Holliston Is Getting Ready to Bloom Again

Holliston in Bloom had a great turnout of about 70 people at its annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast and Roast fundraiser last month at the Lutheran Church. PJ and Shelly Kilkelly, their daughter Grace and a small army of HIB volunteers cooked and served a delicious traditional Irish breakfast including fresh bacon, fresh sausage, farm fresh scrambled eggs, traditional Irish white and black sausage, French toast, potatoes, beans, and fruit salad. Homemade scones baked by Shelly Kilkelly and several types of Irish soda breads baked by HIB members were piled high at another table. Local politicians included Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Carolyn Dykema, Selectmen Kevin Conley and Jay Marsden, and FinCom chair Ken Szajda. Food and humor were plentiful. The fundraiser was the first of the 2017 season to help raise money for an ambitious year. Be sure to join us next year!
On Saturday, April 22, we are planning to host an Earth Day town-wide cleanup. Please bring your own rake, work gloves, and dress appropriately. For work assignments, come by our tent at Blair Square. We will be set up by 10 a.m. Depending on the number of volunteers, we expect to be done by 2 p.m. 

The following Thursday, April 27 (after school vacation) is our Bertucci’s fundraiser from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. If you bring in the special coupon, HIB will get 15% of the total bill. (Local businesses, did you know that you can get food delivered?) Find the coupon at our website www.hollistoninbloom.org and click on “Events.”
Mark your calendars for the Spring Festival on Saturday, May 20th. Our Fabulous Fairy Face painters will be returning to our booth to help raise money for our plantings. 

Our ambitious project for this year will be the planting of the Big Border on Washington Street at the Congregational Church Green. Last October, we removed 5’ of sod and added compost to the entire 353’ length of the border behind the fence. This spring, HIB hopes to purchase approximately 40 hydrangea ‘Little Lime’ shrubs which will make a striking border with their long-lasting blooms. Local arborist Rolf Briggs of Tree Specialists will be donating the labor to plant all the hydrangea shrubs as well as the mulch for the project! Locally owned Moisturetek has offered to help design an efficient drip irrigation system for the project as well. The area in front of the fence will get special plantings of annuals and perennials this spring as well.

The National America in Bloom Symposium will be held in New England for the first time this year. Holliston in Bloom has been competing in the national competition since 2012 and has won Best in Population Size three times. The National AIB Symposium will be held at the Framingham Sheraton Tara from October 5-7, 2017. Convention attendees and national judges will be coming to Holliston for a walking tour on Saturday, October 6. We need a myriad of volunteers in advance and during the week of the symposium. Your generous tax-deductible donations are appreciated! Donate via PayPal on our website www.hollistoninbloom.org or follow us on Facebook. Volunteer sign-up can be done on our website as well. Help us make Holliston shine!