Members of the Penn State Master Gardeners Association, the Armstrong County Herb Group and the Kittanning Garden Club joined together with several children and volunteers to plant a variety of flowers in the new flower beds in the YMCA’s yard.

“Before this building was the YMCA, it was a showcase house and featured very extravagant flower gardens,” said Scott Heasley, YMCA CEO. “We have wanted to bring the gardens back and help preserve some of the history of those gardens of the past.”

Heasley said the money for the plants was donated by individuals and businesses, along with a $3,200 grant from the Armstrong County Community Foundation.

“The grant will help with the planting of a butterfly and bird garden,” he said. “There will be specific plants and flowers that attract different species of butterflies and birds.”

Jolena Reefer, older adult program director at the YMCA, said the goal of the gardens is more than just beautification, but also education.

“We have many groups of kids and adults that participate in programs and camps here and we can add the gardens to the mix,” she said. “It gives them a chance to learn something about flowers and plants.”

One of the kids participating in yesterday’s planting said it was purely a coincidence that he wore a camouflage shirt stating “This shirt hides the dirt” and the fact that he was coated with dirt from planting flowers.

“I kind of knew what to do to plant flowers,” said Matt Bauman, 11, of West Kittanning. “I help my mom plant flowers at home, so I am good at digging the holes.”

Bauman said he did learn some new “hard words” associated with flowers and how to properly plant them, but he couldn’t remember them.

A concern that the planting of the flower gardens would impact the stage used for the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival in August, Reefer said the gardens would not interfere with the placement of the stage for future festivals.

“The flower gardens provide an even nicer area to sit and enjoy the concerts,” she said. “The festival committee has worked closely with us to make sure the gardens won’t be affected.”