Cape Ann Garden Club, which celebrated its centennial last year, embarked upon an effort to create more climate-resilient gardens, and this new look is on view at City Hall.
The garden beds lining the walkway to City Hall’s main entrance on Dale Avenue are now “buzzing” with life. As part of Cape Ann Garden Club’s Centennial Project, the club used native plants to create an ecologically diverse, more climate resilient natural space.
Maggie Rosa, the garden club’s co-president, noted the benefits of these efforts.
“Once established, native plants use less water, don’t require fertilizer or pesticides, and support a variety of insects and pollinators like butterflies and bees,” she said. “With periods of drought increasing and our beneficial insects decreasing, native plants are the way to go.”
The garden club began a Sustainable Gardens initiative in 2025 by planting a small native plant garden at Annisquam Village Hall on Leonard Street, after which the club turned its attention to City Hall where the club has maintained the gardens since the 1950s.
The members did extensive research to identify plants that would do well in this environment where salt, wind, foot traffic and other less-than-ideal conditions make it challenging, the club said in prepared statement.
About 20 native plant species were selected and planted in May; new signage explains the project via a QR code.
Eroica Schenck, club co-president, thanked Mayor Paul Lundberg and the city’s Department of Public Works for their support.
“We hope more people will choose to use native plants in their home gardens,” Centennial Project committee co-chair Linda von Rosenvinge said. “Every native plant makes a positive impact, so every gardener can contribute to helping nature do her work.”
Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave., also recently established a garden with native plants and shrubs, adding to the beautification of the Gloucester’s civic center.
“Having these two gardens side-by-side amplifies their beauty and beneficial ecological benefits to pollinators in an urban area,” said project committee Co-Chair Peg Ris.
Other members of Cape Ann Garden Club’s Centennial Project Committee are Suzanne Brown, Pat Cronin, Lyn Fenollosa, Deb Fichera and Alison Pesky.
The Cape Ann Garden Club started in 1925, celebrating its centennial last year, 100 years after the club’s first programs. The garden club continues its educational programs on topics related to horticulture, environmental conservation, and garden history, which are offered to its members from May through October.
Over the years, the club has engaged in many civic projects, including the beautification of Grant Circle, planting trees along city streets, and helping Gloucester High School students learn to garden. Members also volunteer at Addison Gilbert Hospital in a popular flower-arranging therapy program.
More information about Cape Ann Garden Club activities is available by emailing capeanngardenclub@gmail.com.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.