MV is bloomin’ good with 5 Blooms national award

The 2019 National & International Edition of Communities in Bloom (CiB) has commended Madawaska Valley Township for Green Engagement of Youth, while maintaining the municipality’s 5 Blooms standing in the prestigious competition. MV was judged against communities such as Bay Roberts NL, Melfort SK, Merrickville-Wolford ON, Prescott ON and Windsor NS in the 2,501 – 7,500 Population category.  Above: the Butterfly Garden which the judges commended for youth participation.

CiB Co-Chair Debbie Marshall said that the judges evaluated MV Township, businesses and individuals (including our many volunteers) in six categories: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape and floral displays. She pointed to some of the judges’ comments:

• “The landscapes at the Valley Manor offer the best of both worlds. The entry and interior courtyard are nicely landscaped with a mix of annuals, perennials and even raised planter for vegetables while the back faces a natural wooded area home to moose, deer, wild turkeys and more.”
• “The hospital also has an attractive, welcoming landscape, and the gazebo and planted area behind it is an excellent place for staff as well as patients to enjoy the peacefulness of the outdoors.”
• “Thanks to the efforts of the BIA, Horticultural Society and local CiB Committee, Madawaska Valley has made quite an effort in the past few years to add flowers to improve the ambiance of the community.”

CiB Co-Chair Elser Lee Archer added: “We want to recognize our BIA and Horticultural Society volunteers [for their efforts in] floral display being the category in which we received the highest score … over 85 percent. The combination of the over 25 municipal gardens adopted by the Horticultural Society on behalf of the Township and the BIA’s 25 hanging baskets and planters have made our streets an inviting and picturesque bounty of colour.”

CiB Judge Evelyn Allemani (left), CiB Co-Chair Elser Lee Archer, CiB Judge Lucy Chang, volunteer boat operator Nigel Newing, CiB Co-Chair Debbie Marshall, 2019 Community Judge Trevor Smith-Millar at the Barry’s Bay wharf following a boat tour to Combermere

Archer said that CiB volunteer judges Evelyn Alemanni and Lucy Change explained the commendation for Green Engagement of Youth as follows:

“One of the goals for CiB Township of Madawaska Valley is to engage youth in the growing of gardens, both edible and ornamental.

“With the guidance of the CiB Committee and support of residential volunteers, the Girl Guides rejuvenated the Reflective (Memorial) Garden and the Butterfly (Pollinator) Garden, which had sorely needed some TLC. The Reflective Garden is intended to be a quiet place for contemplation. Water Tower Park’s Butterfly Garden is planted with flowers in anticipation of the annual butterfly release held by Madawaska Valley Hospice Palliative Care each July.

“An added advantage of the project is the proximity of the gardens to the Stafford Street Apartments, a seniors building with on-site home support. The floral displays and the sight of the young gardeners in action must surely prove invigorating for housebound members of the community.”

Marshall summed up: “I feel that together (meaning the residents and businesses in our township) we have accomplished so much in the last few years in making our area feel so welcome. Really, our slogan “Together We’re Bloomin’ Good” means everyone is involved and proud of our area, and it really shows!”