Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote
“The creation of a garden is a quiet conversation between the soul and the soil.”
Yesterday about 300 people were introduced to the new native plant pollinator garden at the entrance to Thanksgiving Forest. When I first saw the plans, it looked like a simple garden, like many we have around town, so when I was there, I was surprised. First, the garden is great, especially for winter, since this is not the prime time to see a garden. It is surrounded by a fence of sturdy construction that could have looked utilitarian. What made it special is the weaving of sticks and vines along the top of the fence. This is called wattling, an ancient craft of weaving natural branches to create patterns that are both strong and decorative. It turned the fence into a piece of art.
Two small pine trees stand there with winter decorations. The group had taken round ornaments, painted yellow swirls, added wings, and turned them into bees. People were invited to take one from a basket and decorate the tree. A spokesperson for the garden introduced herself and recognized our local Indigenous people by reading the town proclamation. Everyone listened as they talked about their passion for not only the garden but the newly created park area.
The park area has had many improvements, including the removal of all the invasive bushes. DPW came in and removed all the Norway maples and other non native trees, then ground down the stumps so the whole space is brighter and more open. Weston Nursery donated a bunch of native plants to a new planting area. It now has at least a dozen new plantings that would not have been possible without their generosity.
Local neighbors added a kiosk and a small pumping station that draws water from the pond to water the garden. There is also a trash can there that is maintained by the neighbors. The white picnic table is a Girl Scout Gold Award project, and in many ways the work they did to start clearing the area when it was a mess, hauling out many loads of brush, was the spark that helped lead to this park.
So thank you to everyone involved, as this is our newest park, unofficial as it may be, and now a focal point for that neighborhood and an educational opportunity for anyone who uses the trails. Well done.