FRIENDS Start Spring Beautification

The Friends started the day at the Elizabeth Patterson Kiest Memorial Garden with the planting and dedication of two beautiful Texas whitebud trees. The Memorial Garden is located south of the baseball fields in Kiest Park. The trees can be seen on the north end of the Memorial Garden, where they were placed on the perimeter of the Wynelle Clifton Daylilie Garden. This planting is a fine example of community involvement and partnership among civic groups with support from the City of Dallas.

The whitebud tree located on the east side of the Memorial Garden was provided by the Dallas Council of Garden Clubs, and was selected by Bobbie Mason and June Huie, Chair and Co-Chair of the Arbor Day and Civic Beautification projects. On the west side of the garden is the second whitebud tree, which was provided by the Oak Cliff Garden Forum for their Arbor Day and Civic Beautification planting. The selection committee was headed by Nina Worthy, Chair, and Bobbie Mason, Co-Chair. Nina Worthy is the current President of the Dallas Council of Garden Clubs. The two trees, already budding, were sourced from North Haven Gardens, Inc. This local nursery provided a generous discount for the garden clubs, continuing its support of Friends of Oak Cliff Parks endeavors. Both Bobbie Mason and Nina Worthy were on hand for the planting early Saturday morning. Bobbie Mason read a dedication for each of the trees.

The Dallas Parks and Recreation Department dug holes for the trees, and provided perimeter fencing to ensure public safety until the trees were planted by Friends volunteers. The trees, with a root ball of approximately 18 inches in diameter required a 36 inch diameter hole 18 inches deep. The Texas whitebud is a white flowering form of the Texas redbud with glossy leaves, and is smaller and considered prettier than the eastern redbud. This tree is very drought and heat tolerant, but requires very good drainage. The whitebud is a deciduous tree that will grow 10 to 15 feet in height, spreading to as much as 15 feet.

Later the same day, two Friends volunteers met at Founders’ Park to prepare a bed around the recently placed bronze lion statue located by the pergola near the intersection of Zang Blvd and Marsalis Ave. The statue was donated to the park by the Lions Club, another supporter of the Friends of Oak Cliff Parks. After working the bed, volunteers planted lamb sear, salvia and yellow yarrow on either side of the Lion. These plants are the beginnings of a lovely graduated circle of plants around the Lion. The bed will be finished later with the addition of bulbs in front of the lion statue, and taller cannas behind.