Meetings:

3rd Thursday of the Month,

Sept. through May

Location:

Wollaston Congregational Church

48 Winthrop Avenue

Wollaston (Quincy), MA 02170

Map & Directions...

Our Mission:

• To promote and encourage the love of gardening, the study of horticulture, and the development of floral and landscape design skills.
 

• To aid in the protection and conservation of our environment.
 

• To promote, encourage and support civic beautification throughout the City of Quincy.

The team of dedicated WGC members focus on plans, plants and maintaining gardens and planters in selected public areas for the community’s benefit. They also identify local businesses that might qualify for a CB award and participates in the selection and awarding.  

NQHS students assist in pulling invasive garlic mustard plants

This article was written by Ruth Davis and published in the Quincy Sun in May 2024

North Quincy High School students worked with Wollaston Garden Club members to
remove garlic mustard plants from Merrymount Parkway and Pageant Field on May 9.
The site was chosen to prevent the invasive plants from taking over the new plantings.
In addition to receiving instruction on how to remove the plants, the students also
learned why it’s so important to eliminate the plants. Ann Foresman, WGC Horticulture
Chair, said, “the dreaded garlic mustard plant is a highly invasive plant that really takes
over.” Its seeds are dispersed by wind and water and can invade fields and woodlands.
Its roots exude a chemical that inhibits other plants from growing making it a threat to
native plants and habitats. “Each plant can produce thousands of seeds that can spread
for more than 5 years,” Foresman said.

The group of 11 NQHS students earned Community Service hours for their efforts. One
female student commented that she thought they would just be picking up trash, but that
this effort was so much better. Many of the students had not been to the Parkway area
before. “It was fun to see them taking selfies of each other in front of Black’s Creek,”
Foresman said. “We also let them know about the boating and other opportunities
available in the area.”

The garlic mustard pull is the first effort of the WGC’s Conservation Committee. “The
NQHS Community Service Office and the Parks and Recreation Department were
extremely supportive,” said Ruth Davis, Conservation Chair. “We’re already planning an
event to remove Black Swallow Wort in June and look forward to working with both
offices again.”

Several members of the WGC including Foresman are on the newly formed Invasive
Species Management Committee under Quincy’s Department of Natural Resources.
The committee’s focus is to remove non-native invasive plants that are harming the
natural ecosystem and then plant and seed native species. The committee held its first
event on May 11 along a portion of Fenno Street and the trail system.

Our team recently created these beautiful holiday planters at the Wollaston library.

Civic Beautification members met up for spring cleaning at Hillside Avenue in Quincy.

Thank you Wollaston Garden Club members for volunteering your time for the community.

Wollaston Garden Club members begin the spring clean up of Safford Park.

Wollaston Garden Club members begin spring clean up and refresh planters at Wollaston Library.