With Mother Nature treating us pretty well lately, green thumbs everywhere started working on their gardens and landscaping their yards. The same went for the City of Chestermere parks department and the Streetscapes Committee as they kicked off ‘Chestermere In Bloom’ on Wednesday June 1st at the Municipal Building.
At 10:30am on June 1st, the public was invited to come and participate by planting a flower in the flowerbeds at the Municipal Building and then they were given a flower to take home and plant in their own yard.
Approximately sixty residents – old and young, city staff, business owners and volunteers came out to the event were approximately 300 plants were planted. Alison Ciupa with the city parks department explained, “These beds are in part sun to full shade so we planted plants suitable for the site. This included lobelia, lamiastrum, lysimachia and pansies”.
As you drive, bike or walk around our beautiful city, you will see that the parks department and Streetscape committee ensure that all parts of Chestermere are looking their best. Ciupa explained, “Plans are drawn up for all the hanging baskets, planters and beds in the late fall for the next growing season. Orders for the plant plugs and cuttings are submitted at that time”.
With the kick of event now completed, it’s the resident’s turn to show how beautiful they can make Chestermere. Richard Plummer of the Streetscapes committee says, “Now that Chestermere In Bloom is officially underway, residents can go online to enter a friend, neighbour or themselves. They simply go onto the City of Chestermere website and click in the link ” Chestermere In Bloom” and fill out the nomination form. There are also nomination forms at the City of Chestermere Reception or at Public Works. Chestermere In Bloom now runs from now to August 5th. After August 5th, six residents will be picked from the entries we have received. Each winner will get a $50 gift certificate. This year we are also going to pick a weekly winner. Their photo will appear in the Chestermere Anchor and they will also receive a $10 gift card from Garden Sense”.
You can enter your front yard or neighbours front yard by emailing at wplummer@telus.net please send a photo of the yard and also the address.
The Parks Department and Streetscape Committee also have provided a few ways that you and your family can get involved:
• Plant pink flowers in your yard or in a container to indicate your participation in Chestermere in Bloom.
• Pick up a small free sign from the Municipal Building or Public Works to put in your front yard indicating your participation in Chestermere In Bloom.
• Tidy up your yard (Rake debris, remove deadwood on shrubs, cut back perennials, etc).
• Plant some flowers
• Mow your lawn and leave clippings on the lawn
• Plant a tree
• Sign up for a plot in the Community Garden ($50 to purchase plot, $30 to get it back)
• Sign up your front yard or nominate a neighbour’s front yard for the competition
We all know how beautiful Chestermere is – let’s do our part!
