Groton has two historic watering troughs—one on Firemen’s Common on Main Street and another in West Groton Center. Originally, these troughs were used for watering horses by townspeople and travelers. The Main Street trough was installed in 1899 as a memorial to James and Elizabeth Prescott Lawrence, while the West Groton trough was gifted to the town in 1918 by Joseph T. Shepley in memory of his brother, Granville T. Shepley.

When the troughs were no longer needed for horses, they remained as historical artifacts. In 1954, the Groton Garden Club (GGC) began planting flowers in them, a tradition that continues today. Though the Girl Scouts maintained the plantings for a period starting in 1962, the GGC has since taken the lead. The troughs have been planted annually since 1989, with seasonal flowers and displays keeping them vibrant year-round. The GGC also maintains the small stone table planter at Carol Wheeler Memorial Park.

Plant List

Using water troughs as public gardens is a creative and effective way to bring greenery into urban spaces, transforming everyday environments into vibrant, welcoming areas. These mini gardens allow for flexibility in design, making it easy to introduce a variety of plants —from colorful flowers to lush foliage—in places that might otherwise lack natural beauty. With the goal of brightening up public spaces, the water trough planters offer an example of how gardens can be tailored to fit any space. They also promote community engagement, inviting passersby to connect with nature in the heart of Groton. Because the Garden Club changes plantings seasonally, there is no plant list to provide.