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Project:
Wittenberg Lutheran Village
One of our members, Pam Manwaring, was visiting The Wittenberg Lutheran Village Nursing Home in Crown Point, IN and noticed that there was a small pond that was falling into disrepair. The pond was preformed and had a waterfall system that hadn't been running for many years. The pond was also surrounded by a small overgrown garden and flagstone wall that was falling over. The garden and pond were in desperate need of repair, weeding and new plants. Pam presented this project to the club at our last meeting and passed around some photos of the pond and garden. The members decided that this project was definitely worth our time and effort, so it was decided that we would meet at the facility on Saturday July 25, 2005 and rehabilitate the small garden and pond. Here are some before photos of what was found when we first arrived to look the area over.
Left: Pond filled with green water and muck.
Above: A garden overun by weeds and poison ivy
Even before we met on Saturday, our President Bob Malik and another member, Ralph Davy rebuilt the pond and waterfall, so that it would be ready when the rest of the group arrived over the weekend. Also helping our club were two members of the New Life Lutheran Church. We arrived bright and early on Saturday morning and right away got to work tearing apart the wall that surrounded the garden. Once the wall was removed, we started rebuilding it and cleared the weeds too. We then added fresh black dirt, so that the garden could be replanted with new perennials, a few annuals for a splash of color and a small shrub to add some shade. Here are some photos to show how we left the area when we were finished rebuilding the pond and new garden.
Mulch was added to conserve moisture
Newly planted aquatics and perennials
The New Life Lutheran Church purchased colorful planters and plants to place in the nearby pavilion. Aquatic Pond Supplies donated a pump and filter that is now running the new waterfall and keeping the pond clear. IGPS supplied the plants, soil, mulch, fertilizer and energy to finish the job.
Photos taken prior to rehabilitation by Randy Lea. Photos taken after rehabilitation by Dave Dornberg.