JES and the Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie County to Create and Nurture Native Gardens on JES Campus
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The JES is proud to announce the creation of the Lincoln Family Gardens to honor its prime sponsor and longtime Jefferson supporter Mary Lincoln Brock and her family. The gardens will feature native plants, trees, and shrubs and a presentation area for Jefferson programming. The gardens also honor Ms. Lincoln’s late husband, the Rev. Charles Brock, a founding member of the Jefferson Board of Trustees and a key supporter of the Jefferson from its inception in 2009. Rev. Brock had issued a challenge to the Jefferson to convert its large lawns to gardens.
Weiss Earley Landscape Design and Contracting LLC has been working for more than a year with a committee of Jefferson and the Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie County to develop an elaborate site plan that includes a patio, walkways, seating walls, low volt landscape lighting, and preparation plans for the garden plots. Construction will begin this spring, and a grand opening is expected in early September. The gardens themselves –– a central space and eight plots –– are being designed by the Master Gardeners to showcase native plantings.
Members of the Jefferson Garden Committee include, Master Gardeners Mike Bailey and Patti Williams, and the JES's Tim Spaeder, Bill Koehle, Doris Pinski, Paul Gambill, and Pat Cuneo. The nearly block-long gardens will be constructed in the Jefferson’s open lawn area off the Jefferson Hall south to 33rd Street, from State Street east to the Jefferson parking lot.
What are Native Plants?
Among the unique aspects of the project is the emphasis on native plants. They are indigenous species, including flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses, that have evolved to a specific region's climate, soil, and wildlife over thousands of years. As noted by the National Wildlife Federation, the plants are uniquely adapted to local weather, including droughts and winter freezes, making them easier to grow than non-native species. Once they take hold, they generally require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
Some plant examples are Blackeyed Susans, Eastern Purple Coneflower, Beebalm, Butterfly Milkweed, Wild Bergamot, Little Bluestem, New England Aster, Switchgrass, and Virginia Strawberry. Tree examples include Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood, and Sweetbay Magnolia.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Jefferson supporters will also be able to sponsor bricks, seat wall caps, trees, garden beds, and other items.
You are invited to be a part of our new space where ideas take root and community grows -- the Lincoln Legacy Walk at the Lincoln Family Gardens. As we reimagine the JES's lawn for a space to host outdoor events surrounded by native plants, you have the opportunity to be among the first to: Create a legacy. To honor a life. To grow the future.
By purchasing an engraved brick, you can create a lasting tribute commemorating a loved one, your family, or a meaningful milestone. Each brick will become part of a walkway that reflects the stories and connections that shape our community.
To learn more please contact Christine Gerlock, 814.459.8000, gerlock@jeserie.org
