The Audubon Garden paver project and entrance garden have recently been completed after countless hours of planning and preparation by our committees and volunteers. It has been a busy year, and much has been accomplished.

Last March, J.J. Franks suggested that a paver path would require less maintenance and eliminate the need for annual pea gravel application. A paver path project team was created consisting of Maryann Pope, Chris Thurlow, Debbie Lindsey, and Lyn Groves, who led the search for the paving company. The board approved this significant financial investment, and work began.

The project faced multiple delays, resulting in an extreme amount of maintenance during the hot and rainy summer as the garden grew out of control. The Brunner’s, Thurlow’s, and Lindsey’s diligently weeded, trimmed, and eliminated volunteer and invasive plants. The pea gravel was repurposed to secondary stepping stone paths with an underlayment of landscape cloth. Additionally, the south and north sides were cleared of overgrowth to ensure visibility of the garden from the practice range and the golf course. Chris Thurlow also transferred Oyster plants from her garden to create a border along the golf range, while Edel Livermore assisted in preparing the Native Garden. We extend our gratitude to the golf course maintenance crew for hauling away the tremendous amount of plant material that was removed.

Construction of the paver path finally commenced in early October, but unfortunately, the project faced a setback when they ran out of product, delaying the entrance path. Nonetheless, we were able to hold our first worker bee gathering on October 30th. Additional landscape cloth was laid down on areas with limited plantings, and 130 bags of mulch were applied throughout the garden. Lyn Groves has graciously agreed to take charge of the Native Garden, succeeding Joan Klimm, bringing her passion for native plants and her attendance at native plant workshops and lectures to the role.

Bob Joy joined our committee to stake out the garden path and decide on a location for the new entrance arbor. After completing the entrance section of pavers in December, Bob assembled the arbor, and our entrance garden committee helped him install it on December 29th.

On January 12th, we began preparing the entrance garden for planting. John Lindsey tilled the rock-hard soil, much to the gratitude of the garden team consisting of Chris Thurlow, Maryann Pope, and Debbie Lindsey. Chris, a master gardener whose garden in Greenwich has been featured in local publications, and Maryann, who holds a degree in garden landscaping, provided invaluable expertise, energy, and enthusiasm to this project. After the plants were in place, John installed the sprinkler system and mulch.

In mid-January, Debbie Lindsey set up three butterfly cages near the storage shed to protect the caterpillars, chrysalises, and emerging butterflies until they are able to fly. Over 40 butterflies have been released in the past month, and three more cages have been purchased. We remain vigilant for any signs of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a debilitating parasite that infects monarch butterflies. If detected, cages will be sanitized, and the milkweed, the host plant of Monarchs, will be removed. We are also preparing to grow our own native milkweed plants in order to have an abundant supply.

In February, the board approved the sale of engraved tribute pavers to be located in sections of the pollinator/butterfly and native gardens. We hope to fully fund the garden with this income. Information and samples will be available at the April 22nd Open House and Rededication of the Audubon Garden. We look forward to seeing you there.

Debbie Lindsey