Projects

Donald Little Park

The park at the triangle of State, Birch and School streets in Ellsworth has been owned by the Club since 1939 and has been a hands-on project since 1953. Club members meet regularly throughout the gardening season to work at the park. Learn more on our DLP page.


The Old Burial Ground

From early in the 19th century for over 100 years, the Old Burial Ground was the burial site of some of Ellsworth's first settlers and veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars as well as the War of 1812. The Ellsworth Garden Club on three separate occasions has undertaken research, refurbishment, and landscaping of the cemetery.


Blue Star Memorial Marker

Originally erected in 1972 and then removed when an intersection was modified, the club worked with the City of Ellsworth and Maine Dept of Transportation on a new site. In May 2016 a formal re-dedication ceremony was held on Armed Forces Day. The club maintains a large raised bed and seasonal plantings.


Food for Life and Learning: School Gardens

In 2012 students and teachers at Ellsworth High School planned to add a greenhouse to augment the outdoor gardens. The garden club worked with students and area volunteers to construct a 16' x 28' framed greenhouse. Several area business donated supplies and volunteered labor for the effort.


Food for Life and Learning: School Gardens at EEMS

Since 2013 the club has worked regularly with students, teachers and parents at the Ellsworth Elementary/Middle School to develop several gardens as outdoor classrooms and resources for curriculum. In the spring of 2016 the clubs assisted with the purchase and installation of deer fencing and gates.


Pink Tulip Project for Cancer Research

Since 2011 the club annually has planted hundreds of pink tulips at the Ellsworth Elementary/Middle School, at Donald Little Park and other locations around Ellsworth. A portion of the funds raised at the Annual Plant Sale and Pink Tulip Festival is donated to a local agency to provide cancer awareness and support.


Saint Dunstan’s Demonstration Gardens

The Saint Dunstan’s Demonstration Gardens in Ellsworth, located across from the Bryant Moore Center, at 134 State Street, are biodiverse gardens created in 2017 through the partnership of the Ellsworth Garden Club, the Master Gardener Volunteer Program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church. These community demonstration gardens are planted with many native perennials and shrubs that attract and support the bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators throughout the growing season.


Arbor Day/Earth Day Memorial Tree Plantings

In 2014 the club initiated a tree planting program in partnership with the Ellsworth Elementary/Middle School honoring a retired teacher. Each year one grade plants a tree on school grounds.

Woodlawn Christmas Decorating

The club has worked closely with Woodlawn Museum over the years but its most consistent connection has been to help decorate the mansion for the Christmas holidays.


Pop-up Gardens, Walkways, Planters

Each year the club receives requests to undertake landscaping and planting projects. In 2017 club members worked at Birdsacre clearing trails, rebuilding a dam, replanting a native species garden and cleaned up gardens around the Stanwood house. Some of the other pop-ups: a welcome garden in the Marlboro area of Lamoine, a garden at Ellsworth's Harbor Park, a bed in the parking area across from Morton Moo, and planters along Main Street.