The Latest Dirt Part 2 La Plata Garden Club June 2017 www.laplatagardenclub.org This is a special edition Of The Latest Dirt To celebrate the 10th anniversary Of the dedication Of the La Plata Garden Club s Star Memorial Garden Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 1
Our Signature Project The Star Memorial Garden On April 28, 2007 the Star Garden was dedicated. Already ten years ago! We are featuring more pictures than usual in this issue to celebrate this 10 year anniversary. Pictures include the garden site before the garden was actually built, pictures of those of us who did some spring planting in early April and the garden blooms in the beginning of May. ` Dreams of creating this garden started in 2003 and went through several variations until the final product was achieved. The Garden, as all things living, is a work in progress. There are problem areas where nothing seems to grow. Then there are the French hollyhocks that seem to pop up everywhere. Some of the shrubs have outgrown their space, and one crepe myrtle was removed to allow more light into the garden. The sustainability of the garden depends on all of us contributing to its wellbeing. That being said, there are several ways you can contribute: 1. Sign up for a week of garden duty : Each member is to take a turn. The schedule was sent out by email and will be available at our monthly meetings. Tasks include weeding, watering, deadheading, pruning, observing for problems (insect and diseases). 2. Come to the work days: This is when we do the big stuff-including planting. The first one was held in March. 3. Suggest ideas for improvement: Do you have a favorite plant that you know would look great in the garden? 4. Would you donate plants for the garden? Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 2
If you haven t been to the Garden, please do so, it is a delight. Don t know where it is? It is behind the Charles County Fire Museum, 3 Firehouse Street, La Plata. Look up and you can see the tall lighted star at the entrance to the garden. Already tiny daffodils, hellebores, have bloomed. The winter jasmine climbing the trellis has been out its bright yellow flowers and sweet fragrance. In May azaleas blooms, huge hosta leaves, and other flowers were making the garden a beautiful place to visit. There is a pair of mocking birds who claim the garden as their own and will noisily let you know you are intruding. The garden team this year consists of Mary Beth Chandler, Patti Faulkner, Kathy Hettel, and Sherie Zimmer. Sherie is the keeper of the Garden work calendar, so contact her to volunteer. The spring edition of 'Southern Maryland...This is Living' magazine featured an article about the star garden and the firehouse museum. It is written by Charles County master gardener Beth Bonifant. Sherie Zimmer Mary Beth Chandler One of several Garden Layout Drawings created For the Proposed Star Memorial Garden Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 3
Star Memorial Garden Site After the 2002 Tornado That hit La Plata Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 4
The tornado which occurred Sunday, April 28th 2002 destroyed the water tower and the star which had been built on top of the tower. The old fire house building, which now is a museum, was left untouched. Bricks piled by the building show the beginnings of the new garden. They were recycled bricks coming from the old town hall which was torn down to make way for the present new town hall. Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 5
To the left is a list of organizations that made contributions to the development of the garden To the right Some history of the La Plata Star Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 6
Spring Work On The Star Garden Weeding, digging fertilizing, separating large clumps of plants into smaller ones and even rototilling Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 7
Spring blooms in the star garden May 2017 10 years after the Garden s Dedication Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 8
Published by the LaPlata Garden Club P.O. Box 214, LaPlata, MD 20646, Carol Flowers Editor 9