If you have driven or walked by the Northborough Police Station recently, you might have noticed a landscape improvement. Northborough Girl Scouts from Troop 11106 and Troop 64780 spent August 14 weeding, cleaning out and replanting the onsite gardens. The troops worked alongside members of the Northborough Garden Club.
The community service project was an effort to collaborate with the Northborough Garden Club in a beautification project. The project also included working with Police Chief William Lyver and Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Scott Charpentier to ensure the garden design met their needs.
Troop 11106 is comprised of eighth graders who have been together in scouts since kindergarten and led by Megan Varnes.
Varnes said the plants used are perennials, including some shrubs, and are all native plants, low maintenance and drought and heat tolerant.
“The girls really jumped in,” said Varnes. “It was so weedy; they were shocked that we were able to get it all done. They want to do more so we may come back in the spring to plant some annuals.”
Varnes said the Garden Club really enjoys getting the next generations into gardening and this was a great gateway project.
“It went so well,” she said, “There’s plenty of green space in Northborough to garden in.”
Bluewater Landscape Construction & Snow Removal, Inc. assisted with the shrub planting and the DPW purchased plants through Bigelow Nurseries.
Northborough Select Board member and Garden Club member Julianne Hirsh also volunteered her time on this project.
“It was incredible,” she said. “They all worked really hard on a pretty hot Saturday morning with no complaints. Every time I looked up, I saw groups of girls weeding, planting or watering but working together and looking like they were having fun. It was invigorating to have their youthful enthusiasm and energy.”
Garden Club President Joyce DiGregorio said the club also plants and cares for the flowers at the old town hall, Ellsworth McAfee Park and at the fire station.
A pollinator garden is in discussion for a future project.
New members are encouraged to join the Northborough Garden Club. It meets once a month, has excellent lectures and presentations and contributes to the beautification of the town. They also sponsor a popular plant sale in the spring and a winter sale of greens and holiday decorations in December. Proceeds from these sales help to continue their town beautification projects, as well as to sponsor a college scholarship each year and fund school grants for relevant programs.
The Club also donates monthly garden therapy bouquets to the Northborough Library and the Northborough Senior Center and assists the Meals on Wheels Program with decorating May baskets for clients.
Follow the Garden Club on Facebook or email questions to northboroughgardenclub@yahoo.com.
Written by Liz Nolan, Contributing Writer