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Planting Civic Pride
Garden center retailers have played a vital role in recruiting and supporting communities in the America In Bloom program.
by Delilah Onofrey, Ornamentals Group Editor
donofrey@meistermedia.com
From coast to coast, garden center retailers are revitalizing their local markets by engaging communities in the America In Bloom (AIB) national beautification campaign and contest.
Funded mostly by the green industry through voluntary contributions, AIB is a friendly competition that promotes enhancing communities through beautification. Entrants are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation and community involvement.
Over three years, AIB has bloomed in 83 cities in 27 states. The deadline to register in the 2005 competition is Feb. 28. At the end of January, there were already 14 new cities registered for this year's contest, extending AIB's reach to Minnesota, Florida and New Hampshire. New larger cities include St. Paul, Minn.; Rockford, Ill.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Cleveland, Ohio.
Judges will visit communities this spring and summer and the results will be announced at the awards symposium Sept. 8-10 in Cleveland. Within a 60-mile radius of Cleveland, there have been 14 AIB participants, including past population category winners - Akron, Brecksville, Berea, Sandusky and Westlake.
Grassroots Efforts
Since AIB's inception, garden center owners have played a vital role in recruiting and supporting communities in the contest. While some have been involved in local beautification efforts for many years, for others it's new territory and AIB has been a tool to plant a beautification program or take it to the next level.
Even if a community competes just one year, residents appreciate the results and the plantings continue to expand. There has also been a spillover effect, with neighboring communities getting more involved in plantings. Once the AIB spirit is planted, it's contagious.
In Woodburn, Ore., Jack Bigej of Al's Garden Center & Greenhouses specializes in large hanging baskets for cities. The program started 15 years ago in Lake Oswego, Ore., which won AIB's 25,001-50,000 population category in 2003.
"We looked at Lake Oswego and said they were 85 percent of the way there," Bigej says. "In addition to the baskets, the median work they do is great and they have a good historical society and recycling program. The committee of private citizens had excellent support from the city, mayor and parks department. The champion was a former mayor who was a landscaper. We also cheat in Oregon. We have the perfect climate for bedding plants."
Last year, Al's planted 235 baskets for Lake Oswego and about 6,000 baskets total for 15 to 20 cities, which order between 25 and 175 each. Al's also sells an additional 3,000 to residents who keep asking the cities where they got them.
"It's both good and bad because it's become a seven-headed monster!" Bigej says. "We've been able to knock it down to 2 1¼2 minutes to plant a basket. There isn't a thing in the baskets now that was in 14 years ago. We are a retail grower and the amount of publicity we get is well worth it. We were on television five times last year, airing five minute segments at no cost. We're often featured in The Oregonian newspaper. Every Tom, Dick and Harry knows those are Al's baskets."
The year Lake Oswego was in the competition, five garden groups banded together for a local competition and several garden centers each contributed $2,500 toward 49 prizes. "When I approached the city, I offered to pay the fee to enter the contest, and they said, ‘No, no. We'll take care of that,' and they got me for more money for prizes!" he laughs.
Bigej is looking at recruiting at least two more Oregon cities, but he's waiting to find the right champions to lead the efforts. "You have to get the city organized. A garden center is not going to do it alone," he says. "Don't try to do it yourself. It looks self-serving. I jumpstarted it and then I ran and hid. They did all the work. They were so tickled when they won the population category and best for color (floral displays), too. They were elated."
Easier Said Than Done
Fred Dabney of Quansett Nurseries in South Darmouth, Mass., led New Bedford's efforts in 2003 and turned it over to the city in 2004 and it fell apart. "As a grower, it's hard to chair," he says. "You need to have a local person. The leaders are supportive but it's a time issue. It requires a heck of a lot of work and time. The program makes a hell of a lot of sense. We just can't get enough people involved."
He is part of the Massachusetts Flower Growers, which has been spearheading AIB locally. Getting more industry people involved has been difficult. "Everyone perceives it as something you give away to the cities instead of generating more sales," he explains. "Landscapers are busy enough and have no incentive. Growers and retailers need a more direct payoff."
Peggy Perkins of Perkins Flowers in Lapeer, Mich., says a change in elected officials can also disrupt momentum. "It makes it difficult when you don't know anybody to approach," she says. "When you know all the commissioners, it's like going to a friend. Two of them were our neighbors. When you don't, it's more difficult to ask."
Lapeer entered AIB in 2002 and then took 2003 off as the city underwent a streetscape renovation project, which fortunately included brick flower beds. Before, Perkins Flowers used to plant up 24- by 24-foot wooden boxes and deliver them downtown.
Perkins also admits it was hard to get others in the community to do the work related to the plantings, when she and her husband were serving on the beautification committee. "It's kind of difficult for people when they know it's our profession," she says. "They back off and say, ‘This is what they do. Let them do it."
But the fact that Perkins Flowers has been a fixture in the community for 51 years was an advantage. "Perkins' reputation has been the key," she says. "There wasn't even a question of going somewhere else to get the flowers. It was also our influence that the efforts to make downtown more beautiful meant adding flowers. We also have friends on the parks board."
Working Together
Sue Woodworth of Middle Ridge Gardens in Perry, Ohio, was approached by the city of Willoughby to grow baskets after exhibiting at a farmers market. She had never grown plants for a city before. "I was a little nervous at first, but the service director was willing to work with us on what he had seen elsewhere," she says. "The Clean City Commission told us what colors they wanted and let us design. They pushed us and we pushed them toward fancier plant material. I got involved with the commission and every aspect of this as part of America In Bloom."
More recently, Willoughby built boxes for rail plantings spanning a bridge on the Chagrin River and large, square planter boxes around trees downtown. In addition to the planters, today, Woodworth plants more than 100 baskets for Willoughby and 50 for nearby Madison Village.
"In Madison, our garden club took up the effort, but there was not enough support to enter the AIB contest," she says. "They hosted a little garden tour and the local newspaper congratulated residents whose yards were nominated. It was all because of America In Bloom."
Get Involved
Even though it may be too late for you to sign up your community this year, attending the national awards symposium is an excellent opportunity to see the results on a national level and learn from other participants.
Or if you just think AIB is a great cause and want to support the nonprofit organization, financial support is always welcome. No contribution is too small. For as little as $100, you can promote your support of the program as a bronze steward or community friend. For more information, contact America In Bloom, 2130 Stella Court, Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio 43215; 614-487-1117; aib@ofa.org or visit www.americainbloom.org. TGC
Just about everyone in the area knows these fantastic streetside baskets are from Al's Garden Center & Greenhouses.
The mayor of Willoughby saw square planters like these in Alaska. The city now builds them and they look great.
february 2OO5 - Today's Garden Center magazine
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