ELLSWORTH — Reeser Manley was an educator, a gardener and a writer; and throughout his life he garnered a dedicated following of students, fellow gardeners and readers. Memories of Reeser as a mentor and friend live on, all through Maine and New England — but especially within the Bangor and Ellsworth communities.
Reeser taught at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the University of Maine. He lived the later part of his life in Bangor and Ellsworth, where he continued to teach and garden. From 2007 through 2015, Reeser wrote a weekly gardener’s column for the Bangor Daily News. He also served as a volunteer teacher and supporter to Downeast Maine’s Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Reeser and his life partner Marjorie Peronto have published two books “The New England Gardener’s Year” and “The Life in your Garden, Gardening for Biodiversity”.
In 2017, the Master Gardener Volunteer program partnered with The Ellsworth Garden Club and St. Dunstan’s Church to plant and care for a biodiverse garden. Reeser and Marjorie designed the garden; envisioned as a demonstration garden that celebrates biodiversity and encourages all who visit it to embrace biodiverse life in their own gardens. Come share Reeser’s passion:
Let wildness into your garden.
Nurture bird and other animal life.
Encourage insect diversity for gardening success.
Create a biorefuge with annuals, perennials and native trees and shrubs.
Please join us on Saturday, June 27 as we dedicate this garden to Reeser and set a stone to serve as an everlasting memorial. There will be time to share our memories; to tour and enjoy the garden; and opportunities to learn about the diverse ecosystem that flourishes in this urban setting.
All are welcome to attend.
Saturday, June 27
St. Dunstan’s Church
134 State St. in Ellsworth
9:30-11:30 a.m.
For more information, contact Dan DeLong, head of the planning committee for the dedication*, at dbdelong@gmail.com or 207-266-7823.
* Dan is the garden’s liaison for the Master Gardener program and The Ellsworth Garden Club