
By: Mary Potter
| Posted: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:19 pm via http://www.westkyjournal.com/news.php?viewStory=4402
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(Clinton, KY – March 14, 2012) –
Hickman Countians are preparing to “Plant the Town” in preparation for
this year’s Spring Chicken Festival.
“Plant the Town” is the name given to a
community volunteer effort to spruce up Clinton, the county seat before
the chickens come home to roost (and party) the last weekend of April.
Various groups around this small
farming community have talked about launching a beautification effort
for several years. Clubs, church and school groups were eager to do
something, but where to start was a sticking point.
The sticking point came unstuck in
late January with a meeting of twelve volunteers some there representing
the Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Club, the Hickman County Arts Coun cil, City of Clinton and Hickman County Schools.
The group saw a power point
presentation of ten “before” places in Clinton as potential landscaping
spots. With lots of choices, the group prioritized creating sturdy
rectangular flower boxes and landscaping the three new “Welcome to
Clinton” signs installed the year before by the Chamber. The town’s
existing flower barrels are nearing the end of their useful life. The
barrels will be planted this year- probably for the last time.
The design for landscape timber flower
boxes to grace ten down town sites was approved. The two feet wide by
four feet high boxes will sit snugly up against their new homes to avoid
being a tripping hazard. Merchants who want a box in front of their
building will have to agree to make a small donation to defray the cost
and, more importantly, to maintain the box after it is planted. Those
don’t want to plant the boxes will get help from Plant the Town.
Master Gardeners Katie Beck and Lilly
Kimbell are working with Hickman County High School agriculture teacher
Emily Harned on potential plantings. The Master Gardeners propose a
combination of perennials and annuals with an evergreen planting for
year round appeal. Harned and her students volunteered to build the
landscape boxes for the project.
Students worked hard to finish the
first ten boxes. (See photos). They now rest in Ms. Harned’s room
waiting for April and spring to go to their new homes around and about
downtown Clinton.
Volunteers will gather on two
Saturdays in April- the 14th and 21st - to sweep sidewalks, pick up
trash and plant flower beds in anticipation for company coming the last
Saturday of the month. Before that happens, gardeners will be making up
wish lists and purchasing the right plants and the right soil for the
boxes and landscape areas.
It's all hands on deck to Plant the Town and have a real good time! |