HELP
NEEDED!
WEEDERS: The Japanese
Garden is a wonderful place
to visit—so peaceful and so
beautiful! It is also a large area
that requires many hands to keep
it looking neat and trim.
If you have time to adopt a small
space in the Japanese Garden
to weed, we could use your help.
It takes about 30 to 40 minutes
per week to keep a small area in
shape.
Call the office, 563-556-2100,
and leave your name and phone
number or fill out a volunteer form
the next time you visit the DABG.
Thank you.
• • • • • • • •
FALL CLEAN-UP: Mark
your calendars for Fall Clean-up
here at the DABG on Saturday,
October 19 and Saturday,
October 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We could really use your help to
put all the flower beds in order
for the winter months. DABG will
provide rakes and other tools.
Just bring a good pair of gloves
and be ready to work hard! Free
lunch will be provided for all
clean-up day workers. Contact
the office at 563-556-2100 if you
are able to participate.
Bluebird Watch Signs
Five bluebird houses are located in the grassy, open areas of the DABG. All houses are
visible on the right hand side of the main road entering the DABG. Near each active
bluebird house is posted a “Bluebird Watch” sign.
Bluebirds usually arrive at the DABG mid-March to early April. Some never leave
Iowa. My friend Carol has seen bluebirds at her home in Asbury during the winter
months for years. They come to the feeder area during the winter just to hang out, not
to eat.
The 2013 spring/summer season
saw the following bluebird activity
at the DABG houses:
HOUSE 1: located just after
first turn in the main road—no
bluebird activity
HOUSE 2: located just before
the Japanese Garden parking
area—5 fledglings in August
HOUSE 3: lost 5 eggs; nest
intact in April; 5 fledglings in June
HOUSE 4: near kids’ play area; lost 5 chicks, perhaps to heat, in July
HOUSE 5: wrens took over; will relocate house
As of August 10, all houses were empty. Fledglings could be heard in the trees and
flying in pairs near their houses. We wish them well on their journey for food.
Submitted by Jeanette Callahan
OUR WELL
HAS RUN DRY
The drought of 2012 has unfortunately caught up with the
DABG. After burning out two well pumps, we found out
that our well has indeed run dry. This well is critical to
maintaining DABG’s living museum of plants as it waters
90 percent of the gardens and feeds the Japanese Pond
which is very popular for children who visit and want to
feed the koi fish. The Japanese Garden is one of DABG’s
most admired sites.
• • • • • • • •
TOUR GUIDES: Have you
ever wanted to show people
around the DABG and highlight
its magnificence? Tours around
the DABG are in great demand
and we continue to get increasing
requests for guided tours around
the gardens. We could use more
volunteers to help us showcase
the features and history of the
DABG. Only a willing heart
is needed —training will be
provided! Please contact the
office at 563-556-2100 and ask
for Sandi to sign up.
We are proposing to drill a new well to address the problem.
Currently, the well that has run dry is in the Galena aquifer.
The new well will go down 650 feet and tap into the Prairie
du Chien aquifer. We will connect a water and electric line to the current pump house.
The total cost of the well is estimated to be $38,000. If you are interested in assisting us
financially with the cost of drilling a new well, we certainly would welcome your
support. Please send a check with a note that it goes to the well fund or call Wylie,
Jack or Sandi at 563-556-2100 with any questions.
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