Over the next few weeks there will be hangings and plenty of pot action in Trail’s downtown.
Hanging baskets and potted trees, that is. Around 170 hanging baskets and nearly 100 potted trees will be strategically placed in the Silver City’s downtown core — and throughout the Gulch — as part of the Trail Community in Bloom committee’s next attempt in the international Communities in Bloom competition.
The local committee has already had shovels into the ground as the city prepares to hold onto its five-bloom status and go up against international competition in this year’s challenge.
This year Trail is in “really tight,” said committee president Dan Rodlie.
“We are competing in the largest category, competing against 10 other cities from Japan, the Czech Republic and England,” he said. “Every year you get more and more countries entering.”
The city dropped marks — down to 82.75 per cent — in last year’s international challenge from it’s national competition in 2010, reflecting about a third place finish, said Rodlie.
This year marks the 10th anniversary the city has participated in the program, holding a max record of five blooms for eight of those years.
Part of the preparation will include new projects: planting hostas around the coniferous trees near the Trail Bridge; work on the white garden (a re-creation of the beautiful Sissinghurst Castle Garden in England) at the end of the Esplanade; and revamping some garden beds.
The committee is also embarking on a “massive” undertaking at the turnoff to Muriel Heights. Using a piece of Regional District of Kootenay Boundary property, the committee will be developing it into a grassy bed comprised of a variety of four- to eight-foot-tall grasses.
“So when trucks and everything drive by they will be waving in the wind at them,” said Rodlie.
All of the work is now underway, with some or all of the over 100 volunteers being called upon before the Communities in Bloom judges arrive July 12-14.
The committee is still looking for people to donate more hostas to place under the trees near the bridge. People can donate by calling 368-9227.