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Community Corner

Silver Spring Residents Upset by Mowed Down Flowers

Multiple flowers were destroyed, according to Silver Spring residents.

In recent weeks, several Silver Spring residents were shocked to see parks’ department crews mow down the very plantings they are charged with caring for in our community.

On the Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC) discussion list, the killing of hundreds of native mayapples just coming into bloom was a major disappointment to the many volunteers who help maintain the local parks. The mayapples are a food source for the native box turtle.

Terry Anderson, a Silver Spring resident and a Friends of Sligo Creek Steward, posted that a batch of beautiful daffodils in mid-bloom were mowed down last week by the Montgomery Parks Department.

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“They were at the intersection of Sligo Creek Parkway and Three Oaks Drive,” wrote Anderson. “Daffodil foliage needs several weeks after the flowers die off to re-energize the underground bulb and to set flower buds for the next year. Our daffodils were up only about three weeks before they were mowed down. I brought my concern about poor mowing practices to the attention of several people in the Parks Department, but they don’t seem to be concerned.”

Head of parks, Mary Bradford, was unavailable for comment, but Brian Woodward, Chief of Southern Region Parks addressed the issue.

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“I understand their distress,” said Woodward. “It was a very warm winter and spring. Normally, daffodils and mayapples come in, peter out, and then the grass comes up. We then do our first mowing afterwards. This year, the grass came up much sooner than it normally does, so our crew guys, lacking specific direction to avoid the flowers, mowed the grass and all.”

Anderson and other FOSC members commented that a lack of training and care was evident. They say that there have been other incidents of carelessness by park crews such as trucks being driven through plantings and tree trunks damaged by lawn equipment.

Woodward emphasized that parks employees are professionals that deeply care about the environment and the green spaces they maintain. 

In another recent instance, the Fenton Urban Park perennial beds and tulip planting were entirely weed-whacked to the ground.

Ann Kruger, an East Silver Spring resident, commented, “Through the hard work of community activists, the park was revitalized and beautified; it went from being an eyesore to the sort of green oasis. It is truly unfortunate that the park department, without any notification to concerned taxpayers, decided to destroy these plantings in Fenton Park. I would like to know why the county failed to communicate its concerns and work towards a community-involved solution to any problem it saw with the beds. This failure to communicate and the destruction of the plantings is very disappointing.”

Woodward was not aware of the Fenton Park situation and could not address that specific concern.

Kathy Jentz is editor of Washington Gardener magazine and is a long-time DC area gardening enthusiast. Washington Gardener is all about gardening where you live. She welcomes your gardening questions.

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