Cleveland Cultural Gardens

Throughout 2009 The Greek Cultural Garden continued to receive financial support from its sponsoring organization, The Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio (HPS).  HPS’ financial support provided the funds necessary to secure the resources needed to repair and turn the sprinkler system on/off for the season, contract with Morningstar Tree Service to prune gingko trees in the central court along with six of the trees on the south staircase on the west slope.   Additional tree pruning was provided by funding from the Holden Trust.

During 2009, HPS funding was also used to purchase the materials needed to repair the two staircases on the west slope, leading up to the poet’s bench platform.   An anonymous donation was received to pay for the sandstone used to replace the broken pieces. The labor needed for the repair was donated by Duke Karagiozis, Jimmy Watson and Andy Chakalis, who also volunteered their time weekly throughout the season (March through November) in cleaning up, planting, raking, weeding, etc., performing the maintenance necessary to maintain the Greek Garden.

The trimming of the trees and the repair of the sandstone staircases were the two major initiatives that had been planned and were accomplished in 2009.

The Gates Mills Horticultural School provided volunteer students who also assisted in the clean-up and planting effort on a weekly basis, during their school term.  Through the generosity of HPS, a stipend is provided to thank Gates Mills Horticultural School students for their efforts.

Through-out the year, HPS received additional donations for the Greek Garden which were used to purchase plantings of ground cover and shrubs and purchase organic fertilizer used throughout the season.

Unfortunately the Garden suffered from some vandalism during the year.  Sprinkler heads on the irrigation system were broken and the some graffiti was carved on the west face of the wall directly above the poet’s bench.   Many calls have also been made in an effort to correct the lighting of the west slope and upper garden areas.  Efforts to get this corrected will need to continue in 2010.  As part of the fall clean-up leaves were raked from the central court and upper garden areas and deposited on the sidewalk on East Blvd. in front of the garden awaiting pick–up by the City.  Leaves were raked on the West slope and deposited on the tree lawn awaiting pick-up.   In an effort to save funds, the City did not pick up leaves, but mulched them.  As a result all of the leaves that had been piled up were blown back into the upper garden area and west slope area and subsequently mulched.  After bringing to the attention of the City and CCGF, the impact of mulching the amount of leaves that fall from the 78 trees on the Greek garden site, and the eventual harm to the lawn and planting beds, we were notified that the City would reconsider and begin to again pick-up the leaves raked by our volunteers from our Garden site.   We are hopeful that this will be the case in 2010.

We were fortunate to benefit from additional volunteers groups.  HPS sponsored a rowing team, who as a way to thank HPS for its financial support, volunteered for fall clean-up.  Additionally, students from Case Western Reserve University volunteered to assist with the fall clean-up effort of cutting down 2500 day lilies on the west slope and pruning and trimming thirty viburnum on the upper garden.

In response to a request from the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Greek  Cultural Garden along with the other Cultural Gardens participated in their exhibition highlighting the Cultural Gardens:  “Cleveland: A Celebration of Cultures”. In additional to providing an Icon representing our Greek Culture, a lecture was given along with a panel display on the efforts of the Greek Community to restore, replant and maintain the Greek Cultural Garden.  This lecture was given at the Maltz Museum by Andrew Chakalis.

Unfortunately we do not have the statistics to report on the number of weddings performed in 2009 at the Greek garden.

Following are pictures of the 2009 Garden staircase project and a central court view from the fountain.

Andrew Chakalis, Greek Cultural Garden Primary Delegate

Central Courtyard, Eastward, Greek Cultural Garden 2009

South staircase and lateral sidewalk and stairs, Greek Cultural Garden 2009

Lower portion of the south staircase, Greek Cultural Garden 2009

North staircase, Greek Cultural Garden 2009

Lower portion of the north staircase, Greek Cultural Garden 2009