Tri-River Memorial Garden

Initial inspiration for a garden came from a BVG member Barbara Oleksyk, who made a donation to the club in memory of her husband Frank, whose life had been closely connected to the Riverbend Farm area. When we asked Tri-River Health Center for permission to site a garden at their boundary with Riverbend Farm, they requested that it include a memorial to Ruth Voss, a friend and benefactor to Tri-River since its inception.

The garden concept thus expanded beyond an individual memorial to encompass seating for visitors to Tri-River or Riverbend Farm or hikers along the Blackstone
Canal - really anyone in the community wishing to stop awhile for rest or reflection.

Grant proposals have been submitted to the National Heritage Corridor and the Ocean State Power Company for further funding for this project. It is hoped that with this funding we will be able to complete the garden this year.

What we have accomplished so far has been financed through fundraising by the BVG, and with plant donations and many hours of volunteer labor by club members and friends.

Thanks to everyone who has helped!
Ann Hanscom

(Note: Ann continues to be the driving force behind the Tri-River Garden. Thanks, Ann!)

The garden is designed as a circle, with paths radiating from the center.
Each of the garden's 'arms' are anchored with evergreen. Paths and garden
benches complete the hardscape. The three main planting areas will contain
trees, shrubs and perennials, providing interest and color throughout the year.

Schema and Plant List for the BVG garden at Tri-River Health Center:

The 60 foot diameter circular garden is comprised of three triangular beds (A to the East, B to the South and C to the West), separated by three hedges formed like blades of a propeller around a central hub. As these hedges grow, they will be trimmed to form arched passageways connecting each portion of the garden. The hedges are made from Thuja smaragd 'Emerald Green' with a single Chamaecyparis cripsii at the center. Each separate bed has it's own "focus" tree amidst various perennials/bulbs/shrubs as follows:

A (the eastern bed):
Focus tree: Rhus typhina Laciniata - lace leaf Sumac
Assorted grasses: Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus, forma graziella; Miscanthus sinensis variegates; Panicum virgatum "Heavy Metal"; Calamagrostis brachytricha.
Perennials: Rudbeckia maxima; Patrinia scabiosifolia; Chrysanthemum 'Larry'; Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'; Boltonia asteroides 'Pink Beauty'; Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'; Aster novae-angliae Purple dome; Echinacea purpurea; Origanum purpurea; Sedum Vera Jameson; Allium; Aster tataricus.
Ground Covers: Lamium maculatum White Nancy; Phlox divaricata; Lysmachia mummularia aurea; (Spring of '03- Tiarella cordifolia 'Eco Running tapestry'.

B (the southern bed):
Trees there before the garden was installed: Picea pungens (Blue Spruce), and Quercus rubra (Red oak).
Focus tree: Syringa reticulata (Japanese tree lilac) - dedicated to the memory of Ruth Voss.
Grasses: Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster.
Perennials: Lavendula angustifolia Hidcote; Nepeta mussini Six Hills Giant; Achilea Moonshine; Calamintha nepetoides; Hosta variegata; assorted Iris pumila and Iris germanica; Hemerocallis 'Nutmeg Elf' and 'Autumn Minaret'.
Ground covers: Dianthus gratianapolitanus 'Bath's Pink'; Gallium odoratum; Phlox divaricata; Epimedium (I won't be sure which one until it blooms).
Bulbs: Muscari armeniacum; Camassia leichtlinii.
Vine: Humulus lupulus aureus (golden hop vine in the blue spruce).

C (the western bed):
Focus tree: Prunus maackii.
Grasses: Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'; Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'.
Perennials: Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy'; Sedum spectabile 'Matrona'; Platycodon grandifloris (blue); Dicentra eximia; Hibiscus moscheutis 'Kopper King'; Hibiscus moscheutis 'Fireball'; Jasminum nudiflorum; collection of Hemerocallis including the following named varieties: 'Satinique', 'Nutmeg Elf', 'Whickerbill', 'Queen's Grace', 'King's Cloak', 'Pet', 'Geraldine Dean', Chocolate pi', 'Grape Arbor', 'Little Grapette', 'Mary Todd', 'Lucretia', 'Malihini', 'Etasha', 'Marse Connell', as well as several unnamed varieties.

At the base of each hedge is an assortment of ground cover perennials including (from east to west) Lamium maculatum, Waldsteinia ternata, Alchemilla mollis, Thymus (several varieties), Sedum kamtschaticum variegatum, Sedum kamtschaticum 'Dragon's Blood', Phlox subulata (mixed). The hedges themselves are inspired by and dedicated to the memory of Frank Oleksyk. Angelika gigantean is being allowed to self-sow in the garden.

In the fall of 2002, an assortment of Chionodoxa and Crocus has been planted along the hedges in memory of Helen Cairns who passed away in September not long after her hundredth birthday!

There are three benches and three chairs placed in the bends of the hedges so that each seat is private from the others, and provides an individual view into the garden space.

Commemorative signs are planned, but not yet accomplished - Ann is working on it!

Thanks go to ALL the many members (and not a few spouses thereof) who have worked many hours, and given many plants, to see this garden transformed.