Staff members of the Alexander Findley Community Library in conjunction with Girl Scout Troop 20066, have worked throughout the summer to restore the pollinator garden located behind the Community Center. And the transformation has been remarkable.

The garden was first created in 2003 by the Girl Scouts, under the leadership of Mary Cooper and Pam Watriss. However, lack of maintenance through the years, has allowed the garden to become overgrown and covered in weeds.

“It has been bothering me since I started working here,” said Library Director Cala Glatz. “I thought it must have been beautiful.”

Glatz said she went on to ask Town Supervisor Rebecca Brumagin if anyone was doing anything with the garden, and she said, “It’s all yours.”

The butterfly garden behind the Findley Lake Community Center has be overrun with weeds for many years. This year that all changed.

When the plans were being made to renovate the garden, the Girl Scouts came forward and asked if they could be a part of it, Glatz said. Many Girl Scout troops create pollinator gardens, and Glatz knew their help was needed. “They had people power, which we needed,” she said.

Courtney Rhines, who, along with Stephanie Sweeney, leads the Cadets of Troop #20066, said it was during Findley Lake clean-up days that she noticed the condition of garden behind the Community Center.

“We were assigned the recreation area and we just stumbled across it,” she said. “I thought it would be a good project for my girls.”

Rhines said she and Sweeney were Girl Scouts in Mary Cooper’s Troop, so the project seemed to be perfect for their Cadets. We said, “This is awesome. Let’s do it for Mary.”

The Girl Scouts began selling cookies and holding fundraisers for the project, Rhines said. They went to Johnston’s Nursery and picked out all the flowers. The Cadets also made new stepping stones to incorporate with the original ones, she added.

Through the work of staff members of the Alexander Findley Community Library and Girl Scout Troop 20066, The butterfly garden has been completely restored.

“They did the hard part by selling cookies and raising money,” she said.

Library Board of Directors member Ashley Williams engaged her husband, Craig, to till the garden, after which Glatz raked out all the rocks and clumps of earth. Glatz and fellow library worker Michele Varner were joined by Rhines and her family in planting butterfly bushes and other plants to attract pollinators.

“Cala created a nice design,” Rhines said.

Rhines husband Michael did stone work and raking, while her mother, Susan Coburn helped with plant placement.

A butterfly bench was purchased so visitors can sit and enjoy the garden. Rhines said the bench will eventually have a plaque in Memory of Mary Cooper.

“She loved Girl Scouts and she loved the garden,” she said.

The garden, however, has not been given an official name yet, Glatz said.

“Courtney and I have yet to sit down and talk about it,” she said.

However, the garden will be linked to its creator, Glatz said.

“It is in honor of Mary Cooper,” she said. “It is both a memorial garden and a pollinator garden.”

According to her obituary, Cooper, who died in 2018, “was passionate about nature and was always ready to seize upon a teachable moment to share her enthusiasm and knowledge with Girl Scouts and others.”

Details are still being worked out as to how the garden will be maintained, Glatz said.

“I think it would be good if the Girl Scouts can help with the maintenance,” she said. Rhines noted that she plans to have the garden as one of the Girl Scouts projects each spring.

Glatz said she would like to make the garden community-based, as well.

“There are a lot of people in this community who are passionate about gardening,” she said. “I am hoping some people will come forward to help with it.”

Glatz said there are always benefits to people who help with gardens.

“I like gardens. I’m not a pro, but just getting outside and digging your fingers in the earth, it’s just a nice, bright spot,” she said.