Hanging baskets and planters with pink Petunias now brighten the main streets of downtown Westfield thanks to the volunteer group Westfield in Bloom.
Parks Dept. Director Melody Jones said 82 hanging baskets, four bridge planters and six planters were placed in downtown Westfield. She said the flowers were concentrated to Union and Main streets.
“The (Westfield in Bloom) Floral Committee beautifies Westfield through flowers,” she said.
On May 19, Westfield in Bloom held its Community Plant Day at Asa Bales and Quaker parks. Usually the work to plant flowers is contained to Quaker Park, but Heartland Growers in Westfield provided the group with an abundance of Petunias.
“Because of the Heartland’s generosity, we had enough flowers to place at the entrance of Asa Bales,” Jones said.
The Floral Committee is Westfield in Bloom’s inaugural committee and is responsible for hosting the annual Floral Display Competition. The competition is free and open to all Westfield residents, businesses and organizations. With 17 categories to choose from, there is something for everyone. In 2012, the predominant color is pink – although not every flower in a garden needed to be pink, Jones said the use of the featured color and creativity are among the criteria judges use to select the winners.
“It’s a friendly competition with bragging rights,” said Jones. “Westfield in Bloom Floral Committee is planting pride in your city and everyone can be involved in that.”
The registration deadline to compete in the annual Floral Display Competition is June 16. Judging will take place on June 23 and 24.
Interested in checking out the beautiful gardens and displays of this year’s participants? Check out the map online in the Parks & Recreation Dept. link at www.westfield.in.gov. Residents can also take the map on the road with them using their smart phone or tablet by viewing the map via an app available on the website.
Those interested in Westfield in Bloom are invited to attend the group’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Westfield City Service Center, 2728 E. 171st St.Four committees – Heritage, floral, environmental awareness and community – comprise the organization.
“We all need more people,” Jones explained.