By Caitlin Brown
A perfect testament to this is the Betty Neagle Garden, begun in 1999 as a tribute and memorial to the late garden enthusiast and beloved member of the Osborn Board of Trustees and Board of Managers. The adjacent lower garden and seated courtyard were also created then. In recent years, these gardens have struggled to adjust to Mother Nature’s ever-changing conditions.
Three years ago, landscape designer Katie Brown was asked to spruce up the garden. Some plants had not fared well and the deer were eating many others. The designer sought to bring in color and texture with plants that were relatively low-maintenance and deer-proof. Landscape contractor Curtis Spacavento, who installed the original garden in 1999, implemented her plan.
The upper parterre garden, which contains a beautiful rose arbor and cascading fountain, frames the newly opened Memory Care Center, which provides state-of-the-art care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. This garden was altered to provide long-term seasonal interest. Unlike the lower garden, this garden is gated, what The Osborn calls a “secure wander garden.” It is where patients from the center can appreciate the beautiful outside garden safely in a contained space.
Here, Brown brought in fragrant Miss Kim lilacs that flower in May, Endless Summer hydrangeas, and Little Lime hydrangeas that brighten the spot in August. An 8- by 10-foot area was set aside to give patients a place to garden.
Osborn resident Margaret Cheney, who was a good friend of Mrs. Neagle’s, is grateful for the additions to the garden. She calls the garden “beguiling … it’s beautifully done … I couldn’t bear the thought of letting a garden dedicated to my best friend go.”
Thanks to designer Brown and the support and attention of residents, staff, and patrons, it hasn’t.
For more information on how to contribute to this historical property and how to contribute to the landscaping legacy, visit http://www.theosborn.org/documents/neaglearboretum.pdf.
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