CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS

Burlington City Hall
149 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Coordinator:  Lynn Hunt, Master Gardener

This project is in cooperation with the Burlington City Administrative Office, the Burlington City Arborist, Dr. Mark Starrett of the UVM Plant and Soil Science Dept. with the UVM Horticulture Club students, and the UVM Master Gardener Program.

The City provides funding, and the City Arborist maintains the trees and shrubs and provides compost and mulch.  Dr. Starrett provides guidance and horticultural expertise, and he and the students grow the annuals from seed.  Certified and intern Master Gardeners and Club members plant and maintain the gardens.  This garden is the focal point of the city and often used as the background for press conferences and public announcements.  Many passers-by stop with compliments or gardening questions.   

Burlington Police Station
1 North Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
Coordinator: Joy Hubbard

The Burlington Police Station sits the prominent corner of North Avenue and Battery Park.  This is a cooperative project with Dr. Mark Starrett of the UVM Plant and Soil Science Dept. and the UVM Horticulture Club.   Dr. Starrett and the students provide the annuals grown from seed and Club members plant and maintain the gardens.  The City Arborist provides mulch, compost and Fall clean-up.   Many compliments and thanks are received from members of the Police Department and passers-by.

Butterfly Garden at Vermont Garden Park
1100 Dorset Street
Burlington, VT 05403
Coordinator: Nancy Bell

In early 2003 the Burlington Garden Club created a Butterfly Garden on a 100-acre property owned by the City of South Burlington, the Vermont Garden Park.  The historic brick farmhouse and property is leased by the National Gardening Association.  Club members worked with NGA Senior Horticulturist Charlie Nardozzi to remove the sod from the vacant field fronting the farmhouse.  In early May the Butterfly shape was staked out, and on Community Service Day eight South Burlington High School students moved compost to the site and helped Club members plant perennials. The Club won the 2003 Harriet Canfield Award from the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont for this project.

Club members refresh the garden each spring with annuals.  UVM Master Gardener Program Interns and Vermont Garden Park volunteers also participate in monthly maintenance.  Visitors, local artists, and butterflies love this garden!

Grandma and Grandpa’s Garden at Vermont Garden Park
1100 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
Coordinator:  Jan DeSarno

The Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont, Inc. was awarded a SHELL/PETALS grant in 2002 to establish this heirloom garden.  Vegetables and annuals are grown from seed chosen from heirloom catalogs.  Planting and maintenance is done by Club, occasional members of the FGCV, and Master Gardeners and interns.  Over 321 pounds of vegetables were donated in a single season to the Burlington Food Shelf.   


Ronald McDonald House
16 South Winooski Avenue
Burlington Vt. 05401
Coordinator:  Jan DeSarno

The 3 garden areas were adopted by the Club in 2009, after re-design, planting, and maintenance had been done in 2008 by Jan DeSarno and an unaffiliated volunteer.  Spring clean-up is by volunteers organized by The United Way, and the Fall clean-up by the 5th Grade from Edmunds School. 

SEABA Garden
382 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Coordinator:  Shirley Zundell

In 2005 the Club received a request from landscape architect Ken Mills to enhance and maintain a small urban public garden located next to a commercial building.  The garden had been created by Ken on the small space donated by the building’s owner to the South End Arts and Business Association (SEABA). The garden is in constant use as a short cut walk-through, picnic spot, children’s play area, and meeting place.  This uniquely beautiful place is a focal point for the annual South End Art Hop during the first weekend in September.

 
Burlington Garden Club members Phyl Lary (left) and Jan DeSarno, Co-President. 
The mums planted in 2006 refuse to stop blooming! 

South Burlington Community Library
550 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
Coordinator:  Faith Donoghue 

Members of the Friends of the South Burlington Library and Club members plant and maintain colorful annuals at the main entrance, providing a bright welcome to all visitors.

GARDEN THERAPY PROJECTS

Flower Arranging with Seniors
Coordinator:  Jean Henshaw

Garden therapy activities are held at Birchwood Terrace Health Care, Starr Farm Nursing Center, and Cathedral Square in Burlington, and Whitney Hill Homestead in Williston.  Club members assist residents with floral arrangements to brighten their rooms.

Gardens at Hope Lodge
237 East Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
Coordinator:  Jane Murphy

Hope Lodge, a residence-away-from-home for patients receiving cancer therapy, moved into a beautiful new building in fall of 2007.  This Club project began in 1990 to plant window boxes and make holiday wreaths.  Club members continue with planting and maintaining the garden areas and window boxes and creating holiday wreaths.