One Scout’s Garden Beautifies, Buffers The Lake

By Kendra Bobowick

Cone flowers, black-eyed-Susans, sedum, grasses, coreopsis, and piled stones all filled a wood-mulched garden on a rise overlooking the Lake Lillinonah boat launch. As Saturday’s sun dried the previous night’s damp residue from leaves and petals, the buffer garden planted by Alex Calder for his Eagle Scout project does more than invite butterflies and establish a pretty splash of landscape.

A sign announcing his Lake Lillinonah Buffer Garden explains to visitors that the planting is also a riparian buffer — an area of vegetation along a shoreline that helps maintain water quality. The garden filters pollution from runoff, protecting the water body, preventing erosion, and creating a wildlife habitat. Alex used native plans including coneflowers, Joe-Pye weed, wild ginger, butterfly weed, Jacob’s ladder, red twig dogwood, and more.

Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold said the projects is “wonderful,” and hopes the garden is recognized. In an email, Alex stressed that the garden is open to everyone. He chose to do the planting because, “I spend a lot of time on the lake.” He also has participated in similar projects that have raised his awareness to the buffer gardens.

Both a lake monitor and Friends of the Lake member, Alex said, “I learned a lot,” and “it was fun.” He thanks the many helping hands, including Troop 135, Friends of the Lake, Master Gardener Ellen Koh, Lake Lillinonah Authority, Earth Tones, Planter’s Choice, the Parks and Recreation Department, FirstLight Power, friends and family, and others who contributed to his effort.