High Street Hillside Garden
Subheader
The High Street Hillside Garden (PHOTO -sign) is the newest of the Garden Club of Windham’s 10 designated public spaces. It comprises 10,00 square feet in a long narrow hilly strip previously a barren waste site (PHOTO Scott, Yves). This long strip is thought of as one of the “gateways” to Willimantic. SustainabiltyCT bench in the photo was donated by the town.
Now home to more than 100 plants (trees, shrubs, perennials), this site’s plantings were funded by the 325 Trees/Shrubs Project. This project began in 2018 by Faith Kenton to plant 325 trees/shrubs in Willimantic as a tribute to the city’s 325th birthday. (PHOTO Faith/Yves w/ sign) She raised over $150,00 through grants, public appeals, and fundraisers. Approved by Public Works, the future garden was designed by landscaper Yves Kraus, also head engineer, who has volunteered his services at no cost over several years.
Many steps happened over 2019-21 to get the site ready for planting. Excavators (PHOTO of ) broke up the hard dry surface several times revealing very poor soil and endless rocks. Volunteers (Garden Club members, ECSU students, residents) spent many collective hours picking out endless rocks after each pass. In July 2020, (PHOTO white sheeting) Kraus directed the volunteers to spread a solarizing sheet to help kill seeds and weeds exposed by the digging. The town brought truckloads of leaf compost (PHOTO piles w/ shovels) which the volunteers then spread.e.
Finally, planting. Gum trees, a tulip tree, redbuds, a blue spruce, junipers, crabapples, winterberry shrubs, New England perennials, New Jersey Tea, and more. (First PHOTO of 2 children) followed by lush, healthy growth (second PHOTO of 2 children) here.
Now planted and flourishing, our garden challenges us (PHOTO 3 men weeding). Having no immediate water source, we pay the Willimantic Water District for hook-up service in periods of drought, luckily infrequent.(PHOTO) Up to 10,000 gallons of water is directed from the hydrant and meter into a hose, then runs all day through our irrigation system, built in 2021 by Kraus (PHOTO) . Meanwhile, our artist friend David Corsini had donated his cast-iron sculpture “Family Strong” and installed it near our Hillside bench with friend Johnee Walker. (PHOTO I know the photos not great but its what I have) March 2022.
Our Garden continues to grow and be cared for. (PHOTO of Rugby men) We have achieved our goal of reclaiming a waste space, and from now on with a lot of volunteer help, we can all enjoy a new view.