In the weeks before the 2024 University District Home Tour, volunteers and residents across the neighborhood got their trees, lawns and gardens ready because they responded to UDCA’s “Company Is Coming on September 14” messages. Thanks to them, the neighborhood looked great on Home Tour Day.
One group of volunteers focused on the planter box at the edge of the Savon parking lot, at Curtis and Livernois. It had become overgrown and the water line to it was in need of repair.
As they were pulling weeds and pruning rosebushes, they talked about how the box could look better, and need less work, if it were planted with perennials. That led to an idea to transform it to a garden that will attract and support bees and butterflies and other beneficial insects and look nice all year-round. Good for everyone!
Then, they realized that the rosebushes need good homes, where they will be cared for and pruned and watered regularly. Fall is the ideal time to plant bare root roses….
So, around the middle of October, there will be signs “planted” in the box, with details on how UDCA Members, whose membership is current as of October 1, can enter the “Adopt A Free Rosebush” drawing. Eight lucky winners will take home one of the mature and healthy rosebushes and enjoy their blossoms for years to come.
In the Spring, in conjunction with Motor City Makeover, we will plant more native perennials. Details will be in the Spring UDCA Newsletter on how your household can be involved in the family-friendly UDCA Native Perennial Garden.
In the meantime, please join us in thanking the seven volunteers who together spent about 30 hours over six hot days to make the planter look lovely again: Tywan Bailey Jr., David Bammel, Veronica Dostal, Dinah Dittman, Essence Hickman, Alex Nicholaides, and Connie Spight. While they were working, the owner of Savon kindly sent out refreshingly cold pop and water, as a gesture of appreciation.