Meryl Rachlin, Membership Chair of the Garden Club and enthusiastic Pollinator Gardener, shared her experiences working on the new garden.

Friday, March 22, 2024 and Monday, March 25, 2024, the green thumbs of Celebration gathered at Deer Woods Park to plant 4,200 pollinator and native plants. What an exciting project.  I arrived at 8:30 on Thursday, March 21st for the first day of a two day planting event in the East Village. Deerwoods Park was in need of a makeover and the Celebration community was ready.

There were already a large group of young students from Creative Village, along with Brian Causey of Exquisite Landscaping and his men and a some Garden Club members working to plant over 4000 pollinator and native Florida plants. Brian’s men were digging holes with powerful awls and working with shovels to dig through stubborn roots. The many volunteers removed the new plants from their pots, seated them into the ready made holes and packed the dirty back around the new plants. 

Colorful plants lined up like soldiers waiting to be planted already looked incredibly beautiful. With many hands the speed of the planting was impressive. The excitement and energy from all of the people working together made for a really wonderful event. By noon we had already reached the center of the park. The children left, with news that the 8th and 9th graders would be arriving sometime. 

After lunch the staff of Grand Manor’s arrived and they too helped. Over the course of the afternoon a few more folks from town arrived who wanted to help.l. Some stayed for an hour  or two; others worked the better part of the day. The energetic 8th graders had arrived with new fresh energy and the planting continued till about 5 pm.  

It rained heavilyThursday night and into Friday, forcing Friday’s planting to be postponed until Monday. But the rain was a huge win in terms of watering all of these plants into the ground,  giving them a successful start in their new location. Monday the remaining plants were seated, and to complete the masterpiece Brian’s men spread pine mulch to help protect the plants.

It is so stunning already. The numerous plants will grow rapidly and the garden will become very lush. There will be some losses – some just won’t make it and possible damage from deer will need to be monitored. Butterflies already started arriving while we planted!

A huge thanks to Brian Causey of Exquisite Lawn Care for his passion and guidance to make this happen. He worked to clear the path with CROA and drew up the design plans with Brad Wagoner, president of the Celebration Garden Club, club members Bill Silverman, Meryl Rachlin and Bob Boyer.

The community has beautified this section of East Village and we hope that it brings decades of peace and enjoyment, qualities Celebration is famous for. Visit our Photos Page from more photos from the planting.