There is so much to say about this bucolic pocket park in Overlea, this feels like the 10th article I’ve written on Cherry Heights Woodland Garden. While the may not be true, we cannot talk enough about this project. From the dedicated community members to the pocket park’s important history, to the incredible biodiversity, the conversation feels endless. But we must pause for a moment to reflect on where we are and just how far we have come.
When I arrived at this site for the first time, it was a jungle. Thanks, however, to the caring work of the community, friends, and NeighborSpace board members, we have reached a true watershed moment.
Previous efforts at the park have involved (a) removing debris (b) removing invasives (c) adding woodchips. Last weekend’s event was the first time we were able to plant. And did we plant. Thanks to a grant from Keep Maryland Beautiful and the Forever Maryland Foundation, and with supplies from both Herring Run Nursery and Edible Earth Design, we were able to obtain all the native plants we desired. This included over 150 flowering plants, 50 ferns, 15 shrubs and 12 trees. Flowers included the likes of gray goldenrod, blue mistflower, golden groundsel and numerous others. Ferns included ostrich fern, lady fern and sensitive fern. Shrubs included the likes of lowbush blueberry and Virginia summersweet. Lastly, the nine pawpaw and three pignut hickory join a cottonwood and tulip poplar planted earlier this year.
These new additions to the park will join an already healthy biodiversity of red oak, Virginia creeper, mayapple and many other wonderful native species. The importance of our new plantings is that they will grow, spread across the park and take over the seed bank (seeds in the soil). This process will, with our help, continue to transform the park into the woodland garden we all desire.
Additionally, thanks to Mark Supik, we will be adding newly carved benches and stools to the site. Beyond that, we look forward to adding a park sign as well as more signage and design meant to bring to light the important history of the park. Please stop by and enjoy. Stay tuned for more!