St. James

Garden Site

The St. James garden site is cattycorner from St. James Church. Soil testing showed this land (which had been used as a school playground after a residence there was torn down several years ago) had a high lead content. We decided to plant flowers and ornamental plants here instead of vegetables, and the project became a partnership effort, the initial community volunteer effort for United Cerebral Palsy in Decatur. As many as six young clients of UCP worked three mornings a week for 8.5 weeks during the summer of 2009, learning how to prepare beds, sow seeds, and water and weed plants. They worked with two case managers as well as DIGG members Sue Hemp and Mike Irwin, with Mike serving as site supervisor.

The St. James garden effort was boosted by a monetary donation from Ss. James and Patrick Parish and by a generous donation of plants, time and work by Rich Starshak, owner of the Garden Path in Decatur. Rich hosted the UCP young people during a field trip to the Garden Path, then became the garden’s own angel, designing the garden and then donating dozens of shrubs, ornamental grasses, dwarf trees and perennials.

The St. James garden should be in full, beautiful flower during the spring, summer and fall of 2010.

Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.