FOSG January 2024 Newsletter

FOSG Partnership

It is wonderful to share the update that Friends of Shakespeare Garden has partnered with Rotarian Tom Barnes and his local family business, Barnes Manufacturing. Tom, along with his wife, Vickie, and son, Bob, worked with Natalie Ross (Ross Land Studio) on updating the entrance structure design. The design and garden rendering created by Natalie Ross is below. The font used was created from the lettering on the stone pillars, originally designed by Ted Healy, who worked for architect William Jay Brown. Brown designed the pillars based on sketches from a Mrs. Hickok.

Tom has created a 1/6th version of the entrance, and anyone interested in viewing the model can do so at Al Pierson’s Flower Show on Ellis Road. Don’t forget to grab a beautiful Pierson Bouquet for your Valentine while you’re there! The full-scale structure will be installed by the City at the Ellis Road entrance to the park upon completion.

You’ve likely seen Tom’s work before. Tom and his company created the stage structure at Lowe Park, as well as the beautiful clock in Marion.

ImOn Supporting the Garden with Self-Watering Pots

Last year, volunteers watered pots daily due to the dry weather. This year will be a little easier!

Pots will be purchased this spring thanks to a grant from ImOn. The commercial grade pots contain a reservoir of water that waters the plants for up to two weeks. Mary Jo Crane and volunteers will be happy with the news.

Metro Rotary Presidents Council Supports the Garden with a Gazebo, Leadership, Time & Talent

The eight area Rotary Clubs chose the Shakespeare Garden as the Metro Area Grant recipient for 2023 and 2024. This will be recognized with a gazebo that will have a beautiful stone planter surrounding the area and containing plants that were represented in Shakespeare’s works.

Visit https://friendsofshakespearegarden.org/metro-rotary-clubs to see all of the important projects Rotary has completed in our community. You will be impressed. Also, links to the Local clubs are included for you to check out your area Rotarians and their good works.

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