An invitation to our campus, the Entryway Gardens include all the landscaping along the frontage and the driveway. Plants are generally low maintenance, drought resistant, native species, deer resistant and look good year-round. While some maintenance is done professionally, volunteer help is needed at particular times in the year.
Entry into ERUUF’s campus has undergone multiple changes - from the original home driveway to inviting landscaping leading into and up the entire entryway. Early improvements included the two oak trees flanking the entry, donated by Rose Auman and Susan Tillotson, and a retaining wall on the right that held a flower garden designed by Donna Deal. Rick Searles added some creeping juniper on the hillside facing the street. We recognize that there were other early donations of plants, trees and work that are unrecorded.
Major improvement of the current entryway occurred in 2015 in response to needing landscaping around the new digital sign and wanting a much more inviting street presence. The work was funded in two phases by grants from the Foundation. Tributary Land Design was contracted for the design and its installation and lots of volunteers helped put in plants once the site was prepared. The goals for the project were many – simple, low maintenance, drought resistant, native plants to the degree possible, looking good year round, deer resistant and fitting in with other design elements on the property, including the new sign.
Phase II of the project included landscaping up the entire right side of the driveway and across the front beyond the new sign. The landscaping has grown and filled in over the years, more creeping juniper was extended southward on the front slope and additional plants have occasionally been added to fill in empty spaces. Maintenance of the landscaping was managed for many years by Beth Harvat with the help of numerous volunteers, chalice circles and covenant groups until fall of 2021. Paid help now does much of the care, with some volunteer help still needed at particular seasons. Stay tuned for more articles about the plants and care of this special welcoming garden niche! BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER PICTURES may be seen here.
