Eagle Scout candidate Noah Dionne plants a Key Lime Mum in the pollinator garden at the approach to the Acushnet River Valley Golf Course on 11/4/23, as part of his Eagle Scout project. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
People tend to agree that the Acushnet River Valley Golf Course is a town gem. So, when the approach to the course got overgrown and unsightly, something had to be done.
Some years ago, a couple of volunteers, Merilee Kelly and Cynda Williams, created a pollinator garden at the turn from Main Street to go to the course. Over the years, the site has become overgrown. Boy Scout Troop 11 used the site off and on for their service hours, but there was not a concerted effort for its upkeep.
The Golf Committee contemplated mowing it all down because it was not a good look for the town’s gem.
Seventeen-year-old Noah Dionne said….not so fast.
The pollinator garden at the approach to the Acushnet River Valley Golf Course sports a nifty new steel gate installed by Troop 11 as part of Noah Dionne’s Eagle Scout project on 11/4/23. Photo by Beth David.
The Eagle Scout candidate advocated before the appropriate boards to get permission to spruce up the lot. The town agreed to let the Boy Scouts give it a try.
Mr. Dionne said the weeds were eight feet high and very thick. He said he did not want to lose the spot as a place for the Scouts to get in some service hours. If the two women were no longer able to maintain the site, he thought, the Scouts should do it.
“So I decided to do it as my Eagle Scout project and bring the garden back to life,” said Mr. Dionne.
All of Troop 11 mobilized to make the transformation a reality.
“We shrunk it a little,” said Mr. Dionne. “But it’s still a pollinator garden.”
The pollinator garden at the approach to the Acushnet River Valley Golf Course has lots of new plantings like these planted by Troop 11 as part of Noah Dionne’s Eagle Scout project on 11/4/23. Photo by Beth David.
He carefully chose plants that will bloom at different times to keep the various pollinators busy. It will also keep the Scouts busy. They will maintain the garden, using it for their service hours.
“It was a nice place for hours,” said Mr. Dionne, adding that it will be again. “For generations fo scouts, hopefully.”
A group of his fellow Scouts helped him out on the project on a bright Saturday morning, November 4. They pulled up old weeds, planted new flowers, painted the bench and chairs; and installed a pretty cool looking steel gate in front of the gravel walkway.
“It was all just five-foot weeds,” said Mr. Dionne.
The Scouts also got a couple of old chairs and a bench, and fixed them up, painted them so people can sit and enjoy the garden.
“We repurposed old stuff,” he said.
Most of the flowers, mulch, and other stuff was donated by area businesses.
Future plans include a tool shed and replacing some of the statues that mysteriously disappeared.
“They were stolen,” said Mr. Dionne.
He said he wants the space to be welcoming to the public. He wants people to go, sit, enjoy the space. And, if they want to pull some weeds while they are there, “feel free.”
“I want it to be a place anyone can come,” said Mr. Dionne.
The golf course is owned by the town and the pollinator garden is open to the public.
A variety of colorful seating will make people feel welcome in the pollinator garden at the approach to the Acushnet River Valley Golf Course on 11/4/23, an Eagle Scout project by Noah Dionne of Troop 11. Photo by Beth David.
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