Community Projects of the Litchfield Garden Glub
The Litchfield Garden Club has a long history of participation in many projects that benefit the community of Litchfield. Below are some of the projects of which we are proudest!
Treescape | Litchfield Green Parking Lot Project | Other Projects We Support | Press Releases
In 1994, the Projects Committee of The Litchfield Garden Club met with the Town of Litchfield Beautification Commission and the Chief Forester for the Connecticut DEP in an effort to launch the “Treescape for Litchfield” project. The purpose of the project was to enhance the main entrances and corridors into and through Litchfield, as recommended by the Environmental Task Force for the Town of Litchfield Vision Plan.
In 1995, thirty-two trees and shrubs were planted along Route 202 in the Harris Plains area of Litchfield. Local and national grants, private donations, and monies from the Civic Fund of The Litchfield Garden Club provided the funding. “Treescape for Litchfield” became a reality, but a comprehensive master plan was needed. Thomas Paine of Jubilee Partners in Boston was engaged to present a blueprint for tree planting and guidelines for appropriate roadside amenities and development.
To date 96 trees and shrubs have been planted along Routes 202 and 63. The Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission have accepted “Treescape for Litchfield” as a valuable resource and guide to preserving the rural and historic character of the Town.
The autumn of 2001 brought phase four of the project to completion with the planting of an additional 14 trees planted along a 2.1 mile section of Route 202. The club is recently planted four red maples at Community Field to commemorate 9/11/01 and in celebration of the garden club’s 90th anniversary. “Treescape for Litchfield” encourages the community to join with The Litchfield Garden Club in assuring the future of the green canopy we have enjoyed since 1719. It is a project the whole community can be proud of.
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Red maples at Community Field |
River birches at White Memorial |
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Lindens |
Two sugar maples and a red oak on Route 202 |
Litchfield Green Parking Lot Project
Members of The Litchfield Garden Club celebrated the newly renovated Municipal Parking Lot on West Street in September of 2005 to commemorate the planted trees and shrubs funded by the club. Joining the members were First Selectman Leo Paul, Jim Koser, Superintendent of Public Works, Diane Blick, Chair, Economic Development Commission, and Rod Cameron, Landscape Architect for the planting project. Four years ago the Projects Committee, then co-chaired by Jane Hinkel and Seton O’Reilly, began work with the town on the Parking Lot Project. New co-chairs Em Cleminshaw and Jeannie FitzGerald have spurred the project to near-completion. Eleven European Hornbeams (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’) have been planted in the granite-bordered parking islands, as well as eight Green vase Zelkova (Zelkova serrata ‘Green Vase’), 35 Japanese spirea (Spirea japonica ‘Shibon’), and 31 Compact cranberrybush viburnam (Viburnam opulus ‘Compactum’). LGC contracted Professional Outdoor Services to plant and maintain the trees and shrubs. The landscape service will also prune existing crabapple trees bordering the parking lot. The Projects Committee hopes to acquire permission to have the propane tanks painted a neutral color to blend with the attractive landscaping. The West Street Parking Lot has transformed from an eyesore to green islands amid lined parking spaces, rest rooms, and lighting.
The Litchfield Green Parking Lot Project - Before (left) and After (right) |
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Mr. Salvestrini's 5th grade class at Litchfield Middle School, with guest teacher Jeff Greenwood (on the right), the Education Director at the White Memorial Foundation. LGC funds all the 5th grade classes yearly on environmental/ecology topics.... A Litchfield Garden Club Civic Fund project |
The Litchfield Garden Club has long been actively involved in many civic projects in and around the town of Litchfield. The following is a list of recent Civic Fund and Community Service Projects:
- Continuous funding for the Litchfield Action Plan for the Town Green
- Benches and Period Light Fixtures for the Litchfield Green
- Funding of lectures and field day at White Memorial Conservation Center for sixth graders
- Planting seeds and bulbs with fourth graders
- Planting and maintenance of town watering troughs spring, summer and fall
- Bulb plantings at Litchfield Middle School, High School, Firehouse, Connecticut Junior Republic, Tannery Brook, Wells Run, McAuliff Manor, Community Center, and Oliver Wolcott Library
- Memorial books and videocassettes to Oliver Wolcott Library
- Tree Planting at Bantam Borough Hall, Litchfield Center School, the Litchfield Green, and Community Field
- Earth Week Activities
- Tree Inventory
- Treescape
- Butterfly Garden at White Memorial
- Deer resistant plantings at Wisdom House
- Planting of paperwhite narcisses with first graders
- Landscape plan and implementation for municipal parking lot south of West Street
The Litchfield Garden Club contributes to the following funds and programs:
- The Garden Club of American General Scholarship Fund
- The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Scholarship Fund and Garden Therapy Fund
- Student Conservation Association
- Bellany-Ferriday Gardens
- Elizabeth Park Rose Garden
- Housatonic Valley Association
- The Litchfield Treescape Project
- Litchfield High School Envirothon Team
- Condition report for trees on the Green
- White Memorial education program for sixth grade students
A selection of Litchfield Garden Club press releases (in PDF format):
- Litchfield Garden Club Plants Trees at Municipal Parking Lot [September 15, 2005]
- Litchfield Garden Club Teaches Center School First Graders About Bulb Planting [November 18, 2004]
- Litchfield Garden Club Hosts a Symposium on the Balance of Growth and Green in Litchfield in Partnership with our Community [October 16, 2003]
- National Award Presented to Litchfield Garden Club [October 6, 2003]
