Celebrating Bloom Towns Embracing beautification initiatives transforms the quality of life where you live, work and play

By Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers
Photos courtesy of Delilah Onofrey and the Springfield Kiwanis Children’s Garden Committee

One of my favorite parts of summer is seeing beautiful hanging baskets and large planters overflowing with a mix of annuals, perennials and tropicals in public setting. It could be just a few blocks on a local Main Street or commercial district. When I drive or stroll through, it makes me light up and appreciate where I am.

Granvia Peachy Keen Hanging Baskets Downtown

Planting pride and community revitalization is what the America In Bloom (AIB) nonprofit organization is all about. As a member of the floriculture industry, it’s something I’ve advocated for since its inception. Watching the transformation of participating towns in the last 20 years has been inspiring – vibrant parks and business districts and smiling faces! The plantings reverse the course of blight and decline and become a catalyst for positive change. Home - America In Bloom

Here are two past participants.

Springfield, Ohio

In addition to nice hanging baskets in the downtown business district, the city has transformed what was a municipal golf course into a vibrant park. One gem is the Springfield Kiwanis Children’s Garden that is planted and cared for by volunteers. The multi-sensory park has been a great place for youth education programs. For five years Suntory Flowers has donated the annual bedding plants.

Planting Day Temari Blue Verbena by Suntory

Reliable favorites have been our Surfinia Sumo landscape petunias and Granvia super strawflowers. Each year we mix up the assortment to see which plants will perform the best. It’s a project we look forward to participating in every year. Consider creating a children’s garden at your local park or school.

Surfinia Sumo Plum by Suntory Surfinia Sumo Glacial Pink by Suntory The Learning Center

Greenwood, South Carolina

Greenwood is famous for its summer flower festival featuring about 30 Disney-sized topiaries that are on display throughout the town June through mid July. This year we adopted Pete the Peacock and donated our Soiree Kawaii mini vincas to fill out his plumage. It was the first time the horticulturists used Soiree Kawaii in the topiaries. There were enough extra plants to spare to sprinkle into more, including a horse’s saddle and birthday cake.

Horse Saddle Topiary by Suntory Birthday Cake Topiary

Peacock Detail Peacock Topiary

This year’s America in Bloom symposium and awards celebration will be in Columbus, Ohio, and cohosted by nearby Logan, Ohio, September 26-28. Towns of all sizes will be recognized for their efforts and take home great ideas for next year.

For more information, visit Home - America In Bloom

All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.

Article URL:
https://www.GardenSMART.com/?p=articles&title=Celebrating_Bloom_Towns_Embracing_beautification_initiatives_transforms_the_quality_of_life_where_you_live_work_and_play