Summer Gardeners Tend Memorial Planting Project at St. Ignace School District
By Paul Gingras

At left: Current and former students add to the newest wing of the St. Ignace Area Schools Garden Project Friday, June 22. Pictured here (front to back) are Lauren Ogle, a 2006 graduate who is planting soapwort; Ashley Neelis, who will be a LaSalle High School senior this fall, planting arabis; 2006 graduate Kate Springsteen, planting dianthus; and Carol Bell of Cedars of Mackinac Landscaping. All of the flowers are spring bloomers, chosen in part because their flowering season will take place when students and visitors will see them.

People seeking a long-lasting way to honor a special person's memory, or to celebrate a birth, graduation, retirement, or other event can do so through the local school district, which is accepting contributions to fund the St. Ignace Area Schools Garden Project. The school provides cards acknowledging donations that contributors can use in a variety of ways, said Elementary and Middle School Principal Bonnie Ledy.

"Often, people want to donate to something," she said, "but they do not know what. This gives them the opportunity to help with the beautification of the school grounds."

When a donation is made, the school creates a card bearing the words "St. Ignace Area Schools Garden Project." The card, which describes the donation and its purpose, can be slipped into an event announcement, or simply kept as a memento, Mrs. Ledy explained.

Recently, donations were made in memory of Marianna Paquin, a longtime teacher aide in the district, who passed away May 22, and Nicole Fritz, a former student, who passed away June 2. Standing in front of the lush garden is the Andrew Waits memorial tree, honoring the Army specialist who was killed last spring during military service in Baghdad, Iraq. Mr. Waits was the nephew of fourth-grade teacher Patrice Mackin.

All donations go into a garden fund, some of which is being used to augment two new wings of the garden near the elementary school entrance. The garden is planted with a variety of flowers, including bleeding hearts and shrubs that will produce berries for birds to eat, said Carol Bell of Cedars of Mackinac Landscaping.

To ensure that the beautification project is maintained properly, the school hired Cedars to plant new flowers, herbs, and trees, and to relocate plants from other gardens, such as one surrounding the district's welcome sign. The company will also trim, maintain, and improve the large Brian R. Roksiewicz Memorial Garden, located in front of the middle school. His mother, Connie, began the garden project and is excited about the expansion and has donated more funding to help it flourish, Mrs. Ledy said.

Cedars will also maintain a new garden surrounding the flagpoles in front of LaSalle High School. The garden was created by the National Honor Society.

"We have found that without a professional organization to help, [gardens] get overgrown," Mrs. Ledy said, adding that the school plans to continue to create new gardens.

"We have the space," and they create an inviting effect, she added.

For her part, Mrs. Ledy said she plans to donate to the garden to celebrate births. This is especially interesting because the youngsters may eventually be enrolled at the school, she said.

To donate, contact Mrs. Ledy or school secretary Kathy Marshall at 643-8145.