SUMMER 2017
This is an update on the Strafford Edible Pocket Park, a volunteer project in South Strafford Village. A beautiful new sign was recently created by Will Cooney. Bill Goulet, staying with us for the summer and fall, somehow made the handsome signpost without proper tools. A smaller sign will soon be hung on the side of the Red Barn.
A few weeks ago, in early summer, there was a riot of colorful Lupines in the park (above and below.)
In July, Evening Primroses, Bee Balm, and Shasta Daisies are brightening the park. Berries and fruit are starting to appear.
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| Two benches by the river. On the right is Eva's Bench, overlooking her blueberry patch. |
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| Eva's blueberries are thriving. Later in the summer, they'll be blue! |
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| Cone flower (Echinacea) and Yarrow (Achillea) |
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| One of the two picnic tables overlooks the river. Use it! |
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| Hazelbert bushes line the fence. They started as bare sticks, but this year there will be nuts. |
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| Some of the plum trees may bear heavily this year -- others, not so much. |
Below, two views in the park. Visit soon if you haven't already done so.
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ADDITIONS AT SUMMER'S END 2017
In July, one of Barbara's long-held hopes was realized: there is now a garden shed in the pocket park. It's important for storing tools and equipment that we (or other volunteers) would otherwise need to haul from home - hoses, lawnmower, pump, rakes and shovels, and so on.
The garden shed was made possible by several generous people and institutions. First is Bill Goulet, a retired builder living in Strafford temporarily (while his wife, a physical therapist, completes a contract.) Bill did virtually all the work of actually building the shed.
Others to whom sincere thanks are due: The Newton Fund, for paying one third of the shed's cost; Bethel Mills for covering another third, and several local residents for the rest. Elmer Brown's Nursery donated two lilac trees seen in the photo above. COVER donated the window. The Newton Fund paid the entire cost of a new lawnmower, which makes that work in the park much easier and more convenient.
Above the river, in the back of the park near a picnic table, a great heron is feeding. He's really a stainless steel sculpture by an "iron artist" in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Barbara fell in love with him (the bird, not the artist) during our summer travels, thinking how perfect he would be for the park. Now, thanks to two local friends who donated two-thirds of the cost, Sydney (named for the town of Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) is happily living on the bank of the Ompompanoosuc.
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