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COURTENAY
PARKS
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RonPogue
Mile of Flowers, the biggest planting event in
Courtenay, is marking 50 years of filling
Cliffe Avenue with blooms and Canada’s
150th birthday in 2017!
The Plant-In is a tradition dating back to1967, when
Kathleen Kirk set out to commemorate Canada’s
centennial year. That year she planted 7,800 seedlings as
a welcome to tourists. What began as the initiative of one
woman now involves hundreds of volunteers and 40,000
flowers.
In 2017, the Mile of Flowers happens Tuesday, May
30th starting at 5:00 pm and going until around 7:30
pm. Volunteers from the community are asked to fill the
garden beds on both sides of Cliffe Avenue with summer
flowers. The Parks department provides all the flowers.
Youth groups are also encouraged to attend, with a
chance to win a pool party prize draw. Between 200 and
500 volunteers are needed to plant everything on this
special evening.
Tyler Johns, the City’s horticultural supervisor, said the
event will be extra special this year. “Expect to see a lot of
red and white flower combinations to celebrate Canada’s
150th,” noted Johns. “We’ll be in full celebration mode, so I
hope many people and organizations come out and share
the fun.”
Mile of Flowers
Celebrates in 2017
As in previous years, Courtenay Rotary and the
Parks Department will host an appreciation BBQ
for planters in Standard Park (Cliffe Avenue/14th
Street). In 2017, the BBQ will be bigger than ever
with local entertainers, and special cupcakes to
commemorate the 50th anniversary year.
Did you know that aside from looking great every
year, the Mile of Flowers is also now designed to
conserve water? Parks horticulture staff
painstakingly adds compost, mulch and new soil
to improve water retention. Staff hand water with
a special tractor and avoid the use of pesticides.
Careful hand weeding and deadheading keep the
blooms coming all summer. Some of the beds also
are looking great year round since changing over to
perennial blooms.
The Parks staff sends heartfelt thanks to all the
community volunteers who have helped for so
many years.
For more information:
• City of Courtenay, 250-334-4441
•