From left, Petunia Parade board members Cathy Webster and Mary Lou Ohnsman, Gustafson’s Greenhouse owners Virginia Gustafson and her son, Joey Gustafson, and Wally Cain of the Petunia Parade board.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — The employees of Gustafson’s Greenhouse, 5053 W. Kistler Rd., have been busy this week planting the 32,400 red, white and blue petunias that will become the Ludington Petunia parade.
The Ludington Petunia Parade was started in 1987 by Ellery and Sue Sabin. It is a non-profit organization that is funded by private donations.
The petunias arrive at Gustafson’s as starter plants and are then placed in 450 flats with 72 flowers per flat. According to Joey Gustafson, owner of Gustafson’s Greenhouse, the plants will quickly grow and will be ready for planting day, May 17.
The 38th Petunia Parade will include 40 blocks of flowers along portions of Ludington Avenue, from the city’s eastern limits to Lakeshore Drive, and Loomis and Ferry streets.
The Ludington Petunia Parade is a non-profit charitable organization that is not affiliated with the City of Ludington, though it does receive the city’s endorsement. It is governed by a nine person volunteer board of directors and relies on the volunteers to help plant, maintain, and remove the petunias throughout the summer season. Volunteers included individuals along with people representing businesses, churches, organizations, and other community groups.
For more information about the Petunia Parade, visit its website here or Facebook here.
Gustafon’s Greenhouse employees prepare the petunia flats.
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