Flower Power volunteers can dig in for garden party
You don’t have to be a gardener to appreciate the allure of flowers. Even those whose hands never touch dirt are often great admirers of floral beauty.
Flowers have captivating effects, especially when they’re planted by the hundreds to form dazzling waves of spectacular color. Go ahead — stop and stare. But beware the fragrant scent. Once it hits, you’re under the spell of flower power.
It lasts from the first blossoms of early spring to the final blooms in late fall. Beautiful splashes of color are everywhere — from our summer clothing to beach towels and local produce.
The Fox Valley Park District adds to this yearly collage of color, planting more than 17,000 annual flowers throughout the park system. This year, the district is going to share the joy.
Three separate Flower Power Planting Parties will be held simultaneously in a few weeks. From 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, teams of volunteers — perhaps you included — will descend upon Blackberry Farm, Splash Country Water Park and Phillips Park Family Aquatic Center to roll up their sleeves and celebrate planting season.
Party favors will include begonias, petunias, salvia and zinnias — gorgeous annuals that will sparkle with color all summer once they’re planted.
Park district greenhouse staff will be on hand to provide their expertise, garden tools and thousands of earth-ready flowers. There will be no shortage of opportunities for all volunteers to plant, and no experience is required.
But this is more than just plunking plants into a hole in the ground. Greenhouse staff will provide valuable tips on proper planting techniques that assure these flower beds grow to their full potential and maintain their vibrancy all the way until the first frost.
Afterward, free workshops will be staged to explain the art of planting and caring for beautiful gardens of annual flowers. All the knowledge and experience gleaned from this community event will come in handy at home. Follow those tips, and you’ll no longer have to keep up with the Joneses — they’ll be trying to keep up with you. Also, all volunteers will receive a complimentary annual to take home and plant.
“People often ask ‘How can I create a flower bed like that at home?’ and we’re happy to give them a little green thumb advice,” said greenhouse supervisor Janet Cherbak. “With every new flower that’s planted, our communities become that much more beautiful.”
And for those who would like an up-close preview of what will be appearing in gardens across the park district this year, an Afternoon Tea at the Greenhouse is being held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the District’s greenhouse 259 S. Russell Ave., Aurora.
Guests can enjoy a cup of English tea along with complimentary scones while viewing the newest varieties of annuals and ornamental grasses before they’re moved to their summer homes.
To be a part of the Flower Power Planting Parties and sign up for a location, call Debbie Smith at (630) 966-4555 or dsmith@fvpd.net.
Just think — every time you visit one of these facilities this summer, you’ll smile knowing you had a hand in creating its welcoming beauty.
Ÿ Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Contact him at jlong@fvpd.net.