The fragrance garden at the Southold Town Animal Shelter will be dedicated in memory of its designer, North Fork Animal Welfare League board member and master gardener Marlene Ferber, in ceremonies on July 22.
Ferber designed and created the garden in front of the adoption center building as a way to enrich the lives of shelter animals, cats in particular. The garden also serves as a welcoming and educational environment for the community. (See prior story.)
Ferber, who had a career in business and marketing, dedicated herself to community service in her retirement. In addition to the North Fork Animal Welfare League, the Greenport resident was a master gardener volunteer with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. As a master gardener volunteer, Ferber designed and established the fragrance garden at the town animal shelter, which the North Fork Animal Welfare League operates. One aspect of Cornell’s master gardener program requires graduates to reach out to the community to share their gardening expertise. Ferber wanted to use her gardening skills for a program that meant something to her, she said in a 2014 interview.
Ferber passed away in December 2015 at age 70. On July 22, the North Fork Animal Welfare League will place a plaque in the garden to honor Ferber. Family, friends and colleagues will share thoughts about Ferber’s dedication and impact on the community.
A reception will immediately follow at the shelter.
The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. next Saturday at the shelter, located at 165 Peconic Lane in Peconic. For more information call 631-765-1811 or visit the NFAWL website.
