Plant It Pink Gardens
The Plant it Pink Breast Cancer Meditation Garden at John Rudy Park was dedicated in 2018 and was a collaborative project with Pink Power, a local local charitable organization that supports breast cancer-related programs in the York area. They funded the initial garden project and donated a lovely pink bench that provides a comfortable place to rest, reflect, and enjoy the beautiful garden. Plant material was chosen with a pink palette in mind and includes roses, hydrangeas, spring blooming bulbs, pollinator and native plants. The garden Is anchored by two pink-blooming redbud trees and features dozens of pink-blooming petunias during the summer months.
The garden is maintained by our amazing Garden Club volunteers with
assistance from the York County Parks Department, who provide a water truck for us during the growing season and remove our garden waste. We begin our season in early May with clean up, planting the petunias and adding mulch. Garden club volunteers visit the garden weekly to weed, water, remove spent blooms and edge. To visit the garden, enter the park at the Mundis Race Road entrance. The garden is located along the walking path behind the white observatory building. If you would like to join us in supporting this worthy cause, please visit our signup sheet on the Garden Club web site.
Garden of Hope at UPMC
Memorial Hospital
The GCY in partnership with UPMC Pinnacle Foundation dedicated this garden on May 7, 2021. The space aims to honor those who have passed and champion those who continue to fight cancer.
Sue Bowman of GCY worked tirelessly with UPMC to coordinate and ensure the completion of this project. The garden was designed by Elaine Zeiders, and the bronze sculpture was created by Lorann Jacobs.
Walkers using the wellness path are greeted by Redbud 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 GCY. UPMC’s landscaper places mulch as needed and waters on a weekly basis. The club provides maintenance, planting/removal of annual plants, weeding and pruning as needed from spring through the fall. Chris Barkdoll and Pat Cavanagh are the current co-chairs of this project.