(Photo: (left to right) John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden Manager Mary Schmutz and Volunteers Melanie Howard and Peter O’Connor)
Meet Melanie Howard – A Committed Volunteer Caring for the Humes Japanese Stroll Garden
Melanie has been a committed Land Alliance volunteer for nearly five years. Her favorite place to spend time is the Humes Japanese Stroll Garden. She works there throughout the winter months to ensure the Garden is ready to welcome visitors each spring. After retiring in 2020 as a nurse practitioner, she sought a meaningful way to continue to give back to her community.
One of the things that makes volunteering at the Land Alliance special is the diversity of properties. In Melanie’s words, “I initially thought I’d be spending most of my time in the preserves. And while I love them, I really fell in love with the Stroll Garden. I love the contemplative environment. The garden is not a ‘showy’ one. You have to look closely. You have to observe. Crazy as it sounds, I love working in the bamboo groves. I love the colors of the plants. I love the feel of the bamboo stalk! I’ve also discovered that I love moss!”
Volunteering with the Land Alliance allows you to meet wonderful, like-minded people who appreciate the outdoors. Melanie says, “The most unexpected part of volunteering was meeting and becoming friendly with the other volunteers. Kindred spirits! We work hard on many of our projects, but we also really enjoy ourselves! We joke that we’ve become a Stroll Garden family-but we really have!”
Dedicating your time to a wonderful cause while learning about the natural world is an extremely rewarding experience. With the guidance of Stroll Garden Manager Mary Schmutz, Melanie has developed a deep appreciation for all things green. Inspired by what she’s learned in the Garden, she has created a moss garden at home.
Melanie is a pleasure to work with! We sincerely appreciate all of her efforts and are grateful she chose to share her time with us!
Volunteers for Open Space Program
Sign Up to Volunteer Today!
Do you want to work outside, meet some cool people and learn about our natural world? Do you like to help others, help our wildlife and help our planet? Do you need community service hours or want to use your time in a meaningful way? If so, the Land Alliance is always looking for new volunteers. For more information, please register online and our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you.
