Rebecca Denner tends a garden at the pocket park on Depot Street in Clarks Summit as part of a program offered by The Gathering Place in conjunction with the Master Gardeners Program of Lackawanna County.
Tracey Trinbendis, a Verve Vertu client, happily tends to a garden on Depot Street in Clarks Summit. She is participating in a program sponsored by The Gathering Place in conjunction with Lackawanna County Master Gardeners.
Participants in a program sponsored by The Gathering Place in conjunction with Lackawanna County Master Gardeners tend a garden.
CLARKS SUMMIT — Adults with special needs are honing their gardening skills this summer at a pocket park on Depot Street near the Gathering Place.
The group recently met, trowels and shovels in hand, to tend to their gardening areas that fill the park.
The activity is a great opportunity for the organization to partner with Lackawanna County Master Gardeners to not only teach about the proper way to grow flowers and vegetables, but also provide a splash of color to the park.
Master Gardeners Gary White, and Gretchen Ludders said that during the pandemic people wanted to find out how to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards with flowers, because they were at home.
Now, with increasing economic challenges, people continue to tend to their previously planted gardens or to plant new ones.
“We’ve been as busy as ever,” White, said, pointing out that there are increasing requests for Master Gardeners to offer educational programs.
Participant Rebecca Denner, from Clarks Summit, said she likes helping in the garden, as well as other activities offered by The Gathering Place, including decoupage.
The Gathering Place also partners with Verve Vertu Art Studio to serve artists with special needs.
Tracey Tribendis, a participant of Verve Vertu who attends a variety of activities at The Gathering Place, was more than happy to get her hands dirty and learn about what it takes to successfully grow plants.
White pointed out that basically it is a matter of putting plants in the ground and tending them properly, with Mother Nature taking over to do the rest.
But,there are many interesting things about growing a garden that makes success more likely, Ludders said.
For example, planting marigolds near vegetable plants keeps away unwanted bugs.
“And they look lovely,” Ludders, pointing out that marigolds will last through the season.
There are other plants that should not be planted together because they rely on the same nutrients.
The garden was planted earlier in the season, but participants were busy watering and weeding.
Participants had planted tomatoes, swiss chard, lettuce and other vegetables earlier in the season in a raised bed.
Other areas of the pocket park will soon be filled with color, provided by a variety of flowers, many perennial.
Dori Waters, board president of The Gathering Place, said she appreciates the Master Gardeners willingness to partner with The Gathering Place to provide an fun, educational, outdoor activity for those attending.
