Butterfly garden brings memory alive

XENIA — When Greene County Parks & Trails’ maintenance division heard the story of how the gardens at James Ranch Park served as a place of healing for Master Gardener Sharon Manley of Beavercreek, they knew they needed to surprise her with a bench celebrating her son’s life.

Featured in the butterfly garden at the park, the new bench also includes a new plaque remembering Ryan Thomas Manley. Two coreopsis flowers border the plaque, representing the planting Sharon Manley and her son completed on the last day of his life.

It reads: “Butterflies hover and feathers appear/ Wherever lost loved ones of Angels are near.”

The bench was completed and placed in the park last week.

For more information about GCP&T or James Ranch Park, residents can call the park agency at 937-562-6440, email [email protected] or visit www.gcparkstrails.com.

Photos courtesy GCP&T Greene County Parks & Trails Maintenance Supervisor Dave Dudgeon, team member Briana Trangenstein and Maintenance Lead Grant Burtch renovate a bench in the butterfly garden at James Ranch Park celebrating the life of Ryan Thomas Manley.

https://www.beavercreeknewscurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2019/01/web1_Bench.jpgPhotos courtesy GCP&T Greene County Parks & Trails Maintenance Supervisor Dave Dudgeon, team member Briana Trangenstein and Maintenance Lead Grant Burtch renovate a bench in the butterfly garden at James Ranch Park celebrating the life of Ryan Thomas Manley.

Photos courtesy GCP&T Greene County Parks & Trails Maintenance Supervisor Dave Dudgeon, team member Briana Trangenstein and Maintenance Lead Grant Burtch renovate a bench in the butterfly garden at James Ranch Park celebrating the life of Ryan Thomas Manley.

https://www.beavercreeknewscurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2019/01/web1_Plaque.jpgPhotos courtesy GCP&T Greene County Parks & Trails Maintenance Supervisor Dave Dudgeon, team member Briana Trangenstein and Maintenance Lead Grant Burtch renovate a bench in the butterfly garden at James Ranch Park celebrating the life of Ryan Thomas Manley.