Flowers are once again displayed along the Mill Street Bridge over the Fox River in Montgomery, thanks to volunteers and members of the village’s Public Works Department.
The planting of the flower boxes along the bridge has become a tradition in the village. Brett Schaefer, a member of the village’s Beautification Committee, participated in the project over the weekend and has taken part since the event’s inception in 2002 under then Mayor Marilyn Michelini.
Schaefer said the project involves not only the volunteers but all those who help maintain the boxes during the summer.
“The credit goes to members of the Public Works Department,” he said. “They are out here in the heat of the summer every day watering and fertilizing as they continue to bring new blooms out. They keep everything looking fresh and if any of them gets too long they do come and do light trimming.”
Stan Bond, chairman of the Beautification Committee, said there is never a shortage of people to sponsor the boxes. This year the village had to shut off flower box requests because so many were interested in the program.
Martha Larson has been involved with the project since its beginning. A resident of the village, she said she loves the bridge and the flowers that line it each year.
“It has that old-time charm,” said Ben Bzoska, who participated in the volunteer effort for the first time this year.
“We know a lot of the other people whose names are on the pots. It’s an indication of the beauty of the community and it’s an indication of the unity of all the people who have been part of Montgomery,” said volunteer Ted Clauser
Linda Porter has been participating in the program for the past four years and said she personally enjoys the displays. In addition to volunteering, Porter said she takes out a box each year in memory of her parents.
When the project began it was open only to businesses and then opened up to individuals.
In all some 33 boxes on the bridge contain over 200 plants, said Michelini. She said the tradition just keeps growing every year.
“It has been growing since 2002 and we need more volunteers each year,” she said.
She said she loves driving over the bridge over the Fox River.
“It is fantastic,” she said. “I enjoy driving past it and seeing all the color on the bridge. It is nice to have that sense of pride.”
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News