Plants Add Happiness

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The "Big Bird" garden at Bronson Park is one of the many gardens tended by the KIB volunteers.

An Interview with Todd Sanford, Board President, Kalamazoo in Bloom

"For 25 years, KIB has been beautifying and maintaining such prominent public areas as Bronson Park and the Downtown Mall in Kalamazoo. And KIB purchases plants for the Portage City Center, Portage Library and our Regional Airport," explains Todd. "The flowers for these attractive and colorful gardens and beds are all purchased by KIB. Our volunteers maintain the beds and gardens in Kalamazoo, not city workers."

Each year, KIB buys almost 165,000 flowering plants and more than 600 hanging baskets and planters to decorate public spaces in Kalamazoo County. KIB has saved the city budgets of Kalamazoo and Portage literally tens of thousands of dollars every year by purchasing flowers that enhance the beauty and vibrancy of some of the largest public areas in our cities. They strive to create synergy with the existing natural beauty of our parks, downtown mall and public buildings.

"Our volunteers are dedicated to planting, watering and maintaining the many gardens that we do for the cities. As a non-profit organization we seek monetary support from area foundations, business and private donors in order to purchase the flowers that add so much to our cities," states Todd. "This year we were fortunate to have received funding from area foundations in addition to our annual donors. Foundations saw the value we are bringing to our cities with our beautification efforts."

Hats off to this loyal and dedicated group of volunteers whose efforts make our parks and public areas much more enjoyable, impress visitors new to our cities and provide a sense of pride as we drive by and think "Boy our downtown area and parks look terrific with those flowers."

To donate funds to or volunteer with KIB, go to their Web site at: www.kalamazooinbloom.org