Have you ever noticed the large pebbly-stoned planters with gorgeous flowers and stunning plants on some corners in the Glebe? Like these ones on the corner of Glebe and Lyon?
It may surprise you to know that they don't get to be that way on their own! GCA volunteer Judith Slater, and a cadre of "Garden Angels" are to thank for adding greenery and colour to our streets. These guerilla gardeners take care not only of our planters, but many flower beds and grassy triangles throughout the neighbourhood, the Lord Lansdowne and even planters outside Randalls.
Fran Arbour, store manager of Loblaws on Isabella (yes, the one being renovated), has been donating to the program for years and years from their garden centre - yet another community contribution by local businesses. Last year, we received thousands of tulip bulbs from the Tulip Festival which have been planted all around the Glebe- be sure to look for them come next May!
The time and effort the GCA Garden Angels put into beautifying our neighbourhood reinforces my personal mandate as President to reach out and get people involved. There are many contributions that make a neighbourhood great - they don't all involve committees or attending meetings, or even working on contentious issues (although we have a few of those!). Without people like the Garden Angels (and many others doing all kinds of bits and bobs jobs), our neighbourhood culture would be far less rich than what it is.
So, I would like to say thank you to those who volunteer their time, but in this post, I would like specifically to thank the Garden Angels who include: Judith Slater, Danielle Breton, Linda Bruce, Joanne Cygler, Virginia Carver, Barbara Riley, Marina Rowbotham, Mindy Goldman, Lynne Watt, Karen Yundt, Jim Louter, Carol MacLeod, Linda Bruce, Karen Zabel and a few other individuals and families who contribute to the effort, but don't even tell us their names!
Do you know which planter this angel lives in?
The next time you notice someone gardening in a bed or planter one on of our streets, please thank them!
Christine
