By Geoff Welch

Summer arrived in the Ramapo Valley this morning as Creeping Bellflowers (Campanula rapunculoides) opened in the still chilly morning sunrays on the lawn of Harmony Hall.

Originally native to Europe, Creeping Bellflowers were perhaps part of Jacob Sloat’s 1848 landscaping plantings at Harmony Hall and this delicate but tough plant has persisted into the 21st century. Another clump of Creeping Bellflowers were around the large maple tree in front of the mansion that died and was removed last year. Other possible remnants of the original landscaping are elm trees at the eastern edge of the current property behind the strip mall and a couple of old variety of apple trees near the post office parking lot.

These apples should be red and ripe by Sunday, September  7th, when the Fifth Annual Highlands Bluegrass Festival will take place on the Great Lawn from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Returning this year will be the great 5-string fiddle player Sue Cunningham and her band.

Enjoy this weekend’s weather and get out outside to the abundance of green spaces in and around Sloatsburg in the many Town and State parks in the Ramapo Valley of New York and northern New Jersey.

The restoration work at Harmony Hall will continue this year. The revised scope of work bid documents will be announced in July.