What started a few years ago as a simple reimagining of the Cloister butterfly garden has since blossomed into a major landscape initiative that will transform the context of this historic site, provide educational opportunities for our visitors, and promote mindful stewardship of our natural resources.
Historic Ephrata Cloister occupies nearly 28 acres of property, with a mixture of forest and fields on the banks of the Cocalico Creek. Its nine original buildings and handful of newer structures are currently surrounded by turf grass and recent plantings designed to give the campus a park-life feel. Since landscape planning had not been a primary focus, the invasive plants, like honeysuckle, soon took over the perimeter, and native plants had little opportunity to thrive. But now that the dream of the ECA Board and PHMC staff has teamed with the talents and knowledge of local naturalists and landscapers, the Historic Landscape Restoration Initiative has bloomed.
As good stewards of the Ephrata Cloister, we plan to restore the property with native species similar to what early native people and the first inhabitants of Ephrata would have encountered.
We intend to:
- Plant native species
- Remove invasives when practical
- Plant for future growth to ensure trees and shrubs won’t interfere with buildings, walkways, or landscapes in 40 years.
- Improve soil and water quality through plantings that create riparian buffers and reduce erosion.
- Create a pollinator meadow in the expanse of grass between the parking lot and Mount Zion Cemetery
- Create habitat that supports wildlife and pollinators.
- Maintain, support, and celebrate our “Witness Tree” on Mount Zion.
- Allow spaces for future history-education-themed plantings like flax and more.
- Enhance the newly-constructed amphitheater with new plantings, including redbuds and dogwoods.
- Plant in a way that transports guests to the 1700s.
- Create community partnerships with organizations and individuals who share a passion for the environment
The work has begun. Our partner Shaun Hogarth, Artistic Approach Land Care, has removed years of invasive honeysuckle and brush from the edge of the parking lot, opening up the sightline from the 272 ramp into the property. Soon beneficial native shrubs and plants will fill in. Ashley Spotts from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is coordinating the planting of the pollinator meadow and the creation of a riparian buffer along the creek. Another of our community partners, Katrina Lefever, Sustainable Landscape Coordinator for the Mennonite Central Committee, has secured trees for the Amphitheater area through the 10-Million Tree partnership to plant dogwoods, redbuds, service berries, and sweet bay magnolias. A nature trail that runs along the perimeter of the property has been improved and widened, thanks in part to one of our volunteers, Bill Miller. Volunteers from the Garden Club are busily weeding and mulching flower beds around the historic buildings and replanting the newly-fenced Kitchen Garden with herbs and vegetables used here at the Cloister nearly 300 years ago.
Our community partners, ECA Board members, PHMC staff, and volunteers are busy! Their work will enhance the experience for our visitors to the historic site and also attract a new audience of bird lovers, butterfly watchers, hikers, and just people who appreciate the beauty of nature. Come for the Nature, Stay for the History. There is so much to learn!
Your donation will directly support the Historic Landscape Restoration Initiative. Every dollar will go toward planting native shrubs, trees, and flowers; growing a wildflower meadow; creating a riparian buffer along the Cocalico Creek; planting a Pawpaw grove; pruning our apple trees in the orchard; and so much more! Join us!
To find out how you can become more deeply involved in our work or become a member of the Ephrata Cloister Associates, contact Sue Fisher at ephratacloister@gmail.com
