Bucks Beautiful, a local non-profit organization dedicated to beautifying Bucks County, recently announced that funds raised through their events and donations have enabled them to enhance the community in a myriad of ways. This year they have planted 85 native trees through their RePlant Bucks initiative.
The RePlant Bucks program began in 2018 as a direct result of accumulated effects over the past decade of disease, invasive insects and storm damage on Bucks County’s aging tree canopy. As this has been devastating to witness, they are committed to lead the way in facilitating the reforestation of our local landscape.
Partnering with local nurseries, landscapers and community groups, 1,813 trees have already been installed in 37 locations throughout the county. Bucks Beautiful also provides support for the creation and maintenance of local gardens.
This year they have provided grants for the following:
- Native Plant Demonstration Garden in partnership with the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners at the Lower Makefield Township Building. The project was developed to educate the public about the environmental value of native plants and their benefit to wildlife such as birds, butterflies and pollinators. This garden demonstrates that natives can be a beautiful and sustainable part of the home and office landscape.
- The Hibbs House Kitchen Garden at Washington Crossing Historic Park, which encompasses many species of plants – including culinary and medicinal herb – that are accurate to 1776 or earlier and likely to have been grown in Bucks County during the Revolution. Throughout the year numerous educational activities are offered to both seasonal visitors and to the thousands of schoolchildren who visit the park.
- An abundance of blooms serve as a living memorial for the soldiers represented by the 104th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment Monument opposite the Bucks County Courthouse. The gardens at the monument and at the Bucks County Civil War Museum and Library are beautified and maintained by dedicated museum volunteers.
- Bucks Beautiful helped to install and support the Warrington Garden Club’s creation of spring, fall and winter decorative plantings gracing the grounds and gathering areas of Bucks County Neshaminy Manor in Warrington.
- Enhance the entrance to the Snipes Farm and Education Center in Morrisville with a complete renovation to provide a calming and beautiful ecological multi-species hedgerow to screen the Center from the noise and traffic from nearby Route 1. All of the plants used are native and will attract a wide variety of beneficial insects and birds.
- Jamison Elementary School, where Bucks Beautiful will plant an array of daffodils as well as endow a Wildflower Meadow to serve as an outdoor classroom. This project will serve as a tribute to Shane Slone, a former student who tragically passed away earlier this year, thanks to many donations received from Shane’s friends and family.
- Assist Afton Elementary School in Yardley to hold a student activity day where students help plant daffodil bulbs on the school grounds as well as planting an additional 2,000 bulbs to beautify the property.
- Bristol Borough Waterfront’s recent transformation will be further brightened each year by a wave of 5,000 beautiful yellow daffodils by a planting co-sponsored by the borough.
- The prior phases at Doylestown’s Pine Run Retirement Community were so well received that it’s become an annual tradition graciously underwritten by Bucks Beautiful co-founder Jack McCaughan and Bob and Alice Vernon. This year’s bulbs will be planted in memory of Jack’s wife, Carol, creating a combined 32,500 blooms that will be a cheerful display for residents and visitors alike this spring.
- Requests for bulbs were granted to non-profits throughout the county to enhance their springtime gardens with their signature daffodils.
Generous donations, community partnerships and our growing membership program allow us to coordinate events, community projects and educational programs to continue to beautify Bucks County. To become a member, purchase our signature daffodil bulbs, or contribute to our cause with a donation or memorial gift, please visit www.bucksbeautiful.org or call 215-340-3639.