Educational Gardens
is a project of
Victoria County
Master Gardener
Association
2008 CLICK HERE
2009 CLICK HERE
June 07, 2007
BY PAT PLOWMAN - VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
EDITED BY CHARLA BORCHERS LEON
A vision of gardens: Back in the spring of 2000, three master gardeners working on a small landscape project to beautify the old Foster Field Officer's Club at Victoria Regional Airport let their imaginations run wild and came up with the idea to create a complex of gardens in the open field that surrounded the club.
The wheels started turning, design plans were drawn up and by the end of the year the Victoria Regional Airport Commission granted permission for the Victoria County Master Gardeners Association to use the land surrounding the Officer's Club.
"VEG" IS BORN
The master gardeners met, discussed possible names for the project and eventually decided on Victoria Educational Gardens, affectionately "VEG" for short ... a very appropriate name because the mission of the Master Gardeners is to increase horticultural education to the community.
Six Phases
VEG would be divided into 6 phases - the first one being the children's garden, vegetable garden, storage shed and greenhouse - all on the west side of the Officer's Club. Phases 2 through 5, which include 16 mini-gardens, a large water garden and several demonstration areas, would be constructed on the property to the south and east of the Officer's Club.
And phase 6, still to be funded and built, would be a large pavilion with restrooms on an existing slab adjacent to the vegetable garden on the west side.
A 'Very Ambitious' Project
The initial groundbreaking was May 10, 2001, during which John Roberts, then-chairman of the airport commission, described the project as "very ambitious." At that time, there were about 50 active members, and we knew we had taken on a very large assignment.
After many months of fundraising, and with determination, enthusiasm, love of gardening and hard work, the first phase was completed and presented to the community on May 18, 2003.
For the next two years, we took a break from hard labor and concentrated on spreading the word about the gardens and encouraging the community and schools to tour the educational facility.
Since we still had five more phases to complete, we continued our fundraising efforts by writing grants and sending out a letter for community support. We conducted plant sales twice a year, had garden symposiums and co-sponsored annual garden tours. By 2005 we had raised enough funds to continue our garden plans for the east side of the Officer's Club. This would bring the investment in the project to $250,000.
Step by Step
With support from Victoria County, our expansion project began. First, Precinct 4 personnel and equipment removed tons of soil and uncovered the steps leading down to the old pool area of the Officer's Club.
We wanted to keep history alive and incorporate as much of the old facility in our garden plans as possible.
We were amazed at what had been uncovered - the bottom of the old fountain was beautiful and still in pretty good shape. There also was lots of concrete, which needed to be removed, and some unexpected obstacles that caused us to revise our design plans several times.
We took our first step by having the patio of the Officer's Club enclosed with a black metal fence. Later, this area would become our container garden.
Next, irrigation and electrical systems were installed. Then the Master Gardeners went to work turning the open field into a total of 19 gardens.
Paved walkways that are wheelchair accessible were installed. Under the direction of our chief carpenter, Ed Gregurek, we built a 60-foot-long arbor, a pergola and a cathedral arbor to provide shade and seating areas for visitors. Drainage systems and retaining walls were built. The water garden was dug and professionals volunteered their time to create a feature that will be used to teach kids about pond ecosystems.
The teahouse gazebo and perimeter fence were erected. A dual-tank 6000-gallon rainwater harvesting system was added to our plans this January to demonstrate water conservation and efficient water usage due to excess runoff water from the roof of the Officer's Club. Tons of compost have been tilled into the garden areas. Heirlooms, roses, grasses, perennials, daylilies and irises were planted in their specific gardens and the entire area was mulched. A wheelchair accessible labyrinth was constructed alongside the cathedral arbor and meditation garden.
Pavers were sold at cost for the Military Honor Garden and as a fundraiser for the Path of Family and Friends. Six years in the making, more than 10,000 volunteer hours - and now the vision is a reality.
VEG is open from dawn until dusk. We are located at the Victoria Regional Airport at 333 Bachelor Drive.
We will be happy to conduct a tour, activity, lesson, etc. for your group on Wednesday or Thursday mornings. Please call the Extension Office at 361-575-4581 to get in contact with a member to assist CLICK HERE for more information.