On May 1, skies were cloudy and rain poured down. The dreary conditions did not deter the volunteers of the Chappaqua Garden Club. Armed with shovels and trowels, clad in rain jackets, gloves and boots, the volunteers toiled for hours. The result of their labors is the beautified September 11 Memorial in Gedney Park.
In keeping with the spirit embodied in the Memorial, a patriotic design prevails in the garden. “The theme is red, white and blue,” Garden Club President Chris Wolff noted. The plants in this color scheme are all deer resistant. Local gardeners may glean valuable information from this site by noting the types of plants and looking for them at a local nursery. The club’s selection includes: nepeta, shasta, monarda, lambs’ ear, brunnera and coreopsis. As a further precaution, deer tech stations which emit high frequency sounds and an herbal scent, have been installed by Savatree along the path leading up to the memorial.
Club member Mary Lynn McRee predicts that the plantings will increase the visibility of the Memorial and draw more people to the site: “They’ll see flowers as they pass by. They’ll be attracted to come over.” After admiring the flowers along the path, visitors will discover the memorial at the summit. A fountain and waterfall surround the steel remnants. “It’s very peaceful. A little oasis,” McRee added.
There are many ways to become involved with the club and new members are always welcome. The ambiance is always congenial and educational opportunities abound. “It’s a really nice group of people,” Wolff mentioned. “Everybody’s really cooperative.” There are workshops on flower arranging and guest speakers on topics including raising orchids and landscape design.
