America in Bloom honors former Warrenville mayor Vivian Lund

During the 20 years Vivian Lund served as mayor of Warrenville, she led the effort to beautify the city through its participation in America in Bloom.

Now she may be seen quietly maintaining the town's gardens in public spaces as if they were her own — pulling weeds, dividing and replanting perennials at the cemetery, veterans' memorial or city museum.

At age 83, Lund's 60 years of dedication to community leadership and planting made her a natural choice to receive America in Broom's John R. Holmes III Community Champion award.

The honor recognizes an individual for outstanding leadership and selfless commitment to moving the community forward through actions that reflect America in Bloom's mission to revitalize communities through the use of plants and flowers.

The award was presented Oct. 8 in Arlington, Va., as part of the 2011 America in Bloom Symposium and Awards Program.

The organization's leaders created the award in 2009 in memory of John R. Holmes, the late chief executive office of OFA — The Association of Horticulture Professionals, who passed away unexpectedly. Holmes was an America in Bloom board member and officer since its inception, an advocate for city beautification and believer in the power of flowers and plants to change lives.

Affectionately nicknamed “the Energizer Bunny,” Lund is respected and admired by the community “for her dedicated service, visionary eye, example of servant leadership and caring for her neighborhoods,” said Lucy Hawke of Warrenville.

“She has demonstrated that one person can make a difference by just doing what one can do to be a positive influence within your hometown. We are grateful for her attitude of can-do and positive hard work,” Hawke said.

Lund's husband, Dwight, is a horticultural educator and America in Bloom judge, mentoring and evaluating communities in the organization's competition. Dwight and Vivian are active gardeners, and their home was on Warrenville's fifth annual Garden Walk that brought people in from five surrounding communities.

The next cycle of nominations for the John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award begins next summer. Nominees must be from a community that has participated in the America in Bloom competition.

For information, contact Laura Kunkle at (614) 487-1117 or aib@ofa.org, or visit americainbloom.org.

America in Bloom is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification programs and personal and community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements.