With blue skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, this fall’s Hurt Park Volunteer Day could not have been a more beautiful day.  Winter preparations are underway and perennials are at their last blooming stage.  Thanks to Park Pride and their astounding volunteers from ESL (English as a Second Language) Instruction and Consulting, Inc., the garden is now prepped for the first freeze.  While soaking in the glorious day, our volunteers learned special planting techniques, how to cut back yellowing perennials to make way for next years growth, and how to transplant to prevent overcrowding in the bed.  For a few, it was a first time opportunity to plant a live plant in the ground.  For others, it was getting close and personal with their fear of worms! In spite of the full two-hour workday, we still had time to indulge in some goodies donated by Java Monkey in Decatur.

Our volunteers left with seed packets and custom made shopping totes as a thank you from Ecoaddendum. Thanks to Ayanna Williams from Park Pride and to our accomplished volunteers for helping a native plant garden grow in the center of downtown Atlanta.

By Cecilia Marrero