by Pamela Moore,
Harvey C. Noone Legion Family
In the fall of 2021, the joint Legion/Village goal of planting a Living Field of Honor for Veterans along the entire length of the Westshore Trail in Churchville was achieved. Among those who helped plant were members of Cub Scout Pack 156. Many of them had questions about how bulbs grow into daffodils, whether bees and other insects pollinate the daffodils, and how the cycle of nature works along the trail. A spring event was promised.
The daffodils have begun to emerge. As the temperatures rise, blossoming will begin. If the weather cooperates, the show will last over a month. Soon, the oak tree planted in 2018 in honor of Private Harvey C. Noone, the Hometown Hero who died in France during WWI and after whom the Churchville Legion was named, will begin to leaf out. So will the lilacs from Highland Park that were also planted in his honor in 2018 and they will be joined by the other trees that are part of the Village’s heritage tree collection.
Timing a spring event to coincide with the Mother Nature is tricky. Both Arbor Day and Earth Day are at the end of April, but how far along spring will be is never a certainty. So that more residents, especially children, can learn about the Living Fields of Honor and the cycle of nature, there will be a display at the Newman Riga Library during the month of April. It will feature photographs of the daffodils beginning in 2019, as well as the life cycle of beneficial insects and habitat that they require. Included will be a Butterfly Puddler, complete with instructions about how to create one to attract butterflies to your yard. Of course, a walk along the trail, to take in the beauty of the daffodils and watch the magic of spring unfolding is highly recommended.
