Girl Scout Garden Improvement

The winter was hard on the plantings around the base of the Manse.  Ice and frozen snow falling from the roof landed on the ancient, overgrown yews in front of the building, breaking branches and generally leaving them in a mess.  Tracey Donaldson, who is the grounds supervisor from the Board of Trustees, knew the old yews had to be removed and a new group of plants installed.  With the help of other trustees and Friends of the Library, she used chainsaws to cut the yews at the base, and then with great difficulty the stumps were pulled from the soil.  Now the foundation area was ready for a complete upgrade.

Tracey got advice from Master Gardener Jane Stabala, a long-time friend of the Library, on what plants to buy.  Then, she invited her Girl Scout troop to help install the plants.  The result was a great improvement immediately over the old yews and will continue to be beautiful as some of the new evergreen shrubs grow. They also upgraded the garden area around the maple tree that several years ago volunteered in the front yard of the Library.

Garden plans are an important part of the future for the Library as well.  The new wing will include a plaza area that will be completely landscaped, extending well beyond foundation plantings and a small region in the lawn.  We will have to lose the maple tree as part of this plan, but the plaza will be graded to provide ground-level access to the Library instead of the steps now at the front entrance. Although the Girl Scouts' work will be superseded when that day comes, in the meantime their new garden areas help brighten up the hamlet of Pleasant Valley.