Ernies Black Meadow Stories

By Ernie Psikla

When Reta and I arrived at Black Meadow in 1993, there was a volleyball court and playground in this area across from the diner toward the lake. BML owner George Field talked to me about landscaping it because in the summer, teenagers gathered at the volleyball court and caused trouble. George wanted to keep the small playground for younger children, but the rest of the area could be more conducive to family use.

It seemed obvious that a garden should have access from at least two directions, one off the diner side and the other off the trailer sites.  Doing that would create access from the RV sites through the garden area to the diner. The other challenge was trying to hide the dumpster. A few trees would have to be fitted into the final layout.

We laid out the design using rubber garden hoses and then adjusted the curvature and spacing until it looked ok. We ran underground water lines to make sure every area of the garden could be watered without laying hoses and creating tripping hazards.

As we decided which boulders to use, each zone fell into place. Because everything is free standing with no cement or other  hardening agent, we had to consider wall and stone stability, leakage, and settling. 

Cliff Brosie, a Black Meadow snowbird, was the primary heavy equipment operator who transported and fit the boulders into place. We did not want the large boulders to look as though they were simply dropped in. A very experienced equipment operator formerly from the Idaho Department of Highways, Cliff’s patience and skill made the rock placement a fun challenge.  Moving a two- or three-ton boulder  “three more inches” so it will look “right” was not that simple to do. Changing the angle of a 5,000-pound rock hung by a couple of canvas strip supports always brought a smile to Cliff. While we had the benefit of George’s reliable heavy duty equipment, we also learned the value of a heavy duty crow bar.

Once the various planting areas were done we used cactus cuttings from within the park and transplanted others. We tried to select and place the cactus to make it clear that climbing and trampling through the garden was not a good idea.  A few plants were purchased at a cactus garden center in Lake Havasu City.     

How did the name “Bob’s Garden” happen?  Bob and Barb Borst were long-time Black Meadow winter guests; their trailer was parked near the kids’ playground. Because of his diabetes, Bob had a leg amputated, and he used a wheel chair to get around the park.

Bob decided he would be the garden’s caretaker and make sure the new cuttings and other transplants were watered and given a chance to survive the first summer. Bob spent hours winding his way through the garden on his wheel chair, dragging hoses when necessary. He just loved that garden. We found a suitable stone, and Reta painted “Welcome to Bob’s Garden” to honor him. 

After Bob died, various snowbirds took on the responsibility of caring for the garden. Carolyn Byrnes spent hours every day for several years. Now Ty Selmyhr takes care of the lights, etc. It still provides a haven for solitude, memorials, and celebrations.