Master gardeners, design committee prepare Expo for IFYR

When you know that company is coming, it’s time to get the yard in shape and the house in order. When the company numbers in thousands and is coming to Shawnee from all over the United States, the task is even greater.
For the past two weeks the Multi County Master Gardeners, the Downtown Design Committee and the Shawnee Parks employees have worked diligently to make the Heart of Oklahoma Expostion Center grounds and Shawnee public areas ready to receive these guests. Most of the landscaped areas at the Expo Center were established by the Master Gardening class of 2001. Since that time, other Master Gardeners have helped maintain it.
The installation in front of the Conference Center was by Complete Landscaping several years ago. The crew removed weeds, planted additional flowers and applied more than 100 bags of cypress mulch.
The first stop for rodeo entrants is the Welcome Center, also known as the Comfort Station. This area, with its rail fence and permanent landscaping, was manicured by Wanda Barnett, Phyllis Flora, Dona Moore and Bobbie Rider. In previous years, Ed and Donna Guthrie have been responsible following a stint by Betty and Ray Reid.
A newcomer to Shawnee, Janet Turner worked on the raised beds at the entrance to the orange building, pruning the shrubs and planting periwinkles. These will also be attractive for the upcoming county fair.
At the entrance to the stadium, several Autumn Sage, salvia greggii, that were planted several years ago by Betty Reid are in full bloom. This hardy plant is low maintenance and requires no supplemental water except in the most severe drought conditions.
Paul Malley and I spent a morning working on the Kickapoo Spur median nearest Kickapoo.  Linda Malley joined us in doing some work at the Shawnee Public Library Main Street beds.
Last Saturday, a crew of the Downtown Design Committee led by Sherry Lankford and joined by Linda Brown, Linda and Paul Malley, Dick Hurley, Janet Turner, Julia Harmon, Daniel Shaughnessy, Rhonda White and two community service workers cleaned the beds on Bell from the clock to Main Street and several blocks on Main.
This quote from the writings of George Bernard Shaw describes these magnificent volunteers,  “This is the true joy of life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”
When you see these folks, give them a pat on the back. Better yet, join us on Aug. 9 for the next downtown work day.