'Planting Day' brightens up Slippery Rock borough
SLIPPERY ROCK — Despite the rainy weather Saturday, the members of Slippery Rock in Bloom were still out with the goal to brighten up the borough.
For them, the rain wasn't a complete negative — it helped soften up the ground for the thousands of flowers the group had ready to plant.
“It's about average for us,” said Regina Greenwald, coordinator for Slippery Rock in Bloom. “We've got thousands of petunias, rudbeckias we're going to plant.”
According to Greenwald, about 12 volunteers helped in Planting Day in Slippery Rock, which In Bloom organizes annually. She said the organization plants thousands of flowers in the spring and in the fall, and maintains gardens and the planters located around town in order to keep the place looking fresh.
The group has planted upward of 10,000 plants in one day before.
“We believe in what goes on in the community,” Greenwald said. “It makes the town a better place, and the community supports it and enjoys it.”The group worked its way Saturday morning from Memorial Park on Main Street to the Slippery Rock Sheetz, planting all along the way. The group also planted a memorial at the intersection of North Main Street and Franklin Street for a recently deceased member, Tom Holmes, and dubbed it “Holmes' Corner.”Greenwald said the borough and Slippery Rock University are supportive of In Bloom's efforts.Judy Hughes, president of the Slippery Rock Rotary Club, agreed and also took part in the planting Saturday. She said the program is a great opportunity for community service.“Part of Rotary is getting the community to work together,” Hughes said. “So many people just love helping and seeing the results of their work.”Slippery Rock In Bloom will have another planting day in the fall.
