Prune mulberry feed giraffe

It had rained all night and more rain was forecast, so we seriously considered calling off the zoo work day. The other volunteers wouldn't mind!

Are we glad we didn't miss the day.

We walked into the garden with our pole pruners just as the giraffe's keeper came by to collect some mulberry.

"What luck! We're pruning it today! Where should we put the branches for you?"

As it turned out we got to put it right into the giraffe's mouth.

Enjoy the fun!

You can download these photos; just click on the link following the caption. Those of you who were there might like higher resolution copies; just email to let us know which ones to send to you.

Oh -- and we also got a lot of gardening done, from rescuing the Helen's flowers from rot to measuring a hilly garden for new design, to restraining roses and removing shade perennials from places gone sunny with tree loss!

Ready to prune this overgrown mulberry N8288.jpg Left to right: Lorraine Varns, Ward Varns, Sandy DesJardin (seated, front), Judy Storrs, Michele Armstrong, Phil Gigliotti, Debi Slentz, Dawn Miller (kneeling), Debi Slentz, Mary Topf, Susan Campbell, Karen Thompson, Shelley Welch.

e planned just to thin it but got an offer on the clippings that made us a Bit Goofy. N8300.jpg

You see, we had been invited to deliver lunch to a neighbor. N8305.jpg

Come on gardeners! Hurry, don't be late, it's just down the way past the bears. N8307.jpg

Waiting to see the neighbors come to dine. N8311.jpg

Keeper explains, "No worries. You see, all hoofed mammals..." N8323.jpg

"Just hold the branch like so and..." N8332.jpg

Maybe we were even carried away (don't tell that we did this). N8304.jpg

A neighbor who needs LOTS of lunch. N8306.jpg

EVERY gardener came to this luncheon. N8308.jpg

Excited as waiting for royalty to appear at the balcony: Where ARE they?! When will they come?! N8316.jpg

...will come to eat mulberry." N8329.jpg

"...let him strip the leaves." N8333.jpg

Kristen and Jackson serve a branch. He's 10 months old. N8346.jpg

Kristen and Jackson's adoption just became official. N8347.jpg

He sure does! N8353.jpg

But Zoos are for kids so we just wait... N8357.jpg

"Hold tight, he pulls hard as he strips the leaves." N8351.jpg

Behind the servers: It's a smile-long line waiting with more offerings. N8356.jpg

...let Kristen and Jackson have lots of time. (Besides, it's pure fun just to watch them!) N8358.jpg

This guy's strong but gentle N8359.jpg

Oh, oh. Do you see them fidgeting, all those other "kids?" N8364.jpg

You know, there are Kids of MANY ages! N8360.jpg

Shelley says, "Here, Sir, we cut these just for you" N8362.jpg

It's a day we hope to remember. And hope he will, too. N8365.jpg

So much fun... N8368.jpg

we promise we won't let go of this memory. N8371.jpg

"Oooo, my grandbabies should be here!" N8374.jpg

Manners! Don't eat so fast! N8375.jpg

Phil shows us his technique. N8383.jpg

Oh, go ahead... this is delightful N8377.jpg

Reserved, as usual, he says, "Wait here we can cut you more... do you want one tree or two?" N8388.jpg

Dawn's turn. N8398.jpg

Like most zoos, this one has a 100% re-use policy, no "yard waste." Use the greens: No fresher food. (And they gave the larger trunks to the porcupines to strip the bark!) N8400.jpg