Update, May 21, 2014: Kalamazoo in Bloom officials report the rgoup had quite a Wednesday morning (May 21) in Portage trying to plant all the flowerbeds. The original planting date had to be rescheduled because of a freeze last week. Many people were not able to join them. As a result, they did not finish planting all the beds. And there is still a new topiary feature to plant.
Another Portage planting day has been scheduled for Friday, May 23 starting at 9 a.m. to finish the work.
Mother Nature is cooperating weatherwise and Kalamazoo in Bloom says it is hoping for "lots of help to keep Kalamazoo County Blooming On."
Downtown Kalamazoo and the City Center in Portage are flowerful places to be each year, thanks to the work of Kalamazoo in Bloom.
For 30 years the nonprofit organization has gathered the volunteers and resources to beautify the landscape.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, animal shaped topiaries will return.
Bronson Park, for example, will be full of different kinds of animals, and each section of the park will be themed. There will be grasslands, a butterfly garden, a jungle, and wetlands, just to name a few.
The topiaries build on the popularity of the Bronson Park Peacock, which was first installed 30 years ago. The designs were brought back from Europe by Master Gardener and Kalamazoo in Bloom volunteer Norman “Mike” Blakley. The peacock is nicknamed “Mike” after him.
The topiaries are part of a larger event Kalamazoo in Bloom is organizing. Kalamazoo in Bloom will be working with youth from six city neighborhoods, who will be creating art projects that will be displayed in Bronson Park Aug. 1 and then moved to their respective neighborhoods. Some of the artwork is functional and some is decorative. For example, art from bike racks, and art from glass are two of the projects young people are working with.
Young people from Edison, Eastside, Northside, Stuart, Oakwood, Stuart and Vine neighborhood all will be part of the celebration. From Aug. 3 through October, Kalamazoo in Bloom plans a tour of area neighborhoods to show off the artwork created and topiaries created for each neighborhood. Details on the KalamaZOO Hop will be forthcoming.
Meanewhile, it takes a lot of volunteers to plant the flowers that brighten the area, and the community is invited to plant in Portage and Kalamazoo, as it is each year. On May 16, Kalamazoo in Bloom will be in Portage. Registration is at 9 a.m. on Library Lane. Parking is at the Portage District Library.
On May 22, Kalamazoo in Bloom will be in Bronson Park and surrounding areas. Registration is at 9 a.m. at the bandshell. No gardening experience is necessary. Volunteers are asked to bring a water bottle, gardening gloves, small shovel or hand trowel, and kneeling pad, but extras will be on hand if needed. Lunch and T-shirts are provided to volunteers while supplies last.
People to maintain the beds and organizations to provide funds to help with the maintenance also are needed throughout the growing season.
When the organization was recognized recntly for its work in a proclamation by the city, Monika Trahe, Kalamazoo in Bloom’s Executive Director had this to say: “So many people have been a part of this organization throughout its history, many with us still and, sadly, many who are no longer here. Volunteers from the community are dedicated to making the place we call home, the best and most beautiful place to live. This proclamation is because of them.”
Source: Monika Trahe, Kalamazoo in Bloom
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