ABCE garden in full bloom
—Photo courtesy CHRISTINE QUAYLE Students from the Sandpoint High School Welding class display a tile stand for a poem installed in the Bonner County ABCE Reflections Garden at the County's Administration Building. The students designed and created the stand for the tile, created by local artist Gail Lyster. Pictured, from left, are Cayden Davis, Brock Browning, Alan Johnson, Mahonri Hunsaker, and teacher Jake Stark.
—Photo by LYNNE HALEY A memorial stone honoring former county employee Flora O. Bennet graces the ABCE Community Reflections Garden at the Bonner County Administration Building.
-- Photo by LYNNE HALEY High school student Brock Browning created the entry sign for ABCE's Reflections Garden.
SANDPOINT — Bonner County ABCE Community Reflections Garden is in full bloom this spring, thanks in part to the efforts of four students from Jake Stark's welding class.
The garden is an ongoing project of the Association of Bonner County Employees, who established it on the grounds of the courthouse in 2011 to honor county employees who have passed on, according to Chris Quayle, a member of ABCE.
Sandpoint High School students Cayden Davis, Brock Browning, Alan Johnson and Mahonri Hunsaker volunteered their skills to fabricate a metal framework and stand for a plaque created by local artist Gail Lyster for the garden.
The plaque contains an excerpt from Shel Silverstein's poem “Years from Now.” It reads: “Although I cannot see your face … /Somewhere from some far-off place/I hear you laughing — and I smile.”
Browning also fashioned a sign for the garden entryway. The memorial contains a stone for his father, Steve Browning. Engraved stones also memorialize Steve Resso, Sharon Groanvelt, Philip Robinson, Douglas Davis, and Flora Bennett. Lyster is currently creating a memorial for Lorena Greenwood, said Quayle.
“Many of these employees worked for the county for over 25 years; Flora Bennett was with the county for 56 years!” she said.
Landscaped with shrubs, spring bulbs and perennials donated by employees, area nurseries and others, the garden also features stone benches honoring Philip Robinson and Terry Martin. Family and friends of former county employees wishing to commission a stone engraving can do so by contacting Quayle at 265-1443 or Shauna Harshman at 265-1458.
ABCE is a non-profit, employee-based volunteer group that provides aid to county employees through emergency funding, health and wellness programs, scholarships, county building enhancement and beautification projects. Many of the gardens at the various county locations, including the fairgrounds, have been created and funded by ABCE, Quayle said.
The group also aids the community during the holidays by supporting the annual Giving Tree, Bonner Community Food Bank and various monetary donations to other causes, she said. This is their first joint project with SHS.