Residents of Colonial Brandywine Village have formed a new Garden Club dedicated to improving the gardens surrounding the Village Plaza along the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail.
Old Brandywine Village President Jenna Prosceno expressed her excitement about the neighbors working together to beautify this important community space. The garden restoration has long been envisioned by Village resident Francena Chalfont and is now being supported by Jim Shanahan, Lorraine Bertuola, and other members of the community.
Planned additions to the refurbished gardens include arrowwood, lamb’s ear, Solomon’s seal, asparagus, and other plants selected to recognize the region’s natural and cultural history. The project will also help draw attention to the Lenape people, who lived, cultivated land, and established communities throughout the region long before the American and French armies traveled through Brandywine Village during the 1781 march to Yorktown.
Through this community-led effort, residents are helping create a more welcoming public space while celebrating the many layers of history connected to the Trail.
Photos by Bill Conley, President of W3R-DE.
