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Lookout Mountain volunteer Jimmy Campbell proudly announces the completion of a new park located on Whitt Road across from the Carter Soccer Field in Lookout Mountain, Ga. A beautiful, shaded path connects the garden to Fairyland Elementary School and has been named “The Jimmy Campbell Connector Trail.”
Planning for the garden began in 2020 when the city received a grant from the Riverview Foundation to develop the one-acre plot. Mr. Campbell and Lookout Mountain, Ga., city manager Kenny Lee spearheaded the grant requests and then formed a planning committee made up of representatives of local garden clubs and the local Bee City USA committee chairs. Meeting off and on during the pandemic, Denise Taylor and Lulu Brock represented the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain, which donated $5,000 for the purchase of perennials. Penny Simmons represented the Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club, which donated 1,000 bulbs for the garden. Laurelwood Garden Club, represented by Chrissy Jones, donated $100 to help develop the garden. Candace Wells and I, Bee City USA advocates, helped by creating a list of native plants indigenous to the Cumberland Plateau to attract birds, bees, and butterflies to the garden.
Dennis Bishop, owner of Going-Native Landscape, was hired to clear the area of invasive plants, design the garden, and oversee the purchase of plants. A water source was added to ensure the sustainability of the plants. Over 150 trees and shrubs were planted in November of 2020 and over 2,500 perennials were planted in May and June of 2021. More plants will be added later this fall.
Stone paths and seating areas with beautiful teak benches were installed for residents to pause and enjoy the lush, colorful, woodland setting. Mountain stone borders beds of echinacea, rudbeckia, milkweed and other pollinator-friendly perennials. Many species of native bees, as well butterflies such as monarchs and swallowtails, are finding a home in these new beds. Butterfly host plants are an important part of the garden so butterflies can complete their life cycle.
Plant identification signs will be added to let visitors know what plants are beneficial to pollinators and birds. The Fairy Trail Garden adds one acre, or 43,560 square feet, of pollinator habitat to the mountain! What an amazing gift to support and sustain our bees, butterflies, and birds. As an advocate for pollinators on Lookout, I am very thankful for Jimmy Campbell, Kenny Lee, and the committee of mountain residents for this contribution in conserving this invaluable group of insects and birds. Mr. Campbell points out, “Even though this garden is on the Georgia side, it is a garden to be enjoyed by all the residents on Lookout Mountain.”
More good news is that the committee is under budget and has about $10,000 to further enhance the garden’s footprint on Lookout. For more information and plant lists, contact Ann Brown at [email protected].
by Ann Brown
Planning for the garden began in 2020 when the city received a grant from the Riverview Foundation to develop the one-acre plot. Mr. Campbell and Lookout Mountain, Ga., city manager Kenny Lee spearheaded the grant requests and then formed a planning committee made up of representatives of local garden clubs and the local Bee City USA committee chairs. Meeting off and on during the pandemic, Denise Taylor and Lulu Brock represented the Garden Club of Lookout Mountain, which donated $5,000 for the purchase of perennials. Penny Simmons represented the Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club, which donated 1,000 bulbs for the garden. Laurelwood Garden Club, represented by Chrissy Jones, donated $100 to help develop the garden. Candace Wells and I, Bee City USA advocates, helped by creating a list of native plants indigenous to the Cumberland Plateau to attract birds, bees, and butterflies to the garden.
Dennis Bishop, owner of Going-Native Landscape, was hired to clear the area of invasive plants, design the garden, and oversee the purchase of plants. A water source was added to ensure the sustainability of the plants. Over 150 trees and shrubs were planted in November of 2020 and over 2,500 perennials were planted in May and June of 2021. More plants will be added later this fall.
Stone paths and seating areas with beautiful teak benches were installed for residents to pause and enjoy the lush, colorful, woodland setting. Mountain stone borders beds of echinacea, rudbeckia, milkweed and other pollinator-friendly perennials. Many species of native bees, as well butterflies such as monarchs and swallowtails, are finding a home in these new beds. Butterfly host plants are an important part of the garden so butterflies can complete their life cycle.
Plant identification signs will be added to let visitors know what plants are beneficial to pollinators and birds. The Fairy Trail Garden adds one acre, or 43,560 square feet, of pollinator habitat to the mountain! What an amazing gift to support and sustain our bees, butterflies, and birds. As an advocate for pollinators on Lookout, I am very thankful for Jimmy Campbell, Kenny Lee, and the committee of mountain residents for this contribution in conserving this invaluable group of insects and birds. Mr. Campbell points out, “Even though this garden is on the Georgia side, it is a garden to be enjoyed by all the residents on Lookout Mountain.”
More good news is that the committee is under budget and has about $10,000 to further enhance the garden’s footprint on Lookout. For more information and plant lists, contact Ann Brown at [email protected].
by Ann Brown
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