Daytime – Gardeners at Gillette Castle beautify the veranda

Local gardeners take care of the veranda at Gillette Castle to beautify the site before the holiday season. Samantha Van Jeune, of Chester, and the president of the East Haddam Garden Club, Jamie Burgess, of Haddam, are leading the efforts.

The couple created plant labels, developed fact sheets, and added period-appropriate greenery to the alcove of William Gillette’s eccentric century-old home, nestled atop the ‘Seventh Sister’ hill in the Gillette Castle State Park, in the towns of East Haddam. and Lyme along the Connecticut River.

“The garden community truly lives up to the conservation effort, for which we are extremely grateful,” said Lynn Wilkinson, chair of Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, in a statement.

Those interested in participating in additional gardening efforts are encouraged to send an email with the subject line “Gardening Works” to [email protected].