The Plant It Pink Breast Cancer Meditation Garden in Rudy Park was dedicated on June 26 with members of The Garden Club of York, Pink Power, as well as family and friends with more than 45 people attending this celebration.

The Plant It Pink committee transformed the neglected Sundial Garden into a lovely, serene destination of pink flowers, shrubbery and trees. Plant materials were selected to engage the senses; fragrant, beautiful, edible varieties as well as native, pollinator friendly and draught tolerant specimens. Knockout roses, cosmos, Angelica, and vinca were added by Denise Del Grosso Gilliland, who is the founder of Pink Power, a local charitable organization which supports breast cancer related programs in the York area. She also provided a pink bench with a plaque citing our collaborative project, a focal point of the garden. Pink Power funded our entire garden project!

Many people made this garden a reality. The Park Department assisted with plant removal, plant donation, debris removal, a water tank, and allowing a pink bench, rather than the Park’s standard blue benches. Active members of the Plant It Pink Committee include Kim Keesee, Kristine Gross, Leslie Bowman, Jean Frigm, Adele Naglieri, Lynne Stoyer, Sandi Ream, Rene Manzella, Frances Locati, Jan Olsen, Millie Martin, Teresa Gardner, Diane Buchart, Susan Liebegott, and Sue Bowman, committee chair.

Spouses and friends helped edge, mulch, and plant. Even Denise planted and helped select flowers. Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania past president, Chris Leskosky, spoke at the dedication, sharing her sister’s experience with breast cancer. Denise and Sue also offered information about the project and the value of meditation in a garden setting.

Key people involved in the development of the garden received pink bouquets, breast cancer survivors received two pink roses each. Keeping with the pink theme, pink lemonade and pink cookies were served by the garden committee.

To see the garden, enter the park at the Mundis Race Road Pavilion entrance. The garden is located behind the observatory on the walking path.