Rock garden presented to library
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on February 14, 2008 1:55 PM
The Gardenette Garden Club of Goldsboro celebrated its 50th anniversary Tuesday by presenting a rock garden to the Wayne County Public Library.
About 50 people attended a reception and ceremony at the library's main branch on Ash Street. The reception began in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium and ended at the rock garden in the walkway at the main entrance.
The event's organizers said they were pleased with the turnout, which included government officials, members of other garden clubs and several Gardenettes, one from as far away as Bath.
The rock garden is 7 feet-by-14 feet, with a simulated stream running through three plants surrounded by smooth stones, six of which bear thought-provoking words like "wonder," "explore" and "listen."
Library Trustee Chairman Cathy Moran said she felt the etched word stones, which also said "create," "read" and "grow," were especially appropriate to the library's mission.
"They offer guidance in order to make a full life," she said. "... Thank you for this act of kindness and sensible beauty."
Dr. Moran thanked the club members and congratulated them on the club's fiftieth anniversary.
Four members of the Gardenette Club created the rock garden over the past year. The women, JoAnn Fisher, Emily Powell, Ruth Kemp and Marion Rose, worked as a team, with no committee, no chairman.
Mrs. Powell spoke to the group, explaining the history behind the club and the rock garden.
The planning started two years ago, and the actual work began in April, she said.
"We thought of how many times we use stones to express ourselves -- like the Japanese do... The elements of oriental design stress quietness, stillness, peacefulness, and stone does that.... We wanted the idea of a stream without using real water. We made it look like water with recycled wine bottles fired in a kiln," she said.
The project took on a life of its own, Mrs. Powell added, "and we hope it lasts forever."
Mrs. Fisher said several local businessmen contributed, either by giving the women a good price or with hands-on help like Glen Thomas at Mulch Express and Rickey Faire of Faire and Son Masonry, who the women called their "stone master."
Daniel Caseyn of Casey Garden Center helped the women choose drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants.
The club has been organizaed since 1958.