Let’s Smell the Roses!
Article and photos by Monika Smith
Success! Naturally, Glendale is going forward as a multi-year project. Our park will change from a flowerless flat field of grass and tree-filled slopes to a festival of perennial native flowers, native shrubs, and a food forest.
We have a beautiful space, but without native flowers, we were missing out on native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators and nectar gatherers. That meant that other critters were missing. We have a very quiet park. Without caterpillars, birds have less food. Without flowers and insects, we have a meagre ecology. Where is the biodiversity?
We consulted you, residents of our community, to find out your interests and use your guidance. Starting in May, our survey received a huge response of 110. Some things were not a concern, such as, fitness stations, but park benches were important. Some were what Glendale community association could tackle: better stairs and access. Others were City issues—a sidewalk around the east and south side.
At the end of May, an engagement session of about 30 people was organized by the Tula Project. Basic designs, based on the survey results were reviewed. The engagement gave the design architects information to refine the concept that was discussed, tweaked and presented as a final concept at the AGM.
We are moving forward to work with funders, such as the Parks Foundation, and create a naturalized space that promotes beauty, wellness, and enjoyment. Pathways will meander through beds of flowering native plants, with benches and shaded areas. Trees, shrubs, and a food forest will be added, along with a scalable community garden. Water features for critters are proposed. There will also be a stage area for events, such as weddings, some storage space, and better access to the park.
The rose garden beside the stairs is now a reality! The rose garden has been planted, roots are growing, and we will start to have a wonderful showstopper for the entrance of the Hall. Lessons learned! The rose garden area was weedy, and I believed solarization would do the job to kill them off; however, there was not enough sun and heat this summer. The plastic acted like a green house. Perhaps occultation, that is, using a dark plastic or tarp would have been a better choice. There are a lot of methods to suppress weeds, and I encourage people find what works for them. Just before the AGM, good soil, was added, twelve hardy rose bushes planted and topped with mulch. Expect rose blossoms in the spring. It will be a showstopper.
The roses selected were for a variety of colours, fragrance, long-lasting blooms or repeat bloomer, having big rose hips, colourful canes, and hardiness. We have the purple blooming Hansa, red flowering Henry Kelsey; delicate light pink Morden Blushes; yellow Morden Sunrise plants; white Snow Pavement roses; and pink Therese Bugnet bushes. Enjoy and come and smell the roses in spring!
For more information about Naturally, Glendale, contact Monika Smith at [email protected]. If you have questions about the community association, the board or events, please go the website www.myglendale.ca or contact a board member on the website or at [email protected].
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