Dedham Civic Pride Plants New Gardens on Providence Highway

Last year when you drove down Providence Highway near the entrance to the Dedham Mall, drivers were greeted with construction trucks and vehicles. The work has wrapped up and six rectangular open spots were left untarred in the divider area. This past June, The Friends of Dedham Civic Pride’s landscape staff began the large task of designing the plant layout and preparing the sites with soil enrichment materials. Once that sites were ready, the landscape staff began the task of planting over 200 plants into the pocket gardens.

Since the areas are in a heavily trafficked area, the plants and shrubs had to be hardy and able to withstand the heat of summer, the salt from roads in winter and snow coverage when the snow plows pass by the sites.

With those conditions in mind the landscape design includes junipers, one of the toughest plants for landscapes. Their hardy nature and drought tolerance make them ideal for the Providence Highway gardens.

Inkberry bushes were also planted in the gardens. Inkberry bushes are native to the Eastern United States and it is also more disease resistant and cold hardy than most holly species and suffers less winter burn than boxwood. Inkberry shrubs produce small white flowers in the spring, followed by dark blue or purple berries that persist through winter.

Although we probably won’t see any blooms this year, the rosa rugosa plants will prove color next year with their masses of pink or white bloom that appear in mid-summer. Rugosa rose is notable for its rough (rugose) and leathery leaves, which conserve water well in dry habitats. Although rugosa rose is regarded as a common feature of New England’s beaches, it actually was introduced to the region in 1770’s from Asia.

Adding more color are salvia, red and yellow day lilies. Salvia grow well in hot, dry conditions; and they provide a variety of bloom shapes, color, and fragrance. Daylilies may be the most carefree of all flowering perennials. The plants grow quickly and are long lived. They thrive in almost any type of soil, will grow in sun or shade, and are rarely troubled by insect pests or disease. Daylilies are known for their toughness, but they also dazzle with their big, colorful flowers. Blooming starts in midsummer and continues into early fall, with new blossoms opening each day.

This six pocket gardens now bring to 69 sites that are cared for by the Friends of Dedham Civic Pride’s landscape staff. Business and local organizations can adopt a pocket garden to help defray the costs associated with the planting, maintenance and watering for these gardens. For more information on the Sponsor-A-Spot program, please contact Janet Holmes at 781-249-9258 or email dedhamcivicpride@gmail.com.