Communities in Bloom volunteers beautify BIA area for winter

For the fourth consecutive year Communities in Bloom,  with assistance from the MV Horticultural Society (Gardening Club)  and the Barry’s Bay Business Improvement Area (BIA), created 44 hanging baskets for the BIA area and train station. Their goal is to bring in the spirit of the holiday season and make our area look festive and cheery — giving people an early boost despite the normally dreary November weather. Thank you to the Madawaska Valley Township staff for providing us with the heated garage at Yard 2 and for putting out the baskets this morning. It was great to see a good group of volunteers turn out for the first really cold morning of the year.  Above from left: Peter Dolan, Don Isbister, Ritsuko Honda, Elser Lee Archer, Julie Zurakowski, Sandy Kingsmith, Frances Mawson, Debbie Marshall and Eden Guidroz.

This year we had an excellent supply of boughs, hydrangea flowers, dogwood and assorted décor items to fill our baskets to the brim. Our thanks to the kind people who were not able to attend but dropped off some materials ahead of time. As this is our fourth year preparing the winter hanging baskets, we are now well practised and have a set routine. This meant we were done within a few hours — we  had a few good laughs and great chats while working on the planters.

Forty-four festive winter baskets were created by Communities in Bloom, MV Horticultural Society and BIA volunteers to beautify the Barry’s Bay Railway Station and BIA area this winter