Community Garden

The summer of 2007 was the inaugural season for the Holly Hills Community Garden at the corner of Bates and Arendes on what was once a weedy vacant lot owned by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

The garden first started to grow when Holly Hills resident and unofficial neighborhood gardener, Tim Bolt, secured the lease for the lot with assistance from Alderman Fred Wessels.

Another Holly Hills resident, Mark Groth, worked with Gateway Greening, the outreach arm of the Missouri Botanical Garden, to get funding. Gardeners paid $25 per raised bed for the chance to grow their very own plot of vegetables, herbs and flowers in the middle of the City. HHIA donated enough money to build two more beds and purchase a storage shed.

In March 2007, Tim and Mark directed about 25 Holly Hills residents - adults and children alike - who helped clear the lot of debris and build raised beds.

One challenge to placing a garden on this site was the lack of a water source, but a generous neighbor allowed gardeners to attach a hose to the neighbor's water faucet for the 2007 season.

There are plans for expansion in 2008 including getting another funding grant to build more beds, planting low canopy trees and erecting a permanent sign. The garden planners also intend to get bids for a plumber to install a water tap on the site.

As the 2008 season approaches, stay tuned to Holly Hills Happenings for information on how you can become a gardener in the City.

Common areas

While Holly Hills is known for its tree-lined boulevards, you can't help but notice the abundance of flowers throughout the neighborhood - along the boulevards, in street corner pots and in the park. One man is primarily responsible for this bounty of beauty: Tim Bolt.

For as long as he's lived in Holly Hills, Tim has spent much of his free time planting bulbs and bushes, shoveling mulch, weeding flower beds and a multitude of other tasks that make our neighborhood one of the most beautiful in all of St. Louis.

Another important person in the beautification of Holly Hills is Victoria Chechik, the Holly Hills coordinator for the Flora Conservancy. In addition to their physical labors, Tim and Victoria have solicited donations of tulip bulbs, rose bushes, trees and more from organizations like Operation Brightside and the Flora Conservancy. Our deepest appreciation to Tim and Victoria for the countless hours they have spent bringing beauty to our neighborhood!

If you'd like to join Tim and Victoria on the next planting project, contact Tim at 922-6220 or by email.