Cherie Olivier
Volunteers work on phase two of the Sims Garden restoration.
A group of volunteers is working to bring Sims Garden in Edgewood back to what Catherine Sims imagined.
“When she had passed away, she had quietly squirreled away five lots in total, which is very unusual for Edgewood,” said Roald Hazelhoff, director of the Southern Environmental Center. “Then she deeded it to the city with the provision that they turn it into or maintain it as a botanical garden.”
The city was not immediately able to build and maintain the garden, Hazelhoff, and it was neglected for a few years. The city approached the Southern Environmental Center, and now they’re working with volunteers and companies such as Brassfield & Gorrie to restore the garden.
Phase one was to stabilize the garden, and now they are on phase two of TLC for the garden, Hazelhoff said.
During this phase, volunteers from Brassfield & Gorrie’s co-op and intern program and their sustainability committee have joined the Southern Environmental Center at the garden. The company donated materials, labor and worked with Black Jack Horticulture to provide more materials.
“We encourage our students to do community service when they come and work for us for the semester, so this is an opportunity for us to work with the Southern Environmental Center at the Sims Garden,” said Katie Voss, business analyst for Brassfield & Gorrie.
Phase two included getting rid of invasive species and encouraging native plant growth.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Voss said. “I think it may be a little more labor intensive than what they [volunteers] thought it would be, but it’s been a good time.”
When phase two is complete, Hazelhoff said they plan to build a pavilion and begin hosting more events. The events will also serve as a way to fundraise for future upkeep and improvements in the garden.
“She [Ms. Sims] was a community resource, and that is what this garden is supposed to be,” Hazelhoff said. “This is going to make it a real jewel in the middle of Edgewood.”
