A New Garden for Sims Park is Here

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Thirty volunteers, 100 plants, four hours, and lot and lots of rocks. That is what it took to install the new Friends of Euclid Creek Native Plant Garden in Sims Park, Euclid. It all started when the Friends of Euclid Creek board granted $500 to start a much-needed native plant garden in Sims Park. Sims Parks is right on the lake with migrating birds and pollinators coming back and forth across the Lake. Birds in the spring and fall, monarchs in the fall. They have very little nourishing food for their journeys.

The circular perennial bed had been fallow for three years with new soil covered by landscape fabric and mulch. There was much to do before the actual planting of the garden. The first step – find two experienced native plant experts to design the garden and decide what native plants would thrive best in that spot. Sarah Cech and Barb Holtz, both formerly with the Cleveland Metroparks as naturalists and resource managers, volunteered to help.

Then the City of Euclid Parks department pulled off the mulch and landscape fabric, and revealed a big problem. The soil was now rock solid. Fortunately, the park workers then tilled the soil for the planters who were coming in on Oct. 6. About this time, the designers finished the garden layout. It was quite a surprise as it had a path winding into the middle. Barb Holtz, explained, “We feel strongly about the path that swirls into the center. The wave-like shape connects to the garden's proximity to the lake. We want to invite folks, especially children, in to experience the garden up close…to be part of the garden. The large rock in the middle can be a place to sit or stand to get a pollinator's view.“

Those overseeing the project were in a quandary as to how to delineate a path, save effort and money, and satisfy the design. The parks department came to the rescue once again! “Q” Green and other employees used old bricks to line the path following the design. They then filled the path with sand in preparation for a top layer of gravel or mulch for next year.

Barb and Sarah volunteered to get the plants from Avalon Gardens. The board of Friends of Euclid creek decided to increase the grant to an additional $500 to complete the garden planting this year instead of having to go back again next year. It made all the difference. We had enough money to get most of the plants and buy temporary deer fencing.

October 6 was the big day. In spite of predictions of rain, several volunteers came early at 8:00 a.m. to help Barb Holtz unload and plant. When several more volunteers arrived at 9:00 a.m., most plants were in. Q Green was there to assist us and showed Sarah Cech some rocks he had collected from the beach. They decided to build a stone path and the volunteers loved it. It was so fitting that the rocks came from the beach. Volunteers collected, sorted, and set rocks in the path. Everything was complete by noon, just as it started to rain.

The success of the garden installation is due to the hard work and support of everyone involved. Euclid residents, Sims Park visitors, and all the pollinators and birds will enjoy it for years to come. If you would like to be a member of the Garden Care Crew next year please contact Linda Beck, City of Euclid, Keep Euclid Beautiful program.