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By: Brendan McDonough

Reporter for North Tonawanda

With rakes in hand volunteers spent the day trying to make the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens look a little better. More than 20 people gave up their time to work in the soil and also in the greenhouse. They were doing everything from planting new bulbs to improving the area that was once a community fountain.

“We have turned it into a butterfly garden and we are planting plants that attract pollinators, such as butterflies and bees and maybe even some hummingbirds. These are plants that I have chosen because they are either native to our area or they are hearty in either heat or drought, because we right now do not have an irrigation system and we want to have things that will grow well in the conditions that we have,” said Lora Pecoraro, North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization.

All winter long they have been cultivating the seeds and getting things ready for planting. For volunteers helping out is a labor of love. They say you do not have to have a green thumb just a love for North Tonawanda and a desire to help make the area look better.

“I love doing it, but if someone is not doing it, then it is not doing to get done. Then when you are driving by and you glance over and you see the beautiful plants and the colorful flowers, it is a really good feeling.  I feel really proud of what I am doing today,” said Barbara Miller, North Tonawanda Resident.

If you would like to help out you can contact them on their Facebook page or email [email protected].