Newport's New Entrance Garden - Newport Wilderness Society

Thanks to cooperative late-fall weather, our NWS master naturalists and volunteers have made significant progress on a new native plant garden at the entrance to Newport. A large patch of grass and weeds now supports three serviceberry trees, a variety of native grasses, some low-growing aromatic sumac, and a substantial amount of mulch. When spring arrives, additional grasses and perennials will be added.

This is an NWS-funded and NWS-powered project. NWS master naturalists and gardeners designed the landscaping. Except for some nursery help with planting the trees, NWS volunteers provided all the muscle.

*_{“Before”…an uninspiring patch of grass and weeds}*

*_{Early October: no grass; new soil leveled in}*

*_{Mid-October: Francis Osorno spreading mulch}*

*_{Late-October: Aromatic sumac varietal ready for planting}*

*_{Mid-October: Stacey McKendry, Mary O’Grady planting native grasses}*

*_{Late-October: planting serviceberry trees}*

_{Late-October: (L-R) Helen Berch-Kenny; Stacey McKendry; Holly Smith; Maureen Flatley; Mary O’Grady. It is difficult to see all the work that was accomplished the past three months, but it’s there!}

Photos courtesy Deb Ford and Helen Kenny