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Strong roots

Volunteer group maintains local park’s beauty

Michgian State University Master Gardeners, Marquette Beautification and Restoration Comittee members and other city employees plant two trees near the fit strip, in honor of Arbor Day and the volunteers who create and maintain 12 demonstration flower gardens sites in Park Cemetery Friday morning. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

MARQUETTE — A tree planting took place near the Fit Strip in Marquette Friday morning in honor of Arbor Day and the volunteers who create and maintain 12 demonstration flower garden sites in Park Cemetery.

“Every year (the master gardeners) add things to the cemetery to make the site beautiful,” said Jeanette Hauver, Michigan State University Extension master gardener.

The flower gardens at Park Cemetery, which was designed as a park and a cemetery from its conception in the 1800s, have been maintained by volunteers of MSU Extension master gardeners, cemetery sextons and staff for the past 25 years.

“Over 25 years, there has been 35 master gardeners in the cemetery,” Hauver said.

The cemetery’s sexton, Chad Hightshoe, said he hopes to continue to “add to the beauty” of the park for the public to enjoy long into the future.

The two autumn brilliance serviceberry trees, or amelanchier, have white flowers in spring and berries in late summer.

The public is welcome to visit the demonstration gardens throughout the season. For more information, contact Hauver at jkhauver@gmail.com.

Corey Kelly can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243. Her email address is ckelly@miningjournal.net.

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