Plant roots in community
Published 12:01 am Thursday, May 5, 2011
If it’s true that April showers bring May flowers, we have to wonder what the thunderstorms, snow, wind and hail we experienced in April might have in store for us in May. So far, the answer seems to be more showers — although we hope that we’ll be rewarded for our suffering with even more beautifu
l flowers to enjoy all summer long.
Regardless of the weather, we know we can count on the folks at the Everett Parks Department to provide an abundant array of flowers as they carry on the lovely tradition of beautifying the city with spectacular blooming plants. Parks Department staffers have been nurturing a wide variety of flora in their greenhouses near Legion Park getting ready for one of two “Viva Color” community planting events this spring.
There’s a lot to love about these volunteer planting projects.
The first thing we appreciate is that the folks at the Parks Department have done all of the work to make volunteering a breeze. They’ll provide the safety vests, trowels, gardening gloves and, of course, the plants. In addition, they’re supplying coffee and refreshments. All they need is volunteers of all ages who are willing to help them place the flowers in the prepared planting areas. Unfortunately, the one thing the staff at the Parks Department can’t control is the weather, so, the activities need to be considered “rain or shine” events.
The downtown container planting project is set for tomorrow. Volunteers should plan to meet at the corner of Hewitt and Colby beginning at 8:30 a.m. to sign in and enjoy some refreshments before gathering their gear and heading down the block to dig in the dirt. According to Jeff Price, Business Manager for the Everett Parks and Recreation Department, there are more than 375 containers to plant within a roughly two block area downtown.
If the timing doesn’t work out for you tomorrow, there’s another larger opportunity set for Saturday, June 9, when the signature planting of more than 40,000 flowers will take place along Mukilteo Boulevard.
These planting events offer a wonderful opportunity to contribute to your community and meet people who live there. New friendships may bloom. Imagine the satisfaction as you walk, bike or drive past the flowers knowing that you played a role in the city’s spring makeover.
If you don’t live in Everett, check with your city or town for similar projects and opportunities, which abound this time of year. For more information about the “Viva Color” projects, contact the Everett Parks and Recreation Department at 425 257-8300 or on the web at www.everettwa.org/parks.
