Closing of the Garden Saturday

You can’t “friend” the Shakespeare Garden on Facebook yet, but you could be a friend by taking part in the “Closing of the Garden” Saturday.

Participants are welcome to be there at 10 a.m. with garden tools to help the Plainfield Garden Club wrap up its work for the season. Members of the club maintain the garden from early spring through late fall, for the enjoyment of Plainfielders and other visitors from all over. The garden is located in Cedar Brook Park, part of the Union County park system and is open from dawn to dusk year-round.

Club members are hoping the event Saturday will stir interest in starting a “Friends of the Shakespeare Garden” group. Initially, they just want some helping hands for their work, but eventually a “Friends” group could support the club in other ways.

Meanwhile, Plaintalker posed some questions for an update on the Shakespeare Garden:

Q. The Shakespeare Garden here has links with similar gardens all over the world that feature plants mentioned in the author’s works. What is something you want to let people know about Plainfield’s Shakespeare Garden?
A. We have the 1924 Olmsted Brothers drawings and are currently renovating several areas in the garden to reflect the original designs.

Q. This year’s unusual weather presented some big challenges for all local gardeners. How did the extreme heat and prolonged rains affect the Shakespeare Garden?
A. The rain has contributed to a very bad disease in the Boxwoods and we unfortunately lost about half of our historic peonies due to poor drainage.

Q. In early June, the Plainfield Garden Club traditionally holds a “Shakespeare-in-Bloom” event when the garden is at its peak. Docents guide visitors around the garden and explain the significance of its flowers and plants. Have you set a date for 2012?
A. No, we have not set a date for June 2012, but it is on our agenda.

Thanks to Plainfield Garden Club President Mandy Zachariades and Communications Chair Susan Fraser, who co-chair the Shakespeare Garden, for their answers.

--Bernice