Molena memorial garden in full bloom

Thousands of blooming daffodils line a walking path that runs along a whispering creek and under the trees at the memorial garden tucked behind the Molena cemetery. The blooms are visited by bees and butterflies. Several benches line the peaceful park’s walking path.Molena resident Bob Jenkins started work on the garden in 2005, when it was dedicated to the late Charles Oglesby, a longtime city council member, his wife Virginia Oglesby and Christy and Molly Redenz who were killed by a drunk driver in an automobile accident. He donated the land to Molena and set up a trust fund to help pay for its upkeep. ”As long as he could get outside he worked down here,” said V. Oglesby. “He tried to fix something to bloom for every season.”Judy Martin, who worked side by side with Jenkins until he died March 10, said he would have wanted members of the community to enjoy the garden. To get to the garden, turn by the play area off Highway 109, drive through the adjacent cemetery and to the bottom of the hill.”Bob did most of the work himself and he was 89,” said Martin who weeds between the many rows of different flowers. “He wanted this to be a place where people could come and sit and meditate and enjoy the beauty.”