PROJECT 04 - Landscaping & Grounds
There are some shade trees in the northern part and there is one large bush in the middle of the cemetery, otherwise, it is mostly open field. The outside fence is in good shape though it does not surround the northwest side of the cemetery. There has been damage to at least one stone due to water runoff from the barn that is adjacent to the northwest side of the cemetery.
Water Damage from Roof
The roof on the barn next to the cemetery slopes towards the cemetery. As a result,
any time it rains, water dumps directly into the cemetery off the roof.
The temporary solution would be to build a cover or framework around the stone to prevent any future damage. The better solution would be to have the barn's owner find some way to divert the water.
Trees and Bushes on the Property
The Burying Ground has some lovely shade trees and two bushes. Otherwise, it is primarily an open field. it could probably use some landscaping updates.
Shade trees: While the trees inside the cemetery provide shade and some protection from the rain, at this point, they are large enough that some of them have disturbed several graves. All but one of these trees are black locusts, which were not planted and put the stones in danger due to falling branches. The trees are also quite old and may not be healthy. Ultimately, the plan is to remove them safely.
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Bushes: there is one large lilac bush near the middle. It seems to be healthy but quite large. There are some other "scrubby" plants growing up around it that should be removed. There is also a cluster of plants near the northeast corner.
Additional trees or bushes: It may be nice to add more foliage so the Burying Ground could be a little more welcoming. Many people are unaware of its existence and it could become a special place to honor and remember the earliest settlers of Vergennes. This article from the National Park Service has a lot of helpful information if we pursue that avenue. We've been told that the local DAR Chapter used to grow flowers in the cemetery. While shade trees are nice, there are always concerns about falling down and breaking stones. Bushes need to be trimmed. Unless there is a large budget for maintenance, less is more for landscaping.