Have you enjoyed the "guerilla" garden that grows along the northside of Scott Street along the edge of Mechanicsville? Long time resident, Zhongni Zhang, has planted and nurtured this flower garden that runs along the multi-use path for years. This garden provides a pop of color in a rather drab urban setting. People walking and cycling along this path or waiting at the bus stop are often seen enjoying the flowers and rock art in this garden.
When this stretch of was Scott Street was slated for construction this past year, MCA and neighbors were worried that the garden would be lost and damaged. Lorrie Marlow, MCA president, contacted the City Project Manager to confirm that Zhang’s precious garden would be protected. Marlow and another Mechanicsville resident, Kristen Howe, met to walk around the garden to identify which plants may be affected and to discuss how to rescue these plants within the project timeline. MCA volunteers had undertaken plant rescues before from other development sites and were ready to rescue Zhang's plants.
On the day of the plant rescue, volunteers from Mechanicsville and Hintonburg, 10 in all, came together to move the affected plants and replant them in a nearby garden. The same volunteers will also help Zhang replant them once the construction on Scott Street is complete and new trees and benches have been installed. Zhang and MCA volunteers were also excited to find out that the garden will be expanded as a result of the rehabilitation project in this area!
“A huge thanks to Zhang for planting this garden and the MCA volunteers who helped with this plant rescue. It was a challenging project and it’s not done yet. Also thanks to the volunteers who have been watering Zhang's plants and picking litter in this garden over the years. It is touching to see the community support for this beloved garden,” said Marlow.
As for the Mechanicsville resident, Zhang, who designed, planted and nurtures these gardens, he was so pleased with the community support.
“I am glad this little personal endeavour has turned into a community project, with all the help from the members of the community and MCA. Everyone can do their part to make the community a better place,” said Zhang.
Story by: MCA Board Members: Gabrielle Dorr & Lorrie Marlow; Images: Lorrie Marlow
