Winter Garden by the sea to celebrate work of environmentalist Rudy Haase
It was quiet, very, very quiet. Then, one Monday morning the Chester Garden Club TEAM arrived at the Cove Garden to implement the plan for a winter garden by the sea.
All that could be seen were
new plants, spades & shovels,
rear views,
and smiles as the planting of the expanded area was completed.
Starting in the 1960’s, a social activist, founder of The Friends of Nature Conservation Society (FON) and long-time Chester resident, Rudy Hasse, lent his voice and name to many causes. These included fighting against spraying pesticides in forests, to opposing the use of Agent Orange and uranium mining. To honour him and his wife Mickie, a section of the Chester Cove Garden was dedicated to them in 2011.
This past year was a significant one in the lives of the Haases. In the early part of 2015, Mickie died, ending a wonderful long life of giving in so many ways. This past summer, Rudy donated to the Municipality of Chester more than 100 acres of land between Beech Hill Road and the Gold River. And, most recently, Rudy was finally awarded the Order of Nova Scotia. On Monday, July 18th, the Chester Garden Club and the Friends of Nature honoured this couple by rededicating the expanded area in the Cove Garden that was originally dedicated to them in September 2011.
Following the re-dedication refreshments were enjoyed at St. Stephen’s Community Hall.