FirstEnergy, garden club members spruce up Bramley House landscaping

by Laura Bednar

One of FirstEnergy’s Green Teams spent time volunteering at the historic Bramley House on Brecksville Road in late June. Independence Historical Society President Deb Hudnall said the gardens and landscaping at Bramley House had been overtaken by weeds, and society members were unable to handle the work themselves. The society then received a volunteer offer from FirstEnergy.

“FirstEnergy’s Green Teams consist of employees from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia who volunteer their time and talents to support a wide variety of environmental initiatives,” said Lauren Siburkis, supervisor of state and regulatory communications for FirstEnergy.

There are two Green Teams in Ohio, for the northeast and northwest, where FirstEnergy electric companies are located.

According to Siburkis, FirstEnergy has donated and planted more than 67,000 trees throughout its five-state service territory since April 2021. The company plans to plant more than 25,000 trees this year.

Five Green Team members accompanied two members of the Seven Hills Garden Club to weed and clear the Crooks Garden, dedicated to late Independence Historical Society President Patty Crooks in 2022, and the entrance bed. In addition, volunteers planted 40-50 perennial pollinator plants, including native baptisia, shrub roses, bee balm, coral bells, orange rudbeckia and pink coneflower.

Joann Predina, Seven Hills Garden Club president, said it took a little over 40 man-hours of work, all done all by hand. 

“We killed poison ivy, removed lots of Bind weed, trimmed overgrowth, transplanted yucca, ornamental grass, mullein, ornamental chive and donated some day lily and mullein to a new home owner,” she said. 

Green Team members also redesigned the house-side of the entrance bed border with old stone entryway slabs. Volunteers uncovered a few historical relics hidden in the garden beds, including a cauldron.

The Green Teams complete projects for nonprofits in communities FirstEnergy serves and are open to suggestions from the community for future projects.

“The groups plan to continue to partner with state park systems, watershed and recycling groups, garden clubs, schools and other environmentally focused organizations in the future to support FirstEnergy’s commitment to building a brighter and more sustainable future,” said Siburkis. ∞

Weeds and overgrowth were cleared from the main entrance bed. Photo by Kathy Beda.

Some historical objects were uncovered in the garden beds after they were cleaned out. Photo by Laura Bednar.

Photo (main/above): Seven Hills Garden Club members Joann Predina (back row, black shirt) and Kathy Beda (front row, pink shirt) volunteered with five First Energy employees to spruce up the appearance of the Bramley House garden beds. Photo by Laura Bednar.