Members of all ages comprising the mayor’s Beautification Committee share more than fun in Chagrin Falls’ gardens. They also grow their green thumbs, learning from one another while giving back to the community they call home.
“Beautifying the village is a joint passion of both seasoned and newer members,” Co-chair Janine Bauman, a Chagrin Falls resident and member of the committee since 2011, said. “I’m perpetually working at mastering the art and science of gardening and sharing my experiences of over 50 years with others.”
“Hopefully I’m making a meaningful difference in my community, too.”
The 30-member volunteer committee, who are responsible for the flowers that are in Riverside, Bell Street and Triangle parks, as well as filling more than 40 bountiful decorative urns outside each of the merchant’s front doors, among other projects, range in age from 30s to 90s. They were hard at work last week, rolling up their sleeves in what is their busiest season.
“These new, young people are just great,” Co-Chair Anne deConingh, a Chagrin Falls resident and member since the group originated in the 1990s, said. “They have a lot of energy.”
“We’re grateful for all our volunteers, whether new or seasoned; younger or older,” Ms. Bauman added. “Each volunteer brings value to the gardens.”
They also bring varying levels of expertise in tending to areas like the “bump out” garden beds, referring to cut outs in the sidewalks, among other projects.
Chagrin Falls Township resident Janet Ingold, in her fifth year on the committee and among the group’s younger members, said she was looking for ways to be more active in giving service to her community, when she happened upon what would be her perfect fit.
“I was pulling out of the Heinen’s parking lot onto Bell Street and saw a group of women planting in the bump-out there,” Ms. Ingold recalled. “I stopped in the middle of the road, rolled down my window and yelled ‘how do I join?’”
Since that time, Ms. Ingold, a florist who came from a gardening family, has helped in several garden areas around town, currently part of a group who’s managing the flowers outside the police station, a floral design of Ms. Bauman’s.
“I don’t relate to the other women as older and younger,” Ms. Ingold added, “but some are very experienced gardeners and are a nice resource to ask questions.”
Her favorite piece of advice from them, that she now shares with everyone, is to fertilize and trim the roses when the Forsythia at the Hardware Store blossoms.
“I have no idea why we’re not supposed to trust Forsythia in our own yards,” she said, “but I follow it every year and my roses seem very happy.”
Chagrin Falls resident CJ Musser, a member for about five years, was amazed when she first learned of Beautification, and all the majestic work they are responsible for as volunteers.
Not a gardener herself, Ms. Musser said she jokes with Ms. deConingh that she is the “brawn.”
“I move things around to all the different locations,” she said.
In addition to learning more about gardening, Ms. Musser said there are many intangible lessons she gleans.
For example, seasoned members set an example of the value of giving back to others through their sense of community, Ms. Musser, a mother of two young children, said.
But no matter their level of expertise, Ms. Musser said all of the members are welcoming and supportive in providing information on the art of gardening.
“They are very intentional on what plants go where,” Ms. Musser added, learning such lessons from members as how to create a more cohesive look within a garden.
There is an orientation for volunteers new to the committee, Ms. Bauman continued.
“We’re mindful of folks’ various levels of comfort in caring for gardens,” she said. They plan time to work together in the gardens or may meet to talk about what’s involved.
“We want everyone to know the history of the group and the gardens, how we work in concert with Village operations and what our committee responsibilities are,” Ms. Bauman explained.
“We mentor the younger members,” Ms. deConingh added. “They are still learning and fully admit that, and are glad they are having the opportunity to learn about gardening,”
Seasoned members also address personal needs and preferences of new members from the start, designating assignments by taking their preferences into consideration.
“If someone prefers caring for urns versus gardens, or has a plant allergy or even a disdain for a particular plant smell,” Ms. Bauman said, “we’ve got them covered.”
“We also learn who wants to work independently and who enjoys gardening with company.”
“I like feeling part of the community and giving back in an area that aligns with my plant and garden knowledge,” Ms. Ingold said. “I also love that my kids come help out throughout the season.”
Ms. Ingold works in a zone with a few other Chagrin moms, and uses it as an excuse to get together in the mornings throughout the summer.
“We garden and then we walk or get a coffee in town.”
Overall, being able to work with and for the team stands out more than their spectrum of age, experience and longevity of volunteers, Ms. Bauman concluded.
“We’re blessed that our Beautification Committee widens their peripheral vision to the overall needs of the gardens and fellow gardeners, in addition to managing their assignments,” she said. “For me, those younger and older, more or less experienced, calm and steady versus Energizer bunnies – and even some hubbies in the mix – keep it fun!”