On Saturday, April 8, Branford's Rosenthal Gardens landscape received a volunteer boost from a group of Quinnipac University (QU) students, thanks to QU's annual outreach community service effort dubbed "The Big Event."

On one day each spring, hundreds of QU students fan out into the Greater New New Haven Community to assist non-profit organizations in the area. On April 8, the Big Event brought a small army of 17 QU students to town, where they joined with Branford Garden Club (BCG) members to help with a spring clean up at Rosenthal Gardens on Kirkham Street.

The Rosenthal Gardens complex offers affordable housing to seniors and includes a gem of a one-acre garden that's open for the public to visit. The garden includes two man-made pools, a meandering walkway with small bridge and several notable native trees and shrubs. Care and maintenance of the garden is just one of many Branford community civic outreach and beautification projects supported through the volunteer efforts of BGC and its members.

Togther with BGC volunteers, the QU students raked, pruned, spread fertlizer, cleared invasive shrubs, and spread mulch on the garden at the site on April 8, said BCG member and Rosenthal Garden chairman Eunice Lasala.

"I was so impressed with their wholesome attitude and desire to help our community," said Lasala of the QU group.