Petunia parade planting Saturday

May 15, 2013

Donna Brown, chair of the Petunia Parade stands with some of the flowers that will be planted Saturday.

LUDINGTON — The 26th annual Ludington Petnunia Parade is scheduled for planting on Saturday, May 18 beginning at 10 a.m. Volunteers will be planting 32,400 red, white and blue petunias that have been grown at Gustafson’s Greenhouse of Ludington.

The Ludington Optimist Club will be serving lunch for the volunteers after the planting at the City Park ( planters do not need to have clean hands to have lunch).

The parade was started in 1987 by Ellery and Sue Sabin whose goal was to help beautify Ludington by planting petunias along Ludington Avenue and along the streets by the Ludington Municipal Marina.

“We are continually in search of community members and businesses to assist with planting and upkeep of the petunias,” said Chairwoman Donna Brown. “They need to be weeded and nurtured throughout the entire summer to keep them looking the greatest.”

Brown said a soil analysis has revealed that soil along the parade is in need of enriching, particularly in the boulevard area of West Ludington Avenue and some areas east of Staffon Street. To help, Schmock’s Landscaping has donated a truckload of soil. On planting day, Schmock’s will place buckets of soil along the above-mentioned areas. The soil will be available to all blocks, but emphasis is being placed on the furthest east and west points of the avenue.

“A handful of soil should be sufficient,” Brown said, “just enough to cover the root system as it grows throughout the season.”

The Petunia Parade is in need of financial donations to help with the budgeted expenses. “Costs for planting and maintaining the petunias increase each year,” Brown said. ”Community support is crucial to the success of the Petunia Parade. Donation sponsors will be recognized in the following categories for the amount they donate:

Above $500.00 Golden Petunia Sponsor

$ 200.00 to $ 499.00 Silver Petunia Sponsor

$ 100.00 to $ 199.00 Bronze Petunia Sponsor

Below $ 100.00 Honorable Mention

DONATIONS can be mailed to:

PO Box 5 ∙ Ludington, MI 49431
This year you will see donation canister around the Ludington Area to collect donations to help with expenses for the 2013 planting year. If you would like more information, or to volunteer in any capacity, please contact Donna Brown at 231-301-0699.

Planting, weeding and pulling schedule for the petunias:

Saturday May 18, 2013 Planting

Saturday June 1, 2013 Weeding

Saturday June 22, 2013 Weeding

Saturday July 27, 2013 Weeding

Saturday August 24, 2013 Weeding

Saturday September 14, 2013 Pulling

New block sponsors:

Doug & Kelly Shoup
Elks Lodge #736
Jim Myers
Kelly Aloe & Dan King DDS
Heyse & Associates
Midas Muffler

2013 Repeat Block Sponsors

West Shore Bank
Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan
Dr. Tim Murphy & Staff
Lenz and Associates
Rite-Aid Pharmacy
Ludington Education Association
Sunburst Inn
Joe Dollaway and Friends
Holton Family
Lamplighter Bed & Breakfast
Home Depot
Keelan’s
Mason County Garden Club
McDonald Family
PelterApartments
AAFEW
Kolb Family
United Methodist Women’s Group
House of Flavors
Lighthouse Professional Clinic
Petersen Family
Sitler’s
Lakewinds Dental
John Reed
Dick Falk and Dick Gerkowski
Rotary Club of Ludington
AAUW
Shirley Peterson & Friends
Northwestern Bank
Reebers
Reisterer’s Dental Office
Trinity Evangelical Free Church
Oakview Medical Care Facility