High Street Hillside Garden
The Gateway to Willimantic
The High Street Hillside Garden is the newest of the Garden Club of Windham’s 12 designated public spaces. It comprises 10,000 square feet in a long narrow hilly strip that was previously a barren waste site This long strip is thought of as one of the “gateways” to Willimantic. (Bench: courtesy of Sustainability CT)
Left: Scott Clairmont, Director of Public Works, and Yves Kraus, Designer, study the expanse between High Street and Lynnwood Drive, and consider how to transform it into the remarkable native garden it has become.
The site is now home to more than 100 plants: trees, shrubs, and perennials, The plantings were funded by the 325 Trees/Shrubs Project, begun in 2018 by Faith Kenton with the goal of planting 325 trees/shrubs as a tribute to Windham’s 325th birthday. Kenton raised over $150,00 through grants, public appeals, and fundraisers. The future garden was designed by landscaper Yves Kraus, who also served as head engineer and has volunteered his services at no cost over several years. Support from Public Works was also essential.
It took many steps over 2019-21 to get the site ready for planting. Excavators broke up the hard, dry surface several times, revealing poor soil and countless rocks. Many volunteers, including Garden Club members, ECSU students, and local residents. spent hours
picking out endless rocks after each pass. In July 2020, Kraus directed the volunteers to spread solarizing plastic sheeting to kill weeds and seeds exposed by the digging. Public Works brought in truckloads of leaf compost. which the volunteers then spread.
Finally, planting could take place. gum trees, a tulip tree, redbuds, a blue spruce, junipers, crabapples, winterberry shrubs, New England perennials, New Jersey Tea, and more. An array of natives went into the ground.
Now planted and flourishing, the garden presents challenges. Weeding is a never-ending task. Since there is no immediate water source, the Garden Club must pay Windham Water Works for hook-up service in periods of drought, which are luckily infrequent. Up to 10,000 gallons of water is directed from the hydrant and meter into a hose, then runs all day through an irrigation system built in 2021 by Kraus. Meanwhile, local artist David Corsini donated his cast-iron sculpture “Family Strong,” which was installed near the Hillside bench with artisan Johnee Walker in March 2022.
Our Garden continues to grow and be cared for. We have achieved our goal of reclaiming a waste space, and from now on -- with a lot of volunteer help -- visitors to town and locals alike can enjoy a new view.
High Street Hillside Garden, Spring 2024 High Street Hillside Garden, Fall 2024