Sirena's garden on salado creek
On 6 June, 2015, members of Boy Scout Troops 108 and 109, friends, family, and community members joined Eagle Scout Candidate Ryan Cook in creating an accent flower bed surrounding Artist Troy Kelly’s Sirena sculpture near Salado Creek. Ryan had first approached Keep Salado Beautiful late in 2014 on projects within the community that need to be completed. Susan Terry, the representative for Keep Salado Beautiful, presented Ryan with the basic requirements for the project at the Sirena sculpture and both agreed on the terms of the project completion. In early May, initial planning was complete and Ryan met again with Troy Kelly and Keep Salado Beautiful for final approval. Ryan began coordination for supplies, equipment, and materials to complete the project with Apache Stone of Salado generously donating the white Texas limestone to the project that would make up the border of the flower bed. Early in the morning, the volunteers gathered at Salado Creek to begin work on the project by first clearing grass from the surface surrounding the Sirena sculpture. The hard work began when Ryan provided direction for breaking up the hard Texas Soil and creating a base for the stone to be set. By late morning preliminary work was complete and the stones were starting to be set in the accent flower bed. Troy Kelly ensured the volunteers were well fed by sending pizza to the project site and everyone enjoyed a much needed break. Shortly after lunchtime workers began the final stage of the project by adding new top soil to the beds in preparation for Keep Salado Beautiful to add the plants. The project was a success and the flower bed compliments the Sirena sculpture.
A special thank you to following volunteers who dedicated their time, tools, and sweat: Curtis Hunter, Collin Cavazus, Seth Little, Clark Little, Dr. Danny Little, Jonathan Keyes, Aaron Wilkerson, Oren Wilkerson, Scott Wilkerson, Nathan Cahoon, David Byrstedt, Stephanie Mancilla, Mason Byrstedt, C. Byrstedt, Ethan Byrstedt, Sam Tatum, Colton Tatum, Mr. Tatum, Carl Cook, Connor Cook, Kathy Cook, and Ryan Cook.