Association dedicates Good Neighbor Garden
Drawing the short straw usually is a stroke of bad luck, but when Tom Davies found himself with the shortest straw, he was chosen as the first beautification coordinator of the North Hills Estates Civic Association.
Since then, Davies, 83, has made it his goal to keep his Ross Township neighborhood bright with varieties of foliage and flowers and encourage the other residents to do the same.
On Oct. 13, residents of North Hills Estates unveiled the new Good Neighbor Garden and dedicated the area to Davies; his late wife, Nancy; and his dog, Babe.
“It was so appropriate because if you look at his yard, there is hardly an inch left open,” said neighborhood resident Diana Baier of Ross Township, the civic association's current beautification coordinator.
“He loves plants and sharing them. If you have a giant fern in your yard, Mr. Davies gave it to you, and it's very coveted.”
After months of hard work and donations from more than 60 residents and local organizations, a surprised Davies, alongside his family, cut the ribbon at The Good Neighbor Garden. Featuring 35 varieties of plants, a dog statue and a bench, the area is one of several gardens within the plan.
“We wanted to take some of the areas that nature had reclaimed and freshen them up so that they could be enjoyed by every generation,” Baier said.
When the time came to dedicate the newest garden, which is along Washington Drive, between Jackson and Van Buren circles, the civic association wanted to honor Davies not only because of his green thumb but also his impact on the residents.
“He just embodies the spirit of our neighborhood, and he's a wonderful man who is always giving of himself,” said neighborhood resident and association President Cheryl Giacomino.
Nearly in tears, Davies was shocked during the garden's opening ceremony, when Giacomino revealed the dedication, which had been intended as a surprise.
Residents shared stories about Davies and the many ways he has influenced their lives and those of their children.
“I was so surprised, and this is a wonderful thing that they've done,” Davies said.
Spaces such as The Good Neighbor Garden are important to him because of his wife, he said.
“She loved color, and we'd always gotten flats of flowers in the spring. I told her that I'd keep color around for her, so that's been my mission.”
Not only do the gardens spruce up North Hills Estates, they also create a sense of community that other neighborhoods might not have, Giacomino said.
In a fast-paced society, having gardens and areas where residents can gather allows for time to slow down, Baier said.
“People can pause and share their thoughts, their joys, their worries and enrich their lives.”
Alex Audia is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
