July 2008. The urban and urban/suburban sections of the garden are just about done! Thanks to the Herculean efforts of the many volunteers, over 1,000 trees, shrubs, and perennials were installed on June 26 and 27 following the design created by Irene Barber at O'Donal's Nursery. If you haven't seen these gardens, don't delay—the Back Cove has been transformed!
Volunteers and workers included the Maine Conservation Corps; City of Portland Department of Public Services; Cumberland and York County Master Gardeners; Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District; Cumberland and York County Cooperative Extension; Carroll Associates, Landscape Architects; and local community volunteers. And, of course, without the generosity of our donors and plants either donated or sold at significant discounts by Gammon Landscape Nursery, Libby’s Landscaping and Greenhouse, Moody's Nursery & Garden Center, O’Donal’s Nursery, and Pierson Nurseries, the gardens would not exist at all. Equipment was also donated by Muller's Smart Carts.
All that remains in this phase of the project is to apply additional compost to the beds and mulch in certain areas to keep the weeds at bay, temporary seeding of bare soil areas with annual ryegrass and preparation and planting of low maintenance turf grasses in areas around the new plantings in late August. Ongoing maintenance, of course, will be critical to the long-term success of the gardens.
Our next steps include:
- development of educational signage and comments kiosk
- planting of the suburban/rural and rural gardens and corresponding turf and meadow areas in 2009
To keep this project going, and for ongoing maintenance, donations are still actively being sought. Please consider making a donation! |
