St. Thomas Garden Project
The St Thomas Flower Guild Cutting Garden is finally coming to fruition. The idea of a Colonial Garden at St Thomas was first envisioned in 1937, but other things were more pressing at the time and it was not pursued. In 2019, the St. Thomas Flower Guild received permission from the Vestry to look into options for a cutting garden to be used by the guild for weekly flowers for the church as well as special holidays. Due to COVID, the garden was once again postponed. Finally in 2025, St Thomas Vestry revisited and gave permission to pursue the project.
A Licensed Landscape Designer was hired and the Cutting Garden now has a become visual reality. Our committee has obtained approval from the Town of Bath Historic District Commission.
The garden will be developed in three phases with maintenance included in each phase.
● Phase 1 will include the erection of a cedar cross in the center of the lot, the installation of walkways and the installation of a drainage tile between the church and garden. Western Red Cedar has been located for the cross construction. This phase is estimated to take approximately three months from the time we acquire the wood to completion.
● Phase 2 will include planting native and native-introduction shrubs and trees, as well as a few flowering options for the flower guild to use in weekly arrangements.
● Phase 3 will continue with flower beds, additional shrubs and trees. We plan to procure seating for visitors and parishioners alike to enjoy the garden’s colonial beauty.
Linda Thornton is our committee member who is working on creative ways for funding this garden project. Linda has submitted one grant application and is working on several additional grants. She has collaborated with her fundraising committee on ideas to secure funding of the cutting garden project.
The STEC Cutting Garden Committee members include: Maryanne Adam, Sharon Britt, Maree Benson, LaRue Chuman, Tom Parker, Bob Sutter, Susan Tankard and Linda Thornton. If anyone has questions, please reach out to any of us.
It is the hope of the Flower Guild and this committee that the members of St. Thomas will support this garden project. The members of the Flower Guild at St. Thomas are dedicated to enhancing our church’s beauty with flowers and greenery on a weekly basis, as well as on special holidays and occasions. This cutting garden will be a huge benefit to the Guild, and a treasure for the members of St. Thomas and visitors who come to our campus.
