Margaret Witkofsky
URI Internship Year:
2025
Graduation Year:
2026
Degree:
MAR
Margaret is a 2025 Community Greenspace intern from Ridgely, Maryland. She earned her undergraduate degree at Washington and Lee University and is now studying religion and ecology at Yale Divinity School. She is passionate about how communities are connected to place and since this is her first summer in New Haven, she is excited to learn from the New Haven community! During her free time, Margaret loves writing poetry, hiking East Rock, and kayaking the Mill River!
Group
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence
Hemingway Butterfly Garden: Mariposas del Mundo
Greenspace Log
| Date | Category | Photos | Group | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
07/22/2026 |
 |
  |
The group planted another tree this week! As seasoned tree planters, we planted a Burr Oak on Walnut St in less than an hour! With the time left in our workday, we finished painting the raised planter at the front of the park. |
||
|
07/18/2026 |
 |
 |
This week, the group watered and edged the natural area at the back of the playground. |
||
|
07/18/2026 |
|
 |
This week, the group worked hard before the rain moved in to plant 3 hostas, one day lily, and 1 variegated solomon's seal to complete the new bed that was created earlier in the season! |
||
|
07/15/2026 |
|
  |
Even with the extreme weather this week, the group worked hard to plant 2 trees around the swing set! |
||
|
07/11/2026 |
 |
 |
Quarry Park hosted a poetry writing workshop! We strolled through the park then worked through some writing prompts before quietly writing and sharing our reflection on spending this creative time in nature. |
||
|
07/11/2026 |
|
 |
Ahn and I worked to weed and mulch after all of the rain! |
||
|
07/11/2026 |
|
 |
The group worked hard this week installing a new brush pile sign, planting 3 daisies along the path, and creating a new path in front of the bench! |
||
|
07/10/2026 |
|
   |
The group cleaned up the View St Playground this week! Ms. Betty also had some fun on the swings as she took a break from picking up trash! |
||
|
07/09/2026 |
|
 |
The group worked hard removing invasive vines near the south entrance! |
||
|
07/09/2026 |
|
 |
This week, the group worked hard to plant two more multistem serviceberry trees in the food forest! |
||
|
07/08/2026 |
|
  |
The group planted a hackberry tree behind the swing set this week! |
||
|
06/27/2026 |
|
 |
The group continued to water and weed the natural area at the back of the playground! |
||
|
06/27/2026 |
|
 |
This week, the group worked hard to remove grass from and mulch a new perennial bed by the bench! |
||
|
06/26/2026 |
|
 |
The group had a strong start to their summer cleanup at the 219 Garden sign! We weeded and cut back invasive vines to reveal the hostas the group planted last summer. |
||
|
06/25/2026 |
|
 |
The group planted 3 more winterberry shrubs and watered and weeded! We also discussed how we're going to fight the knotweed after we come back from the break! |
||
|
06/25/2026 |
|
 |
The group worked hard picking up trash around the park and creating a step to make the path easier on the South side of the park |
||
|
06/24/2026 |
|
 |
The group planted the first tree of the summer! We planted a Kentucky Coffeetree to fill in the canopy gap along the Walnut St side of the park. |
||
|
06/20/2026 |
|
 |
The group continued to weed and mulch along the back of the park and we planted the remaining 8 irises! |
||
|
06/20/2026 |
|
 |
This week, we planted 3 black-eyed susans and 3 lobelias! Susan brought some water from her house for our new plants too! |
||
|
06/18/2026 |
|
 |
This week, the group planted four more mountain laurels in the areas that they've been working very hard to remove invasives! |
||
|
06/18/2026 |
|
 |
We were able to continue weeding, mulching, and watering this week. |
||
|
06/17/2026 |
|
 |
This week, the group finished mulching their trees and repainted the front planter! |
||
|
06/16/2026 |
|
 |
This week, the group worked hard adding stone dust to the path around the park! With some extra time, we were also able to plant 12 irises. |
||
|
06/13/2026 |
|
 |
The group continued to weed and mulch along the back fence as well as plant 18 irises! |
||
|
06/13/2026 |
|
 |
This week the group completely weeded the path through the park and mulched the entranceway! |
||
|
06/11/2026 |
|
 |
Even with the short summer storm that passed through during our workday, the group was able to plant 3 winterberry shrubs and remove a large portion of the bitter dock! |
||
|
06/11/2026 |
|
 |
The group planted 3 mountain laurels and watered all of the plantings from last summer before the storm rolled through! |
||
|
06/10/2026 |
|
 |
This week the group worked hard creating a new bed of perennials around the sign facing Humphrey St! We planted 5 black-eyed susans, 3 sedums, 4 yarrow, and 3 veriegated yuccas. |
||
|
06/09/2026 |
|
 |
New volunteers joined us in the park this week to weed and cut back some of the grasses that were growing into the other plants! |
||
|
06/09/2026 |
 |
 |
We walked around the park and chose some potential sites to plant more trees this summer! |
||
|
06/04/2026 |
|
 |
To start off the season, the group weeded a ton of bitter dock, watered the trees planted last season, and added mulch to the path! |
||
|
06/04/2026 |
|
 |
The group met to clear trails after the wind storm and continue weeding burning bush. The Mountain Laurel that the group planted last season is also just getting ready to bloom! |
||
|
06/03/2026 |
|
 |
To start the season, the group watered and mulched the trees they planted last summer and reset the stone plaque in the memorial garden. |
||
|
06/02/2026 |
|
 |
Jane and David weeded mugwort and vines from the park and added mulch around the front entrance! |
||
|
05/30/2026 |
|
 |
Ahh and Jane came to pick up trash and the large branches that had fallen off the trees in the windstorm. We also weeded and mulched! |
||
|
05/29/2026 |
|
Ms. Betty, Kenya, and I discussed our plans for the summer! |
|||
|
05/28/2026 |
|
 |
Tracy and I walked the park and discussed everything that this group has accomplished in recent years! Marty and Rich joined us to remove burning bush and clear some of the paths |
||
|
05/28/2026 |
|
 |
Susan, Chris, and I discussed the summer schedule and how we can improve the area around the stone bench that we fixed last summer! |
||
|
05/28/2026 |
|
 |
Jane, Olivia, and I discussed how we can increase plantings in the back bed while also working to protect the caterpillar bed from getting mowed over. |
||
|
05/28/2026 |
|
 |
Jane and I walked the garden and discussed places that plants could be added or changed and how we can improve the paths around the flower beds this summer. |
||
|
05/28/2026 |
|
 |
Kev, Zach, and I walked around the park to check how the trees that were planted last year are doing while also planning for some new trees to plant! |
||
|
08/02/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
This week, after getting lots of rain, we were able to easily weed many of the garden beds. |
|
|
08/02/2025 |
|
     |
For our last workday of the summer, Chris Ozyck stopped by to cement the stone bench that had been knocked over. The stone was incredibly heavy but we got the bench back together! Susan and Maria also tackled a large area of knotweed in the park. |
||
|
08/01/2025 |
|
   |
For our last workday of the season, we cleaned up the small garden by the View St Playground! |
||
|
08/01/2025 |
|
 |
For our last workday of the summer, we focused on weeding and laying down stone dust. In the upcoming weeks, the group will continue to spread stone dust and define the paths throughout the garden! |
||
|
08/01/2025 |
|
This week, after getting some rain (that we've been really needed), the group weeded the two Brownell St beds and pruned the shrubs. |
|||
|
07/30/2025 |
|
   |
For our last workday of the summer, the group focused on weeding, watering, and mulching! |
||
|
07/26/2025 |
|
    |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
A few students from Yale's President Public Service Fellowship came by the garden to learn about the space from Celeste and volunteer! We spread grass seed, watered, pruned the hostas, and weeded. |
|
|
07/26/2025 |
|
   |
This week, the group moved the plantings from the roundabout bed that has become almost completely overtaken by weeds. These plants were planted in the teardrop garden and along the sides of the new path in the park. Susan stopped by after our workday to water all of these plants. Jane's dog Daphne helped us move rocks to line the path! Chris Ozyck also stopped by to fill the sinkhole by the food pantry with concrete. |
||
|
07/25/2025 |
|
 |
After the storm moved through, the group was able to plant 2 hosts in the 219 garden! |
||
|
07/25/2025 |
|
 |
We had a very rainy workday but we were still able to get some work done in the butterfly garden! We mulched some of the new plantings and spread stone dust along the new paths around the picnic table. |
||
|
07/25/2025 |
|
This week, the group weeded and mulched the Bridge Bed! |
|||
|
07/23/2025 |
|
     |
This week, the group planted 3 new coreopsis in the Pondside Garden! We also continued to pull mugwort from the wildflower garden and Claire stumbled upon a wasp nest. Other volunteers watered all of the garden beds, since it has been such a dry week. |
||
|
07/23/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
A youth group from Vox Church helped out so much in the garden today! The high schoolers helped to spread gravel along the path and they watered the garden beds. |
|
|
07/22/2025 |
|
   |
Staff from common ground high school worked in the butterfly garden and planted five wild strawberries, five lobelia and two elderberries, as well as four Eastern pine and four balsam (20 total plants)! They did weeding on the far side of the creek along the path and edges then put stone dust on the path. On the near side they weeded around the serviceberry in order to plant elderberries. Marty and Peter joined to help water the new plants as well as what was planted last year. Jed helped weed and set the concrete. |
||
|
07/19/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
This week, we weeded and watered in the garden! Chris brought his mom by to show her all of the work that's been done in the space. |
|
|
07/19/2025 |
|
 |
This week Genese was visiting from Maryland so she was able to see all of the progress in the park! The group was able to finish the new path and continued to weed and add broken branches to the brush pile. |
||
|
07/18/2025 |
|
   |
This week, the group cleaned up the 219 garden! Lots of trash had been dumped but they cleared this away and cut down a tree of heaven that was growing into the holly bush. |
||
|
07/18/2025 |
|
  |
The group was busy weeding and watering today! Marty even got to tests out his new waders and walk straight into the creek to get water. |
||
|
07/18/2025 |
|
 |
This week, East Edge Gardeners planted 2 abelias and 1 spirea in the East Blvd bed. We also added wood edgers around the corners of the bed to protect our newly planted shrubs! |
||
|
07/16/2025 |
|
    |
This week, Beaver Ponds had a really successful workday despite the heat! The volunteers broke up into groups, some tackling the front garden, others pulled mugwort from the wildflower gardens and another group planted three American Hazelnuts in the pond side garden and continued to create a path through the bed. |
||
|
07/12/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
Celeste and I watered and weeded the entire garden since it's been so hot! |
|
|
07/12/2025 |
|
 |
The group had a very productive day! As Susan and Maria weeded, John, Patrice, and I created a habitat brush pile in the back of the park. Once this was completed, Nia and I mulched the garden as John and Patrice placed pavers to define the path around the teardrop garden. |
||
|
07/11/2025 |
|
   |
We had so many visitors in the garden as we weeded and watered! We saw monarchs, bees, and a large bullfrog who did not seem to mind when we took water from his creek. |
||
|
07/11/2025 |
|
   |
We finished mulching Betty's median and we found a wasp nest! One person did get stung but he shook it off and after the workday went home to take a benadryl. After all of the excitement, we also mulched the memorial garden. |
||
|
07/11/2025 |
|
  |
This week, we planted 2 spireas and 1 male winterberry in the East Blvd bed and 2 leucothoes and 1 variegated euonymus in the East Hobart bed. At the end of the workday, we learned how to make bracelets out of dead daffodil leaves! |
||
|
07/09/2025 |
|
   |
This week we planted 3 coreopsis in the pond side garden. Claire and Eileen's path was also cleared as Frank sawed at invasive species that were overhanging the path and the pond. Other volunteers weeded and mulched both the pond side garden and the berm garden. Cecelia also found a birds nest in the invasives! |
||
|
06/28/2025 |
|
   |
Blake St had a very successful workday finishing bringing pavers to the path and weeding the path so that it's ready for the pavers! |
||
|
06/28/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
Members of Marlene's family joined us in the garden to weed, mulch, and water all of the flower beds. We also planted 6 purple ice plants and 10 sunsparkler dazzleberries! |
|
|
06/27/2025 |
|
   |
We began working at Betty's Median this week! We weeded, picked up trash, and added mulch to the bed. Even Ms. Betty joined us and made sure that traffic was moving slowly around the working group. |
||
|
06/27/2025 |
|
   |
This week we weeded and watered the entire garden after the really hot weather! |
||
|
06/27/2025 |
|
This week, the gardeners weeded and mulched both of the beds along Hobart St! |
|||
|
06/25/2025 |
|
 |
During the hottest day in the garden this year, Beaver Ponds still had a great turnout and got a lot of work done! We planted 3 coreopsis in the pond-side garden and mulched. We began planning for a new path to wind through this space, before taking a break for freeze pops! We continued weeding, and at the end of the night, Frank drove away on his electric bicycle made by his son! |
||
|
06/21/2025 |
|
    |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
This week, we planted a tree to honor Dr. Michael Norko's retirement, a professor who has conducted research on gun violence. We planted a tulip tree towards the front of the garden and Dr. Norko named his tree "hope blooms." |
|
|
06/21/2025 |
|
   |
This week, Blake St continued weeding the pocket park and started completing a path with pavers around one of the garden beds. Towards the end of the workday, Chris stopped by to cut a cherry tree that was growing into a redwood. |
||
|
06/20/2025 |
|
 |
This week, we saw our first monarch butterfly in the garden! We spent an hour watering (lots of hot dry weather is arriving) and another hour weeding. And of course, we took a break to see our butterfly visitors! |
||
|
06/20/2025 |
|
 |
This week, I had my first meeting with the East Edge Gardeners! While Sandy was away on a bike trip, Cathy, David, and I weeded and picked up trash in the bed along Norton St before adding wood edgers to the Blvd. bed. |
||
|
06/18/2025 |
|
     |
After an instance of plant theft over the weekend, volunteers wanted to prevent more stolen plants. We covered the gardens in cow manure and put up signs around the park to try and discourage theft. Millie wrote a very nice card for the children's garden to make up for the theft of their plants. The group was not discouraged and even planted 6 more cone flowers in the gardens! We also spread wood chips around the front kiosk and trashcans to beautify the front of the park and prevent large trash dumping. The group continues the difficult work of removing invasive along the pond as well. Towards the end of the evening, a few baby geese joined us in the pond! |
||
|
06/14/2025 |
|
  |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
On the second Saturday of June, the Botanical Garden of Healing holds their Annual Day of Remembrance. New bricks for 2025 were installed along the path then all of the names along the bricks were read. Family members of the victims, Senator Blumenthal, and Mayor Elicker are just some of the people who read the names of victims. Over 100 members of the community attended this day of remembrance, even though it was raining on and off all morning. |
|
|
06/14/2025 |
|
   |
This week Patrice's mom joined us in the garden because her daughter Nia graduated high school! We weeded around the path and Patrice finished installing bricks in the front path. The group decided to just fill the sinkhole at the front of the park with concrete since the area is so close to the food pantry. |
||
|
06/13/2025 |
|
   |
We had another dry week so we began by watering the garden before we spent most of our time weeding. We divided and conquered to try and remove as much knot weed as possible! Marty focused along the river while cat, Diana, and Joan focused along the paths to clear walkways in the garden. Tracy from Quarry Park joined us at the end and collected some milkweed for the UrbanScapes pollinator day. The milkweed was just starting to bloom and it's already attracting a variety of pollinators! |
||
|
06/11/2025 |
|
 |
This week Beaver Ponds had visitors from the New Haven Garden Club, who just recently awarded Beaver Ponds Park with a grant! Nan gave a quick tour to the visitors then we got to work clearing the beds, mulching, and planting some coreopsis and echinacea. The children's garden also did a lot of work arranging their new wood slabs, adding soil to their garden, and planting some flowers. |
||
|
06/07/2025 |
|
  |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
Bridges of Hope came by the garden for the annual I Love NH Day. They weeded, mulched, and planted in the front gardens to prepare for the upcoming Annual Day of Remembrance. They even got to see a few chipmunks running around and a snake hiding in the gardens! |
|
|
06/07/2025 |
|
 |
We had our first workday of the season! We cleaned up leaves and trash and began weeding in the park. We also are testing some different brick options for the path around the park. |
||
|
06/06/2025 |
|
Kat got out the water pump for the first time this season so we could fill buckets from the creek and water the perennials that she planted last fall. We also spend time removing invasive species from around the creek. |
|||
|
06/05/2025 |
|
Beatrice and I handed out flyers to the Cherry Ann neighborhood to gain interest for our first workday next week! |
|||
|
06/04/2025 |
|
 |
Friends of Beaver Ponds met for their first workday of the summer. We focused on weeding the front gardens and mulching the seating area. We also moved some wood planks for the children's garden that the children helped to move and decide where in their garden they wanted each plank. At the end of the workday, Chris Ozyck stopped by to test out the new tether ball! |
||
|
06/03/2025 |
|
I met with Kat to discuss her upcoming plans for the summer! |
|||
|
05/31/2025 |
|
 |
We started planning for the summer! |
||
|
05/31/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
We planted 9 winterberry bushes around the park and weeded around trees. |
|
|
05/31/2025 |
|
 |
We began planning for the summer and weeding the front of the pocket park! |
||
|
05/30/2025 |
|
I met with Nan to discuss her plans for the summer! |
|||
|
05/30/2025 |
|
We began planning for the upcoming summer! |
|||
|
05/29/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
20 students from Hopkins toured the garden and got to speak with two of the moms that founded the garden. They also weeded and prepared the garden to be mulched. |
|
|
05/24/2025 |
|
 |
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |