More Progress Made On Shannon Collins Memorial Garden

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.—LELO employees and community volunteers made more progress this past weekend on the Shannon Collins Memorial Garden. “Although the weather was a bit rainy, we made great progress in the garden,” LELO officials said in a release. “We cleaned up fallen leaves, pulled weeds, and planted bright and cheerful flowers to welcome the start of the spring season.” The Shannon Collins Memorial Garden is located the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center in Santa Cruz, and the gardening day took place last Saturday. Collins, who co-owned the adult boutique Camouflage in Santa Cruz with her husband Ken Vinson, was murdered in May 2013. The 38-year-old Collins was stabbed to death in broad daylight by a man police identified as Charles Edwards III, a parolee with a history of serious mental illness who was released from a state correctional facility after a clerical error. At the time of the attack, Collins was walking to a hair appointment. LELO officials created the garden last year to honor Collins, who was one of the first retailers to carry the manufacturer’s products and was considered part of the LELO family, they said. After working outdoors Saturday and then relaxing inside with hot tea, LELO officials unveiled the exciting new plans for the Shannon Collins Memorial Garden Veggie Patch. “On the next volunteer day, we will begin creating the Veggie Patch in the Shannon Collins Memorial Garden,” they said. “The Veggie Patch will feature a pallet garden, where we will plant lettuce, strawberries, and herbs within wooden pallets. Come learn this eco-friendly and fun style of gardening with us!” Volunteers are asked to bring standard pallets made from untreated wood (12 are needed), as well as untreated small motorcycle pallets, bags of vegetable potting soil, and vegetable seedlings (lettuce, strawberries, any and all herbs). LELO will be providing all other required materials. The next volunteer day is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center, located at 303 Walnut Avenue in Santa Cruz, Calif. Email Patty.Callahan@LELO.com to state what you can provide and bring with you for the next volunteer day.