It is definitely spring in the garden. Abundant rain and warming temperatures have coaxed the leaves out on many roses. This year, the saucer magnolia was not caught by a late freeze, which often happens. It was glorious for a few days before rain knocked off the flower petals.

There’s been plenty of human activity in the park. The rose, herb and perennial volunteer groups have started their regular work schedules. Registration forms are available here.

Several garden structure have been replaced. The deteriorating herb garden kiosk was removed and a new weatherproof cedar one installed. Gertrude, head of the herb garden volunteers, and I will soon be updating visitor information on the bulletin board.

We are very pleased to announce that the kiosk was funded by a generous grant from the Little Garden Club of Columbus. That group funds beautification, restoration, education and creation projects in central Ohio. They have provided funds over the years to update rose beds and contributed to the 2013 fountain renovation. Many thanks to the Little Garden Club!

Another structure that was improved is the trellis supporting two ‘Ramblin Red’ roses outside the volunteer office. Those roses were donated several years ago by the Clintonville Rotary Club. That rose is a vigorous rambler (also described as a climber) which quickly outgrew the small iron trellis to which it was tied. The POR Foundation voted to pay for a custom built cedar trellis of much larger proportion. The rose canes were pruned down to about two feet tall in order to install the structure, but they will cover the trellis by the end of summer. We think ‘Red’ will be happy there for many years.