2023 Grant Project Reports

As the alumni association for certified Connecticut Master Gardeners, we provide opportunities to share our knowledge and love of gardening with others. Through sponsorship of grants and leadership of volunteer projects throughout the state, CMGA members are helping to educate and beautify our communities. 

In 2023, through the generosity of our members and other donations, we were able to award almost $3,150 in Grants for 13 Master Gardener and Master Gardener Intern projects.  

Cohen Woodlands Butterfly-Pollinator Garden revitalization project, Colchester

This is a continuation of an existing project at the Cohen Woodlands Butterfly Pollinator Garden in Colchester. There are 4 main sections of this public garden each containing perennials and shrubs that serve to provide food, nectar and/or shelter for birds, beneficial insects, pollinators, various lepidoptera and specifically for the decreasing population of monarch butterflies.
The garden began as a community outreach project in 2014 to create an educational butterfly-pollinator garden near the park's sign. Some 9 years later, the garden (and specifically gardens 1 and 2) required major revitalization. The plan was to dig out multiples of the same plant to create more space and to incorporate new and different native or nativar plants and shrubs in those areas, adding more diversity to the gardens and to replace some of the non-native shrubs in the gardens with native ones.

Two grants were awarded - one from the Connecticut Master Gardeners Association and one from the Horticultural Society- which was used to purchase a total of 13 new shrubs and 35 perennials. The project was completed in 5 phases.

Going forward, the garden will be used for “Learn and Do” sessions with the Colchester Garden Club members and the public on topics such as how to divide and transplant perennials, how to deadhead for rebloom, which plants can be cut back early in the growing season for reduced height (Chelsea Chop), how to prune shrubs and how to do cutbacks and cleanup during fall or spring.

Native Plants that Attract and Support Butterflies, Ballard Park's Native Plant Garden, Ridgefield

In 2022, Ridgefield Garden Club (RGC), with the support of Ridgefield Parks & Recreation, decided to establish a native plant teaching garden in Ballard Park, the popular public park on Ridgefield’s Main Street. The intention was that it be a teaching garden with a focus on introducing garden visitors to native species and explaining the many benefits of native plantings through conversations with RGC members working in the garden, plant labels & additional educational signage & a
QR code link to the RGC website (www.ridgefieldgardenclub.com).
The proposed project is to help the RGC establish the Ballard Park Native Plant Garden by:
• Helping defray the costs of certain native plants – specifically for the “butterfly section”.
• Assist in planting the garden as part of a team of volunteers that includes RGC members, several of whom are Master Gardeners.
• Properly labeling all native plantings in the garden.

Peoples Harvest Garden, Pomfret

The Peoples Harvest garden was begun in 2005 by the Windham County MG class. The garden is maintained by MG and intern volunteers with intermittent help from area schools/summer camps. This proposal was for soil enhancement and procurement of supplies to increase the productive capacity of the garden. Reducing Food insecurity, one goal of the Peoples Harvest, is to maximize vegetable production which is donated to local kitchens that serve those in need. Public Education, a second goal, provides a learning site for the public to join with master gardeners and learn about gardening. MG outreach education, a third goal, provides an outreach opportunity for interns and MGs where they can learn sustainable methods of vegetable production.

Windham Edible Landscape Permaculture Garden, Brooklyn

The intention of this project was to turn a fallow, overgrown plot of land next to the Windham Uconn extension site into an edible show garden using permaculture principles. This project has been worked on primarily by Master Gardeners, and has also had other community members such as a local civil engineer, farmer, mason, and arborist who volunteer time and materials.
The overall goals of this project was to create an edible landscape garden using permaculture principles, become a demonstration garden for the general public and demonstrate ideas of permaculture and importance of native plantings.

Botanical Markers at Mark Twain House, Hartford

This new project for the Mark Twain House. Having worked for several years to restore the gardens using plant materials that are historically correct for the time period that the Clemens family lived at the house, and installing new garden signs for each of the 10 main gardens, additional botanical markers are sought to help improve helpfulness and education.

Peace Pole Pollinator Pathway, Canton

This is a continuation of an existing project. A team of master gardeners started the Peace Pole Pollinator Pathway (PPPP) native flower garden in 2021 as the second public native flower garden on the Canton Pollinator Pathway. The goal of this project is twofold: public education about natives and providing food and habitat for wildlife. A secondary goal is to remove the invasives along the perimeter of the turf grass where the Peace Pole garden is located to make room for the native plants already growing there.

Wakeman Town Farm (WTF) Pollinator Garden-Educational Signage Project, Westport

The Educational Signage Project is new, initiated by WTF's Teen Advisory Board. The Pollinator Garden was conceived at WTF in 2017 to model a pollinator friendly habitat and sustainable gardening practices.
The goal is to provide permanent, readily visible, informative signage with an on-line educational component. The greater goal is an increased public understanding of pollinator habitats, their importance and what is needed for their creation and sustainability.