Visitors to Montgomery’s Oak Park will soon see some tangible signs of progress as plans for the forthcoming Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park begin to take shape.
Orange protective fencing has been erected and city crews soon will begin removing several trees from the “southern garden” quadrant of the proposed gardens in preparation for landscaping. Crews will remove seven dead or decaying trees in the quadrant, including ginkgo, cherry, chestnut and sweet gum trees and one crepe myrtle.
“Our volunteer board has been working diligently for several years on this project and we are excited that the public will finally see some of this hard work coming to fruition,” said gardens founder Ethel Dozier Boykin. “The trees that are being removed are dead or deteriorating, and their removal will greatly enhance the beautiful green space being planned for the gardens.” The removal of all of the trees has been coordinated with the city’s urban forester, Russell Stringer, who will direct city crews in the project.
Once the trees are removed, work can begin on landscaping and planting, said landscape designer Fairlie Rinehart.
Ground was broken on the gardens in 2013. Plans are for the gardens to reflect the city’s history and provide an educational green space incorporating the work of artists from around the state, featuring sections devoted to different types of flowers, including a rose garden, Alabama native plants garden, children’s garden and more.
Volunteers are welcome to join the project by emailing montgomerybotanicalgardens@gmail.com or joining the gardens’ Facebook page at Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park.