AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
Midway through the 1990’s Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails board members Richard McIntyre and Elizabeth Wyble developed a plan to change an overgrown area adjacent to the B & A Trail in Olde Severna Park to a lovely garden that is known today as Hatton-Regester Green.
McIntyre designed four designated areas, one of which featured the pond while Wyble approached the Hollyberry, Moonflower and Severn River Garden Clubs along with Severna Flowers and Gifts to help plant and maintain the garden. Dedicated in May of 1999, Hatton-Regester Green thrived and is known today as the “gem of the B&A Trail”.
On learning from a Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails newsletter that the pond had been destroyed by an act of vandalism and was to be replaced by a water feature, we decided to follow up by visiting Hatton-Regester Green to meet with Moonflower Garden Club member Cyndy Feldman for the full story. Feldman has helped tend the gardens surrounding the pond since it was created almost 25 years ago.
Arriving at the Green a bit early, we found that the once serenely peaceful, lovely pond where we’d spent many happy moments watching the goldfish was in sad shape. Covered with brown plastic and surrounded by orange fencing, the only thing surviving was a small clump of water lilies.
At first, we didn’t see Feldman but heard her voice. We found her behind some tall shrubs above the pond talking with Jeffrey Pack.
Pack, who worked closely with Wyble for years on gardening projects at Hatton-Regester Green and at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church where he works, is hired by the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails to help maintain Hatton-Regester Green – especially during the cooler months when the garden clubs are unable to work there.
After meeting them, we walked over to inspect the pond, and Feldman explained how the Moonflower Garden Club became involved in caring for it.
“When Elizabeth Wyble met with us in 1999 to ask which part of the Green we’d like to be responsible for, a couple of our members shouted ‘Let’s do the water feature’. The rest of us said ‘Sure. We don’t know anything about it, but we guess we’ll all learn,'” she said.
“Elizabeth then led the Severn River Garden Club which chose to maintain the upper portion of the Green near the entrance. But she was also a member of our Moonflower Garden Club which cared for the middle portion and the pond.
“We chose the Moonflower name for our club because we met in the evenings since most of us worked. We felt our name was appropriate since moonflowers only bloom at night.”
“The Hollyberry Garden Club maintained the lowermost area of the Green near Benfield Road.”
Feldman noted that the Moonflower members didn’t actually install the pond or plantings around it. They were installed by Anne Arundel County. The group tended what was already there which was primarily ornamental grasses.
By 2010, when the photo below was taken for a Home & Garden article, the landscape around the pond was different with low growing plants and flowers designed to bloom at different times depending on the season. Daffodils were in bloom at the time.
In 2012, Moonflower Garden Club Members honored the 15th Anniversary of their pond and gardens with a plaque featuring a wonderful poem by Helen Hoyt.
Feldman reflected on the many hours put in by garden club members caring for their particular area of Hatton-Regester Green.
“We not only improved the gardens over time. We also maintained the pond through the years,” she said. “We drained it and cleaned it. We put pumps in, cleaned filters and otherwise serviced it. We currently hire someone to clean it once a year.”
“Last year, in February or March 2025, is when the pond was vandalized,” Feldman continued. “The lining was cut and damaged and all the water drained out except for one corner where all the fish congregated. Fortunately, we saved all the fish. The vandals were never caught.”
The Moonflower Garden Club members had been aware that the ground beneath the pond had shifted, and a dimple had appeared in the lining that would have to be dealt with sooner or later. But the problem was fixable.
According to Feldman, a “swift decision” was made by the county that the pond is a liability, the issue being that it’s three feet deep and someone could fall in and drown. The garden club and the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails could have fought to preserve it but didn’t want to risk having Hatton-Regester Green taken away from them. Thus, they agreed that the pond will be replaced by a nicely designed water feature.
Feldman, who is taking the lead for the garden club, will be meeting with a county- approved designer/contractor to discuss what the options are. The club doesn’t yet know what the budget will be but the members are not concerned. They figure that whatever the county doesn’t pay, the Severna Park community will fundraise for.
Over the years Moonflower Garden Club members have maintained their area of Hatton-Regester Green. They have dug up all the original plantings and grasses and converted it to a native species garden setting. According to Feldman, they still have areas to work on and will have additional plantings to consider once the pond is eliminated and the water feature installed. They also need to address the trees which have grown tall and are shading the entire area.
Jeffrey Pack will be helping them. He is also taking care of the area originally maintained by the Severn River Garden Club (which may no longer be a federated garden club) in honor of Elizabeth Wyble.
“We believe the water feature will be in the works by spring,” Feldman said. “We’re hoping to make it calming with gently falling water. But the trickle of water will have to be loud enough to drown out the noise from traffic on B&A Boulevard and Benfield Road.”
We look forward to the next chapter for Hatton-Regester Green with the new feature in place and plants and flowers surrounding it.
American Heritage Girls Craft & Vendor Fair this Saturday, November 7th
American Heritage Girls Troop 0152 invites the public to their Craft & Vendor Fair at Severna Park Baptist Church this Saturday, November 7th from 9 am till 2 pm. The event will feature goodies and products made by girls from Troop 0152 and other vendors and food will be available from Tatay’s Apron. For more information, visit AHG Craft & Vendor Fair 11/7/2026 | Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying holds 3 morning tai chi classes at the Severna Park Community Center, as well as a mid-day homeschool kung fu class. Evening & Saturday morning tai chi & kung fu classes are located at the Magnolia Collective, behind the Donut Shack. Go to www.JingYing.org for a list of their classes and locations. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high-quality consistent care.
