Wednesday, March 15, 2017 – 14 degrees, Historic Nauvoo Master Plan 2005-2039, Celosia, Gazania Seedlings, Japanese Butterbur

It was cold this morning. On our way to work it was 14 degrees outside. We miss those warm days of February. On days like this we are thankful we can work indoors in the greenhouses all day.

After our prayer meeting this morning at FM Jordan Bodily, the Director of FM gave us an overview of the past and future of Nauvoo. I was particularly impressed that during the year 2039, the church will be commemorating the 200^th anniversary of the founding of Nauvoo by the Prophet Joseph Smith. That is only 22 years from now.

Another point that Jordan made during the meeting was the need for more Senior Missionaries to serve not only here in Nauvoo but all over the world. He said the number of seniors applying to serve full time Senior missions is down 25% over last year! He also said that the need for seniors around the world is desperate. For every ten requests for senior couples by mission presidents, Salt Lake only has one couple to send!

Sooooo. . . . . Your homework assignment is to stop what you are doing and contact your ward, your stake, your family, your parents and grandparent.  Tell everyone to spread the word; the Lord wants more Senior missionaries, the need is desperate. NOW is the time to start the paperwork.  Tell them there are blessings beyond measure from serving a full time Senior mission. Not only blessing for them, the Seniors, but countless blessings for their families, their children and their grandchildren.

 

Yesterday I reported that Sis. Johnson and I had transplanted over 14 thousand seedlings into pony packs in greenhouse #3. Well, today we transplanted another thousand and there are over four thousand plants in pony packs in the greenhouse #4 (The Hoop House) bringing the total number of plants to over 20,000 so far!

 

Richard told me that by May last year he had over 40,000 plants ready to go into the gardens of Nauvoo and Carthage. We are well on our way to that 40K number because I didn’t count the plants in greenhouses #1 & #2. Those two greenhouses are already full of 4” plants ready to go.  

There is an interesting looking plant at the FLC (Family Living Center) several people have had questions about. Richard found out about the plant from Durell Nelson, who was the groundskeeper in Nauvoo for decades before Richard. Now we know the name and some history about the flowering plant beside the sidewalks at the FLC. Its name is Petasites Gigantea or Giant Japanese Butterbur.

Richard told me that by May last year he had over 40,000 plants ready to go into the gardens of Nauvoo and Carthage. We are well on our way to that 40K number because I didn’t count the plants in greenhouses #1 & #2. Those two greenhouses are already full of 4” plants ready to go.  

There is an interesting looking plant at the FLC (Family Living Center) several people have had questions about. Richard found out about the plant from Durell Nelson, who was the groundskeeper in Nauvoo for decades before Richard. Now we know the name and some history about the flowering plant beside the sidewalks at the FLC. Its name is Petasites Gigantea or Giant Japanese Butterbur.

This evening  Sis. Burningham came over to our house for help in decorating her bonnet. She plays Abigail in “Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo” and has just finished sewing and making her own bonnet from scratch. Wow, she did a great job. Sis. Johnson worked with Sis. Burningham to add some decoration, it’s a beautiful bonnet.