From the Rowayton Gardeners

Phyllis Padro, the Rowayton Gardeners’ President, reports that civic beautification never takes a vacation – especially during the summer! The RG have made great progress on all of their new projects. Here are a few highlights. As you go around town, take a look at some of these beautiful areas.
Bayley Beach, Karen Larocque, Chair – two new planting beds were created. Preliminary plants were added just in time for July 4th. Members are taking turns watering.
McKinley Triangle, Charlotte Gannon, Chair – the front half was prepared and planted. Members are taking turns watering during this heat wave and a neighbor has kindly let the Rowayton Gardener members use their hose hookups. Additional plantings for the second bed are planned in the fall.
Rowayton School Pond, Brenda Ashooh, Nancy Schlater, Dana Troy, Co-Chairs – as part of the Rowayton Gardeners’ gift to the pond, Brown Trees was contracted and has just removed dangling vines and dead branches along the pond's entrance down along the path to McKinley. You are invited to take a walk and see what a difference it makes, especially the large Oak tree at the McKinley entrance. See if you can find the Elm tree among all the Ash trees on the path! New perennials and shrubs were added, some were purchased, and others were donated by RG members. Donations from members’ gardens include: Irises, 3 Hibiscus mallows, (false spirea), and Weeping Willow.
Community Center: Phyllis Padro, Chair – the future bed by the dog park near Highland Avenue has a Stewartia tree sapling which flowered this year! Some of last year's Cannas that were overwintered by Sally Tepas were planted there and are thriving. The rest of the bed will be prepared, re-designed and planted in the fall. In addition to the usual seasonal plantings (which included the rose beds, flagpole, and existing large planters), several donated containers were installed in the courtyard, one displays the library's herb garden. The RG also purchased two new watering hoses (2 x 100'), one of which was donated by the Library. This has brought great pleasure to the RG members that are volunteering to water this summer.