Dahlia
Emily Cleaveland (better known as The Dahlia Lady) has graciously agreed to allow the Grantham Garden Club to host an open house on her property as a fund raiser for the club. Emily's dahlia gardens are not usually open to the public so we appreciate this rare treat to see her amazing Dahlia gardens. For Springfield's 250th celebration, Emily ran an open house which included a path through her native plant area. This time around, GGC volunteers cleared the path. In May when our band of GGC volunteers first visited Emily's place and walked through the flat land where native plants would grow, we thought “piece of cake.” Then the rains came, and came, and came, and turned the landscape into a lush jungle. The good news was that there would be lots of healthy native plants and ferns for people to see. The bad news was that we had to keep clearing the path which kept getting overrun.
Grantham Garden Club volunteers are a sturdy bunch so, undeterred, they attacked that path. They brought weed-whackers, rakes, clippers, wheelbarrows, and shovels. Emily provided lots of guidance, tools, and elbow grease.
Moments after a hemlock tree in Maureen Connelly’s yard was chopped down, it was chipped into little bits and driven to the native plant trail where we spread it over the path.
Meanwhile, Emily was planting, fertilizing, and applying her usual tender loving care to her dahlia gardens. Wait until you see her spectacular dahlias! Emily will explain to visitors how she does her magic, while GGC’er Leslie Keeling will lead folks on tours through the native plant trail.
People who come to the August 14th Open House can opt to take a handout that explains what each of the 39 numbered trees, shrubs, and wildflowers are, or they can take the plunge and participate in a “Name the Native Plant” game. The correct responses spell out a mysterious message that only Emily knows. By writing their name and contact info on the back or the decoded message, people can enter a drawing with the winner receiving a fresh bouquet of dahlias compliments of Emily.
Like the very popular Mystery Garden Tour, we are suggesting a donation of $15 from each visitor. We’ll also be selling flower note cards, goat milk soap, yummy baked goods (thanks to other GGC volunteers), and plants. We hope to raise lots of money to fund scholarships, grants, educational programs, and civic gardens.
Plan to join us on Saturday, August 14th, between 1:00 and 4:00 for a delightful afternoon. The address is 256 Hogg Hill Road in Springfield (but Google Maps insists it is Grantham - so enter that if you use Google maps).
You won’t be disappointed.
Grantham Garden Club volunteers are a sturdy bunch so, undeterred, they attacked that path. They brought weed-whackers, rakes, clippers, wheelbarrows, and shovels. Emily provided lots of guidance, tools, and elbow grease.
Moments after a hemlock tree in Maureen Connelly’s yard was chopped down, it was chipped into little bits and driven to the native plant trail where we spread it over the path.
Meanwhile, Emily was planting, fertilizing, and applying her usual tender loving care to her dahlia gardens. Wait until you see her spectacular dahlias! Emily will explain to visitors how she does her magic, while GGC’er Leslie Keeling will lead folks on tours through the native plant trail.
People who come to the August 14th Open House can opt to take a handout that explains what each of the 39 numbered trees, shrubs, and wildflowers are, or they can take the plunge and participate in a “Name the Native Plant” game. The correct responses spell out a mysterious message that only Emily knows. By writing their name and contact info on the back or the decoded message, people can enter a drawing with the winner receiving a fresh bouquet of dahlias compliments of Emily.
Like the very popular Mystery Garden Tour, we are suggesting a donation of $15 from each visitor. We’ll also be selling flower note cards, goat milk soap, yummy baked goods (thanks to other GGC volunteers), and plants. We hope to raise lots of money to fund scholarships, grants, educational programs, and civic gardens.
Plan to join us on Saturday, August 14th, between 1:00 and 4:00 for a delightful afternoon. The address is 256 Hogg Hill Road in Springfield (but Google Maps insists it is Grantham - so enter that if you use Google maps).
You won’t be disappointed.
Emily Cleaveland--The Dahlia Lady
In May, Kathy Houghton in the foreground and Leslie Keeling in back
Penny Willoughby holding Willow taken in May with bare dahlia garden in the background
Helene Perirer and Martha Sweeny in among the ferns on the native plant trail in July
Leslie Keeling, Kathy Houghton, and Emily Cleaveland identifying the plants
Hemlock tree
Hemlock wood chips
Kathy Houghton, Penny Willoughby, Martha Sweeney, and Leslie Keeling hard at work