Community Corner
Durham Garden Club Arbor Day Planting Dedication
Durham Garden Club Arbor Day Planting Dedication
The Durham Garden Club will dedicate six newly-planted
native trees on Main St. and at Allyn Brook Park, Saturday, April 26, beginning
at 10:00 am. to 12:30 pm. The plantings continue a civic beautification program
begun in 2000.
The dedication ceremony will begin at 322 Main St.,
the West side of Main Street at the intersection of Talcott Lane, where two
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ will be planted. One of the trees
is planted in recognition of the 80th Anniversary of the Durham Garden Club,
whose beginnings date to March, 1933. The club just completed a year-long
anniversary celebration. The second tree, funded by the Durham Democratic Town
Committee, is dedicated to the memory of George Zeeb, the former long time
chairman of the Town Committee and a volunteer on several town boards and
commissions.
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The ceremony will continue to the East side of Main
St. at 307 Main with the planting of a third Amelanchier x grandiflora, this
one funded by the friends of Jim and Ona McLaughlin in recognition of their
50th Wedding Anniversary.
The ceremony will continue across the street to Notre
Dame Church where the club is planting two replacement trees for trees that
were damaged during the devastating storms a few years ago. Two Cercis canadensis will be planted, one in
memory of Greg and Kathleen Curtis and the other in memory of Catherine Orio.
Both trees were originally funded by the respective families to honor their
loved ones who were influential in the founding of Notre Dame Church.
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The final tree to be dedicated is a Magnolia
virginiana, to be planted at the flagpole at Allyn Brook Park, where the
ceremony will end with refreshments. The Magnolia is funded by the club in
recognition of Marcia Kalayjian, a club member since 1975, who chaired the 80th
Anniversary Celebration and has worked on club projects for decades.
All of the trees are native, ornamental and have three
season appeal. Amelanchier x grandiflora, commonly called serviceberry, has
white blooms in April, berries in June, and brilliant autumn color. Cercis
canadensis, eastern redbud, blooms pink in April and has autumn color. Magnolia virginiana, sweetbay magnolia,
blooms May to June with fragrant flowers and has showy berries in fall.
Bonnie Penders, Renee Kelley, Marge Stahl, Nancy
Grenier, and Barbara Olsen of the club Civic Beautification Committee, chose
the locations and tree selections with the help of Jane Harris, the head of
Middletown’s Urban Forestry Commission. Kurt Bober and the Public Works
Department will be assisting the club with getting the trees planted.
The Durham Garden Club has planted scores of trees
since beginning the project in 2000. Planting and tree maintenance are funded
by the club through the yearly sale of holiday wreaths and sprays. The club
currently has openings for new members. Please phone Flo Flynn at (860) 349-0504, if
you think you would like to help serve your community in this type of
beautification endeavor or just to take advantage of the many programs and
workshops sponsored by the club.