Brookside Update

Columbine &  Golden Alexander – Karen Andres

Things are popping in the garden. The plants that our volunteers planted last year have made it through the winter and our spring flowers are out and proudly displaying their beautiful colors. This year, I added some new plants and ordered the name plates to identify the plants in case you would like to plant one in your garden. My favorite this spring is the native Columbine, which produces red flowers. Last year they bloomed and reseeded throughout the garden, so we now have some babies who are also blooming. Another beautiful specimen in the garden is the Golden Alexander, with yellow cluster of tiny blooms similar to Queens Ann Lace. The rabbits ate the moss phlox to the dirt last fall, but to my surprise they came back and are blooming. I am looking forward to the next wave of blooms. 

There is a second garden in the works specializing in part shade to shade plants. This garden is on the west side of the house near the parking lot. We have planted Highbush Blueberries, Witch Hazel, Holly, Ferns, Wintergreen and more Columbine. (The deer like to eat the Columbine.) I also noticed the flowers have been nipped off some of the plants after planting. I am looking forward to completing this garden as soon as I get all the plants needed. 

Aside from the gardens, I am in need of people to volunteer at the park. If you enjoy gardening, have carpentry and painting skills, please reach out to me. The garden needs a new arbor as the old one is starting to fall apart. The park needs docents to man the building, walk the trails, pick up trash and be available to share the history of the property. We open the building on Wednesdays and Sundays between 1-3. – Karen Andres