May 12, 2025

Portsmouth Garden Club 90th anniversary community project dedicated 

Members of the club met at the Four Hearts Foundation Portsmouth playground to dedicate The Mary and George Mendonca Pollinator Garden on May 12. The club celebrated its 90th year in 2024 as it has done in past 5-year anniversaries a town project was envisioned. This time it was decided to create a pollinator educational garden when it initially received a $500 grant from the RI Federation of Garden Clubs in May of that year. Mary Mendonca was a long-time member and officer of the club, George, her husband, was the long-term gardener at Green Animals and the son in law of the original gardener, Mary's father, who was hired by the owner of the estate, Alice Brayton. George served as the club’s honorary consultant. 

That site was chosen in light of the numerous trees, bushes and a bench installed in memory of club past deceased members. Some of contributions had to be removed over past yeas including, the first, a memorial to the children of the April 1995 Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago. 

Following a donation of sod cutting and rotor tilling services to clear the packed soil, specific plants were chosen to attract pollinator insects. Then a fence was built with donated labor followed by donated bird bath with a solar waterspout. Finally plant labeling was bought. An additional donation for plants was contributed in memory of past president Dorothy Backman, contributed by her family.

The committee included co-chairs Mary Pat Komm and Christine Grande, Nancy Oliveira, Karen Saucier and Ileene Chernoff who did the design and hard work of planting and maintaining the beginning garden during the last summer, finishing in the fall. 

The ceremony consisted of a welcome by President Linda Howard, a history of the former work on site by Past President, Rochelle Kieran and a thank you to all the contributors by Mary Pat Komm. Fifteen attended. The garden has the distinction of being recognized as a certified pollinator garden by the National Association of Garden Clubs.

Photos by Linda H. and Bobbie

For views of the construction and its progress during the past summer and fall see "Event 2024 October"