If flowers are planted in downtown Aberdeen, do they make a sound? Yes, yes they do.
From car honks to positive comments from motorists, to the silent approval of numerous thumbs up signals from passersby on Wednesday, many Aberdeen residents appreciated the job Aberdeen Bloom Team (ABT) was doing.
The team of volunteers, who has officially worked each spring and summer since 2014, loves seeing and hearing the support from their Grays Harbor neighbors as they buzz by. One of the volunteers, Nancy LaCasse, lit up when talking about the neighborly support.
“People will drive by, they’ll honk and wave,” LaCasse said. “They’ll say ‘way to go!’ and ‘thank you.’ Some of the street people appreciate us too. They are more than accommodating and they’ll say ‘thank you so much.’ So that warms my heart.”
The good cheer makes it a better morning for the volunteers, including Bette Worth, Bobbi McCracken, LaCasse, Kathy Quigg and Jane Madtson, as they carried by hand and carted around a variety of colorful plants along Broadway, Wishkah and Heron streets in downtown Aberdeen.
“We have a great group of volunteers,” said McCracken, who along with Worth, started the group. “These ladies have been doing this for 10 years. Today, we have a little fewer than normal because it’s not on our regular day and they had other things scheduled.”
The ABT, who usually works the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from May through September, seemed to be glad 2024’s initial planting took place on Wednesday. While the temperature at about 8:30 a.m. was in the high-40s, it felt warmer than that with the sun shining and the wind a near non-factor.
“This is the ideal day for planting,” Worth said. “It’s not too hot. It’s not too cold. The sun’s out. The sun gives you energy. It motivates you. It inspires you. That’s what makes it easier to get up in the morning.”
McCracken said the weather “couldn’t be better.” Then she gave a colorful description of how the weather has usually been like for the team when they plant.
“We’ve been (like) drowned rats many times,” McCracken said about the warmth and blue skies Wednesday.
Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Department staff, led by Director Stacie Barnum, helped ABT plant 120 ground pots full of petunias, geraniums, million bells and bacopa plants. The plan was to also add 160 hanging baskets throughout Aberdeen, according to Barnum.
“We plant flowers in one day,” Barnum said. “We hang the baskets in one day. City staff waters and fertilizes seven days a week for four months. It takes them about six hours a day.”
The flowers used to come from Terry Stevenson, who ran Wynoochee Windmill Farm in Montesano. But six years ago, the city’s need expanded and it started getting the plants, on Stevenson’s strong recommendation, from Fessler Nursery in Woodburn, Oregon. Flowers are still purchased in the fall from Marshall’s Garden & Pet, in Aberdeen.
The team’s perimeters, according to Barnum, are as south as the foot of the Chehalis River Bridge, as far east as the Rotary Log Pavilion, as far west as L Street and then as far north as Market Street. Barnum said ABT’s workforce ranges from eight to 15 volunteers each day.
Barnum shared a couple thoughts on ABT’s efforts:
“The Bloom Team is an important part of the city’s beautification program,” Barnum said. “They help raise money to pay for the flowers and labor. They are ambassadors for the program. And they help instill community pride through their volunteer service.”
The total endeavor costs the city $40,000-per-year for flowers, supplies and wages, Barnum said. The funds are raised through “local private donations, (a) city lodging tax grant and local business sponsors.”
ABT and Barnum’s staff’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed outside of Aberdeen. Beside the fact that a few of the ABT volunteers live outside of Aberdeen, Barnum said the work has been a model for other cities in Washington state — Hoquiam, Cosmopolis, Ocean Shores, Olympia, Sequim, Des Moines and Tenino.
To join ABT, call Barnum at 360-537-3248, or fill out a form on the city’s website: aberdeenwa.gov/FormCenter/Beautification-Project-6/Join-the-Bloom-Team-48 — and let ABT contact you in order to join.
Fun people
Quigg was in good spirits Wednesday morning as she planted on the south stretch of Broadway in between Wishkah and Heron streets. She shared a few of her favorite elements about ABT.
“Just being with all the women who do this, and then the men from the parks department,” Quigg said. “It makes the city look pretty and it makes me feel proud when I drive through and I see all the blooms. I love it.”
Quigg also loves that the hard work does not go unnoticed.
“People comment on it all the time,” Quigg said. “People from the area, they thank us all the time for doing it.”
As Quigg talked, a man in a sedan drove by slowly and flashed a thumbs up sign before he continued to the Heron Street intersection. His action delighted Quigg.
She then shared her favorite flower.
“I love the geraniums,” Quigg said. “I like them all. I just like flowers. I just think they’re so pretty. And it’s amazing what the committee has chosen to plant. It’s perfect for our area. It just brightens and livens up the city. I love it, love it, love it.”
LaCasse was rosy-cheeked as she spoke about the team’s efforts.
“I just think it’s wonderful that this happens so that it makes Aberdeen more beautiful,” LaCasse said. “I think everybody enjoys it. I enjoy it as I go through.”
LaCasse and McCracken planted the flowers outside of Tinderbox Coffee Roasters. One of the baristas for Tinderbox, Brittnee Seibert, added a nice thought about ABT.
“I like when they put the hanging plants out there. They’re really pretty,” Seibert said. “ It makes the community look more put together.”
While the weather wasn’t a factor Wednesday, it was on the minds of ABT’s volunteers, because it has been quite often this time of year. Worth spoke about what makes the work worth it after 10 years of planting in Aberdeen.
“When you’re out in the pouring down rain and someone stops and says ‘thank you,’ those are the things that make it worthwhile,” Worth said. “Or they’ll honk their horn, (which) shows they appreciate what we’re doing. And that’s all we want. We want people appreciative and to take pride like we do.”
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Department Director Stacie Barnum, left, explains the planting process to a few of her staff members Wednesday morning as they prepared to help Aberdeen Bloom Team plant 120 ground pots. In addition to the pots, 160 flower baskets were also placed throughout the city. Barnum sounded excited for the day. “Can you believe it’s already May?” she asked ecstatically before the flowers arrived.
Bobbi McCracken, Craig Yakovich and Nancy LaCasse stand by the large trailer that pulled many of the plants Aberdeen Bloom Team placed throughout the city on Wednesday. Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Department staff joined the volunteers from Aberdeen Bloom Team to make sure the petunias, geraniums, million bells and bacopa plants were positioned in the flower pots just right. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Along with the geraniums, million bells and bacopas, Aberdeen Bloom Team planted Supertunia Royal Velvet Petunia hybrids throughout Aberdeen Wednesday morning.
