Sudbury Valley TrusteesConservation, Collaboration, and Community since 1953

When I’m not busy doing land protection for SVT, I get to wear the hat of chief gardener.  And since land protection does take up most of my time, SVT has been lucky to have some terrific volunteers who have helped us design, plant, weed and mulch our gardens.

Two years ago, the Wayland Garden Club, under the direction of then-SVT board member Cile Hicks, installed a gorgeous entry garden in front of our headquarters here. Because most of the plants are native, the garden has thrived with little care and only enough extra water to help it get well-established in its first year.  We had a little trouble with woodchucks and rabbits, and had to give up on some asters that seemed to be particularly tasty to such critters, but the rest of the plants seem to be delighted with the setting.  One of my favorite plants out there is Amsonia, or Bluestar.  As its name suggests, it has star-shaped, blue flowers in spring, and in the fall the frond-like foliage turns a brilliant orange – truly a striking statement in the garden.  Another favorite is Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium), a statuesque plant that provides a beautiful backdrop and can tolerate wet soils, making it great for rain gardens.

We also have a rain garden to the side of the building, and a bird garden and butterfly garden out back.  Throughout the summer and early fall, all the gardens are absolutely teeming with pollinators of all kinds.  From my office window I can see three Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) plants in the bird garden.  They are loaded with red berries right now, but I know one day soon I’ll look out and the berries will have vanished.  I like to think that our shrubs have helped fuel some winged friends for a long trip south.