1

ST. THOMAS’ CHURCH, WHITEMARSH

P.O. BOX 247

BETHLEHEM PIKE & CAMP HILL ROAD,

FORT WASHINGTON, PA 19034

September 1, 2016

STLC Policies and Procedures

Manual

St. Thomas Landscaping Commission

2

STLC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL St. Thomas Landscaping Commission

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................... 3

1.1 MISSION STATEMENT: ............................................................................................. 3

1.2 GUIDING BIBLICAL VERSE: ........................................................................................ 3

1.3 COMMISSION GOAL: .............................................................................................. 3

1.4 GUIDING VALUES: ................................................................................................. 3

2 PURPOSE ......................................................................................................... 3

3 LANDSCAPE PROJECT REVIEW ..................................................................... 4

3.1 PROJECT REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE .............................................................................. 4

3.2 PROJECT GUIDELINES ............................................................................................. 4

3.2.1 Plant Recommendations .................................................................................................... 4

3.2.2 Signage ........................................................................................................................ 7

3.2.3 Furniture ...................................................................................................................... 8

3.2.4 Memorial Plaques ............................................................................................................ 9

3.2.5 Lighting ..................................................................................................................... 10

3.2.6 Planters ...................................................................................................................... 11

3.2.7 Statuary and Monuments ................................................................................................. 12

4 LANDSCAPE GARDEN MAINTENANCE ....................................................... 13

4.1 MEMORIAL GARDENS ........................................................................................... 13

4.1.1 Job Description for Gardener ............................................................................................. 13

4.2 GENERAL GARDENS (ADOPT-A-GARDEN PROGRAM) ...................................................... 14

5 COMMUNITY GARDENS .............................................................................. 14

6 LANDSCAPE PROJECT APPLICATION FORM .............................................. 15

3

1 Background

The campus of St. Thomas’ Church includes forty two acres, nine separate buildings and more than one mile of roadway. Approximately fifteen acres comprise the cemetery which is managed by the Cemetery Commission; the Buildings and Hardscape Commission is responsible for the buildings, walkways and roads. The St. Thomas Landscape Commission (STLC), which was formed in 2010, has primary management responsibility on all acreage, other than that managed by the Cemetery and Hardscape Commissions, for the overall physical appearance of the campus as defined by its trees, shrubs, herbaceous vegetation, gardens and open space.

1.1 Mission Statement:

To promote and maintain a landscape for St. Thomas’ forty two acre campus which adheres to the principles of aesthetics, sustainability, function and historic preservation.

1.2 Guiding Biblical Verse:

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord a memorial.” Isaiah 54:13

1.3 Commission Goal:

To create attractive and well maintained grounds, thereby contributing to St.Thomas’ overall sense of welcome, comfort and joy for parishioners, visitors and the surrounding community.

1.4 Guiding Values:

Stewardship: Actively manage the trees, shrubs and gardens on the campus to promote their health and appearance; apply soil conservation and gardening principles to sustain soil and plant resources.

Good Planning: Recognize the need to identify landscape shortcomings on the campus and formulate plans to remedy within the framework of the church’s overall master plan and budgetary constraints.

Respect: Preserve or enhance the special aesthetic, historic and functional features of the campus

2 Purpose

The Policies and Procedures Manual establishes a mode of operation for managing the gardens, trees and shrubs on the St. Thomas campus in a manner commensurate with the church’s fiscal and manpower resources. It serves to integrate Landscape Commission activities with other Commissions, particularly the Cemetery and Building

4

and Hardscape Commissions. The Landscape Commission was instrumental in developing the Master Plan approved by the Vestry in 2012 and ensures that any new landscape projects are consistent with the Plan. The manual identifies criteria and guidelines for all landscape projects to ensure that they are adequately planned, funded, properly built and maintained. The STLC works with other commissions in the planning phase of their projects to ensure that aesthetics and landscape opportunities are adequately considered.

3 Landscape Project Review

With considerable frequency, projects that affect the landscape are proposed by individuals or other commissions. These projects are varied and range in complexity from a single tree planting to a new feature such as a playground. Without oversight, there is potential for individual projects to result in haphazard development from an aesthetic standpoint, to become a safety issue, or to tax the church’s limited fiscal or manpower resources beyond its capabilities. For these reasons the Landscape Commission has established a Project Review Subcommittee for overseeing and approving new projects.

3.1 Project Review Subcommittee

The Project Review Subcommittee consists of at least three members of the STLC and includes a professional landscape architect, the chair(s) of the commission, members of the commission desiring to be part of it, and others, on a permanent or ad hoc basis, who represent commissions that propose or are affected by the specific project.

The Subcommittee reviews all proposed landscape projects including:

New Gardens Changes to Existing Gardens

Planting or removal of Trees, Shrubs, Perennials and Annuals

Walkways, Paths and Terraces

Benches and Outdoor Furniture

Exterior Lighting Exterior Signage

To expedite review, the Subcommittee has drafted guidelines for project design and subsequent approval by the Landscape Commission. Required documentation for specific projects will depend on complexity and potential impact of the project. The Landscape Project Application Form can be accessed at the end of this document.

3.2 Project Guidelines

3.2.1 Plant Recommendations

The STLC recognizes the value of native plants and encourages the use of them in campus gardens. Plant material however is certainly not limited to native plants, but planting of invasive species, native or exotic, is not permitted.

5

To help with plant selection, the STLC has identified through the expertise of professionals a list of plants that are not permitted or that are discouraged from being used due to their undesirable characteristics.

Plant Material Not Permitted:

Trees Norway maple Acer platanoides

Sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus, Mock plane

Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima, Chinese or stinking sumac, Mimosa

Albizia julibrissin Persian silk tree, silktree, silky acacia

European black alder Alnus glutinosa

Common alder Japanese angelica tree Aralia elata

Empress tree Paulownia tomentosa, Princess tree, royal paulownia

Callery pear Pyrus calleryana

Siberian elm Ulmus pumila

Shrubs Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii Red barberry, Thunberg’s barberry European barberry Berberis vulgaris Common barberry

Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia Oleaster, wild olive Autumn olive Elaeagnus umbellata

Winged Euonymus Euonymus alata Burning bush, winged burning bush, winged wahoo

Glossy buckthorn Frangula alnus

Shrubby bushclover Lespedeza bicolor Shrubby lespedeza

Chinese bushclover Lespedeza cuneata Chinese Lespedeza, sericea lespedeza Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum Waxleaf ligustrum, wax privet

Border privet Ligustrum obtusifolium Blunt-leaved or obtuse-leaved or regal privet Chinese privet Ligustrum sinense

Common privet Ligustrum vulgare European privet, wild privet Amur honeysuckle Lonicera mackii

Morrow’s honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii

Bell’s honeysuckle Lonicera xbella Bella or showy bush or pretty honeysuckle Standish honeysuckle Lonicera standishii

Tartarian honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica

Common buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica Purging buckthorn Jetbead Rhodotypos scandens Black jetbead

Multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Rambler or Japanese or baby or seven-sisters rose

6

Wineberry Rubus phoenicolasius Wine raspberry, Japanese wineberry

Japanese spiraea Spiraea japonica Japanese meadowsweet, nippon spiraea

Guelder rose Viburnum opulus Cranberrybush viburnum, red elder, cramp barkGrasses

Perennials and Vines:

Goutweed Aegopodium podagraria Bishop’s weed, snow-on-the-mountain, holy hay

Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata Hedge mustard

Moneywort Lysimachia nummularia Creeping Jenny or Charlie, wandering sailor Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Swamp loosestrife

Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum nutans/O. umbellatum Silver bells, drooping star-of-Bethlehem

Porcelain berry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Amur peppervine, porcelain vine Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei Climbing euonymus, fortune’s spindle

Black swallow-wort Vincetoxicum nigrum Louis’ or Louise’s swallow-wort

Pale swallow-wort Vincetoxicum rossicum European swallow-wort, dog strangling vine

Plant Material Highly Discouraged:

Amur maple Acer ginnala

Small carpetgrass Arthraxon hispidus Joint-head grass, hairy joint grass, jointhead

Paper mulberry Broussonetia papyfera

Butterfly bush Buddleja davidii Orange-eye butterfly bush Orange day-lily Hemerocallis fulva

Velvet grass Holcus lanatus Yorkshire fog

Chinese silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis Eulalia, zebra grass, maidenhair grass White mulberry Morus alba Common/Chinese/Russian white mulberry

Amur corktree Phellodendron amurense Japanese corktree Phellodendron japonicum Lavella corktree Phellodendron lavellei

Golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea Yellow grove bamboo, fish pole bamboo Rough bluegrass Poa trivialis

Ravenna grass Saccharum ravennae Hardy pampas grass Tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus

Bee-bee tree Tetradium daniellii Korean Evodia Bigleaf periwinkle Vinca major Greater periwinkle Common periwinkle Vinca minor Ground myrtle Japanese wisteria Wisteria floribunda

Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis

7

3.2.2 Signage

All new exterior signage (except temporary event signs) on the St Thomas Campus is subject to review and approval by the Project Review Subcommittee. It is important that exterior signage be consistent in color, layout, font and logo. Permanent signs should follow the standards of existing signs on the campus as shown below:

These signs are supplied by: Display and Sign Center

5 New Galena Road P.O. Box 74 Line Lexington, PA 18932 Ph: 215-822-9469 Fax: 215-822-0432 www.displayandsign.com

Although there are no restrictions on the design of temporary event signs, it is recommended that they conform as much as possible to a basic design of black block lettering on a white background.

8

3.2.3 Furniture

All furniture intended for outdoor use on the St Thomas Campus is subject to review and approval by the Project Review Subcommittee. The goal is to maintain a consistent look with existing campus outdoor furniture. The preference is for good quality teak in a traditional style. For assistance in selecting and purchasing outdoor furniture, please contact the STLC.

9

3.2.4 Memorial Plaques

All memorial plaques intended for use on the St Thomas Campus is subject to review and approval by the Project Review Subcommittee. The pictures below illustrate samples of existing memorial plaques. New plaques can be ordered from: Bronze Memorials Inc. 1775 SW Gatlin Blvd Port ST Lucie, FL 34953 Call or email to place an order: Ph: 772 200-2591 or 772-924-0083, Fax 954-862-3090 info@bronzememorials.net www.bronzememorials.net

10

3.2.5 Lighting

Lighting intended for use on the St Thomas Campus is subject to review and approval by the Project Review Subcommittee. All new, decorative exterior lighting should be compatible with existing lighting that reflects the historic nature of the church. Examples of existing lighting on the campus are shown below. For assistance in selecting and ordering new lighting, please contact the STLC.

11

3.2.6 Planters

All planters intended for use on the St Thomas Campus are subject to review and approval by the Project Review Subcommittee. The goal is to maintain a consistent look with existing planters on the campus. For assistance in selecting and ordering new outdoor planters, please contact the STLC.

12

3.2.7 Statuary and Monuments

All statuary and monuments unrelated to projects of the Cemetery Commission are subject to review and approval by the Project Review Subcommittee. For assistance in selecting and ordering statuary and monuments, please contact the STLC.

13

4 Landscape Garden Maintenance

Several years ago it became apparent to members of the Landscape Commission that the man-power needed to maintain the many gardens on the property was well beyond that of the grounds staff. Two separate approaches have been adopted for garden maintenance depending on the type of garden.

4.1 Memorial Gardens

The planning and ultimate approval of new Memorial Gardens at St. Thomas must be made in a manner commensurate with the church’s fiscal and manpower resources. An amount equal to 15% of the project cost must be contributed to the Landscape Memorial Fund to provide ongoing maintenance. During the growing season a part-time gardener is employed to tend to the upkeep and maintenance of the Memorial Gardens. This position is funded through use of the Landscape Operating Budget..

4.1.1 Job Descript ion for Gardener

4.1.1.1 Position Purpose

The part-time gardener tends to the upkeep and maintenance of the Memorial Gardens during the growing season April through September. The Landscape Commission establishes the required duties, the number of work hours and provides oversight as necessary. The position is funded through use of the Landscape Operating Budget. The Commission is responsible for maintaining adequate funding in the budget to ensure stewardship of the Memorial Gardens for future generations.

4.1.1.2 Routine Maintenance Duties:

Early Season Clean beds of winter debris Cut out deadwood and prune back shrubs as necessary Weed, edge and mulch beds

Mid-Season Maintain weed-free beds Water as necessary Prune and dead head as necessary

Late Season Clean beds of dead perennials Remove heavy fallen leaves Mulch shrubs as necessary for over-winter protection

4.1.1.3 Other Duties and Responsibil it ies

Gardener responds to oversight and requests from the Landscape Commission for special duties required for optimal maintenance of the Memorial Gardens.

14

4.2 General Gardens (Adopt-A-Garden Program)

The Adopt-A-Garden Program was introduced as an opportunity for parishioners to practice stewardship from the ground up. Its purpose is to maintain the non-memorial gardens on the church campus with help from volunteers in the Parish. Approximately thirty gardens have been identified that could be cared for by an individual or small group. They range from well-established shrubbery gardens to smaller gardens of perennials and annuals. Some are in good shape, some need only minimal care and some need almost a total renewal. Currently there are approximately twenty-five parishioners involved, and additional volunteers are always needed and welcome. To learn more about this program or to volunteer, please contact Neal Pratt at 215-948-3808 or pratt4405@comcast.net.

5 Community Gardens

Each summer St.Thomas offers garden plots located in the “back ten” acreage at the north end of the property for rent by parishioners and community members. Each plot averages 20’ x 20’ and rents for $30.00. Water is available on site although renters need to provide their own watering hoses. Renters must also provide the fencing, seeds/plants and the hard work. Both annual and perennial plots are available. The perennial plots are not plowed and are available for growing year round. Annual plots are plowed in time for spring planting and require the fencing to be removed. If interested in renting a community garden plot, please contact Maureen Lucak at 215-886-2409 or maureenlucak@yahoo.com. Please include your email address and phone number to be added to the Community Garden distribution email. Make checks payable to and mail to: St. Thomas of Whitemarsh Community Gardens P.O. Box 247, Fort Washington, PA 19034 Attn: Community Gardens/Maureen

15

6 Landscape Project Application Form

ST. THOMAS CHURCH LANDSCAPE PROJECT

APPLICATION FORM

NAME:

DATE:

To be completed by anyone proposing:

New gardens Changes to existing gardens Planting or removal of trees and shrubs, perennials and annuals Walkways, paths and terraces Benches and outdoor Furniture, Planters Exterior Lighting Exterior Signage

For assistance in completing this form, please contact the STLC.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL CONTRACTS MUST BE APPROVED BY

DON BEISTLINE, THE PARISH ADMINISTRATOR IN ADDITION

TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Please describe your project. Please include your name, Commission and contact.

2. How much will the project cost? Please submit bids and proposals.

3. How will the project be funded? Are there any stipulations?

4. What church resources will be required for construction and afterwards for maintenance?

16

ST. THOMAS CHURCH LANDSCAPE PROJECT

APPLICATION FORM

5. Who will take “ownership” of the project to ensure that it is built and maintained

in the manner approved by the Landscape Commission?

6. Who will build the project?

Name:

Address:

Contact:

The following are required:

Scaled drawings showing location and scope of project. Photos of details if possible.

Three cost estimates for any project greater than $2,000. 15% of the project cost must be contributed to the Landscape Memorial

Fund to provide ongoing maintenance.

Please use the back for additional information.