The PRA budget for 2025 set aside $5000 for the Adalberto Landscaping contract and $2000 for planting new perennials and new plants for the Parkwood gardens supported by the PRA. So far this year we have paid Adalberto Landscaping $3,935 and paid a total of $486 for additional plants, primarily daffodil bulbs and labor to plant them and to do additional work in the gardens not covered under the Adalberto contract. Following is a description of this additional work that has been accomplished this year.
[By Gerald Sharp, PRA Treasurer and member of the Beautification Committee]
Parkwood Triangle
Two years ago, the county landscapers mowed down in full bloom the 500 daffodils we had planted in the big circle on the median at Parkwood Drive and Parkwood Terrace, which didn’t allow the bulbs to regenerate for the next year.
March 2024 before daffodils were mowed
A week later after daffodil massacre
I complained to Kate Stewart’s office, and they directed me to the county office responsible for mowing the medians. They suggested putting up “Don’t Mow” signs in the future. Last March when the daffodils came up again, I posted signs next to the circle and also at one of the corners of the median where we had planted bulbs in the past. This was successful, and the flowers were spared—both in the circle and in two of the corners. The daffodils in the circle came up again in 2025 but there were no blooms; we hope they will bloom again next spring in 2026.
This fall the PRA hired a worker to drill the holes for planting bulbs, and we planted daffodils at the three corners of the Triangle and also in the mulched areas at the bases of the trees. We also planted daffodils and tulips behind the bench. I am experimenting to see if planting daffodil bulbs in the same holes as tulips will protect the tulips from the deer that like to eat them. I will post No Mow signs when the flowers bloom in the spring and then remove the signs and mow them down in June after they have regenerated.
Roxbury Median with Mailbox
The PRA Beautification Committee planted daffodils here several years ago, but none survived being mowed by the county landscapers. This fall we planted 150 daffodil and tulip bulbs here together in the same holes as part of my experiment to see if the daffodils can protect the tulips from the deer. We also planted a barrier of just daffodils around the entire planting area. I will post a No Mow sign here when they bloom and then cut them down in June, reverting the area back to grass.
My assistant drilling holes for daffodils at this location.
Entrance to Parkwood at Parkwood Drive and Cedar Lane
The Committee planted crocuses here several years ago, but they are all gone now after being mowed. We planted some daffodils in the mulched area and also in the grass. I will install a No Mow sign here when they bloom in the spring and then remove it in June and have the area mowed, reverting it back to grass.
Entrance to the Path to the Park at Wildwood and Parkwood Drive.
Kira refills the dog waste bag dispenser here and suggested planting daffodils here. We planted them on both sides of the path. After they bloom in the spring, I’ll put a No Mow sign here and then remove it in June and have the area mowed, reverting it to just grass.
Jonquel Lane-the cut through next to my house connecting Edgefield Road to Parkwood Drive.
As shown in the photo, where there used to be daffodils on both sides of the path that is especially popular with dog walkers, there are not many daffodils remaining on the right side. This October, my assistant and I planted about 150 bulbs there to replenish them. My neighbors and I mow the grass here, so we don’t have problems with the county lawn cutters mowing down the flowers
Saul Island
Members of the PRA Beautification Committee, Clare Murphy, Kira Lueders (Chair), and I planted 150 daffodil bulbs in the mulched areas of the island which get sufficient sunlight, including the section with the spruce tree and a mulched area around one of the central bushes. There is no grass in these areas, so there won’t be a problem with the county crews cutting them down.
Parkwood Residents Association 