BUILDINGS
& Grounds Report
Garden Guild Newly formed in Spring, 2021, the Garden Guild, chaired by Harriett Condon, has as its purpose to beautify and maintain and/or provide oversight for the landscape of Trinity church. This involves the planning of all horticultural enhancements, to include removal of any materials, for the landscape. This guild must bring to the Vestry its recommendations and any associated costs. After Vestry approval, action may be taken. As an initial action, we had Arborist Tom Armstrong inspected the two Sephora Japonica trees, the crabapple trees and the holly tree in the Bishop’s Garden. He says that the Sephora trees are viable and do not need to be removed. He has seen similar trees grow for 100 years in Virginia. The cabling in the trees, which he installed, has a life expectancy of 40-50 years. The cabling will prevent any damage to the church unless the entire tree uproots. Care should be made that “mulch volcanos” not be made at the base of the trees. They should be fertilized every other year in the Fall. Since the church is enjoying the trees for their shade, it might make sense to add two new Sephora trees in the Bishop’s Garden, so that when the older trees finally fail, the new trees will be able to provide needed shade. The existing trees should be pruned
of dead wood. The crabapple trees are suffering from fire blight disease. Fire blight is a disease that can kill blossoms and shoots and cause dieback of branches from cankers. There is a treatment that can be sprayed in the Spring. Finally, he recommended that the holly “One goal of the committee was to make the entry way to the Bishop’s Garden more attractive.” trees by the church entrance and next to the sunroom be pruned. These recommendations will be discussed with the Buildings and Grounds Committee with a final recommendation brought to the Vestry. One goal of the committee was to make the entry way to the Bishop’s Garden more attractive. The Trinity Church Flower Guild paid for plants to decorate the bed around the tree in the center of the courtyard, and the two beds leading into the breezeway. Plantings included: Gingko Craig Hostas, Monument Caladium, White Flirt Calla Lilies, Beacon White Impatiens, Golden Seal, Sea Heart Brunnera, Variegated Solomon Seal, Wild Blue Phlox, Serenity Pink Magic Osteosperi Mum and Oakfield Foam Flower. We thank Sandra Markus who provided the oversight and labor 22
to prepare and plant these areas. Efforts were made to see if we could find any remnants of a landscaping plan for the church. We searched church records and records at the Oak Springs Garden Foundation. We were only able to find plans for the cemetery. The vestry is looking for recommendations. A plan needs to be developed, with appropriate cost estimates for preparing the planting areas, securing the plantings, installing the plantings and finally, maintaining the resulting gardens. Just as parishioners have helped with the watering of the plantings in the outdoor sanctuary, we will need to
develop a crew to water, fertilize and weed the resulting installations. We welcome all ideas from parishioners. We are looking for new members and welcome your participation. Harriett Condon, Sandra Markus & Gina Hammond
