Lack of Growth at Route 123-Side Wildflower Meadow Puzzles Highway Chief

Two summers after a wildflower meadow that bloomed just off of Route 123 generated high praise and frequent stops from passersby, the town worker responsible for it said he’s puzzled by this season’s lack of growth.

Green thumbs in New Canaan, including Mose Saccary, are trying to figure out just why the wildflower meadow at Route 123 and Parade Hill Road hasn’t taken yet this summer. Credit: Michael Dinan

Mose Saccary, highway superintendent with the New Canaan Department of Public Works, said he’s “a little disappointed” at the no-show flowers at 123 and Parade Hill Road, but willing to “give it some time and hopefully we’ll see some color.”

“I don’t know why” the wildflower meadow hasn’t bloomed, Saccary, a Center School alumnus, told NewCanaanite.com when asked about it. “I used the same seeds, did everything the same.”

Mose Saccary, DPW highway superintendent for New Canaan. Credit: Michael Dinan

The problem might be the acidity levels of the soil, he said.

“It also may be that we’re just not giving it enough time,” Saccary said. “We did the work in April so maybe it just needs some time. I’m hoping that in another month we get some color.”

A gifted green thumb, Saccary created a wildflower meadow at 123 that inspired the New Canaan Garden Club to design its own version in Irwin Park (physically planted by Saccary). Located roughly in the northwestern quadrant of the park, below Gores Pavilion, the club’s meadow attracted visitors last summer in its first bloom of annuals and has come up well again with perennials such as yellow coreopsis and purple lupine.

The New Canaan Garden Club’s wildflower meadow at Irwin Park in New Canaan, June 2016. Credit: Susan Bergen

Visitors to Irwin once again are admiring the meadow, which is one full year behind the original.

“I do think people really enjoy it—there are a lot of people who walk at Irwin, I’m sure mostly people who are on this side of town, and it is used,” said Susan Bergen, of the club’s Irwin Park Committee.

A wildflower meadow can be a fickle thing, experts say.

The New Canaan Garden Club’s wildflower meadow at Irwin Park in New Canaan, June 2016. Credit: Susan Bergen

According to Bergen, it is in the nature of a meadow that invasives can take over, including wind-pollinated species, and one question facing the club is how—in its planning for the area—to create wildlife habitat for pollinators and birds.

Bergen called Saccary “great” and fellow club member Katie Stewart said he’s “a fabulous person” to consult about wildflower meadows.

Stewart said bluebirds have been spotted in the meadow and that the club has considered what it would take to get the meadow to a point where less oversight is required to maintain it, as well as whether it would be worth installing similar areas elsewhere at the park.