During the 2020 season, Gardenin' Angels contributed almost 250 hours of labor, NOT including watering, mowing, planning, or purchasing / transporting. We accomplished this work in a masked, socially-distant way given COVID. 

The big project for 2020 was replacing the Island grass with native plantings, Butterfly Weed and Goldenrod (which does NOT cause allergies, though is often confused with Ragweed, which does). The project was accomplished with roto-tilling in compost (removing grass, weeds, and stones along the way) then mulching. By August we had our first monarch butterfly. Our volunteer lawn mowing crew is grateful for this change! 

We mulched all around the property (including the island) with a 6 CuYd delivery from Russell's. The mulch is natural shredded - we were instructed "do not use painted mulch, it adds too much heat to the island and pollutes the water runoff in the drains." Many hours went into edging the beds, again an attempt to reduce the lawn footprint. We will order 12 CuYd next year so we can go around the entire church, and spread a little more thickly to discourage weeds, including around the Clinton St. Arbor Vitae. 

We planted a variety of miscellaneous flowers: purchased (marigolds - one clump went gangbusters!) and donated (daylilies, black-eyed susans, coreopsis, other lilies, plants from the Easter altar, hostas, 2 rose bushes). Our approach is trial and error - see if the plant likes a particular microclimate and transplant accordingly. The challenge of the dry summer was too much for some plants, including the sunflowers along the parish hall. We also planted mums in honor of Marge Musial. The ones from Home Depot along the parish hall died early; the 12 from Triechler's in the island bloomed very late. 

We had surprised visitors this summer: Japanese Beetles! They were attracted first to lilies, then roses, hibiscus, Virginia creeper, and spirea. We had a "beetle patrol" who would flick them into a cup of soapy water with a little prayer to St. Francis. However, as they continued to ravage our plants, we obtained some Beetlegone, and with 3 applications the problem abated. We have some left over to use in 2021 should we need it.

We continued to use a natural spray to discourage weeds in between pavers, a formula that includes epsom salt, Dawn dish detergent, and vinegar:

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/450922981439897004/#:~:text=1%20gallon%20of%20vinegar%2C%201,2%20tablespoons%20dawn%20dishwashing%20soap.  

or

 https://myheavenlyrecipes.com/3-ingredient-weed-killer-recipe/  

The big project for 2021 was going to be removing the 5 remaining shrubs alongside the Parish Hall to the right of the Inkberry and Potentilla, which thrived. However, on Sept 17th we met with National Fuel, who came to estimate a buyout for the areas where they would normally re-plant grass after they excavated. The proceeds would be $225. Heidi Gee from Russell's consulted at the same time. We decided that if we could remove the shrubs we could plant 3 more inkberry, a potentilla, and a decorative grass to finish off the area -- and still be money ahead including the grass seed and supplies. Once again with volunteer labor (Paula Hunt enlisted a friend with a pickup truck) the job almost seemed easy! We also planted a dogwood around the corner from the Jesus statue, which will attract birds. So with our 2021 project accomplished, we can continue our thoughts for "less grass" going forward. One possibility for 2021 would be to add Virginia Creeper along the chain link fence at the back of the church, both for ecological and aesthetic reasons. Watering, however, could be an issue.

We are grateful for all the volunteers who watered during the dry summer. 

Note that Family Promise receives separate donations of plant material and typically will find their own volunteers to landscape.

A jewel of 2020 was becoming certified as a St. Kateri habitat, and an article in the last print edition of the  WNY Catholic (see article below). Since the certification, the parish now fulfills another Kateri element: partnering with a solar energy company. Even though Ss. C-B doesn't have panels on site to produce electricity, the company has a solar array on Grand Island producing an equivalent amount of electricity to what Ss. C-B and the other participants use.

Per Betsy, the grounds have never looked better. The watering and pruning made a huge difference, esp. to the hibiscus and roses, resp. Winter pruning will include the potentilla (remove 1/3 of the thickest stems) and spirea (take out deadwood and cut back). We haven't yet decided if we'll try to do more flower gardening. One area that could use some love is along the parish center. The spreadsheet summarizing 2020 work is below to use as a model for planning our 2021 work.