Master Gardeners Beautify Moran With 'Living Art'

Mary Peterson (left) and Vicky Sayles pose in front of their offering to the community of Moran, a landscaped, perennial garden on M-123. It is the final project in a master gardener program.

Stone, flowers, and perennial plants populate a new community garden in Moran, a work of living art developed along M-123 by soon-to-be Master Gardeners Mary Peterson and Vicky Sayles.

Beginning in October 2005, the two women took part in a 10-week Master Gardener course conducted by MSU Extension in St. Ignace and were required to perform 40 hours of garden-related community service for their certificate. The old pump house area on M

123 is now part of ongoing beautification efforts in the village. Mrs. Sayles and Mrs. Peterson used fieldstone to create a swirling border around red maples, sedums, bleeding hearts, petunias, thistles, spireas, coneflowers, moonflowers, and a host of other plants.

"All plants are in and growing well," Mrs. Peterson said.

Most of the garden is composed of perennial plants, so it will spring up again on its own each year. Both women maintain private

greenhouses and grew some of the plants at home. Others were donated by Erv and Betty Rose of Moran, and the Brevort Township Board of Trustees donated mulch left over from the ongoing playground project at the community center.

Now that the project is complete, the two will send a photograph to MSU for approval. Then, they will return to their personal gardens and greenhouses to prepare for future projects.