2016 Report for Boulevard and Whalley

Year

2016

Number of volunteers

11

Total volunteer hours

76

Number of events

8

Number of trees planted

1

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Crabapple, 'Purple Prince' planted in front of 1528 Ella T. Grasso Blvd.

Number of shrubs planted

3

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Boxwood, 'Green Mountain'

Number of perennials planted

50

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Species: Russian sage, Meadow sage, Daylily, Variegated liriope, Variegated hosta, Shasta daisy, Purple coneflower, Cat mint, Hakonechloa (Japanese forest grass), Geranium, Tickseed (‘Zaghreb’)

Yards compost spread

1.00

Yards mulch spread

1.50

Summary

Fairlawn Planters are a new group initiated by Stella Okparanta in June 2016. One group member participated in a nearby Greenspace group about ten years ago, but that group retired after a few years. The name “Fairlawn” stems from the cluster of renovated Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) homes, called “Fairlawn Manor,” in which several of the group members live. The group works along the wide curb strips of Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and is interested in treating front yards that require lead remediation. Despite starting in mid-June, Fairlawn Planters had quite a successful summer in terms of environmental restoration. They planted up two sizable sections of curbstrip with a beautiful mix of perennial flowers. On a scorching hot Saturday morning, they also planted a crabapple tree that will provide striking pink flowers next spring. Lastly, the adults worked for two sessions to remediate the group leader’s front yard, pouring laying cobblestones, pouring pea stone gravel, and planting Boxwood shrubs. The three women who energize the group have definitely begun to make their mark on the neighborhood, and the group received several compliments by late July.