HIB Still Digging In!

By the time this issue goes to press, you may have seen Holliston in Bloom for the first time at the Celebrate Holliston 25th anniversary parade on September 17!
Unlike prior years, HIB has several Fall projects. Hopefully, you have noticed the fall floral display makeover throughout town. Hundreds of mums were planted during the week of September 19. The Downtown Marigold Project started planting in advance and Holliston in Bloom (HIB) and other volunteers joined forces on September 24. The two groups planned a dress rehearsal for the arrival of the America in Bloom’s National Symposium in October 2017. In addition, all the planters were refreshed with seasonal color as well. If Mother Nature cooperates, color will peak around Columbus Day weekend.
America in Bloom is a national competition that encourages groups and individuals to join together to improve public spaces. Cities and towns are evaluated on six criteria: overall impression, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, urban forestry, landscape, and floral displays. Additionally, participants are judged on their community involvement across municipal, residential, and commercial sectors. Two specially trained judges are sent to visit Holliston and a formal evaluation is written up about possible improvements. Holliston in Bloom was formed and has been competing since 2012. Our report was due out late September.

Several HIB members are traveling to San Luis Obispo, California for the 2016 America in Bloom National Symposium from October 6 – 9, 2016. Co-chair Kathy Shore, Secretary Cherry Fenton, Community Champion nominee Deb Moore, and Pat Duffey will be representing Holliston in Bloom. The Senior Center had plantings of shrubs and perennials along most of its foundation this past spring. Now that the parking lot has been expanded and striped, additional planting can be done near the entrance. Volunteers are needed for Saturday, October 15, 2016 for digging, planting, watering, and raking.

 And the last project of the year will be a fairly extensive undertaking in a public area in preparation for next year’s Symposium visitors. One of the judges’ recommendations was to expand the floral bed along Washington Street (along the fence in front of the Congregational Church) so that it is more like the impressive display at Pinecrest in size; the addition of shrubs and perennials would add form and extend the season of color. Ahronian Landscaping will start the project by removing all the sod from the behind the fence for a width of 3’.
We need strong volunteers starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2016 to help remove the clumps of sod. Work will require bending and lifting; the wheelbarrows of sod will get put onto the back of pickup trucks. We plan to add compost (more bending, lifting and wheelbarrow work). In the afternoon, we will do the planting of shrubs and perennials.
Please check our website www.hollistoninbloom.org for the latest information on start times, and what to bring for each day. Help Holliston shine for 2017! Join us for a few hours if you can. Sign up on our Volunteer tab on our website. If you prefer, you can help without getting dirty by donating to HIB through PayPal on our website or by check. We are a 501(3)(c) organization and your donation is fully tax-deductible.