Girl Scout cadette troop plants perennials at Manchester Senior Center

Girl Scout Cadette troop 40631 holding perenials at McLennens. Photo courtesy of Sue LaRocque.

by Sara Swanson

On September 13, Girl Scout cadette troop 40631 out of Saline volunteered their time at the Manchester Senior Center, cleaning out the center’s planters, and prepared the beds then planting perennials donated by McLennens.

Sue LaRocque who co-leads the troop along with Nora Tidman, is a Manchester resident and city council member. She explained that the six scouts are working on their silver award this year, but that they just enjoy doing service projects and that the idea for this project came up when LaRocque was in discussion with Pat Vailliencourt who mentioned this as a volunteer opportunity.

LaRocque stated, “We chose this project because it’s something different than anything else we’ve done, plus [the scouts] learned a lot about plants, planting, soil, light requirements, and the difference between annuals and perennials!”

They planted one perennial in the center of each planter so the seniors can plant annuals around it in the spring. The perennials selected included a red hot poker, a day lilly, a Russian iris, and three others.

What a lovely way to “make the world a better place!”

Scouts from Girl Scout Cadette troop 40631 cleaning out planters at the Manchester Senior Center. Photo courtesy of Sue LaRocque.

Scouts from Girl Scout Cadette troop 40631 preparing to plant perennials in the planters at the Manchester Senior Center. Photo courtesy of Sue LaRocque.

The finished product. Photo credit: Sara Swanson.

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.