The biggest community planting event in the COmox Valley returns May 30.
The Mile of Flowers is marking 56 years of filling Cliffe Avenue boulevards with colourful blooms on Tuesday, May 30.
The plant-in starts at 5 p.m. and goes until around 7 p.m. Volunteers from the community are invited to fill the garden beds on both sides of Cliffe Avenue from 8th to 21st streets with summer flowers provided by the City of Courtenay.
No prior experience is required 鈥� just pick an open spot, and start planting. Participants are asked to bring garden gloves and a trowel or spoon for digging.
Typically, between 200 and 500 volunteers are needed. Youth groups are encouraged to take part and all youth groups attending will be entered in a random draw to win a one-hour pool party at the outdoor pool in Lewis Park.
Refreshments will be available for volunteers. Instead of a barbecue, the City of Courtenay in partnership with Courtenay Rotary Club will be providing free cold drinks and snacks for people to enjoy as they are planting.
Mayor Bob Wells said he always looks forward to this annual community event.
鈥淚t will be truly wonderful to see community members and organizations participating in the plant-in,鈥� said Wells. 鈥淭he event has a beautiful way of bringing the community together, it鈥檚 a great way to get involved and meet community members of all ages.鈥�
The Mile of Flowers is a tradition dating back to 1967, when Kathleen Kirk set out to commemorate Canada鈥檚 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 around 30,000 flowers.
The City of Courtenay maintains the flower beds, watering as needed, using compost and mulch to improve water retention.
Water-efficient drip irrigation systems have been installed in a number of beds. Some have also been converted to water-efficient perennial blooms and shrubs.
The City of Courtenay sends heartfelt thanks to all the community volunteers, clubs and organizations who have helped beautify the community for so many years.
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