Spencer Farley

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Taken from The Iris Fan, Volume 16, Number 2, Winter 2005

 REGION 21 NEWS

My name is Spencer Farley; I am twelve years old and a member of the Lincoln Iris Society in Lincoln , Nebraska .   A special place in Lincoln for me is the Northeast Family Center at Whitehall Mansion .   

For his efforts, Spencer received the Governor's "Point of Light" Award in November, 2006.  Way to go Spencer !

I’ve grown up going to the Mansion with my mom for meetings and for special family gatherings.  Whitehall Mansion is a great old house about a hundred years old.  Two new playgrounds were being donated and I wanted to help.  

The installation was moved from the summer to fall during school hours.  Since I couldn’t help put the playground in, my mom and I tried to think of other ways to help.  We came up with the idea of planting hybrid iris along the playground fence to help beautify the area.  

Our project started out small, but before we knew it our garden grew to 25 feet by 58 feet and would include plants and flowers that would bloom all season.  With a project this big we needed help.  I asked my fellow members in the Iris Society if they would be willing to help.  I was a little nervous getting up and speaking to the whole group but they were wonderful!  Not only did they agree to help, but they voted to donate money to the project!   

Members also donated hybrid iris, daylilies and other plants.  I called on some local businesses to donate needed chemicals and flowering bulbs.  

We even got a park bench!  I am also a member of 4-H and the 4-H Teen Council helped shape and put granite stepping stones in the garden. 

It was really fun seeing all the people come together and work on the project.  In all, we had nearly one hundred volunteers.  

Even my best friend, who has never gardened, helped!  

The garden has nearly 500 flowering bulbs, around two hundred iris, thirty hybrid daylilies and many other flowers and grasses.  All donated.  It was fun seeing the garden come together.  Giving something back to the community feels good.

(From the Editor:  Thank you so much Spencer for being courageous enough to make a difference!  I really think Spencer did a wonderful job, don’t you?  Like I have been saying all along, don’t be afraid to ask – you might just be surprised at the answer!]

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