Poppy Pruning

On Satuday, January 18, 2020, a few members from Shasta Chapter CNPS and North Valley Art League (NVAL) got together at the Matson-Mowder-Howe Celebration Garden at the Carter House Gallery in Caldwell Park, Redding, to do a little maintenance and collection of propagation material.

Sarah Jarrett and Michele Driggs pruning the Matilija poppies at Matson-Mowder-Howe Celebration Garden in Caldwell Park, Redding, on January 18, 2020. Photo by Doug Mandel.

The garden’s Matilija poppy population had spread to the Carter House perimeter, providing the unhoused cover to sleep, stash their belongings, and leave trash. We pruned these poppies back and carefully dug up some of the exuberant rhizomes for the propagation session held the next day at Shasta College.

Debris piles at MMH, January 18, 2020. Photo by Doug Mandel. — January 18, 2020. Poppy stalks and other organic matter from the day’s work at Matson-Mowder-Howe Celebration Garden in Caldwell Park, Redding, were stacked in piles and hauled away by the Redding Parks and Recreation Department. Photo by Doug Mandel.

Shasta Chapter CNPS obtained propagation material and the NVAL secured a nice buffer around the gallery, a win-win situation. Members of the maintenance crew included Michele Driggs, Sarah Jarrett, Margaret Widdowson, Sue Mandel (NVAL representative and garden maintenance dynamo), and Doug Mandel.

Jan Carter and Ed Thomas propagating Matilija poppy, Romneya coulteri, rhizomes at the January 19, 2020, propagation session. Photo by Doug Mandel. — Jan Carter and Ed Thomas propagating Matilija poppy, *Romneya coulteri*, rhizomes at the January 19, 2020, propagation session. Photo by Doug Mandel.

While we spruced up the garden, many people walking by thanked us for taking care of the garden, an unexpected and heart-warming experience. Please join us for our next garden cleanup session, the afternoon of Friday, February 21, 2020. Details can be found in our calendar. -Doug Mandel