No, it's not a typo. Murals are normally created with paint, but the Tawes Garden Mural is a large, semi-circular display garden on a slope, planted with a mix of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Shovels and trowels are called for instead of paint brushes and palettes. So, on October 5, 2021 a group of Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners, members of the Maryland Conservation Corps, and community volunteers came together under the direction of Tawes Horticulturist Suzanne Weber for a large-scale planting party. Using native perennials obtained through a grant from Unity Gardens of Annapolis, the crew prepped the ground and then placed, dug, planted, and mulched nearly 300 plants--all in one morning!

​

  The effort is part of a redesign and refurbishment of the Mural, one of the centerpieces of the Tawes Garden. Work on it is continuing, and next spring annuals will be bedded out to fill the spaces between the slower-growing perennials and bring added color to the mix. After a long spell of neglect due to the pandemic and continued staffing shortages, we hope that by next year the Plant Mural will look more like the horticultural work of art it's meant to be.