It all started one morning when a chubby woodchuck was spotted standing up on his hind legs with his front paws on the glass entryway door peeping into the office. Imagine the chaos if he got inside! To make matters worse the front door would, on occasion, stay open a little bit due to the vacuum in the vestibule each time the door was opened and closed. Yikes!
Just outside the entryway there were large, overgrown, 20-year-old evergreen bushes. They looked pretty rough. Rabbits would nest in the bushes and litter would collect on windy days. It was time for shrubbery removal. In place of the shrubbery, a small patio was put in. Staff members worked on the project a little bit at a time. A bistro table and chairs were placed on the patio so that when people attended meetings they could sit outside and take phone calls in privacy. This looked 100% better than the ratty old bushes. Shade plants such as mini hostas, Beacon Silver ground cover and Purple Palace coral bells were planted around the patio. And best of all, no animals came close to the entryway door anymore.
Shrubs were removed from other areas around the building as well. These areas were turned Into perennial gardens. A few plants were purchased, but the majority were donated by staff from their home gardens. Perennials included shrub roses, sedums, several dwarf bearded irises, different decorative grasses, echinaceas, 'Little Joe' Joe pye weed, coreopsis and a variety of daylilies. Daylilies included Red Volunteer, Star of Fantasy, Custard Candy, Family Reunion, Leebea Orange Crush, Only Just Begun, Strawberry Candy, and American Revolution. Finally, annual marigolds and petunias were planted for constant color through October.
When the flowers were in bloom the compliments started rolling in. Visitors enjoyed looking at the gardens . Now the office looks just as beautiful on the outside as it does on the inside - definitely a win-win!
Just outside the entryway there were large, overgrown, 20-year-old evergreen bushes. They looked pretty rough. Rabbits would nest in the bushes and litter would collect on windy days. It was time for shrubbery removal. In place of the shrubbery, a small patio was put in. Staff members worked on the project a little bit at a time. A bistro table and chairs were placed on the patio so that when people attended meetings they could sit outside and take phone calls in privacy. This looked 100% better than the ratty old bushes. Shade plants such as mini hostas, Beacon Silver ground cover and Purple Palace coral bells were planted around the patio. And best of all, no animals came close to the entryway door anymore.
Shrubs were removed from other areas around the building as well. These areas were turned Into perennial gardens. A few plants were purchased, but the majority were donated by staff from their home gardens. Perennials included shrub roses, sedums, several dwarf bearded irises, different decorative grasses, echinaceas, 'Little Joe' Joe pye weed, coreopsis and a variety of daylilies. Daylilies included Red Volunteer, Star of Fantasy, Custard Candy, Family Reunion, Leebea Orange Crush, Only Just Begun, Strawberry Candy, and American Revolution. Finally, annual marigolds and petunias were planted for constant color through October.
When the flowers were in bloom the compliments started rolling in. Visitors enjoyed looking at the gardens . Now the office looks just as beautiful on the outside as it does on the inside - definitely a win-win!
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