Median makeover: Making GV beautiful one block at a time

Special to the Green Valley News

Susanne Blodgett’s vision of improved medians in Green Valley took another giant step Tuesday and Wednesday when three more medians on La Canada south of Esperanza were replanted.

Blodgett formed MedianGreen in December 2006 with the goal of replanting and beautifying public medians in Green Valley.

“We recognize the loss of vegetation over the years has left medians in a state that does not reflect our community pride... we propose to add desert-adapted plants and materials to create a greener, more beautiful Green Valley,” she said.

Due to the generosity of Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Foundation, which recently donated $5,000, La Posada, and local attorney Timothy Olcott, nine medians have had makeovers.

Blodgett, who recently accepted a check from Freeport-McMoRan’s Community Affairs manager Richard Ducote, said, “The Foundation has once again shown support for the Green Valley community by awarding a grant of $5,000 to MedianGreen.”

This is the amount needed to replant a typical median, she said.

One of the new medians sponsored by La Posada includes a central planted area with three saguaros donated by resident Vicki Fisher. A previously planted median on Esperanza will soon display a sign showing the Rotary Club of Green Valley as sponsor.

A variety of desert dwelling plants including saguaros, ocotillo, desert spoon, red yucca, agave, prickly pear and golden barrel were planted along with flowering plants that were added to the six previously planted medians.

Blodgett said three local landscapers, Arivaca Junction Landscapers, Coonts Brothers and Veliz Landscapers, were hired to do the planting.

Adopters of the replanted medians who act as guardians of the plantings and take care of the watering include Busy Bee Printers, Green Valley Cyclists, Green Valley Gardeners, La Posada, the Lions Club of Green Valley, the Rotary Club of Green Valley and Villas East.

Donations can be made out to MedianGreen and mailed to MedianGreen, 1325 W. Duval Mine Road, #167-10, Green Valley, AZ 85614. Volunteers are welcome and questions may be sent to MedianGreen@cox.net or call Blodgett at 625-1905.

Once more money is raised, the next medians to get a makeover will be on La Canada south to Continental and the first median north of La Canada on Esperanza.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.