This is My Life

Pat Gallavan

... One is nearer to God’s heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on Earth ...

72 THE DENVER POST Thurs., Oct. 21, 1965

CONIFER CA gives boys a second chance

Randy Kinder, 20, left, worker for Volunteer• of America, and Eloy Mares, 29, probation of­ficer for Denver Juvenile Court, check sign mode by boys working at rehabilitation camp.

By MONK TYSON Denver Post Staff Writer

A rehabilitation camp on wheels near Aonifer, spon­sored by Denver Juvenile Court, is attracing\ nationwide attention. "

For record purposes, it is called Coniferpro . ect No.4. It is made up of eight trailers, purchase<' S.r~ m an oil company which used the vehicles ,as a camp, r petroleum explorers.

"During my 30 years on the bench," said Judge Philip Gilli,am of the Denver Juvenile Court, "this is the most suc­cessful operation I have ever seen in the field of rehabili­tating juvenile delinquents."

Gilliam began developing the trailer camp project two years ago. The camp accommodates 24 boys in the summer. This number h-as dropped by about two-thirds now that several "inmates" have returned to school.

If Judge Gilliam believes a boy can be helped by performing creative labor, he can sentence the youth directly to the camp or can m,ake commitment a condition of probation. Most boys are eager to work at the camp.

Boys at the Conifer camp work in Denver's mountain parks systems. Juveniles at three other camps - Deer Creek, Daniels Park and Red Rocks-also work in the parks but live in permanent buildings. Work programs are planned by Pat Gallivan, director of Denver Mountain P,arks.

Maximum stay at the camp is 90 days, although a boy can earn his release in a shorter time through willingness to work, efficiency, learning and good conduct. He is given well-batanced meals and a comfortable bed in the trailer camp.

Boys are not confined to the camp by bars, fences or prison walls. Only two have attempted escape, "and the other boys captured them before they got off the prem­ises," Gilliam said. "Most of them develop gre,at pride in their work."

When a project is complete, the Conifer camp can be moved to another work project. Gilliam said the city has purchased two additional trailers, which will be used for camp schoolrooms. This en,ables a boy to spend half a day at work and half day in school.

Gilliam said he has received inquiries about the camp from juvenile authorities from several p.arts of the country.

The Mountain Parks was not Pat's first job,

He worked for the city of Denver as a Forester

then a number of jobs related to the Nurserymen's

Association and the Horticulture Association. He had

an office in the mansion on what is now the Denver

Botanic Gardens, the Gardens were still in the

planning stage in the early 1950's.

Pat was hired by the city to oversee the Mt.Parks

in 1960, a job he grew to love. There were of course

some pitfall - being called late at night to a mimi-

riot at Red Rocks or being called on a holiday weekend

to help find an orphaned baby buffalo. But the perks

far out weighted the problems.

Perks like riding around in the mountains all day!

Others included: having lunch at the cafe at Buffalo

Bills on top of Lookout Mt., driving along Evergreen

Lake, touring up to Mt. Evans for a piece of pie etc.

Seriously, he solved real problems everyday, getting

trash picked up, getting the "ice" ready at Evergreen

Lake for skating all winter, finding that poor little

Bosom ,who was named and raised by his Forman. And to

boot Pat met and shook hands with the Beetles!

Judge Philip Gilliam of the Denver Juvenile C o u r t, originator of the reha6ffi­tation camps for delin­quent youths, visits an im­provement p r o j e c t on w hi c h the youths are working in one of Denver's

Mountain parks .

.. Pat Gallivan, director of Denver Mountain Parks, goes over a project which will provide work for juv­eniles. Gallivan develops work plans for youths in the rehabilitation camp. The youths get a chance to perform creative labor and, at the same time, im-

prove public facilities.

June 1984 The Department of Parks and Recreation Newsletter Vol. 1 No.6

JACK OF ALL TRADES -MASTER OF MANY by Judy McCoy

Pat Gallavan has literally seen our department "grow up". As deputy manager of parks, Pat has been a central figure in the development of Denver's Parks system.

In 1950 Pat went to work for the city Forestry Department as an inspector find an arboriculturist. In two years he became the assistant city forester. Pat left the city in 1955 to work as executive secretary for the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association. This group was the forerunner for what we know today as Botanic Gardens. Pat hostea the Green Thumb Radio Show and edited the Green Thumb /irf@azine which the Botanic Gardens still publishes today.

Pat rejoined the city in 1960 returning as superintendent of mountain parks where he remained until 1970 when Joe Ciancio, Jr., then manager of the department, requested Pat take over management responsibilities at the Denver Zoo in addition to his parks supervision. Consequently Pat was wearing three hats, because at the same time he was promoted to director of parks. Pat w~s reliev90 of his zoo and mountain parks management responsibilities in October, 1970 when Clayton Freiheit was hired as zoo director llfld Jim Dixon was promoted to superintendent of mountain parks.

Under the present administration Pat's title was changed to deputy manager of parks and the position became a mayoral appointment rather than career service. His supervision includes city parks, mountain parks, parks maintenance, the stadium grounds crew, greenhouse, nursery, mower shop, parks planning, forestry and revolving fund.

A Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Botany and Ecology from the University of Denver, in addition to 34 years of experience certainly make$ Pat an asset in our department.

In reg~rds to the future growth of Denver parks, Pat foresees his department's efforts concentrated on maintenance, improvement and dev~lopment of existing lands and older parks as opposed to land acquisitio11. ''Because Denver is boxed in by the Poundstone Amendment we don't have too much potential as far as annexation is concerned. We are pretty weU restricted to the lands we have now. There are a few areas with planned developments such as southwest, Montbello and Green Valley out of which we acquire some park space." The only possibility to expand within the city is to buy land and the cost is prohibitive. Pat is doubtful that the city will acquire land thusly. "Hopefully, as the Platte Valley is developed, the city .will be given some land as part of the development cost."

The administration is looking at some joint ventures with the Denver Public Schools because they have a lot of property that hasn't been developed and the idea has great potential. Park sites can be developed at the schools.

At this time Pat and the administration would like to see an increase in parks maintenance. However, this is very difficult due to budget cuts in recent years; the parks division is operating on a minimal budget which necessitates lower manpower. They are trying to facilitate increased maintenance via new products, equipment and machinery.

All the lottery money that Denver receives is being spent in parks for rehabilitation work on recreation centers and parks, sprinkler systems and items of this nature. New park areas, such as Harvard Gulch, are also being developed. Bible and Rosamond Parks are being expanded.

Pat is hopeful that the department will not miss out on Capitol Improvement Program funds for 1985, as we did this year. CIP funds in addition to lottery money will put the department much further ahead.

When one views the Denver Parks and Recreation Department over the last 3-4 decades the growth is very apparent; Pat has many humorous stories related to it. Before our swimming pools were built swimming was permitted in Berkeley and Washington Parks lakes. The lakes were chlorinated by dragging bags of chlorine behind boats. This procedure was eliminated in the early 50's when the health department determined this was ineffective! Denver Parks and Recreation- you have come a long way baby!

Denver parks may not have as much land as other park systems but certainly the quality is among the top nationally! We have many people to credit and thank for the design, development and maintenance of• Denver's beautiful parks. Pat is to be congratulated for his leadership role that has contributed to our parks today!

Federico Pen a MAYOR

City and Courzty of De11ver CITY AND COUNTY BUILDING • DEI\:VER. COLORADO e 8020~

TELEPHONE (303) 575-2721

FOR RELEASE: January 19, 1984

Mayor Federico Pena announced today that Patrick Gallavan has been

appointed to the newly created position of Deputy Manager of Parks

for the Parks and Recreation Department. !1r. Gallavan is a long-time

city employee having most recently served as the Superintendent of

Parks for the past 14 years. He has an invaluable working knowledge

of the Parks and Recreation Department having managed the Zoo and

the Denver Hountain Parks as well as having been assigned to the

Forestry Division and the Botanical Gardens. Mr. Gal~avan is 59

years old.

In making this appointment, Mayor Pena feels that Mr. Gallavan will

bring strength and continuity to the department. His valuable

expertise is apparent in the liaison work he has done with various

neighborhood and co~nunity groups in the development of parks and

park land.

Mr. Gallavan received a BA and MA Degree in Botany from the University

of Denver. His salary will be $43,500 annually.

MAYOR OITY AND OOUNTY BUILDING ·DENVER, COLORADO · 80202

August 15, 1986

Mr. Patrick J. Gallavan 1814 South Meade Street Denver, CO 80219

Dear Pat:

AREA GODE 303 575-2721

On behalf of the City and its residents, ' I'd like to thank you for the years of service you have given. During that period, from the time you started in 1951 as a Horticulturist with City Forestry until your retirement at the end of June as Deputy Manager of Parks and Recreation for Parks, your reliability and dedication have set a fine example for other City employees.

Enclosed you ceremony at certificate.

will find a photo of the recent which you received your retirement I hope the photo will be a pleasant

reminder of your time with the City.

Denver will have a difficult time finding someone with the skills and knowledge equal to yours. Best of luck in your retirement.

Sincerely,

J~Q Federico Pen:a M A Y 0 R

MEMO From the Denver Zoological Gardens

Po.:t . --· 1V>-~~­h.,~ ~ i ~~r--/ ~~~.

~~

CLAYTON F. FREIHEIT DIRECTOR 575-5542

WHEREAS, Mr. Gallavan served as Acting Zoo Director from Feb-

ruary until October 1, 1970; and

WHEREAS, ~tr . Gallavan was assigned Acting Director of the Denver Zoolog-

ical Gardens by the Manager of Parks and Recreation, Mr. Joe Ciancio, Jr.,

to replace the then director who had resigned; and

WHEREAS, the efficient and tactful service rendered by Mr. Gallavan

caused many of the probJems then existing at the Zoo to disappear; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gallavan served in a most efficient manner and displayed

a marked interest in the work with the Zoo personnel, the Foundation Trustees

and the various exhibits in the Zoo;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trust~es of the Denver

Zoological Foundation, at its regular meeting on September 15, 1970, express-

ed a deep appreciation for the interest displayed, and the splendid and

efficient manner in \ihich he discharged his duties, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be directed to

the Manager of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Denver, Mr.

Ciancio, in order that it might be placed in his work record with the Depart-

ment and Career Service.

Willard N. Greim Executive Vice President Denver Zoological Foundation

Write to Letters, The Denver Post, P .O. Box 1709, Denver 80201. Brief letters (200 words or less) are edited leasl Include full name, address and daytime phone.

Teens pitched in for a clean Easter Sunday This past week saw thousands of

young people sunning, climbing the rocks and partying in Red Rocks Park. Each day, our small mountain parks crew picked up the trash that these youths had left in the parking lots and on the mountain sides. On Friday, they worked .late in the day so that the park would be clean for Easter sunrise services.

On Saturday at about 5 p.m., I had a call from the Mountain Park foreman, Lee Gylling, telling me that the park was really trashed out.

Knowing we could not get a

crew out before dark, I advised him to take our trash truck up and deposit the dumpsters and hope that when the crews from The­aters and Arenas came in they could pick up some and at least have containers to put it in.

About 7:30 p.m., I received an­other call from Lee; this time his voice was jubilant. He said that on his way up to Red Rocks he got the idea to ask the young people who were still partying there to help him clean up the mess. He said he stopped his trash truck near the largest group of youths and asked them to help him clean

up the trash. To his surprise, they agreed to

help and others joined in. Within an hour, they had almost filled up his truck and had cleaned up the major parking areas.

This letter is to thank Lee and those young people who helped him Saturday night to clean up Red Rocks Park so those who at­tended the Easter sunrise services didn't have to go through mounds of trash on their way into the the­ater.

PATRICKJ. GALLAVAN Acting Manager

Department of Parks and Recreation

"A river

is more than an amenity

it is a

treasure." Justice Wm. 0 Douglas

CHAI RMAN Joe Shoemaker

VICE CHAIRMAN / TREASURER Bill DeGroot

Larry Ambrose Bill Avery

Todd Clough Edna Doyle

Perry Eberhart Carolyn Etter

Carol Gossard Glenda Lyle

Steve Metcalf Phi lip Milstein Cedric Page Jack Shapiro Judith Wray

MAYOR OF DENVER Federico Pefia

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Shoemaker

THE GREENWAY

Mr. Pat Gallavan 1814 s. Meade Denver, CO 80219

~-r De~llavan:

August 22, 1986

On behalf of the -Board of Direetor~ e~e-Platte-RiveL Greenway Foundation, it is my pleasure to announce that you have been selected as one of the recipients of the "Friends of the River" Award for 1986.

As you well know, the "Friends of the River" Award is presented to individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions toward the enhancement of the Platte River Greenway.

our awards event will begin at Confluence Park, ' located at the intersection of 15th Street and the River (1/2 mile west of Market Street), on Sunday, September 14th at 4:00 p.m. Cocktails, live music, and a light supper at My Brothers Bar (one block west of Confluence Park on 15th Street) are all part of the evening, highlighted by the pre­sentation of this year's "Friends of River" Awards.

we would like you and a guest to be our guest for this fun-filled event in order that we might present you with your well deserved award personally. Please R.S.V.P. at your convenience and let us know if you'll be able to at­tend. Also, be sure and let us know of anyone you would like us to include on our invitation list.

Again, congratulations on your selection. Your long-time efforts and contributions to the Greenway herald you as a true "Friend of the River".

Sincerely,

J~ Executive Director

JS:las

-h~ ~+'. Lu,~l4+<-1 -tz, ~ '-1~ ~ ~ .

PLATTE RIVER GREENWAY FOUNDATION 1f/36 SOUTH UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, DENVER, COLORADO 8021 0 (303) 698-1322

Our parents had us involved in 4-H, they were involved in 4-H. We had large gardens , canned jelly, planted trees at Red Rocks went to camp -where we all learning to form a line while my Dad shouted "HUBBA HUBBA" just like WWII.r

1\lrs. Lois Seltzer, left, and 1\lrs. W. P. Bolthouse, members of the advisory council for Adams County 4-H club, watch as Ted Fraser, secretary of Bear Valley Merchants hands a. $1000 check to Pat Callavan, president of County 4-H advisory council. The check Is In to Denver, Adams and Arapahoe County 4-H groups lng their animal, arts and crafts In Bear Center 1\larch 15 through

HERALD-DISPATCH-Thursday, March 3, 1966-Page 3

6 I I I "

4~H Meet Pat Gallavan, 1814 S. Meade

St., will join other volunteer adult 4-H leaders from 13 western states in the first 4-H Leader Forum at Pacific Grove, Calif., March 6 to 10.

Purpose of the seminar for western youth leaders will be to broaden their understanding of young people a.nU become bet­ter equipped to help youths develop into responsible citi­zens. A portion of the meetings will be devoted to methods of offering 4-H club activities to boys and girls.

A total of 14 Colorado volun­teer leaders will attend the four­day conference. The western forum was developed under the chairmanship of Lowell H. Watts, Colorado State University extenstion service director, in cooperation with the National 4-H Club Foundation and other western university extension

~'Vic--es_. __

0 'TlO st welcome gift to a ;boris a subscription to

"lis patch.

Gardenin9 Pat's love of gardening began all the way back when he helped his dad work the family vegetable garden.

After VWI/II, he used the Gl Bill to get a masters degree in botany. While going. to school he also worked as a

tree trimmer. His boss, John Swindle became a mentor to him, helping his career in horticulture thrive.

During the 1950s and early 60s Pat wore many hats-sometimes more than one at a time. From judging

flower shows, giving lectures, editing the Green Thumb magazine and being the City Forester, he dug it all.

" Pat also graced the screen and airwaves on his garden show on the local PBS station and radio show on 850

KOA. He even penned a column in the Rocky Mountain News.

He was probably the only supervisor of parks who knew the names of all the trees and flowers.

Pat was the guy who could tell the crew what to do about the brown spots on the lawns

In his late 70's he sold the family home with its beautiful deck and landscaping, but the thing he missed most

was his roses. Against the rules of his homeowners association, he pulled a rose caper with the help of his

son-in-laws. By the time he moved into assisted living, all three rose bushes were still blossoming. He still

enjoys when family members bring him roses from his old bushes that continue to bloom all summer.

OCTOBER

Vol. 16

No. 9

EDITORIAL

COMMITTEE

M. Walter Pesman,

Chairman

Mrs. Alexander Barbour

Mrs. William Crisp

Herbert C. Gundell

Dr. A. C. Hildreth

Fred R. Johnson

Mrs. J. V. Peterson

Moras Shubert

Julia Jane Silverstein

Mrs. Jam<>s P. Steele

Mrs. Ray Turnure

Mrs. Edmund Wallace

Stanley White

Mrs. Helen Marsh Zeiner

Patrick Gallavan,

Editor

LaVica Bonar,

Assistant Editor

Members

Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association

Organized in 1884

'' To preserve the natura/ beauty of Colorado; to protect the forests; to encourage proper maintenance and additional planting of trees, shrubs and gardens; to make available cor­rect information regarding forestry, horticultural practices and plants best suited to the climate; and to coordinate the knowl-

edge and experience of foresters, horticulturists and gardeners for their mutual benefit."

INDEX

TITLE PAGE

Calendar of Events ...... .. .. .. .......... .. .......................... 292

The Denver Botanic Gardens Dedication, by Dr. A. C. Hildreth ....................................... 293

MISSION 66 and Mesa Verde National Park, by Mrs. Jean Pinkley .......................... .............. 296

Why City Trees Die, by Dorothy E. Hansell.. ........ 299

Voters Can Help Congress Pick National Floral Emblem .................. ... ..... .... ...................... 300

Personal Item About Mrs. Sue Mclane (Mrs. George) .. ... ......................... .......... ........ .... 302

Regional Parks Plan, by Arnold Perretin ....... .... 303

A History of th<> Denver Parks, by S. R. DeBoer ... . 305

Garden Club Briefs, by Mrs. John Nickels ............ 311

Burlington Garden Club Landscapes Hospital Grounds, by Bessie M. Wilson ................... ....... 313

Those Colorado Spuds, by Helen Marsh Zeiner .... 316

In Our Library!.. .... ........... .. ............... ... ................. .. 317

"Mums" The Word, by Mrs. Jay R. Travis ........ .... 318

Dig These Questions ................... .................... ......... 320

Seasonal Suggestions, by Pat Gallavan ................ 321

Front Cover, Electra Lake-Back CoV<>r, Ponderosa Pine-Photos by Pat.

Published Monthly. Sent free ta all members af the Associa­tion . Supporting membership, $3.00; Active, $5.00; Contribut­ing, $10.00; Patron, $25.00; Donor, $100.00. Copyright 1959 by:

The Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association

A non-profit, privately financed Association

EA 2-9656

909 YORK ST. DENVER 6, COLORADO

KRMA-TV, Channel 6

a.r~en ui~f--

with 'D /. r a.t '3 a.lla.va.n.

, _

RESOURCE CONSERVATION

a publication of

OHIO FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, INC. Southern Hotel

Columbus 15, Ohio CApital 1-6671

Officers and Executive Committee Members

A. A. Stambaugh, Clevela,d.Chairm a n of the Board J. Clyde English, Marion ------------Vice-Presiden t W. H. Hildebrand , Chillicothe -------Vice-President

Howard M. Wells , \Vil~esville

W. E. Benua, Columbus Harris D. Willis, \Vashington Court House

Stan· William Laybourne ____________ Executive Director

S. L. Frost ____ Director of Watershed Development

range ; meJnD<•rsnips nre ad·

lo the industry•s economic dependencies upon the resources of 1 he area.

EDIT ORIAL

CONSERVATION-what is it? It is sound management of our existing

forests and the reforestation of our de­pleted ones to ensure a continual supply of timber for the future.

It is crop rotating, fertilization and ir­rigation of our farm land so that it main­tains its stability and productivity.

It is dam building, watershed manage­ment and controlled use of water for the benefit of our entire nation.

It is intensified research in field and laboratory for the maximum use with the minimum waste of our non-renewable resources such as coal, oil and minerals.

It is game management, game Jaws and anti-stream-pollution campaigns that give our sportsmen a constant supply of game and fish.

It- · -e reservation of-wildernes areas, national parks and monuments that give us fleeting glimpses of the wonders that nature has created.

It is the parks, the gardens and other recreational facilities that provide a con­structive occupation for our leisure time.

It is the homes, the schools and other related factors that mold the greatest of our resources-the youth of the nation.

Yes, conservation is all of these things and more. It is a way of life. If its true meaning, the wise use of nll ou1· nctturctl resom·ces, were understood by everyone and then applied to everyday living, the future prosperity of our nation would be assured.

By Patrick Gallavan

From The G1·een Thumb, pub­lication of the Colorado For­estry and Horticulture Asso­ciation

Petroleum Man Is OF A Board Member

A LTHOUGH the connection between a forest and an oil refinery may

seem remote, it still exists, and J. R. Cuthbert has come to the Board of Trus­tees of the Ohio Forestry Association by way of that industry. "No matter what our business," he says, "we all have to have our roots in the ground."

Mr. Cuthbert, a native Clevelander, is now Deputy Assistant to the Vice Pres­ident in charge of Manufacturing, The Standard Oil Company (Ohio). To enum­erate some of the steps leading to this post: he was a chemistry major at Rens­

J. R. Cuthbert

salaer Poly­technic, Troy, N. Y., a Sea­man 1st in the World War I N

vanced Man­agement. Dur­ing co 11 e g e days, he work­ed in the sum­mer for the So­l a r Refining Company, to which in 1925

he returned as assistant to the president, then as vice president. In the meantime he had been associated with the Grasselli Chemical Company, and had operated his own industrial laboratory.

Sohio purchased the Solar company in 1931, retaining Mr. Cuthbert as manager until 1945, when he was made manager of Sohio's No. 1 Refinery, a post he held until last year.

He and Mrs. Cuthbert, who live in Rocky River, have two sons and a daugh­ter. He is a member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and of many tech-

icai--and · association . His- Jon· experience in the petroleum industry has given him an insight into the importance of natural resources to our complex in­dustrial civilization.

OF A Forester Robert Paton recently 11et with the Cleveland Farmers' Club nd the Cuyahoga Watershed Association o assist in outlining plans for some re­orestation of that region next spring by he Boy Scouts of the Cleveland Area ' ouncil. He was named chairman of a ·1unicipal subcommittee ... Mr. Paton has !so participated in recent Forestry Field

Guernsey County and Belmont

PLAN DEMONSTRATION OF SCHOOL PROJECTS

PLANS ARE NOW in the making for the first of several in-the-woods dem­

onstrations for educators interested in developing school forests. Dr. Carl S. Johnson, chairman of the OFA School Forest Committee, proposes that a group of teachers, limited to a manageable num­ber, will see actual work done by trained foresters, and will be given opportunity to handle simple forestry tools and take part in various operations.

The date being cons!dered tentatively is April 14, 1956, and the place will be Antioch College, Yellow Springs, where there is a well developed school forest project. Representatives from the fac­ulties of Antioch, Witten berg and Urbana Junior Colleges will be asked to partici­pate, along with teachers from the schools in Yellow Springs, Xenia, Franklin, Carl­isle, Mad River, Wilmington and Hills-

Dr. Kenneth Hunt, director of Antioch's "·oodla nd, Glen Helen will serve as host to the group.

Watershed Development (Continued from p:tge 1)

The next step, in both instances is to provide information for the citizens, con­cerned, and so arouse their interest that cffec:tive action will follow.

He~·e , are actual flesh and blood ex­amples of the policies that the OFA's watershed development effort, under S. L. Frost, has long been emphasizing. With the publication of Vnlleys of Oppo?·­tunity and its companion pamphlet, How to Develop W nte?·sheds, this aspect of OF A educational work will shortly get into high gear. Advice and assistance has already been sought by several com­munities.

The instances cited above prove what the OF A all along has been advocating­that co-ordinated action within the com­munity is the essential. All the land-wners, al.Lih.e=industries, all the.. muni ·­

palities, of a watershed must share the work, share costs, and share benefits.

Christmas Tree Men

Officers of the newly-formed National Christmas Tree Growers' Association are, left to right: Gil­bert Martin, Fairmount, West Virginia, treasurer; Daniel DenUyl, Lafayette, Indiana, vice president; Murray C. Stewart, Homer City, Pennsylvania, president; Robert R. Paton, Columbus, Ohio, secretary.

Weekend

Garden seciton/.~-~~ .,.~

'Sneak Preview' Offered· in Parks

By PATRICK J. GALLAVAN Superintendent of Denver Mountain Parks

April in the Mile High City is a se­ries of sneak previews as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths flaunt fickle weather by making quick colo~ful ap­pearances between occasional snows and chilling frosts.

These gay flowers and (weather permit­ting) flowering shrubs like borsythia, and the .flowering trees like crab apples usuaUy pro­duce much e a r I y spring beauty in our city.

There are several loca­tions within our parks that bear watching if the weather stays mild. City Park has plantings that include most of these early blooming flowers. Naturalized plantings of tulips can be found just southeast of the M u s e u m Building among the junipers in the Pinetum area.

Gallavan

A large planting of forsythia occurrs by the small pond on the 17th ave. side of the park, and a very nice planting of flowering crab apples can be found around the traffic circle at the Thatcher Memorial. Speer blvd. and Downing st. pkwy. are interplanted with many varieties of'flowering crab apples that slow traffic on this heavily traveled artery when they are in ·peak bloom.

IN WASHINGTON PARK one can catch a glimpse of spring in the many forsythia, quince and flowering crabs scattered through­out the park. Our Civic Center should be one of the show spots with the mass planting of tulips in front of the City and County Building and along the walks approaching Broadway.

The flanking rows of hopa crabs also add much to this beautiful area. The Botanic Garden area on York st: is almost a sure bet for some spring flowers any time during the month.

The experimental beds there contain many . kinds and varieties of early flowering bulbs that will produce a succession of bloom from mid-March to the middle of May. It's alSo a good place to become familiar with the named varieties as the flower beds are all properly -labeled.

WHILE SPRING SEEMS a bit more distant in the Denver Mountain Parks, a number of the early wild flowers are beginning to make their appearance, at Daniels Park southeast of the city and iii the Red Rocks Park to the west. Quite showy at the present tim~;t is the Oregon grape with its clusters of yel­low flowers.

Others noticed this past week were the small delicate sand lilies and the pasque flower. These wild flowers are small and occur sparingly but can usually be seen with­ing a short walk from any park road.

L--------- C L I P A 1-J D

Providing Care For 30,000Trees

By PATRICK J. GALLAVAN Superintendent of Denver Mountain Parks

Think the four or five trees on your home grounds present problems? Consider those of our City Forester, George Stadler, with 30,000 trees to maintain in our Denver parks system.

The makeup of this forest still does much of the includes some 70 to 80 differ­ent species and varieties of trees each with different cul­tural require­ments.

The main job in maintaining the park trees Is trimming. To do this job the Forester has three highly skilled c r e w s

Gai!avan

working the year around. These crews are scheduled

so that they cover all our parkways and parks on a 3-year cycle. Their job is made a little easier with mechanized equipment such as the Hi-Ranger, a hydraulic lift that gets them to the top of our highest tree and the hydraulic tools that operate with it to cut off branches with little effort.

Tree trimming, however, still requires much training and knowledge to prune trees correctly. On many of our specimen type trees in the park the skilled rope man with the agility of a monkey

pruning. The value of these crews to

the city was emphasized last , when he parks ...tl'ees suf­

fered relatively little damage in a snow storm that severely damaged other trees through­out the Denver area.

IN ADDITION to trimming the parks trees, during the late spring one of Stadler's crews does considerable emer­gency trimming to clear stop signs, traffic lights, and street lights that have been obscured by new foliage growth.

One of his crews also sprays and treats trees and shrubs in the parks for insect and dis­ease control. The spray pro­gram in the parks is kept at a minimum. The Forester and his inspectors check the parks trees at regular intervals and recommend spraying only when necessary,

He also keeps abreast with the various insecticides and fungicides and uses only those types that can be used safely by his men and not pose a hazard to the public using t!he parks.

--·••••• C LIP A N D SA V E--·--·••

o;nVe?;Famed Parks System

By PAT GALLAVAN Superintendent of Denver Mountain Parka

~or nearly 10 years the Denver Parks and Rec­reati_o~ Department has served the community bv p~ovidm~ lands~~~ed open space for her citizens leisure time activities.

Through the'se years this de­partment has planned an d planted, miles of tree lined

plains.

parkways a nd boulevards, and more than 100 park sites con­taining 3000 acres of law~, shrubs, trees and flowers help Denver claim the' much coveted title of queen of the

The majority of our citizens appreciate and en j o y the beauty of our park whenever the'y have an occasion to use ~es~ faciilties for sightseeing, PICnicking, walking, ,or for active sports. All enjoy emer­ald green lawns, the welcome shade of the tre'es, and the exquisite beauty of our floral displays.

ON THE OTHER HAND garden enthusiasts and trained horticulturists see and enjoy the parks in another light.

To them, these parks with the'ir many and varied flora represent a vast storehouse of horticultural experimentation and knowledge. They know the majority of plants found in the parks are tried and teste'd plants that have proven hardy and adaptable to our horticulturally different cli­mate. . They also know they will

find new varieties of tree shrubs and flowers being test­ed by the' parks department. These are some of the added values of the parks that we will share with the readers of this column.

Perhaps we might illustrate' these indirect benefits by con­sideriQg lawns-of all the hor­ticultural plants in our area the citizen of Denver ar~ most proud of their blue' grass lawns.

The monles spent to keep our lawns in top condition make turf growing one of the leading agricultural crops in the ~tat.e, Our);>ar~s ~W Rec• reat10n Depal'tments • <.Is_ re~

sponsible for growing a n d maintaining the largest lawn area in the state.

With large and small lawn areas our department experi­ences all of the same prob­lems of maintenance as ths home owner. However there is the added complications of having to cope with every conce'ivable s o i 1 a n d ex­posure problems throughout the city.

GRANTED, OUR P A R J{ lawn areas are not all prize winning quailty. But they do present an attractive base planting to our parks and boulevards that is · the envy of cities throughout the United States.

Our department maintains this green carpet on a mini­mum maintenance budget and through the years our people have learned many ways of getting the' most out of water­ing, fertilizing, mowing and other factors of good lawn care.

As our growing s e a s o n progresses we will include some of these lawn growing tips in our weekly column. Next week we will discuss t re e planting through the

years in our Denver parks.

Botanic Schedule

Visitors to the Denver Bo­tanic Gardens, 909-1005 York st., will find changes in the gardens' daily operations dur­ing early 1967, according to Dr. Louis B. Martin, director.

Some of these changes will include:

T h e Boettcher Memorial Conservatory will be open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri­day evenings 7 to 9 p.m.; Sat­urday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thr Gift Shop, located in the conservatory foyer will be o~n from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. P?'J.lY'·. · AdJllission. to ,the .&ar­deru; ;md.c&l\l!!e<t· atUl'Y•]'s·fi·ee.

Richard Schimming, a grower in the green­houses at City Park, displays some of the White Irene Modesty geraniums now being

grown. They will grace parks this summer.

City Pa.rks Plan Now For Beauty This Summer

By PATRICK J. GALLAVAN Supt. of Denver Mountain PMktt

The exquisite beauty of the floral displays in Washington Park, City Park, Civic Center, and other Denver parks will not be seen until the first of June; however, the plants that produce this beauty are now growing in the City Greenhouses at City Park.

This greenhouse operated by the Denver Parks and Recre­ation Department annually produces some 250,000 plants . that provide the •••. gay colors for • our many flower \• beds throughout •• • the city.

THE CUTTINGS are rooted in a sterile medium, then they are transferred to pots. In the greenhouse soil, water and fertilizer are carefully regu­lated to produce sturdy, healthy plants. As growth pro­gresses the plants are pinched back several times to form a much branched, heavy-bloom­ing plant.

This process ' is being re­peated in greenhouses through­out the area to provide plants for the thousands of home owners who want to get the jump on spring. Next week we will discuss the many annu­als that are grown from seed.

Gallavan

These plants included some 40 different spe­cies and over 100 varieties of annuals. The most prominant among these are petunias, snapdragons, geraniums, be­gonias, coleus and Cannas.

PLANS FOR the 1967 flower beds started early last sum­mer when the '66 plantings were viewed and compared by the district superintendents and personnel from our plan­ning department. After com­paring new ideas and suggest­ed changes the planning de­partment drew up plans which include all the information necessary for the greenhouse to begin producing this sea- Caladium Bulbs son's flowers.

Expert gardeners under the For quick greenery, try

Delicate Plants

direction of greenhouse super- forcing fancy leaf caladiums­intendent, Mike Ulaski, have one bulb to a four-inch pot •been busy since September or three to a six-inch clay starting plants from cuttings. pot.

• Plants like geraniums, bego- Set the bulbs two to three nias and coleus are started in Inches beneath the potting

Miniaturt! roses in red caly this manner. Select plants soil mixture, and bright, long­pots make delicate and aro- held in the greenhouse and lasting foliage should appear matic house plants. They need sturdy disease - free plants from 30 to 40 days after plant­sunshine, humidity and mod- picked from the flower beds ing. Water lightly until sprouts erate temperatures to bloom before frost provide the rna- form, then inorea.se water over . ~ long pel;iod 0~ ' ~e.- • teriiils fQr, these~ .cutting$, "' e SUpP}y ',AAd keep plants warm.

A pretty girl and spring go hand in hand, as witnessed by this scene at a tulip bed near

the entrance to Denver's Botanical Gardens. Tulips are starting to bloom around the area.

City Forester Keeps- Busy PATRICK J. GALLAVAN

Supt. of Denver Mountain Parkfl

Caring for 30,000 park trees is the easiest part of the City Forester's job.

In addition he exercises regulative author­ity on 150,000 street trees within the City of Denver. Like most cities in the country the

city does not maintain the ma­jority of the trees lining the city streets.

The city does, however, permit its citizens the privi­lege to plant and maintain trees within the public right-of­way. These trees are then sub­.:ect to restrictions imposed by lhc city in the interest of safe­ly and well being of all its f'itizens.

In the elder sections of town this right­of-way was rather well defined as the area between the curb and sidewalk. The combina­tion curb and walk, however, makes any addi­tional right-of-way seem part of the adjacent owner's fl·ont lawn.

This right-of-way is reserved for public convenience and varies in width a few feet to as much as 50 feet in a few cases. If a home owner is in doubt about the width of the so­called parking area he can check with the City Engineer's office.

er spacing and the type of trees to be planted. For small trees like the flowering crab

this should be 25 feet to 30 feet. For larger trees like the maple this should be 40 feet to 50 feet. The City Forester has a list of desir­able street trees that he will mail out on request.

The Forester job doesn't end with the per­mit. He is charged by the City Ordinances to check these trees and advise home owners about their condition whenever they pose a hazard to the public using the streets and walks adjacent to their residences.

A team of Arboreal Inspectors systematical­ly check all the street trees in the city each year. When they find a tree which presents a hazard, low branches over the walks or street, broken hanging branches, dead branch­es, etc., they advise the owner with a notice.

TillS NOTICE USUALLY states that cor­rective measures should be taken within 90 days. If the home owner wishe8 to do the work himself a permit is required. This is to insure the competency of the individual and for pro­tection of the public. Generally it is suggested that a licensed arborist be engaged to do this work because of the hazards involved.

The City Forester also interviews and tests all applicants for commercial tree work with­in the city, prior to their obtaining a license. Following their licensing he also continues to

IN NEW PLANTlNGS in this area a permit inspect their work to see that it meets the from the City Forester is required . • 'J;Qis .per- . • approved standards of tree trimming, spray-mit is free and is necessary to insw·e the prop· ing and removal. ·

Richard Schimming, a grower in the green­houses at City Park, displays some of the White Irene Modesty geraniums now being

grown. They will grace parks this summer.

City Parks Plan Now For Beauty This Summer

By PATRICK J. GALLAVAN Supt. of Denver Mountain Pvk11

The exquisite beauty of the floral displays in Washington Park, City Park, Civic Center, and other Denver parks will not be seen until the first of June; however, the plants that produce this beauty are now growing in the City Greenhouses at City Park.

THE CUTTINGS are rooted in a sterile medium, then they are transferred to pots. In the greenhouse soil, water and fertilizer are carefully regu­lated to produce sturdy, healthy plants. As growth pro­gresses the plants are pinched back several times to form a much branched, heavy-bloom­ing plant.

This greenhouse operated by the Denver Parks and Recre­ation Department annually produces some · · 25{),000 plants that provide the gay colors for , our many flower · beds throughout the city.

Gal!avan

These plants included some 40 different spe­cies and over 100 varieties ot annuals. The most prominant among these are petunias, snapdragons, geraniums, be­gonias, coleus and Cannas,

This process ' is being re­peated in greenhouses through­out the area to provide plants for the thousands of home owners who want to get the jump on spring. Next week we will discuss the many annu­als that are grown from seed.

PLANS FOR the 1967 flower beds started early last sum­mer when the '66 plantings were viewed and compared by the district superintendents and personnel from our plan­ning department. After com­paring new ideas and suggest­ed changes the planning de­partment drew up plans which include all the information necessary for the greenhouse to begin producing this sea- Caladium Bulbs son's flowers. ~

Expert gardeners under the or quick greenery, try direction of greenhouse super- forcing fancy leaf caladiums­

one bulb to a four-inch pot intendent, Mike Ulaski, have or three to a six-inch clay •been busy since September starting plants from cuttings. pot.

• Plants like geraniums, bego- Set the bulbs two to three nias and coleus are started .in hlches beneath the potting

Delicate Plants Miniatur~ roses in red caly this manner. Select plants soU mixture, and bright, long­

pots make delicate and aro- held in the greenhouse and lasting foliage should appear matic house plants. They need sturdy disease - free plants from 30 to 40 days after plant­sunshine, humidity and mod- picked from the flower beds .ing. Water lightly until sprouts erate temperatures to bloom before frost provide the rna- form, then 1nCII'ea.se water over . ~ long pe!-iod o~ 1 tin;le,_ , .. teri~ tQr,•these~'C\ltting$, ~·· ; supPiy AAdkeep plants warm.

MASTER CARVERIP AINTER

If you have not recently looked at the display cabinet in our lobby, you should do so. There are about twenty painted carvings to admire, among them humming birds, a flicker, blue jay, owls, a mountain lion, bighorn sheep, a brown bear, a grizzly, a polar bear, buffalo, chipmunk, coyote, and more. Many appear to be in action. These were all carved and painted by our resident Pat Gallavan. It is evident from his art that Pat has great knowledge and a fondness of nature.

Pat's career spanned many years when he was employed by the Colorado Forestry Service and was active in the Horticulture Association then housed in the Denver Botanic Gardens. He also wrote articles for Green Thumb Magazine, lectured to gardening clubs, and worked in many locations, including Alaska. His last employment was Director of Denver Parks & Recreation from which he retired in 1981. After his retirement Pat began carving. He and his wife had built a home in Winter Park where they spent hours observing the hummingbirds and bluebirds. At first he obtained scraps of wood from the lumberyard used in building his home to do his carvings, and one of his early works is of two hummingbirds and a large bluebird. Later Pat used many different kinds of woods such as linden, oak, mahogany, and cedar.

A friend of Pat's was a carver who had a shop in Loveland and taught classes, so Pat took six or seven instruction classes and was told his work was good. He also found a man in Denver who taught woodworking classes, so Pat took advantage of that. He took a painting class learning how to blend colors using acrylic, which works best on wood. Pat has numerous kinds of knives and other tools he uses in his carving.

Pat gets many of his ideas from real life. He observed many bighorn sheep when Mt. Evans was part of his area to supervise, and also gets ideas from pictures. He has subscribed to Woodcarving Illustrated for fifteen years, which has many photos and suggestions. He even carved a Santa Claus (on display here) to deviate from his usual subjects. Pat's father was a great fly fisherman. In fact, many of his family members are nature lovers. His family and in-laws enjoy reunions every few years, often in Pat's Winter Park home. It was suggested by a family member from CA that every person coming to the reunion should bring something they had made, and then the objects were auctioned off. Undoubtedly Pat's contributions were

much in demand. Pat carved a blue duck for his wife at her request. After her untimely death in July 2010 it appeared Pat should not live alone anymore, and he chose Lakewood Meridian---mostly because of the beautiful grounds here. A daughter and son-in-law live close by.

When asked how many carvings Pat has done, he replied "zillions." He has many displayed in his apartment and has given others away as gifts. His favorite is a large eagle in flight, and he has a photo album showing much of his work. Occasionally Pat attempts to do more carving, but says it is too difficult--his hands do not cooperate well anymore. He will always have his magnificent collection for everybody to enjoy.

Dorothy Donovan

~-at ~ad many hobbies, ~rowing roses, remodeling the family home (including lgglng a ~asement) , bemg a 4-H leader, traveling, but the one he enjoined the most_c~rvm~ . He s~ent ~ndless hours after retiring from the City learning and perfectmg h1s pass1on. B1rds, buffalo, bears, even a dolphin,he carved them all.