Plant It Pink Gardens
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 Leskos
ky, 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.
Breast
Cancer Garden of Hope at UPMC Hospital
The Garden Club of York, in partnership with UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, dedicated this garden on May 7, 2021. This dedicated space aims to honor those who have passed and champion those who continue to fight this dreaded disease. The purpose of this garden is to serve as a peaceful and timeless environment for all.
Sue Bowman of the Garden Club of York worked tirelessly with UPMC to coordinate and ensure the completion of this project. The garden was designed by Elaine Zeiders. The bronze sculpture was created by Lorann Jacobs and dedicated on October 7, 2023. The garden fences were donated by Trump Lawn and Landscaping and illustrated by Nance Woodrow. The initial garden plants were donated by Witman’s Landscaping and Nursery and Strathmeyer Companies.
Walkers using the path are greeted by Red Bud trees, Obedient Plants, Hydrangeas, Hibiscus’, Allium, Snowberry Bushes and Dianthus’. Annuals such as wave petunias and begonias are planted each spring. Park benches have been installed to provide a comfortable space for meditation and reflection.
Care and upkeep of the garden is a joint effort between UPMC and The Garden Club of York. UPMC’s landscaper places the mulch as needed and waters on a weekly basis. The Garden Club of York provides maintenance, planting/removal of annual plants, weeding and pruning as needed.
Chris Barkdoll and Pat Cavanagh are the current Chair & Co-Chair of this project. Numerous club memb
ers have volunteered their time: Connie Anderson, Kathy Brown, Christy Chiaro, Jane Dodson, Kim Keesee, Susan Liebegott, Sue Lynd, Suzanne Petry, Elaine Yates, Barb Zmolek, Ruth Eberly, Bill Lore and Carol Cramer to name a few.
The garden is located directly across from the main entrance to the hospital, near Roosevelt Ave. You may enter at the Roosevelt Ave. entrance or the Loucks Rd. entrance.