News  MPS Community Service crew helps beautify Waltham’s Gore Place Museum with blooms

The Gore Place Museum in Waltham is in full bloom this summer thanks to the work of court-involved individuals who are part of Massachusetts Trial Court Community Service crews who are performing community service work in towns and cities throughout the Commonwealth. 

Amaranth, Salvia, Marigolds, Lavender, and Gomphrena are among the flowers the crews have planted, nurtured, and are on full colorful display at the Gore Place site.

The clients first grew the flowers from seedlings they planted in the museum’s greenhouse and later planted them in flowerpots which are sold to the public to off-set the upkeep of the property, according to Jadeque Douglas, Community Service Court Services Coordinator. The remaining flowers were planted in “massive flower beds” on the Gore Place property, Ms. Douglas said. 

She added, “This is to beautify the grounds which provide another source of income to keep the museum open.”

 “The Gore Place is a fifty-acre property, and we’re only a crew of two. We aren’t able to accomplish everything in a timely manner, so having extra help from the participants is hugely beneficial. Just having those extra boots on the ground helps us get things accomplished,” said Scott Clark,  Gore Place Director of Farm and Landscape Operations.

Gore Place is described as a “country estate in the city, a grand mansion steeped in history, a farm, and an invaluable community resource” on the museum’s website. The Federal-period mansion and estate built for governor Christopher Gore in 1806.

Community Service participants, probationers and justice-involved individuals, engage in local efforts such as park and road maintenance; food pantry and animal shelter assistance as well as help with collecting food and supplies from statewide charity drives and transports them to food pantries. 

Below: Client Jimmy plants flowers at Gore Place.