Amphitheater Seating
The sloping landscape afforded the opportunity to create amphitheater seating facing an envisioned meditation garden. Excessive wild vegetation, vines and invasive garlic needed eradication. Scout groups and volunteers cleared the area completely in autumn 2016. A multi-stage approach was used to eradicating unwanted vines and wild vegetation. The first stage involved placing surplus cardboard panels over the eradicated soil surface. The cardboard blocks sunlight and prevents photosynthesis of the unwanted roots. The second stage included placing topsoil over the cardboard. The final stage added wood chips to retain soil moisture.
These June 2019 photos show the reclaimed amphitheater hillside. New grass occupies the area formerly covered with wild vegetation. The meditation garden shows the success of the weed mitigation effort. Successful reclamation of the amphitheater hillside and the development of the meditation garden created the opportunity to celebrate progress at Rapids Cemetery. An Independence Day celebration featuring choral music of the 19th Century presented by Coreopia was held for the community.
Reclamation of the amphitheater in progress 
Looking downhill towards Meditation Garden 
Looking uphill from Meditation Garden 
Hillside after reclamation 
Community members celebrate Independence Day at Rapids Cemetery 
Independence Day celebration featuring choral music of the 19th Century presented by Coreopia