Volunteers work to plant flower bulbs and clean up Memorial Park in Slippery Rock in October as a part of Slippery Rock In Bloom. More than 40 volunteers planted 5,000 flower bulbs in the borough last fall. Some of the flowers are beginning to sprout, despite the harsh winter.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock In Bloom is getting ready to be judged again, which is an exciting prospect for the committee that runs it.

“As always. And we’re more than prepared,” said committee member Cindi Dillon.

This will be the third year in a row that Slippery Rock In Bloom is competing in America In Bloom, a national initiative where towns compete and work to improve.

On Oct. 26, 40 volunteers planted 5,000 flower bulbs at several locations in the borough, and 2,000 more were planted on Nov. 10.

With the harsh winter, Dillon said she is concerned about some of the bulbs already planted.

“I’m a little anxious about that,” Dillon said.

However, she said some of them already are sprouting.

Soon, the initiative’s garden group will be planting pollenating flowers and drought-resistant plants in pots in downtown.

“That’s exciting too,” Dillon said.

On April 12, the committee will participate in a “Polish the Rock” day, where the borough is cleaned up. The committee also will encourage community members to clean up on Earth Day, April 22.

The committee will host an event at the Robert A. Macoskey Center on Harmony Road on April 26 where “lasagna gardening,” a no-dig gardening method, will be discussed and there will be a tree giveaway, where people will be given saplings to plant.

Judges will visit June 22 to 24.

Dillon said the committee is working with Slippery Rock Development to get recycling bins placed on the sidewalks in downtown.

Slippery Rock In Bloom started in 2010 as the Slippery Rock Rotary Club’s president’s project.

Rotary members, committee members and volunteers spent much of late 2011 and early 2012 preparing for the judges’ arrival last year. They planted thousands of flowers, raised money and organized cleanup days.

Similar efforts took place in late 2012 and early 2013.

National judges visited for two days in June, and Slippery Rock won an award for most creative design using flower bulbs and was one of the winners of the “Capturing the Spirit of America” photography contest sponsored by America in Bloom and GIE Media.

The main fundraising event for the committee is the annual gala, to be held June 7 at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in the borough.

Two things the committee wants to buy are a golf cart to help assist with watering plants and a water tank to mount on the cart.

The committee also takes donations. Besides a $5,000 donation from the Shell Development Corporation in November, Dillon said the committee regularly gets small donations from individuals and groups.

To donate or volunteer, visit the website at www.srinbloom.com, the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Slippery-Rock-in-Bloom/186580398050287, send an e-mail to srinbloom16057@gmail.com or call Dillon at 724-406-0472.