Town officials cited the effects of a brutal winter, combined with 25 years of wear-and-tear on planting at Waveny House in moving to authorize funding for new landscaping around the cherished town-owned structure.
Over the years, plants have grown to obstruct the view from the Waveny House balcony to the fields and gazebo behind it, the Board of Selectmen said at their July 7 meeting. The tipping point to action was the large number of foundational plants and holly’s which were devastated by the brutal winter, Recreation Director Steve Benko said at the meeting, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department.
Plantings by rear of Waveny House to be refurbised. Credit: Bella Carpi
The measure was passed 2-0 by First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and board member Beth Jones. Selectman Nick Williams did not attend the meeting.
“It’s gonna be really nice to open up the view again from the patio. I think it’ll be a big improvement and I’m glad you have the money in special funds to do it,” Jones said.
The town will enter into a contract with Gregg’s Garden Center & Landscaping of New Canaan. The landscaping company provided the town on June 17 with a $7,914 estimate for the work. The work is projected to include: the removal of all old bushes and stumps at the back of Waveny house; 6 pyramid boxwoods; 6 medium boxwoods; 4 rhododendrons; 12 knockout roses; 1 tri-color beech tree; 7 gold mops; 12 variegated liriopes; 4 hydrangeas; and the necessary peat moss fertilizer, mulch, and labor.
The funds will come from the town’s special projects fund.