RANGELEY – For several years now, Rangeley visitors and residents of the area have enjoyed the spectacular view of Rangeley Lake and Bald Mountain from the Scenic Byway’s Whip Willow Farm Overlook at the base of Dallas Hill. And thanks to the efforts of Paul Packard and the Rangeley’s Girl Scout Troop, a nicely cut lawn and splendid array of flowers have sprinkled the foreground with color.
Unfortunately, due to tight economic times, for the past few years that has been a shortage of funding pay for the weeding and maintenance of the Overlook’s flower gardens. As a result, the gardens had become so shaggy that you could not see the flowers among the weeds.
Enter volunteer gardeners extraordinaire, and Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust members Joan Yankee and Joann Meisel. Packing more elbow grease than a tub of Crisco, and putting the Jolly Green Giant’s thumb to shame, these two ladies attacked the tangle of weeds with a vengeance. Joani took the lead, and after receiving a generous donation of mulch from the town, she was at the Overlook by 7 a.m. Undaunted by the rainy, foggy, drizzlies, she began pulling the suffocating weeds while carefully preserving the daffodils, lilies, cone flowers, Black-eyed Susans, and cat mint planted a few summers ago by the local Girl Scouts and their moms.
Due to the size of the job, and the stubbornness of the interlopers, Joani called in the reinforcements, her friend Joann Meisel. Fueled by a “can-do attitude,” a commitment to the community, and soggy but indelible smiles, the two volunteers pulled, dug, and raked the beds into shape. Within three days they were transformed from wild and tangled to neat as a pin, patiently waiting for the sun to coax a brilliant display of blossoms.
After restoring order to the Overlook, Joani and Joanne moved on to their next project, and one that they have been working on as volunteers for several years – weeding the garden at the Rangeley Town Park by the boat launch. Once an overgrown tangle of weeds, it has been tamed by the efforts of these volunteers. Today, due to the commitment of the volunteers, the garden and its beautiful blooms are the centerpiece of the park and are enjoyed by all.
Joani and Joann, like all volunteers in Rangeley, are critical to the success and operation of many local organizations. Nearly every festival and annual event, nearly every effort to protect our natural resources, and nearly every effort to provide art and outdoor recreation are underpinned by the efforts of volunteers. The in-kind value of volunteer time easily exceeds $100,000 each year but in reality, volunteer contributions are truly priceless.
So, the next time you stroll though the Park or take in a sunset at the Whip Willow Farm Overlook, take a minute to think of the hard working volunteers who donated their time and effort to improve your experience. Better yet, join them as a volunteer! The two garden projects are too much for these two ladies to handle on their own, so they would welcome any help you can provide. Joani will happily take your phone call, and when she is not inspecting boats for invasive plants, weeding the gardens, or helping out with local festivals, she can be reached at 864-8038.
