the north
side, they then planted bulbs,
seeds and small plants on the
south side including curbside
planters. Each year spring's
seasonal blooms of daffodils,
tulips, columbine, forget-me-
not, lupine, Lady's Mantle and
more are followed by early
summer flowers, like poppies,
lilies, delphinium, replaced by
dahlias, allium, varieties of
artemisia,
coreopsis,
Boston
daisies, the list is endless.
There are always flowers in
bloom. A list of 74 varieties
of flowers and seeds Fentons
save,
along
with
a sample
packet of seeds, is available
for
sale
at
the
chamber's
office.
Not only does this garden
add beauty,
it also caused
several of the volunteers to
become more knowledgeable to
answer questions as to the
names of flowers along with
directing
the
hundreds
of
visitors who seek information
about
motels,
restaurants,
maps, etc. Red flowered Japan
ese
Bishop
dahlia,
Shirley
poppies and Lavatera are the
flowers most often asked about.
Also,
a
tall,
large,
variegated-leafed plant with
single lavender flower that
grows north of the front door
is a mallow, commonly called
"tree geranium."
In 1993 the Fentons com
mitted to volunteer more hours
to plant and maintain the 25
post planters that are placed
on top of the 8' posts which
are placed along the sidewalks
throughout the business dis
trict of Cannon Beach. Recently
they added nine more. Through
the five years of experience
they have worked out a success
ful formula as to what plants
perform best and with the least
maintenance.
At
their
home
where the cleaned-out 12" x 12"
wooden planters are stored on
April 15th they start their
plantings with fresh soil. In
each container they add two
Super petunias, two violas, two
Swan
daisies,
two
trailing
geraniums,
two lobelia,
two
lotus and one trailing verbena.
On the post planter at the
chamber they add nemesia and
schizanthus. Memorial Day the
planters are ready to place on
their posts.
During the summer, every
other day starting at 6:00 A.M.
they
fill
a
large
plastic
garbage can on wheels with
water. Each post-planter takes
four gallons.
The 32-gallon
garbage can needs to be filled
at least four or five times.
They wheel the can throughout
town, Allen climbing a ladder,
deadheading and watering at the
same time, Jan helping by lift
ing each container, finishing
about 8:00 A.M.
They then
continue their work to water,
deadhead and do general main
tenance required in the flower
beds surrounding the chamber
building.
The
gardens
and
planters are fertilized with
soluble "Miracle-Gro" every 10
days.
September 10th the post
planters are taken down, each
completely
cleaned
out
to
prevent any problems of plant
disease or insects, then stored
over the winter at their home,
ready for next year's spring
planting. At this time they
also prune and clear out summer
flowers around the chamber for
the garden to winter over.
The past experience Allen
Fenton gained to add to his
joys of gardening began in 1967
when he started a business on
Hwy. 101 in Warrenton called
"Fenton's Nursery." He worked
with a Portland nursery and
other successful growers of
trees, shrubs, perennials and
annuals as to the required
care, maintenance and best soil
mixtures.
He
soon
became
knowledgeable as he had always
been interested in all.aspects
of gardening. In 1985 he closed
his nursery. When Ecola Square
was first built, Allen worked
with Beth Holland, who designed
and planted the first garden in
front of the square. During the
summer months tables and chairs
were placed in the front court
yard, which was a favorite
place for enjoying an espresso
or
sandwich
from
the
fish
market and being rewarded by
the
garden's
beauty.
The
original garden is no longer
there. It is now under the care
of others.
The Fentons completed a
"Master Gardening" course a few
years ago. The course not only
teaches
all
conditions
of
gardening, but also encourages
the students to reach out and
teach others. For information
call the Oregon State Universi
ty Extension Service, Clatsop
County
1-503-325-8573.
Fred
Lundin,
agricultural
agent,
teaches
the
class.
It
is
usually offered through the
fall and winter terms.
From October to the first
part of April the Fentons'
well-deserved time-off is spent
traveling. This year they plan
to
visit
gardens
and
car
museums in some of the southern
states. They are active members
of Antique Military Restoration
Club and Classic Car Club. They
own a 1949 Jeepster convertible
and a 1952 Jeep. Both of these
vehicles they restored. Allen
also is a ham radio operator.
Jan's background is in nursing
and family counseling.
I f you were asked the question "What is a tree worth?" . how would you calculate that worth?
A common answer would be it's market value for wood or pulp products9 O r possibly one could anempt to
assign a value to the tree's aesthetic worth Otmously . there are as many variables as the people you ask
Recently I was acquainted with an interesting response by Professor T M Das o f the University o f
Calcutta, India He has figured the worth o f an average tree livin g for 50 years at $196,250. His premise
is the cost o f a rtificially maintaining the ecological functions pronded by the tree The breakdown o f that
figure is:
31.250
Oxygen Generation
62.500
A ir Pollution Control
31.250
Soil Fertility & Soil Erosion Control
47.500
Recycling Water & Controlling Humidity
One o f the easiest ways to help in decreasing the unnecessary flood o f paper products that collect in
landfills, is to cut down on the third class mail we receive. Third class mail is referred to as bulk business
mail, unsolicited mail, or in lay terms; junk mail. The postal employees are required by iaw to deliver all
m ail sent to your address. They can not censor mail, even i f we request it. However, we can!
The price break in th ird class mail allows over 8 m illion small companies to advertise their products.
Additionally, these companies often sell their mailing list to other companies and organizations So how
do we control receiving unsolicited mail. Easy!! Well sort off. It w ill take a little effort on your part.
I f you w rite to the follow ing direct mail agencies and request that your name and address be deleted from
their m ailing lists they w ill accommodate you. These companies often sell their lists to small companies
fo r promotions, catalogues, and flyers.
Donnelly Marketing, 1235 North Avenue, Nevada Iowa 50201
M ail Preference Semces/Direct Marketing, P.O Box 9008,
Farmington N Y 11735
Metro M ail Corp 901 West Bond, Lincoln, NE 68521
National Demographics & Lifestyles List Order Service,
1621 18th Street #300, Denver, CO 80202
Reverse phone books are another source for mailing lists. Again i f you contact them they w ill remove your
name & address.
Haines & Company Inc, Criss-Cross Directory, 2382 East W alnut Avenue East,
Fullerton, C A 92631
The telephone company offers a "No Solicitation Calls" listing for a nominal monthly fee. By law this
protects Oregonians from uninvited sales calls. Call your phone company for specific information.
The follow ing companies provide credit information. Ask them to remove your name from their files. Also
request a copy o f vour credit report. Look for the section called "promotions", "promo", or "companies that
request your credit report". Contact each company listed and request to be removed from their m ailing list.
Equifax Options, Marketing Decisions Systems Inc. P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
TransUnion Transmark INC, 555 West Adams, Chicago IL 60661
TRW-NCAC, 12606 GreertvtUe Ave, Dallas T X 75243
The Department o f M otor Vehicles records are also used for direct advertising. This one really surprised
m e!! To be taken o ff their list you must complete a form (o f course there is a form this is the government)
735-6438C "Request to W ithhold Name/Address from D M V Records Used for Direct M a il Advertising "
The form is available at vour local D M V and can be submitted to D M V , 1905 Lana Avenue NE Salem OR
97314.
S E W I N G
Custom fashions
for the home
Leslie
Wood
4 3 6 -0 2 7 9
I hope to be remembered as someone who made the
earth a little more beautiful.
Justice William O. Douglas
The beauty and dedication
of
hundreds
of
hours
they
volunteer
their
love
of
gardening,
turning our town
into
a
true
"Village
of
Flowers," is their gift to all
that live here or visit for a
month or a day.
Dogs come when they’ re called; cats take a message and get back to you.
Mary Bly
ur rut lift Ebtt otwki . -tin