by Cherry Fenton
10/16/2016

The two-part Holliston Senior Center beautification project coordinated by Holliston in Bloom was completed on Saturday, October 15.  Earlier in the summer, HIB had planted and mulched dozens of shrubs and perennials along the entire length of the building and at one side of the rear entrance.  For Phase 2, about 18 volunteers representing multiple organizations including Holliston in Bloom, Holliston Garden Club, Holliston Lions, Agricultural Commission, Historical Society and several residents including our State Representative Carolyn Dykema joined in on the planting on the crisp fall day.  Carolyn was not afraid to get dirty and seemed very experienced with loading and dumping wheelbarrows filled with soil and stayed to help with planting and mulching.  

The amount of work completed in several hours by the volunteers was very impressive: a couple of overgrown shrubs were ripped out at the front entrance, sod was dug up to expand a bed near the new retaining wall at the rear entrance, a new bed was created on the other side of the rear entrance, a new bed created at the bench area surrounding the flagpole and many perennials, shrubs, and mums were added to provide color throughout the seasons. 

The Town of Holliston delivered a load of soil for amending the new beds.  Two large hydrangea bushes, Japanese holly shrubs, and mulch were donated by Ahronian Landscaping; daylilies, irises and mums were donated by HIB, and additional Proven Winners plants were donated by Pleasant View Nursery. 

The following Saturday, October 22, the first phase of another large beautification project along Washington Street at the Congregational Church fence was scheduled to begin.  The bed will be enlarged by 5 additional feet.  The removal of sod and addition of compost would take place as the last project before HIB’s shovels retire for the season. 

This fall, close to 500 mums were planted around Holliston by the Downtown Marigold Project and HIB as a dress rehearsal for next year’s Symposium.  

Next spring, dozens of shrubs, perennials, and http://www.hollistoninbloom.org/will be added to make a new prominent display garden in preparation for the arrival of the America in Bloom National Symposium to be hosted by Holliston next October 5 – 7.

Holliston In Bloom's website may be viewed here: http://www.hollistoninbloom.org/ or their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hollistoninbloom/