Joanne Winer
QUARTZSITE TIMES
January 5th, 2001
The sixth annual party
in the park for Celia’s Rainbow Gardens was held last Sunday, March 17, and was
deemed a success, said organizer Paul Winer. More than 150 people attended the
party in beautiful weather.
Leann and Gordon Sunde from Gold Nugget Barbecue and their crew did all the
cooking with the big barbecue grill they brought out last year when the other
grill wouldn’t work. They did a wonderful job cooking all the burgers, hotdogs
and chili, Winer said.
A country and western band made up of lots of musicians who usually play at the
different jam sessions around Quartzsite provided entertainment. The crowd
enjoyed listening and dancing to the music, Winer said.
The Quartzsite General Store and the Gem and Mineral Club donated the barbecue
meat and the Q-Check donated the hot dogs.
After the meal Winer conducted a tour of the gardens to showcase the many
changes and improvements put in over the year by volunteers. Joe Snyder brought
out his golf cart to take anyone who could not walk on the tour.
According to Winer, the gardens has added many new things since last year,
including the Pioneer Village complete with a wagon in the center that is more
than 100 years old. The Rock and Gem Pavilion, which was sponsored by Tyson
Wells Corp., is finished and there will be displays added next season. Work has
begun on the new wildlife pond area, and the fountain at the entrance is almost
finished. The Rock and Gem Club cemented in two rock butterflies near the
entrance rocks.
Split Rail RV Park has taken an area and made a little memorial garden for
people who have lived at the park.
Winer said he hopes more RV parks get involved in the effort. There is also a
new water system put in the veterans’ area by their members, and the Master
Gardeners have added new plants to the Chapel Trail area.
The Rotary Club has expressed an interest in sponsoring the main entrance area,
and work should begin there soon. Near the entrance to the left will be an area
that will include two mazes for the kids (and adults) to find their way out of,
along with a play set. This will be in front of the wildlife pond area. Work
will be coming up on the amphitheater and wall of handprints, and by next season
they will be starting the information pavilion near the mining equipment display
area that is being sponsored by the QIA.
Walking tour maps are available at Reader’s Oasis Bookstore.
“This peaceful gardens is getting more and more people coming out, and they are
both surprised and impressed by what can be done by people just doing what they
can to make Quartzsite a better place,” Winer said. He thanked the community,
volunteers and sponsors for making the garden what it is today.
“It is truly an inspiration to see what can be accomplished when everyone works
together,” he said.