Enchanted Mountain Garden Club
of
Allegany
Our Story
Enchanted Mountain Garden Club of Allegany is an all-volunteer, Not for Profit corporation formed for the purpose of encouraging civic interest in the beautification of the village and town of Allegany, New York.
Our mission includes designing, planting, and maintaining flowers in planters and subway beds. In addition, we strive to form connections with local businesses and our town and village boards to help create a walkable community and a sustainable business section. With support of our donors, we have been able to accomplish so much since our founding in 2015, including:
Coordinate the flower plantings and their maintenance along Main Street in the village. This includes 57 beds and 27 planters, and the areas around the flag pole and the Veterans’ monument site at the Town Hall. We contribute to the cost of the flowers, watering, and fertilizer, and our volunteer Weed & Tend team works to maintain the plantings weekly all summer. A thank you to Stayer’s Nursery and the Town and Village of Allegany for their continuous collaboration with us in the effort to beautify Main Street!
Provide monthly educational lectures, May through September, on gardening related topics. Our speakers are sponsored through member dues only and are free and open to the public.
Host “Scarecrow Row” to encourage visitors to Main Street and promote local businesses, in keeping with our mission of creating a “Walkable Community.” This event has been held annually since 2021, growing in participation and enthusiasm every year in downtown Allegany. In 2026 we added a Scarecrow Trick or Treat event for community families.
Decorate the Gazebo at the Town Hall for fall, Christmas, and Memorial Day.
Financially contribute to a larger watering system through both member donations and community donations.
Work with the BonaGany organization, getting their help with Scarecrow Row set up, winterizing our plantings and cleaning up along Main Street.
Receive the 2024 “Service Above Self” award from the Olean Rotary Club for our work.
Install a Gold Star Families Memorial Marker in the area of the Veterans’ monument and hosted a dedication ceremony with local Gold Star Families and dignitaries from state and local government and organizations.
Reinvigorate and add plantings to enhance the Veterans’ monument at Town Hall, with help from the family of our Town Clerk and from Stayer’s Greenhouse, and with financial support from the Charles Harbell Post of the American Legion. The Club continues to maintain the site to honor our fallen heroes.
Purchase a “Little Free Library” at the Town Hall to provide community involvement and tourism.
Initiate a free seed library within the Allegany Library.
Fund and coordinate installation of memorial tree plantings and park benches in the area of the Allegany River Park Boat Launch. We continue to help maintain the installations, and held a dedication ceremony for the memorial tree planted in honor of Maggie Smith, one of our cherished club members.
Create a daffodil glen at Allegany River Park boat launch and along the access ramps to Route 86.
Assist in transporting flower arrangements from Canticle Farms to our local Hospice.
Add dog waste bag stations near the Town Hall and in Allegany River Park.
Purchase two holiday snowflake lights displayed along Main Street, to replace damaged ones.
March in the Allegany Memorial Day Parade.
Introduce a local Girl Scout Troop to plants and growing, helping them earn a gardening patch.
Assist in the food concession stand during the Old Home Week Carnival.
Contribute towards the lighting project of the Allegany Library. Assisted in grant writing with Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.
Help purchase tables and chairs for local restaurants to allow outside dining during Covid.
Purchase 12 resin street planters to add to the original Village-owned 12 planters by writing a grant through the Cattaraugus County Economic Tourism Development, and with the financial assistance of: the Inkwell, Giardini Bros., Allegany Library, Duggan and Duggan, Martin Studios, Janet Cotillion and the Village of Allegany.
Host five annual Flower and Garden Festivals as a fundraiser, to promote tourism, and support local businesses. Wrote and received a grant to supplement festival advertising costs. These events featured a variety of unique local vendors and hosted hundreds of attendees each year.
Become a Not for Profit 501-C3 through the generous support of Iroquois Insurance and gratis services of Garrett Lyons.
Going forward, with help from donors, we hope to continue our work and further enhance Allegany by coordinating a StoryWalk® installation along Main Street.
Please consider making a donation to help us beautify Allegany!