Thursday, May 17, 2012
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery
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Thursday, May 17, 2012 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery |
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Volunteers boost city with flowers By SUE WATSON
Main Street is back at it again this year, weeding old flower beds and getting them ready for new flowers. Gwen Wyatt, chairman of the Holly Springs Main Street design committee, said the group continues to work to beautify the city and hopes to expand its efforts to draw attention to the city with flowers and shrubs. The committee hopes to get money to plant flowers in the medians at Highway 78, she said. Planters on the square and at the Multi-Purpose Building will be refreshed soon with summer flowering plants. Alderman Harvey Payne, who has invested his free time as a Main Street volunteer with the design committee, said he hopes to add flowers at the entrance to Johnson Park, at the intersection of Craft Street and Van Dorn. He hopes others will join volunteer efforts to make the city attractive for home folk and visitors alike. “It’s like what President John F. Kennedy said about the country, it’s not what the city can do for you, but what you can do for your city,” Payne said. Wyatt said there has been lots of favorable community reaction to the flower planters on the square. The pots will be the next to be refreshed, she said. “We are trying to pick plants that don’t need a lot of moisture and that are low maintenance,” she said. “We appreciate what people do to water the flowers on the square. A long time ago, some people came to talk about fighting crime and they said one of the best things you can do to fight crime is to plant flowers. Criminals won’t set up shop there.” Visitors and passersby to the city also are attracted and may come back to visit again, Wyatt said. The flowers are more likely to attract retirees who may want to move to the city, she said. If they come, they will add to the tax base and may become volunteers to help the city improve the city and enjoy life here. Wyatt used as an example Maureen and Jim McNally, who moved to Holly Springs from New York and also are volunteering and participating in Main Street activities. Another new member to the design committee is Leona Harris, curator of the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum. “She’s been a big help in meeting and organizing,” Wyatt said. Payne said the city needs volunteers who will put in physical sweat effort to work on projects, as well as paying Main Street dues. Individual dues are $52 a year. To inquire more about volunteering with the design committee, call Wyatt at 662-544-6156. Some of the plants at the Van Dorn entrance to the Depot and Cotton Warehouse area include guara or whirling butterflies, daylilies, pink primrose, dusty miller, purple coneflowers, princess feather, purple fountain plant, sedum, petunia, pansy, and prickly pear cactus. Those who want to learn more about flowers that do well in dry beds can call Wyatt and learn more about plants that thrive in the local environment. The Main Street design committee enjoys the support of several Master Gardeners who assist with the installation and maintenance of landscaping plants in Holly Springs. |
     
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