Brock Smith, of Clarks Summit, plants flowers with his grandmother, Diane Smith, of Gouldsboro.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
From left, are Susan Jennings, Seamus Dwyer, Claire Dwyer, and Brock Smith.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Seamus Dwyer, left, waters the garden in front of the park entrance with his sister Claire.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
A sensory garden near the playground.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Story Stroll with the story of Mossy by Jan Brett.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
DALTON — The Nature and Nurture Network has been gathering every second Saturday through the summer ti beautify Streamside Park. On Saturday, June 8, pages of a children’s book, Mossy by Jan Brett, are attached to the fence in front of Ackerly Creek. They were placed by the network’s co-founders Janet Geeza and Celeste Cali. Kids and family members came to the park that day to see that which is called Story Stroll. They helped place pollinator plants at the Mossy Pollinator Garden, a turtle-shaped mound that resonates with the story, in the back of the park.
Young Dalton residents Seamus Dwyer and his sister Claire helped prepare the soil for the plants and flowers on the mound. They got to water the plants in front of the park’s entrance sign.
“I love the Mossy Park and all of the nature stuff,” Seamus said.
“I like the Mossy Garden and the playground,” Claire added.
Both kids enjoy playing on the monkey bars and swings.
BCK Landscape Supply donated wood chips and Creekside Gardens donated shade plants for the park’s Friendship Garden, which is also spruced up by the Nature and Nurture Network.
The members of the program replaced ferns, which were washed away during the flood in September, along the fence. They designated a Sit Space area, where they painted wooden mushrooms and the living roof of the Bookworm Box. The box has nature books of all genres for people to enjoy reading while in the park. They are to be returned in the box before leaving the park.
“They’re (books) rotated seasonally and new ones added coordinating with other various programs,” said Geeza.
The stories of the Story Stroll will change each season with a new one coming in September.
On Saturday, August 10 from 10am to 12pm, the Nature and Nurture Network will meet at the park again to spruce up the sensory garden, which is located near the playground. This garden has wind chimes, brightly-colored flowers, and little, edible plants. It also has ladybug boxes with painted ladybugs made of stones. It allows the kids to touch and smell the plants.
