Dover Beach is a beloved park situated along the banks of the Quinnipiac River in Fair Haven, but this group's stewardship extends beyond to a garden on the corner of Chatham and Front Streets and an urban oasis next to I-91. The park itself is a busy hub on the waterfront, especially on hot days when people come to cool off in the splash pad or just enjoy a cool breeze. This summer we focused heavily on the Chatham and Front garden where we expanded one garden bed and created a brand new one. We also added to the Butterfly Garden and planted several agastaches in the Urban Oasis with the help of Common Grounds students. It has been a busy summer at Dover Beach and the group’s hard work has paid off in their many gardens that bring vibrancy to the neighborhood!
It was a blazing morning, but the large trees above provided ample canopy for those who sought it. We welcomed Caleb, a new volunteer, who was excited to join us. He was impressed by the sanctuary-like area within the urban oasis and amazed by the care we put into the park. Joyce and Christel were hard at work pulling mugwort in the back, while Caleb was tasked with pruning parts of the elm tree that looked a little hazardous. Together, Caleb and I pruned a catalpa tree, ensuring its branches wouldn't interfere with the small path within the oasis. Between a mulberry tree and the large elm tree stood a small growing catalpa that Christel decided to remove due to space constraints. Caleb also spotted a baby oak tree in the back under the bridge, which we transplanted to a sunnier spot. Join us next time to continue making this urban oasis a beautiful sanctuary!
MaintenanceJoyce pulling the mugwort!
06/20/2024
It was a very hot and humid morning, but Christel and Joyce were excited to start working on the urban oasis! As we rolled our wheelbarrow of tools into the park, we bumped into Aaron, who joined us this week. Aaron also leads a greenspace site at the Peace Garden! While Christel pruned the grass and shrubs, clearing a path, Joyce and I pulled pockets and pockets of mugwort, leaving our native goldenrod and milkweed. Aaron liberated a Catalpa tree from countless choking vines. By the end of the workday, the trail was much more distinct, and there was a lot of new space inside the oasis to welcome new plants. As I was about to drive off, I spotted a Maryland Terrapin turtle crossing the road into a parking lot. I called Christel over, and together we carried the terrapin turtle back to the shore of the river, where it quickly waddled back into the water. It was so very cute! Join us next Thursday morning from 9 am to 11 am to bring some love to the park!
MaintenanceChristel pruning catalpa tree in Urban Oasis!
06/13/2024
On a sunny morning, Christel and Joyce greeted me with big smiles, ready to tackle the weeds within the urban oasis. As I got off my truck, I saw them picking up trash and cleaning the park, as always. We headed into the urban oasis, pushing through a few weeds to reach the center and started getting to work, removing mugwort, sticky weed, Japanese knotweed, and some goldenrod to clear the shrubs and perennials we had planted before. Christel and Joyce began pruning surrounding plants to define the path. By the end of the day, we had opened up much of the center of the oasis and even liberated some ninebark and irises from surrounding weeds, as well as a cherry tree from overlapping growth! Join us next Thursday from 9 am to 11 am to beautify our Dover Beach Park!
