preservation), turf and groundcovers, tidiness, urban
forestry, community involvement, and environmental efforts.
Judging will take place between March and May 2008.
A city can win on each of the criteria but it can also win on
the total points it accumulates. The city with the highest
score in each population category wins an America in
Bloom championship.
Stuart is the only city in Florida, besides Ocala, to participate
in the competition. Ocala won the urban forestry competition
last year.
Paul Daly, president of the Downtown Business
Association, said the association is working in conjunction
with Stuart in Bloom and Stuart Main Street on beautification
of the historic downtown. “We’ve already been out to take
pictures of things that need improvement,” he said. “The
more we can do to keep the downtown business district in
pristine condition, the better.”
The association is making plans for events such as “cleaning
and painting parties and all kinds of things to make sure
our area is as beautiful as it can be,” he said.
The Stuart in Bloom steering committee, called Planting
Pride in Stuart, is looking for groups, individuals, and businesses
willing to sponsor areas in need of replanting. Each
sponsor will get a small sign in the area they choose to sponsor,
Whitmer said. “Community involvement is weighted
heavily in the judging,” she said.
PHOTO BY PORFIRIO SOLORZANO
Many roundabouts in Stuart are already nicely landscaped. Stuart in Bloom
organizers hope to add even more color.
CITIES RECOGNIZED BY
AMERICA IN BLOOM
PHOTOS BY AMERICA IN BLOOM
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Ocala was the first city in
Florida to become a Tree
City USA and has maintained
the title for 15
years. The city has a
detailed ordinance dating
to 1985 that regulates
tree planting and maintenance.
Buffalo, Minn., has been
commended for landscaping
that complements
its most important
resource, water.
Columbus, Ind., has
received recognition for
its many landscaped
areas, including 19 miles
of “People Trails.’’
Gallipolis, Ohio, is
known for its hanging
plants from municipal
displays.
Tipp City, Ohio, has been
applauded for its overall
efforts to keep the city
beautiful, from sports
fields to residential lawns.
GARDENS
“We have a great community
and this is a grassroots effort
to beautify it.”
— Mary Hutchinson
Mayor of Stuart