Perennial Exchange Helps Ferndale Spirit Grow
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 29, 2014)
The Ferndale Beautification Commission teamed up with Blumz by Design and the Ferndale DPW to make this year’s annual perennial exchange one of the best ever. Switching from the Kulick Center to Blumz gave the event a central location and flower-filled ambiance.
The Commission passed out free gardening and décor magazines, as well as coneflower seeds. Suzanne Rowe, who serves on the FBC, explained her love of the coneflower and how it got to be Ferndale’s official flower.
“We do Beautification Awards for homes and business and each year one of those awards is for using the city flower,” she explained. “Well the flower used to be the zinnia, but we would drive around and around and not ever find any. Finally a couple years ago we picked a flower that more people had. I like it. Echinacea has health benefits and it’s beautiful. I think it was a good choice.”
Also on hand were vendors selling nature-themed artwork, lamps made out of logs by TJ’s Wood Works, and rain barrels. The DPW brought a pick-up truck full of free compost for residents to take home to their gardens and yards.
The event is set up so that residents can bring in cuttings and unwanted plants to share.
“It’s a great way to meet your neighbors, and to see how a plant from one end of town could end up being shared all over the city,” said FBC member Joe Spain.
For more on the Ferndale Beautification Commission visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ferndale.beautification.