The FP Conservation Society successfully completed its first planting task inside the fences of Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary with the seeding of the wildflower meadow in the eastern basin. Hundreds of hours of labor went into the effort to clear the designated area of decades of broken glass, cans and other debris in preparation for the wildflower seeds.

Jim Newman is spearheading the efforts for a blooming summer meadow, which is expected to reach its peak in the third year after planting. One hundred fifty years of topsoil was spread and then rototilled with the sand mixture on the basin bottom. Thanks to Dom's Landscaping, a powerful rototiller was provided to turn over the mixture in the 120 foot by 120 foot area. A crew of volunteers cleared, shoveled and raked the area to a reasonable level area and then the seeds and mulch were applied. Germination of the seeds should start this coming week with flowers expected in mid-summer.

The seed mixture is Glo-Coat Northeastern Wildflower mix with the predominant seeds to be bachelor button, baby's breath, lance LVG coreopsis, Siberian wallflower, dame's rocket, perennial lupine, scarlet flax, rocket larkspur and sweet William. Minor seeds include primrose, purple coneflower, shasta daisy, blanketflower, corn poppy, black-eyed Suan, New England aster, gold yarrow, gayfeather, cathchfly and spurred snapdragon.

The June monthly meeting will be on June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at village hall. Updates from the various committee heads will be presented and new projects discussed. The planting committee is currently developing plans for butterfly plantings along the path inside the gate. The path is approximately 1/2 mile in length so the plans will take multiple years to enact. The committee is comprised of Palma Mega, Dan Jones, Cindy Pisciotta, Frank Cantreva and Jean Petta, and new volunteers are welcome to join the group. Residents with a passion for flowers are encouraged to join in the fun, make new friends and play in the dirt with others just like your younger days. The Centennial Gardens project is a massive one and much of the attention of the FPCS is currently on the eastern basin.

A first garden will be small butterfly gardens, which attract birds, bees and butterflies, all necessary in the habitat we are beginning to create. Additionally, a special rose garden project will be planned and the soil prepared in the coming months. An observation deck over the wildflower meadow will be constructed near Floral Parkway during the summer and carpenters and handymen and women are encouraged to join in to lend a hand.

Due to a growing interest in the Centennial Gardens project, the FPCS will conduct an open-house guided tour of the gardens and the vision for the future on Sunday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours will take approximately 25 minutes and will start every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour. Here's your opportunity to see what the future holds and just what is on the inside of the fence. We'll even show you the home of two of our noisy friends - the Downy Woodpeckers.

To be successful, the FPCS needs the support and manpower of many more of our residents. You can contact Steve Corbett (352-5383), Chris Deeks (488-5140), Jim Newman (354-0463) and any other member of the FPCS team to join in the challenge and the fun. Dues are only $10 per family annually which will defray the cost of a future newsletter that will begin by September.