Beautification

There's a minor green revolution going on outside the Cleveland Park Library - more grass, shrubs, flowers and less litter. A group of volunteer gardeners, led by new neighbor Trish Savage, started rehabilitating the grounds at the corner of Macomb and Connecticut in the summer of 2006, putting in more than 100 plants donated by neighbors.

Savage studied landscape design at Radcliffe and at the Cornell County Extension master gardener program. After moving last year from a Schenectady, NY, home with large gardens to a condo in the Woodley Park Towers, she began suffering "gardening withdrawal" and was drawn to the dilapidated library grounds. With the permission of head librarian Brian Brown, Savage started weeding and picking up litter. She soon learned that the job was too much for one person, no matter how green her thumb. A listserve SOS brought more hands: Janet Cyphers, who became her No. 2, Jill Bogard, Bill Adler, Peggy Robin, Warren Clark and some two dozen others volunteers. CPHS and Friends of the Cleveland Park Library offered to cover out-of-pocket costs. Invariably, passersby continue to offer plants, bulbs, advice and their two cents-always welcome.

According to Savage, the donations determine the ultimate design. So, early this spring look for 2100 yellow tulip, daffodil, and crocus blooms around the perimeter of the grounds. You will also find blossoms of a Spirea directly in front of the main library entrance. Hostas line the sidewalk border under the iron fence. In the summer, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia) will spill over the curb onto Connecticut Avenue and roses will climb on the Newark side along with a pair of Chaemaecyparis bushes and Fountain Grasses (Pennesetum). Look for the "after" pictures to be posted on the website in the Spring.

To volunteer your thumbs or to donate plants, please contact Trish Savage at 387-0403.

Volunteer Gardeners: Sharon Berry, Linda Chipperfield, Debbie Chuchman, Betsy Crone, Laura Graham, Tricia Messerschmitt , Maria Sgambati and Jim Shipman

Donors: Valerie Caproni, Denise Couture, Jill Driskan, Naomi Heller, Maren Harrison, Judy Kopff, Lynn Parseghian, Farida Wozniak, Marina Primorac and Frank Hughes of Four Green Fields.