To FWP supporters:
Hooray, the weather is finally changing. This winter was tough for the worker bees, with severe cold followed by wet, then more cold. Fortunately, we accomplished a great deal last winter, so the park is still in decent shape. We are approaching 200 hours this year thanks to a couple of large projects that require many volunteer hours. The photos pages show several of these projects.
Food forest planting project Jen Willoughby, Sustainability Manager for the City, initiated a “food forest” planting project. The idea is to plant trees/shrubs with fruits edible by humans. Waterford Park now has more than 60 new trees from this planting, including elderberry, hazelnut, pawpaw and serviceberry. Grants from MUCFC (MD Urban and Community Forest Committee) and CBT (Chesapeake Bay Trust) funded the project. FWP purchased two pecans to fill in an area along the path that was used by the shared-use path contractors for their staging area. FWP is fencing and mulching and will water the new plants.
We also purchased three American hollies and three winterberry hollies to fill in an area where we had a European little leaf linden removed. The nursery had sold it to us as an American basswood – wrong! Adding evergreens to the park is a good thing.
Eagle Scout project Aiden Bedwell is rehabilitating an area above the bridge closest to Baughmans Lane. It has been cleared of invasives. A small retaining wall is being built to provide a place for good soil and to level the hill a bit. The area will be planted in mid-May. Aiden is committed to the project and has done a great job of organizing assistance. FWP is funding the majority of this worthwhile effort.
New bench near the middle bridge By the time you read this, the bench will be in place. A group of people started a GoFundMe page to have a memorial bench and planted area. Their funds also paid for a good-sized area to be cleared of invasives. Oakleaf hydrangea and other shade-loving natives will be planted soon.
FWP has hired Habitat Enhancers to care for two additional areas: the bed at the Meadowdale Lane entry and the planted area on the hill behind to co-ops. The funds given to FWP in memory of Linda Berkheimer and the distribution from our fund at the Community Foundation of Frederick County funded the payment. We will need to purchase plants that will be easier to maintain as we refurbish these areas.
We continue to press for less omnidirectional bright lighting in the park, trying to think ahead to when seven miles of shared-use path will be lit. Two progress notes: First, lights on the south side of Culler Lake will be dimmed April 26 as a test area. Citizens and government will give feedback. We hope you can go down to see the dimmer lights and to give feedback. Second, Zack Kershner, Director of DPW gave this update: “As far as a Park Lighting Policy, it is on our “to do list”, we’ll need to determine when we can designate staff time to accommodate the effort necessary, and which Departments will need to be involved. “
Please note that two recent plantings in the park are City projects. The plants near Rock Creek at the east end of the park are forest conservation plants, required because trees were removed to install the path and bridge, while the trees and shrubs along the path are path landscaping, part of the shared-use path plan.
Our next big event is the May 20-21 Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour, an annual event that draws hundreds of people to the gardens on display. We accepted the invitation to be on this year’s tour, knowing that the park is not meant to be a manicured garden. Instead, we hope to familiarize people with many species of native plants and hope that they enjoy walking and sitting in our inviting space. In addition to the worker bees sprucing up the area, we expect the Jr. ROTC from TJ High School, the Green Team from Astrazeneca and the environmental club students from Hood College to help us.
Spring birds like the swallows and the phoebe are returning. Our turkeys are somewhere seeking mates. Fare thee well, our feathered friends, and do come back to entertain us again this summer.
As always, we need and appreciate your support. We treat ash trees next year and also will hopefully purchase plants for the Meadowdale entrance and the area behind the co-ops that will be fairly easy to maintain. We hear from so many of you; keep enjoying the park and keep those comments coming. Your financial support enables us to continue our mission. Please click here for the 2018 Friends of Waterford Park Membership and Donation Form.
We thank you.
Friends of Waterford Park, Inc. Board of Directors
Ginny Brace, president Rachel Zigler, vice-president
Kathy Soria, secretary Maurice ‘Moe” Labbe, treasurer
Karen Berkheimer Morton, director Dan Yates, director
If you have feedback on park lighting, you may call me at 301 682-6135 or email ginnybrace@gmail.com. I hope to hear from many of you.
– Ginny