Girl Scouts and Sudbury Garden Club Create Garden at Hosmer House

The following information is from the Sudbury Garden Club: 

When Dorothy Bagley and Jeanne Maloney of the Sudbury Garden Club’s Junior Gardening Committee reached out to the Town’s Girl Scout Troops to find a group of girls who were interested in working together on a joint project, Mindy Davies and Robin Woolford, leaders of Troop #72458, responded that their group of Junior Girl Scouts were eager to take on just such a project.

The Scouts studied native plants and environments at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge and visited the Garden in the Woods. Not only did the girls achieve their initial goal of earning the National Garden Club Nurture the Earth—Plant Natives badge, they were inspired to find a garden to develop as a community service project. 

After obtaining permission from the Sudbury Historical Commission, this resulted in a joint effort by the Scouts, their troop leaders and garden club members to undertake the Hosmer House Faerie Garden Project, a renewal of the garden which was originally cultivated by Florence Hosmer. Learning about Ms. Hosmer would be an important part of this project.  

The only glimpse that remains of the original gardens at the home is what can be seen in a painting which hangs in the dining room of the Hosmer House. The Faerie Garden, to the right of the scene in the painting, provides an example of the palette of flower colors Ms. Hosmer would have used.

There are four parts to the project: planning, remediation, planting and maintenance. During the planning sessions, the Scouts chose which tasks they would take on (recorder, treasurer, photographer, etc.). As part of the remediation phase, Jack Russell, Plant Manager at Russell’s Nursery in Wayland, helped the girls interpret the results of a soil analysis and made recommendations as to what was needed to properly enrich the soil. The Scouts cleared out all the vegetation in the garden. 

The planting phase included the general design of the garden which will feature a path with clusters of flowers. Flagstones were laid for the path and slate edging was put in place. For instant color, the Scouts planted pansies. More planting will take place as the weather permits. As they begin the maintenance phase, several girls will be working towards the Bronze Award.

From the beginning, the energy and enthusiasm the Girl Scouts have shown has been amazing. The project has become multi-dimensional, as well as multi-generational! As Dorothy noted, “The lessons for all of us are many and the reward of seeing the joy and pleasure that the Troop experiences when they have completed a phase is immense!”