HEGINS - The Penn State Master Gardeners couldn't have asked for a better day weather-wise May 31 for the grand opening of the Kathy McGinley Memorial Garden, located on the grounds of the Tri-Valley Environmental Site.
The event was held from 10 a.m. to noon and featured the presence of several Master Gardeners who explained the various plants and bee habitats that were created to attract native bees to the garden.
"We were seeking a project in the county where we could work with students and this was the perfect location," Master Gardener Susan Hyland said. "We used native plants which are more sustainable and the students chose colors that represent Tri-Valley, which are red, black and white, so that's why the garden is filled with darker hues."
Hyland said the student-driven project began in October 2012 and was completed in May. Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities. She recognized Wayne Pace, a McDonald's franchise owner who was very instrumental in securing the grant. Other support was provided by Pam Ulicny, Gretchen Dingman, Ron Dietz, Dave Bair, Carl Pysowski, Wayne Pace, Krammes Excavating, Stiegel Lumber, Tri-Valley Nursery, Miller Hardware, Pine Creek Nursery and Trail Gardens Nursery.
"This is an ongoing project," Hyland said. "We have several other ideas for the garden including the construction of a journal that we would like to have available in the high school library."
Hyland said the property is owned by the Tri-Valley School District, but the garden is open to everyone. The public is encouraged to visit the garden and enjoy the surroundings and hiking trails.
"This is the front room to this wonderful environmental site," Hyland said. "The space is to be shared with everyone. Kathy McGinley's name lives on here. She was loved by faculty, family and friends."
McGinley was an instructional support teacher for the Tri-Valley School District from 1991 until the time of her death, July 4, 1997. She suffered with diabetes and eventually passed due to a heart attack.
The original garden was created in 1998 and 1999 by Louise Rothermel's sixth-grade class.
"We were learning about the environment and were looking forward to our annual sixth-grade trip with our kindergarten buddies and that's how the idea came about to build a garden in memory of Kathy. She was a great friend of mine. She helped me tremendously in my transition from the Mahantongo Elementary School to Hegins-Hubley Elementary School. She was just a great person," Rothermel said.
The class held fundraisers, such as bake sales, for the project. However, many of the azaleas and some of the plants came from Rothermel's home.
Rothermel provided an album that she put together including photos and newspapers clippings from the time the garden was created.