Friends of Hashawha Bear Branch Gardens
Come garden with us! The gardens surrounding our nature center are filled with native plants and attract pollinators and birds. We need help to keep them looking beautiful!
Watch our social media for information on gardening days. Interested in helping out at another time? Contact our volunteer Landscape Coordinator, Alison Malachowski, at amalachowski@hotmail.com. Service hours are available!
Adopt a Garden!
Have a green-thumb, but no space for a flower bed? Want to memorialize or honor a loved one with beautiful flowers? Looking for a fun group- bonding activity for your family or company? Consider adopting a garden at Bear Branch Nature Center!
We have many plots for you to choose from and then let your creativity flow!*
Gardens are adopted for a year from the adoption date and there is no initial fee for adoption. You will be responsible for the planning, purchasing of and planting of plants, and maintenance of your adopted garden.
For the official policy or to inquire further, please contact Alison Malachowski, our Landscape Coordinator, at amalachowski@hotmail.com.
*All plants use in the garden are subject to final approval from the Park Naturalist.
Gardens 2023
Nolan Guinn Memorial Garden
Judy and Barry Guinn lost their son Nolan Guinn on 8/05/2020; he passed from Covid 19. Judy is a gardener and spent much time immersed in the garden during her grief. Judy says “When I was approached to have a garden at Hashawha I knew it was the best way to honor him. Hashawha was one of Nolan's favorite spots to fish, hike, or just sit and ponder. I have spent time out in the garden honoring him and missing him. Nolan's place has many perennials in it from our friends and our home. We have also added annuals and successfully kept the deer at bay. The friendliness, helpfulness, and encouragement from Allison and the rest of the staff has been fantastic. The garden is continuously changing as life is always changing. Our family, friends and ourselves are so grateful to have a place to go to remember. We are forever grateful for this opportunity.”
Butterfly Salad Garden
The Butterfly Salad Garden is adopted by the Irla family–Chloe, Jason, and Felix. This garden will provide milkweed, herbs, and flowers that encourage beneficial insects and pollinators. Fingers crossed for swallowtail chrysalis on the dill and parsley later this summer!
Nature Scouts Garden
Our Nature Scouts program planted a garden of native plants in front of the nature center. They included a beautiful Nature Scouts sign!
