Just steps away from two busy, traffic-filled streets, bees collected pollen and butterflies floated over newly opened flowers. The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at Woodside Park was officially dedicated on Tuesday, May 24 at a ceremony attended by local politicians, downtown Silver Spring businesses, and park neighbors.

D&R International, Ltd., an environmental consulting firm based in downtown Silver Spring sought out a project to commemorate its 25^th year in business. The company contacted Montgomery Parks about planting a native garden at Woodside Urban Park on the corner of Georgia Avenue and Spring Street.

It is the first government-business volunteer garden project in Montgomery County. Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin (D-20) said, “In Annapolis when you hear about public-private partnerships, it is usually some big corporation looking for government handouts, but in this case, it is really what a public-private partnership should be.”

David Steiner, D&R International’s president, remarked that the garden “shows that all you have to do is just a little bit. You just need to take that first small step to make a difference in the world.”

The Director of Montgomery County Department of Parks Mary Bradford was pleased to see not just the business-government partnership at the garden, but also that the park’s immediate neighbors connected with it as well.

“People love their parks and feel like they own these places,” said Bradford.

This garden is meant as a demonstration of xeriscape planting which local homeowners can view and imitate in their own landscapes. Xeriscape means drought-tolerant and eco-friendly gardening. This includes using low-maintenance, native plants and not using pesticides or herbicides.

The 1,200 square foot garden at Woodside Park includes 45 varieties of plants including shrubs, perennials, and grasses. Many of the plants provide year-round or multi-seasonal interest such as the Pink Muhly Grass and the Red-Twig Dogwood. All of the plantings provide some kind of food or resource for local wildlife as well.

Ching Fang-Chen, a landscape architect with Montgomery Parks, designed the demonstration garden.

Last October, D&R International staff and their families along with Woodside neighborhood residents and Montgomery Parks employees met and planted over 500 drought-tolerant, native plants at the garden. The company’s employees will be taking care of the garden in coming years weeding it and maintaining the plantings.

Susan Conbere, Chair of the Green Committee for Woodside Civic Association, said, “Everyone in Woodside and neighboring Woodside Park has been really happy about it. When I’m in the garden and weeding it, people walking by stop and ask questions about it and comment on what a beautiful space and great project it is.”

About the Author:

Kathy is working her way through her own long garden to-do list, including adding a new beds to grow more flowers from seed for cutting this year. She is the editor of Washington Gardener magazine and a long-time D.C. area gardening enthusiast.