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ior me sneuer 10 luncuonBurr will be in charge of activating an omergancy Civil Defense command post if the need arises and during theDaily N*w* Photo*GRRECNHOUSi WORKERS — Mrs. Helen McGaha, left, Jerry Hervey and Mrs. Gussie Cook, work in the Porks Department greenhouse, getting all the plants ready for springtime planting. They hold geraniums, started from seeds before Christmas.in pBy JAN R. SKINNERDally News StaffHiding in south Grand Prai-rie, -Just waiting for the right time, are thousands of seed* lings, holding out for MotherNature.Inside the Parks Department's greenhouse, recently expanded to about three-times its previous size, are the begin* nings of spring and summer flowers and foliage that will later be planted throughout Grand Prairie's 28 parks.Mrs. Helen McGaha and Mrs. Gussie Cook have been incharge of the parks' green* house since October. How do things stand, plant-wise, with springs so near; and springtime weather already here''We've been planting bulbs of daffodils and lilies in Kirby Creek and Turner Parks,a train accident in the vacinity of the center of town, the shelter would, more than likely, be inaccessible to Civil Defense workers.command ot me Naval Air station and said he would begin contacting area fuel distributers to deter secure fuel supplies. •'Also, crosswaiKs painted at Palos Verdes and Springdale will be moved around the first of Xarch. Our traffic surveyshowed that, because the dis-wait onspringhouseMrs. McGaha said. They've already sprouted and will be blooming soon Rows on rows of marigolds, salvia,, petunias and amarama are under the women's charge at the greenhouse. Some are about a half-inch tali, some barely sprouted and others haven't yet peekedout of the soil.In addition to making sure the bulbs get into the ground, they’ve been following Tom Burseen around, planting trees, Mrs. McGaha said. Burseen is the parks superintendent. “We’ve been filling the holes up with dirt, and we've been pruning the older trees We just got a new pru-ner, which is a regular tree-pruner, with longer handles.Winter time is the best time to transplant and move trees, as they are dormant. Early in 1973, the Parks Departmentgot a new tree-moving machine, enabling a worker to uproot a 20 foot tree in three minutes, and replant it in the same amount of timeMost of the plants have grown from seedlings, including a bunch of mighty oaks from littie acorns. We planted about 100 acorns, four to a can. Xrs. McGaha explained. And most are aboutsix inchestall now.Geraniums started around Christmas are now about five inches tall and lush with leaves. They're also growing some tomatoes and peppers, but those won t be planted in the parks—they're for staff members land weren't bought with city money). They also have taken in sick plants to revive. vrNeither had previous greenhouse experience prior to beginning their work in October, other than just their own yardwork. And we're learning all the time We attend seminars, and lectures, on new growing processes, new plants and on landscaping, Mrs McGaha saidMr*. Cook said the plants that will be put out in the parks aren't difficult plants to grow. They’ll be placed where they can be irrigated by park sprinkler systems, and where sun will suit the individual plants.The women said that the plants should be flowering and big enough to plant in the parks soon. And freezing'? Mrs. McGaha said the plants already out there can brave what Mother Nature may dish out; and the ones inside areprotected until their timecomes to be planted
Newspaper Details
Grand Prairie Daily News
Grand Prairie, Texas, US
Thu, Feb 15, 1973
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
TX, USA 25 May 2018
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