Tuesday I will be giving talk to to the Littleton, MA Garden Club on how the Peterborough Parks Committee creates and maintains the public gardens in Peterborough. I am excited to share my recipe for success, much of which I learned from Lynden B. Miller, who designs public gardens in New York City.
Here is part of the handout I will be giving the participants:
1) Design only what you can maintain at the highest level. Visit the best possible public and private gardens you can for inspiration. Make it gorgeous and keep it that way. Long-term maintenance is the key. Prepare soil properly from the onset.
2) Funding: start
slow and show what you’ve done and grow. Keep trying to get grants even if you
fail. Leverage success using volunteers to get public funding, public support and
grants. Work toward a long-term endowment.
3) Mixed border works
well for four-season beauty. Start with what it looks like in winter using
hardscape and plants with winter interest (bark, berry, structure). Foliage is
more important than flowers. Use the best and biggest plants you can get. Each
park has its own mission statement or intention.
4) Set time and
days so volunteers can incorporate time into their schedule. Have a specific
plan for what needs to be accomplished each week.
5) Vandalism: Repair damage as soon as you see it!
“Make it gorgeous and they will come. Keep it that way and they will help.”
Lynden B. Miller
