Civic Projects and Events
Historic Garden at Old School House #5
With a lot of help from our friends (see below) and a matching-funds grant from The Principal Financial Group, the Salem Garden Club has created an historic garden at Old School House #5. Built in 1873 and used until 1944, the Old School House is tucked away on a busy street in Salem's historic district. While the interior of the school has been carefully restored, the grounds have had little attention. Working with the Salem Historical Society, students from the Haigh Elementary School's Horticulture Club, and our garden designer, Val Pierce-Degennaro of Foxfire Gardens LLC, we created an heirloom garden that invites those passing by to stop and enjoy the blooms. The garden is dedicated to Mildred Tilton, a long-time club member who passed away last year several weeks before her 104th birthday. Generous contributions made to the Salem Garden Club in her honor also helped to fund this project. Club members donated old fashioned perennials and students from the Haigh Elementary School grew annuals for the garden.
Many local businesses (listed below) contributed to this project:
Dodge Grain (Salem)
Foxfire Gardens LLC (Salem)
The Home Depot (Salem)
Lake Street Garden Center (Salem)
Landscaper's Depot, Inc. (Kingston)
Merrill & Son, Inc. (Salem)
The pictures below detail our progress in transforming the grounds into an historic garden.
Exterior of Old School House #5 before the addition of a garden.
Beautification
Each site not only enhances the beauty of Salem, but pays respect to hometown heroes and fosters civic involvement.
Firemen's Memorial
Ma Parkinson Memorial Rose Garden
Salem Common Plantings
Salem Tree Farm in Conjunction with Salem Public Works
Municipal Holiday Wreaths
Wildflower Project at the Salem Rest Area
Keeping the weeds at bay with newspapers and mulch at the Shannon Road Garden.
Roadside Improvement
Whiskey barrels are planted with annuals at many major intersections in Salem. Members alternate watering tasks for each site.
Arbor Day Celebration
Planting a weeping cherry tree at Old School House #5 with students from the Haigh Elementary School Horticulture Club
Each year the Salem Garden Club partners with an organization to design a planting for the the Arbor Day Celebration. Over the years the Club has planted trees in the following locations: Ingram Senior Center, Freedom Drive, Haigh School, Kelley Library, Michele Memorial Park, Salem Commons, Salem High School, Salem Boys & Girls Club, Salemhaven Nursing Home, and Old School House #5. The Salem Garden Club is a member of the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Recycling/Save-A-Tree Program
Beginning in 2000, the Salem Garden Club has provided the public with Save-A-Tree packets distributed through the Kelley Public Library. Each packet contains instructions on how to remove yourself from those annoying mailing lists. This helps all of us reduce the number of catalogues and junk mail we receive daily and saves a multitude of trees in the process.
Recognition
These gardens and activities are the traditions of the Salem Garden Club in remembrance of former and honorary garden club members.
Abnaki Park - Frances Ackerman
Yard of the Month - Mildred Tilton
Tree Plantings - Stephanie Belko
Memorial Garden - Ilmi Jones
Annual Plant and Gift Sale
Each May the Club holds a plant and gift sale to support civic activities and events. Come early for the best selection of plants that are hardy to this area, as well as lots of gardening advice and unique gardening gifts.
The 2005 sale will be held Saturday, May 14th at Greystone Farms at the corner of Route 97 and Geremonty Drive.