The Trail of Hope Gardens

The Children’s Garden

"Beautiful garden with an even more beautiful purpose-Thanks for the work that you all do!"

2013 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence Honorable Mention.  The Trail of Hope received this award in June of 2013.  This award was from the National Park Service.  

The Gateway Garden- As you enter the Trail of Hope, you will be greeted by a “Trail of Hope” arbor and splash of annuals and perennials including sunflowers, butterfly bushes, Canna lilies, and zinnia.  In August the sunflower grow to the height of over 10 feet.

Glad to See You Garden- This garden was planted with gladiolus by the Lyons Girl Scouts. This garden greets you as you enter the Trail of Hope

The Week of Hope Week 7 Bench- This bench was signed and installed by the Week of Hope week 7.  This bench is in a prime location for viewing the covered bridge and gardens.

The Week of Hope Plaque – The Trail of Hope would like to honor the 23  Weeks of Hope from 2012 to present. These volunteers came from all over the northeast to help on the Trail of Hope.  Some of the projects they worked on included the deck, Noah’s Ark, Raised Bed Garden, accessibility pond, Waterfalls and pond, swing, sign-in booth, “Tree of Hope and the "Yellow Brick Road.”  As you walk down the Trail of Hope, you will find 12 benches with all of their names on them.

The International Garden of Love- These gardens are divided into two areas that feature plants from South America and North America in the east garden.  The west garden features plants from Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia and Africa.  This garden is surrounded by the lollipop kids.  What are the lollipop kids?  They are faces of children from around the world.  The faces appear where the vegetables originate from.  This is a great way for students to learn about where vegetables originate from.  We often ask where potatoes come from.  Do you know?

The Willow Tunnel- The Willow Tunnel was planted in March of 2012 with willow trees donated by Dom Bartucca .  This tunnel is over 25 feet long, and has morning glories growing up the both sides.  This is a favorite of kids.  

The Butterfly Garden

The idea came from the magazine Birds and Blooms.  The butterfly design was designed with rocks from the afterschool program at the Lyons Community Center and planted by the Marion Girl Scouts.  This garden is a centerpiece of the children’s garden and has been maintained by the Week of Hope, L.E.A.P. program and the “Garden Angel” Carol Kildoyle .  Everything in this garden will attract butterflies.   It is also the largest shaped butterfly garden in the state of N.Y.

The Butterfly Bench – This bench is dedicated to Vanessa Marie Aikin who passed away from cancer on August 8, 2012.  At the time Vanessa passed, there was a rainbow over the Trail of Hope.   The name Vanessa means butterfly.

Oscar the Grouch Composting- This isn’t a garden, but a way to teach composting, which will be used to enhance the gardens for years to come.

Sundial- Yes, we have a Sundial filled with the herb thyme. The sundial is planted with different kinds of thyme for “Time Zones.” Mrs. Quagliata's fifth grade class built this garden in June of 2012.

The Raised "Bed"-  Yes this raised bed is built like a bed and has a quilt made out of flowers.  This bed was built by the Week of Hope, week 1 and planted by week 2.

The Apple Dome  Added in 2013 the Apple Dome is made possible from a donation from Walfer Farms in Huron N.Y.  The Trail of Hope is in the heart of Apple County.  Over time the tree will be trained to form a dome.

American Gothic and Mexican and Haitian cutouts.  Come take your photo in these cutouts.  This has become a popular Facebook profile for those that have visited the garden.  These were built by the Week of Hope week 4 and 5.

Week of Hope, Week 5 Bench- A wonderful place to sit and look at all the beautiful gardens to the east.

Rainbow Garden- This garden was built by the Lyons Girl Scouts in May of 2012.  This garden is annuals and will need to be planted each year.

The Tee-Pee Bean Garden- This garden was planted by the Week of Hope week one with Heirloom Scarlet Runner Beans.  The Scarlet Runner Beans are a favorite of hummingbirds and bees.  This garden will need to be planted every year.

The West Raised Bed Wheelchair Scented Garden- This garden was built by volunteers in May of 2012.  This garden was planted by the Week of Hope week one and is full of plants that are scented.  We recommend that you please touch, feel and smell this garden.

The Sunflower Garden.  Sunflowers are a favorite of all.  You will enjoy this garden as well.

The Pizza Garden- This garden was planted by Mrs. Quagliata's fifth grade class in June of 2012.  This garden contains toppings you would put on your pizza. They are oregano, onions, peppers, basil and tomatoes.  This garden is shaped like a pizza with stones.

Sod Furniture West - Not a garden, but a place to sit and relax, and look at the butterfly garden right in front of you.  The furniture is all natural and is made of grass.

The Heart of Garlic- This garden was planted in October of 2011.  (Garlic is planted in the fall and harvested in early July).  The inside of the garden is planted with salvia and with tulips in the spring.

Herb Garden- It's parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme and many others.  What is so special about herb gardens?  We can teach how to use herbs in cooking.

The Covered Bridge – The covered bridge or the "Bridge of Hope was built by Mark De Cracker, Adam Chapin and Rich Hoven in November of 2011 with a donation from Secor Lumber. 

The Covered Bridge 

The Covered Bridge Garden- A selection of annuals and perennials which include zinnias, cosmos and cone-flowers. This garden is viable to north as you walk down the trail before the covered bridge.

Covered Bridge Planters- These planters were built by the Week of Hope week 2 and filled with a variety of flowers.

The Wave Garden- This garden was planted and sponsored by consumers from the FLDDSO program.  This garden is full of Wave petunias and Profusion zinnias.

Sod Furniture South- Not a garden but a place to sit and relax and look at the butterfly garden and willow tunnel in front of you.  The furniture is all natural and is made of grass.

The Perennial Garden- This garden is above the Wave garden and is full of color from June until frost with a variety of perennials that include daisies, phlox, bee balm, and coneflower

The Mint Garden- Lyons was once the Peppermint Capital of the world.  To honor this tradition, this garden contains the mints that would have been grown by local farmers in the area to be made into essential oils and shipped around the world.  This garden includes peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, ginger mint, pineapple mint and many more.

The Ribbon of Hope- This wonderful project was done during the summer of 2017 by the Week of Hope. Rocks were also painted from local nursing homes and day habitation programs. 

The Class of 1957 from Lyons, N.Y. Bench – The class of 1957 donated $500 towards the Trail of Hope.  In honor of their donation there is a bench with all the class members on it.   From this bench you have a prime view of the sunflower garden and Wave garden.

Week of Hope, Week 5 Bench, Installed by week two and painted by lead artist Qian Ye who is a world class opera singer.  The bench has two famous painting the Japanese Wave and Starry, Starry Night.  The bench is next to the fire pit. This was installed in 2013.

The Ribbon of Hope  The Ribbon of Hope was built during the Summer of 2017 by the Week of Hope.  This is project is a very moving project.  Rocks are painted for different causes and anybody can sign a rock for a loved one.  Survivors can also sign rocks. For example a pink rock is for Beast Cancer.

The Pond
The pond was install by the Week of Hope in the Summer of 2013.  The pond has quickly become a favorite of all ages.  The pond has a waterfalls and is full of turtles, fish and frogs.

Raised Bed Wheelchair Garden East- This garden was built by the Week of Hope week one.  The garden is planted with a variety of vegetables and flowers that is at eye level for children and accessible for wheelchairs.

The Orange Garden-  The Trail of Hope is in "Cuse" country.  Everything in this garden is orange, carrots, tomatoes, beets, and peppers.  

The Fire Pit-  We now have a place to have a campfire and the sound of the near by waterfalls. This was made possible by the donation from Phelps Cement and constructed by the Week of Hope, week 2.

                                                   
Gazebo The Gazebo was  built by the Week of Hope during the summer of 2014.  The Gazebo is a great place to get out of the hot sun and have a picnic next to the waterfalls and enjoy the wonderful gardens.  

The Accessibility Tank This former lobster tank was donated by Silver Waters Bed and Breakfast.  This pond was installed by the many weeks of Hope during the summer of 2013.  This is pond with a waterfalls is now also a wishing well with proceeds going to the Trail of Hope.

Going down the Trail

The Garden Path after the Covered Bridge- These gardens are a mix of annuals and perennials along the north side of the berm as you walk down the path.  Growing along the path are Zinnias (annual), Shasta Daisies, Lupines, Foxglove, and Bee Balm, Blanket flowers, and Rudbeckia.

The Native Berm – This garden will all be native wildflowers and grasses.  With the help of Applied Ecological Services, this entire area will serve as a reminder of the flowers, and grasses that grew before invasives were brought into this area.  The flowers from these gardens can be collected and planted to bring back the natives to other areas.

The Evergreen Garden- This garden as it's name implies, is green.  This garden is planted with Rhododendrons , Azalea, Holly, and Blueberries, Red Bud, and Dogwood.  Not only does it stay green throughout the year, it will have a splendid display of flowers on the trees and shrubs in the spring.  The shrubs and trees in this garden need a lower soil PH to thrive.  Some of these shrubs and trees are deciduous (they lose their leaves) but they all love acid soil.

Confier Cove-  Planted with pines, firs and spruce as a haven for birds. In little over a month the birds are flocking to the feeders and the birds are even eating out of our hands.

Birds will eat out of your hand at Conifer Cove

Hope Bench-  A great place to wait for the birds to eat out of your hands.










Week of Hope week 6 benches.  This bench is located at the edge of the woods for a view of the Evergreen Garden, and the native grasses, and flowers.  The Week of Hope week 6 worked on the Waterfalls Garden, weeded, mulched and of course, painted gourds for the Tree of Hope.

Sod Furniture with Recliner- Along with the other sod furniture, this one has a recliner, and is large enough for a family to sit in.

L.E.A.P. Bench- This bench was built by the L.E.A.P. summer program called “Trail Mix.”  The L.E.A.P kids sanded, mixed cement, and learned how to use a level.  The bench is signed by all the participants in the Trail Mix program.

The Three Sisters Garden- This garden was built by Week of Hope week 1.  Conner Mendon's grandmother was a Native American from the Seneca Nation.  Conner dedicated this garden to his grandmother who passed away a few years ago.  The Three Sisters Garden is planted with corn, beans and squash.  

The Native Way Arbor- You are now entering the “Native Way.”  In this wooded area, over eight truck loads of invasive species were taken out.  These invasive species included Buckthorn, Honeysuckle, and Multi-floral Rose.  Over the next few years, this woods will come alive with native plants, (wildflowers and ferns and trees),  to restore it to the way it was before white men came.. Next to the Arbor is a large Elderberry bush for Elderberry jam and pie.  Why are natives important?  The birds, butterflies and animals love this habitat.

Noah’s Ark Tree House. This tree house shaped like a boat was built by the Week of Hope week 2.  The tree house has quickly become a favorite of kids of all ages.  What makes this tree house so special is that during the micro burst on Labor Day 1998, this Silver Maple tree blew over, and is still surviving.   The branches that were growing sideways, are now the central leader of the tree, which also serves as the sail for Noah’s Ark.

Jim Cooper and Jessie Cornplanter the 8 mural. In 1937 Jim Cooper of Williamson was recognized for his native american practices as a Boy Scout Leader.  The ceremony was held in Lyons, N,Y, 

Week of Hope week 2 Bench.  This bench is in a prime location for families to watch as their children play in the tree house.  Week 2 was the largest group of all the Weeks of Hope.  Not only did week 2 build Noah’s Ark, they built planters for the covered bridge, and weeded all the gardens, and helped plant the community garden.

Week of Hope week 1 Bench. This bench is between the tree swing and deck, offering a quiet place in the middle of the woods.  Week one finished the deck and built the raised bed gardens.

Native Way Picnic Area.   We have a special picnic table for wheelchairs.  This was made possible by a donation from Gehrig Lohrman in 2013 and built by the Week of Hope 2.

The Tree Swing- The Tree Swing was started by the Week of Hope week 4 and finished by week 5.  The tree swing is hanging from a branch of an Elm tree.  Yes, it is an Elm tree.  Most of these trees have vanished from the woods of the northeast.  This Elm tree now reaches to the top of the canopy of the woods. The swing is a favorite of the children.

Week of Hope week 4 Bench.  This bench is in a prime location for moms and dads to watch their children as they swing.  Week 4, besides working on the swing, built the sign-in booth at the beginning of the trail.

Week of Hope week 3 Bench.  This bench sits at the northwest corner of the woods.  Week 3 stained the deck and the Noah’s Ark.

The Deck- The deck sits at the northeast corner of the woods next to Black Brook.  Black Brook has Joe-Pye weed and Cardinal flowers growing along it.  Black Brook is full of waterfowl and animals, including ducks, frogs, and turtles.  The deck is a wonderful area to sit back and listen to the sights and sounds of nature.

Accessibility Bird Blind.  This project was completed in the Summer of 2016 for a Eagle Scout project by Sean Drum with the help of the Week of Hope.  While on the deck you can view the birds through the slots of wood.

The Native Face- Along Black Brook, an invasive Norway maple was removed, and now the trunk of the tree will serve as a reminder to those that walked these woods before us.  Local artist Bev Owen painted this face of a Seneca Elder from years ago.

The Yellow Brick Road  "We are off to see the Wizard the Wonderful Wizard of OZ" Sunflower and marigolds are planted along this curving path.

The Tree of Hope- This once dead White Pine tree has been transformed into the Tree of Hope.  This tree is dedicated to Petey Hoyle from the Week of  Hope week 6.  Petey has MD and is confined to a wheelchair.  This didn’t stop Petey from contributing to the Trail of Hope.  Petey painted the gourds that now hang from the branches of this tree.   This tree has become a favorite of everyone that visits the Trail of Hope.

The Tree of Life Bench. This bench was painted by local artist Bev Owen.  This painting is of the Elder’s tree which is of a 400 year old Red Oak tree that is at the top of the hill.