GARDENS
Bloom
Organizers hope Stuart will
be recognized nationally for
beautification efforts
BY SUSAN BURGESS
W hen you see planters, yards, roundabouts and
50
medians bursting with colorful blossoms
throughout Stuart this winter you’ll know it’s the
Stuart in Bloom beautification project at work. If all goes as
supporters hope, the communitywide effort will earn Stuart
national recognition as an America in Bloom champion.
A local chapter of the non-profit America in Bloom organization,
Stuart in Bloom is overseeing a citywide beautification
project that
pits Stuart against
cities of like size in
a national competition
hosted annually
for the past six
years by America
in Bloom.
Endorsed by the
city, the
Downtown
Business
Association of
Stuart, Stuart Main
Street, Stuart
Garden Club, and
other groups and
businesses citywide,
backers hope
judges next spring
will award Stuart the America in Bloom championship
crown for cities in the 15,000 to 20,000 population category.
Meg Whitmer, a landscape architect and spokeswoman for
Stuart in Bloom, said the city will be judged on eight criteria:
floral displays, landscaped areas, heritage (historic
>>
In
PHOTO BY GREGORY ENNS
Landscape architect Meg Whitmer is leading the effort to enter Stuart in the
national America in Bloom competition. These planters will be used to help
bring more color – and flowering plants – to downtown.
FLOWERING PRIDE
What: Stuart in Bloom is a citywide
beautification project entered in a
national competition
When: From now until the judging,
which takes place between March
and May 2008
Who: Stuart in Bloom steering committee
is called Planting Pride in
Stuart and can be reached at
772.485.9092.