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Anita Fincham and Wilma Lesan, Master Gardeners,
Talk about Zinnias |
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The group that is planning Gilbert’s 125th
anniversary celebration for July 30-31, 2004, is campaigning to have
Gilbert loyalists plant a zillion zinnias to add vibrant color to the downtown
area, parks, and neighborhoods. In late April, volunteers
will deliver a packet of zinnia seed, complimentary of Earl May, to each
home in town. In light of these plans, we decided it would be wise to get
a bit of zinnia-growing advice for the
city-wide project. |
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On
April 4, we interviewed two master gardeners, Anita Fincham (left)
and Wilma Lesan (right). Anita lives on a farm that is 1 ½ miles south of the Gilbert high
school, and Wilma lives in a high-rise apartment building in CampusTown in Ames. The two women are
long-time friends. They have known each other not only through their
association with master gardening, but they were colleagues for several
years at WOI Television in Ames. They are retired. Their husbands, Don Lesan
and Dick Fincham, were the "studio audience" for the interview. They
relaxed in easy chairs in the Fincham living room while Anita and Wilma
sat at the round oak kitchen table and patiently and colorfully
explained what zinnia growers need to know. |
| We have initially edited the interview into
four sections and have posted them in Real Audio format. You will need a
recent version of the free version of the Real Audio Software. Click the
icon below to go to the Real Audio web site. Click the track number below to
listen to Anita and Wilma.
We also plan to edit an abbreviated version of the interview that
focuses simply on the topic of zinnias. If you want to listen to a CD of
the entire interview, you can check one out at the Gilbert city hall,
Daisychains and Laughs coffeebar, or the Ames Public Library. The fee
for getting one at city hall or the coffeebar is $1.00 and is refundable
upon return of the CD. If you wish to contact
Anita or Wilma, you can check the phone book for their telephone numbers
and/or mailing addresses. You can also write to the
Gazette, and we will pass your
message along to Anita and Wilma. |
01 introduction and
talk of growing zinnias in pots (11:51)
02 digging a flower bed and the
nurture of zinnias (9:45)
03 variety and other considerations
in a flower bed (8:31)
04 the women's interest in
gardening and more about zinnias (12:04) |
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