The grounds at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children were already beautiful, with a number of local garden clubs having worked hard to enhance the landscaping in the gardens and courtyards. Over the summer, though, something new blossomed in the butterfly garden: a 500-gallon pond complete with waterfalls. You can learn more about the project in an article that ran in The Virginian-Pilot on Sunday, Sept. 20. The article also is available here.
Ron Herrick, the facility maintenance manager, designed the pond and installed it with help from his crew. Norfolk’s Harborfront Garden Club provided money to build the pond, while the parents of some residents donated koi for the pond. Residents can go outside, of course, to enjoy the serene scene, but they also can see the pond through the window as they pass through a main hallway. And they can listen to the waterfall by pressing a large button beneath the window to play a recording of the rushing water, thanks to the efforts of Mamie McCloud, an occupational therapy technician.