Garden Club Members Garden club members plant spring bulbs (a total of 1,780) in the armillary garden. From left are Linda Redman, Penny Thumith, Carol Lingard and Karen Gilbert.

On October 28, Boothbay Region Garden Club members planted 1,780 spring bulbs, which include daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, in the armillary (astronomical sundial) circle area of the park. More landscape planting in other areas of the park will be done in the future. The club has gotten approval to make this major restoration and enhancement to town property from both the Town of Boothbay and the Boothbay Civic Association, the organization that developed the original plans circa 1998.

The armillary, a monumental metal sculpture by local artist and metal smith Peter Brown, was raised about two feet so as to be more visible from the road. Pat Farrin, one of our region’s civic-minded contractors, executed the raising of the armillary with the help of Larry Oakes and Hooker Holbrook. Pat and his crew, Justin Lewis, Mike Doyen and Kipp Farrin, then built a brick collar around the base of the sculpture which matches the brick area surrounding the entire circle. All weeds in the outer brick circle were removed, and the bricks were cleaned. Pat then placed topsoil, provided by the Town of Boothbay, inside the circular area, making the bed ready for planting by garden club members.

Cathy Court, a talented local landscape designer, has provided the garden club with a comprehensive park plan she prepared for the area in 1998. She has also detailed an all-season planting plan for the circle, and she coordinated the planting of the bulbs.

Pat McMurry, garden club president, and Penny Thumith, project co-chair, attended the November meeting of the Boothbay Civic Association. McMurry described the progress made in the armillary garden since meeting with the association this past September. The BCA unanimously voted to donate $1,000 to the garden club to use as needed for additional plants and/or maintenance.

All of these efforts are fine examples of local residents working together on a major project to beautify our community. If you meet these folks on the street, take a minute to say thanks.

After completing the sundial area, the garden club will continue the project to beautify the entire Memorial Park by the addition of plants, shrubs, and flowers in planned beds and areas. The garden club invites other private and civic organizations to help by donating plants, time, or money toward this beautification project. A youth group from the YMCA has signed on to plant a tree in the park later this fall. Other interested groups should contact the garden club by calling project chairs, Linda Redman at 633-2237, or Penny Thumith at 633-6168.

This Memorial Park will be a welcoming introduction to our community as well as a place for us to take pride, relax and enjoy nature’s beauty.