Initially, the Club planted this space along East Center Street as part of the Town's Beautification Project. At that time, only junipers were planted in the space. In 1967, this garden was part of a town wide beautification planting of annual flowers.

Over the years, the garden has continued to change. It has also been a gardening challenge, as this esplanade is located between three lanes of heavily traveled roads through the center of town. The fumes from the cars stopped at the traffic lights and stop sign have made it impossible to grow certain types of flowers at the site.

Three trees from the town's Memorial Tree Planting Program have been placed within the boundaries of this garden. More than 15 years ago tulips were planted at the site and greeted townspeople and visitors alike with a beautiful burst of color announcing spring's arrival. A few years ago, the committee decided to add perennials to this garden. The Russian sage, black-eyed susans, baptisia, assorted lilies and phlox are all thriving. The Knock Out roses are amazing, truly living up to their name. Each season a committee designs and installs assorted annuals to complement the permanent planting

For more than 40 years our club has continued to plant and maintain this centrally located garden. It is a true testament to the commitment Manchester Garden Club has to beautifying our community.

Photo by D. Matthews

The garden has seen some changes over the years as members worked with the veterans to improve the garden to enhance the beautiful granite memorial on the site. This memorial is a smaller replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC, and honors 14 of our town's fallen soldiers.

Initially, there were two small circular gardens at either end of the brick sidewalk that passes in front of the memorial. Soon these two gardens were extended into one long garden along that sidewalk. The Civic Improvement Committee eventually approached the veterans with yet another new design for the gardens. That design created two, much larger, triangular gardens. The expanded space allowed for a more massive planting and complimented the triangular shape of the memorial.

In the mid 1990's, the committee decided to redesign the plant material in the garden, adding tones of yellow, gold, pinks and blues to the previously used red, white and blue theme. Most recently, perennials were added to enhance the garden and extend the growing season.

For more than two decades, honoring our veterans and beautifying our community with this on-going garden endeavor has given club members a great deal of pride and satisfaction.

Photo by club member Dena Matthews, was featured in the 2010 National Veterans Calendar, "Vietnam Veterans Memorials From Across America."

Support for the project came as a result of presentations to the mayor, the superintendent of schools, Manchester Garden Club and Perennial Planters Garden Club, and all the school principals. A site was selected in the town's newest park at that time. Howell Cheney Technical School students built a 5' x 10' arbor with oval windows looking out into the garden. Manchester High School Art Department students (with the assistance of a local business) made stained glass stepping stones depicting the life cycle of the butterfly A Scout, earning his Eagle Badge, installed the stepping-stones. A wooden bridge forms the body of the butterfly and its wings were outlined with flat-topped boulders (carefully selected by park employees so that small children could "walk" along the butterfly's wings.) The Butterfly Garden committee is dedicated to the goal that the garden would be accessible to everyone, and features:

• handicap accessible stone walled planting
• barrels that enable persons with disabilities to work in the garden
• nearby access to the Boundless Playground

Trees, perennials, and shrubs are planted with particular attention being paid to those varieties that a butterfly needs for each stage of its development. The permanent planting is enhanced each year with carefully selected annuals. It is maintained through the efforts of a wide variety of volunteers, supported through the generosity of donations and bequests and supervised by a team of dedicated individuals.

Mr. William E. Buckley, author and teacher, served as president of the Manchester Garden club from 1936 - 1943. His sister, Miss Ellen Buckley, also a member of the garden club, never served as president but was extremely active in the club. She is best remembered for her outstanding floral arrangements.

The plantings in this garden include, the Mountain Laurel 'Raspberry Glow', two Alberta Spruce, two Crimson Pygmy Rhododendrons and two Yellow String Cypress. Daffodils are also planted as they were one of Mr. Buckley's favorite flowers, planted on their property on East Center Street.

Mrs. Marie Langrill and Mrs. Betty Miller, both nieces of the Buckleys, were present at this dedication. Mrs. Phyllis Boss, former student of Mr. Buckley and long time friend and garden club member with both of them, gave the dedication and held a tea at her home afterwards. Coordinator and chairman of this special project was Mrs. Joan Kelsey, the club's Historian.

Photo by S. Mamet