Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
With its motto, “The Trail Shall Prevail,” the Hydrangea Trail continues to grow throughout Atlantic City. Harkening back to the famed, original Hydrangea Trail of the 1940s – 1970s, the trail has been reimagined and re-established as Hydrangea Trail 2.0. Now in the third year of its three-year plan, Hydrangea Trail 2.0 celebrates our beloved coastal flower while beautifying the community of Atlantic City. The group’s stated goal is to encourage, “knowledge of history and horticulture, conservation of native and introduced plants, and appreciation for the role of flowers to reduce stress, create beauty, fuel community pride, and attract visitors as well as residents.”
In year one, the volunteers of the non-profit group, Inlet Hydrangea Trail Volunteers (IHTV), worked to reestablish the trail. They began by planting 100 hydrangeas in Historic Gardner’s Basin in Atlantic City.
In 2023, the group grew and installations extended beyond the Inlet. They held their first fundraiser in January 2023 and held a Mother’s Day hydrangea sale at the Absecon Lighthouse in May. They also participated in various community events including an Earth Day celebration, farmers markets, and working with different student groups throughout the region. In June of 2023, the IHTV donated six hydrangeas for the Absecon Lighthouse garden facing Vermont Avenue.
Now in their third year, the group has grown by leaps and bounds. In April, Hydrangea Trail 2.0 held its second annual fundraiser at the Cardinal Restaurant in Atlantic City. They also received a grant from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation for the Mid-Atlantic wildflower kit. This kit includes native wildflowers that support local bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects in the Mid-Atlantic region. In June, the wildflowers were planted at the Cardinal Restaurant on New York Avenue, because its location serves as a midtown connection between gardens at either end of the city.
The citywide Hydrangea Trail 2.0 begins in the Atlantic City Inlet and is centered in Gardner’s Basin. This is where you will find the Carriage House, home base for Hydrangea Trail 2.0. Visitors to the Carriage House can meet with volunteers and learn about the history and future of the Trail. In June, signs that help tell the story of the Hydrangea Trail were installed on the Carriage House doors. In partnership with the Inlet Community Development Corporation, Gardner’s Basin, and the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, the group also completed the “Inlet Planter Pots” project. Local and professional artists painted 22 small, medium, and large flower pots to beautify the community.
Hydrangea Trail 2.0 is now on the map. HT2.0 markers can be found near businesses, community parks, and private homes. Each site is marked with these special signs with the HT2.0 logo. Spot the marker, and you will know you are close to an installation along the newly established Hydrangea Trail.
In addition to continuing hydrangea installations throughout the city, Hydrangea Trail 2.0 is also offering presentations from Rutgers Master Gardeners about identifying and caring for hydrangeas, including how to prune them. The first presentation was held July 15. They will also be offering the event at the Amphitheater at Gardner’s Basin on Aug. 13 at 4 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. If you would like more information about Hydrangea Trail 2.0 or some of the upcoming events, contact Gail Karslo at gailfromgardensofac@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
