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<< Previous   of   Next >> Dan Bates / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Bill Motteler, 79, a volunteer from the South Everett Lions Club, prepares another plant for one of the city's large planters on Colby Avenue just south of Hewitt Avenue early Friday morning. (click to enlarge) With empty containers dotting the sidewalk, Bill Motteler adds another plant to one of the city's large planters near the intersection of Colby and Hewitt avenues early Friday morning.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, May 9, 2009 Meet the trowel brigade A volunteer army fills Everett's sidewalk planters By David Chircop Herald Writer EVERETT -- A few dozen volunteers fanned out across Hewitt and Colby avenues early Friday morning. Armed with trowels and trays of pink and purple petunias, the crew wearing orange vests added fresh flowers to downtown's streetside planters and hanging flower baskets. It's an annual tradition enjoyed by merchants and shoppers alike. "I'm just here to make the city pretty," said Marianna Conner, a bright-eyed Everett senior volunteer. "What I love about it is it's overnight to beauty." Each year, the city relies on volunteers to help beautify its downtown with fresh blooms. The city's parks staff plant flower beds in center street dividers and provide tools and snacks for helpers. Most of the flowers are grown from seeds and cuttings in the city's greenhouses. Bill Motteler, 79, had bits of soil on his bifocals and took a swig of coffee from a plastic commuter mug. The Everett man, who worked at the Grand Coulee Dam and later at the Boeing factory in Everett, volunteers for the community as a member of the South Everett Lions Club. "If it was raining, I'd say to heck with it," said Motteler, who said he got his green thumb from his father who was a "tree surgeon." Stew Kim, owner of Z's Burger on Colby Avenue, stepped out of Starbucks on Friday morning wearing a headphone radio and Sea­hawks hat. "It's wonderful," he said of the fresh plants, which along with sculptures and water fountains add vibrancy to a downtown that has struggled for decades. "People stop by and smell the flowers and point to the hanging flower baskets." David Chircop: 425-339-3429, dchircop@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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