On June 15th, Kellie Cox of Strawberry Fields, LLC presented her Landscape Design Master Plan for the “Community Tree Triangle” located at the intersection of Glen Ross and Luzerne. The virtual walk-through of the design was followed by a Q&A session.
Missed the presentation? No worries! You can watch a recording of the presentation* or scroll through the presentation slides below. After viewing, you are invited to send any questions or comments about the project to the Community Design Committee’s Chair, Cheryl Copeland, or the NWCA Board.
Please note that the committee would really love to connect with a neighbor with grant-writing experience for the next phase of the project. If that’s you or you can suggest someone, please contact Cheryl at the link above.
If you’ve ever strolled along Grace Church Rd. in the spring, you’ve probably seen colorful swaths of tulips blooming at the edges of the expansive lawn at 1923. Meet the man behind the tulips: Phil Costello has been planting them here every year since 2011. His interest in tulips took root when he lived in London: From his office near Buckingham Palace, he observed the planting of thousands of tulips. He also traveled frequently to Holland, where the flowers have been prized since the 16th century.
Phil starts planting his tulips in late November or after the first frost. He designs and digs trenches and places each bulb individually, this year about 750. (His all-time high is 2,100 bulbs!) Then he covers them with four to six inches of soil. Recently he has hired neighbors David Maya-Shelton and Jayden and Austin Jackson to help in the labor-intensive activity.
A major challenge is foiling predators, responsible for ruining up to 25 percent of the tulip garden. Squirrels dig up bulbs, but don’t seem to eat them. “They taunt me,” Phil laughs, “and then they throw away the bulbs,” leaving them on neighbors’ porches and in their yards. He places chicken wire over the bulbs to deter the pesky rodents and removes it so the tulips can grow when the weather warms. Deer don’t dig up the bulbs, but they do eat the blooms. “It’s constant effort,” says Phil, “vigilance is required.” He jokes that the deer of Grace Church may have changed their eating patterns after he placed signs directing them to a nearby street for better food.
Phil recommends purchasing tulip bulbs from colorblends.com. He also welcomes visitors to his garden. This writer has the advantage of seeing the vibrant flower display from her kitchen window, but you can take in the view come springtime. We’ll look for you on our street.
Sights to See: Natural Wonders, e.g. “The Niagara of North Woodside,” viewable whenever the sky really unleashes.
Want to know where some famous people grew up? Which house still has an old horse hitch and well in back? Where the hidden stream flows? Where to find some delicious guava, mango, or soursop ice cream on a hot and sultry day?
Discover the humble wonders of our very own neighborhood in The Staycationer’s Guide to North Woodside. Written and organized like a tourist guide book—Sights to See (Natural Wonders, Historical Sites, Botanical Gardens), Things to Do, Where to Eat, and How to Get Around—the guide’s 27 pages contain almost 60 things* to see and do around the neighborhood—something for all ages and staycation inclinations!
How to Get Around: By bike! Need a tune up? Contact Freewheeling Bike Tune-Ups, a free service of North Woodside resident Manuel Vera.
The guide was a fun little summer pandemic project a couple years ago for North Woodside resident Anna White. This summer it may be of particular interest to any new neighbors wishing to get to know their new home better, anyone who’s had their vacation plans scuttled by airline cancellations or Covid, and parents and caregivers of young children looking for ideas for simple, fun, and creative activities to pass away downtime.
North Woodside residents and NWCA members who are subscribed to the neighborhood listserv can access the guide in the listserv’s online file section (Click on the “Fun” folder). A digital or hard copy can also be requested by sending an email to the NWCA Communications Coordinator.
Enjoy the Local Art Scene: Check out the painted stones around the neighborhood!
Thanks again to all the neighbors who provided information for the guide! If after skimming through it you’d like to suggest additional North Woodside-related history, places, things, or activities to include in an updated version, please do!
For a few more things to do and see listed in The Staycationer’s Guide to North Woodside, see below.
* Note: A few listings in the guide are now out-of-date. Likewise, there are a number of brand new neighborhood sights to see and things to do that are not listedand may be included in a future revised version.
Things to Do: Peruse Used Books. Visit one of the four little libraries in North Woodside. Above: Children read books found in the Philip F. Welsh Memorial Library.Participate in the Local Art Scene: Color in a North Woodside Coloring Page. Neighborhood resident Barry Galef created one for each of 12 neighborhood scavenger hunts that took place Spring 2020. The one above was for the Scavenger Hunt #1 (One-of-a-Kind Decorations).
Sights to See: Historical Sites, e.g. Houses That Mirror the History of Residential Architecture. Can you find the above Sears Kit House?Sights to See: Botanical Gardens. There are many small and beautiful gardens to be found in North Woodside through the seasons.Places to Eat: Tropics Ice Cream. The best tropical ice cream around!
North Woodside now has a gardening interest group! You might ask, why create a group now, months before the next growing season? Well, I say why not? In the midst of winter, why not get our imaginations and our green thumbs itching to grow prize-winning tomatoes! Or find out why a particular crop (e.g., my potatoes) had a low yield last year? The North Woodside Gardening group exists so that all gardeners (novice and experts) can learn, share ideas, get advice, and (most importantly) grow relationships within the community.
Who can join? Anyone on the NWCA listserv who is interested in gardening is welcome! Our gardens appear as various types, planted in the ground or in pots or planters. Some may grow plants for fundraising, as a hobby, or for food. Some might be interested in the naturalistic approach by planting native flora and herbs to attract butterflies and birds. If this sounds like something you are interested in, please go to the NWCA subgroup and follow directions to subscribe.
Welcome to North Woodside 