To say the 2011 growing season has been busy for CiB Sussex would be a gross understatement! Our little committee has been very busy with the various projects that were on the table for this year and we have discovered that our little CiB committee is just that, too little. We need more of you, our wonderful community members helping out to make the Sussex Communities in Bloom organization a huge success. Please consider joining forces with us for 2012. Anything you can do to help at any time is appreciated!!!
Having stated the obvious, I must say that the Communities in Bloom visit from the National Judges on Aug 7 - 9th was a great success and Sussex put on a Beautiful face. The Judges were impressed by many things about Sussex, the walking trails and the horse barns being two of the things that really stood out as being exceptional assets to area residents.
The judges couldn’t seem to believe that our Communities in Bloom chapter hadn’t even been operational for a year yet and had accomplished so much. We will find out in October if we won 3 or 4 or 5 Blooms (A 5 Bloom rating is the best!) I wish so mush we had the funding to send a couple of our committee members up to the Awards ceremony in Quebec - it would be so awful if for our First Year we won 5 Blooms and we couldn’t even be there to accept the award!! So, if there is anyone out there who could donate $2400 to send two members it would be greatly appreciated!! This first year has been a meager one funding wise… that will be our work for the winter I guess. :D
Some of the things we did look Great!! Take Elliott Park for example. That sweet little park has been a bit forlorn for many years and people despaired of anything being done with it because it would be wrecked by the teens that hung out there. We said “Well, we can do something with that and we’ll ask the kids to take ownership of it and make sure it stays looking great.” So we brought our shovels one fine June evening and dug out the flower beds and re-planted and weeded. We loosened the soil in the planter and put in some plants from our own flower beds and got other flowers donated. We made a new bed under the Elliott Park Sign and even though it is not perfect.. it is pretty.
A couple of our CiB members have been talking to the kids there and they like it - A lot - and have been enjoying it and “safeguarding” it. It just goes to prove that teens like to have a place of their own that looks nice too.
O’Connell Park is looking pretty good with the flowers in front of the gates and the hosta’s and geraniums under the trees. Yup, that was Communities in Bloom too! Stay tuned for some Fabulous stuff being planned for O’Connell Park. Our Committee is rooting for a nice Water Feature there, so we’re gonna do some major pestering for that! We may do some sort of Contest for suggestions of what would take the place of the old pool. Lawn Bowling? Amphitheater?
Well, enough for today… Toodles.
On August 7th & 8th, 2011, the National Communities in Bloom judges are visiting our fair town of Sussex, NB. Let’s put our best foot forward! Here’s how you can Help. Participate in one of our contests for planting a walkway garden, hanging basket, planter/container garden, tallest sunflower, windowbox… Enter by emailing us a picture of your creation to cibsussexnb@gmail.com. It doesn’t have to be the biggest or most extravagant… it just has to be uniquely “you”.
Here are the Contest Specifics:
June 20th - Public Meeting - Jubilee Hall (Seniors Center) 7pm - Everyone Welcome! (We will have a Plant Sale table)
July 2nd – Window Box/ Hanging Basket/ Planter Contest (Judging Day)
Aug. 6th – Happiest Walkway Garden Contest (Judging Day)
Sept. 3rd – Tallest Sunflower Contest (Judging Day)
Note** We will have a separate judging for Businesses who wish to participate in the happiest walkway and windowbox categories.
Here is the schedule of events so far for the Communities in Bloom Season with the contest dates as well:
May 31st - Elliott Park Day, 6:30pm-9pm, Sussex, NB
June 10th - Marigolds on Maple Planting Day, 10am, Everyone welcome – Bring a Marigold!
July 2nd – Window Box/ Hanging Basket/ Planter Contest (Judging Day) *See entry details below
Aug. 6th – Happiest Walkway Garden Contest (Judging Day) *See entry details below
Aug. 7th & 8th – The National Communities in Bloom Judges visit Sussex **More details to come**
Sept. 3rd – Tallest Sunflower Contest (Judging Day) *See entry Details below
Sept. 17th - Hosta La Vista Day - Planting Day for the Hostas on Maple Ave.
Choose a Category or two to participate in and get planting!!
VOLUNTEERS
There are no two ways about it… we need volunteers for our Marigolds on Maple project and various other projects throughout the year. If you would like to help us out from time to time, email or phone us and we’ll have something wonderful for you to help with!!!
Email: cibsussexnb@gmail.com
Phone: 433-1085 or 433-3063
Communities in Bloom is a way to further promote the beauty and versatility of the Town of Sussex and a welcomed organization to the gardening community here.
In October 2010, the Sussex CIB steering committee was formed and is registered to compete in the annual CiB judging event on the National level. Sussex will be in the 5000-8000 population category and hopefully will score some blooms awards! The judges will be visiting Sussex August 7 & 8, 2011, so get inspired and get involed with making Sussex the “best blooming place in the Maritimes!”
How to Get Involved
There are dozens of ways for individuals, community groups and businesses to get involved in Communities in Bloom. Everything from window box planters, to lush floral displays, to planting trees, to cleaning up a park or ravine, to adopting a park, to preserving our natural and cultural heritage, to promoting Communities in Bloom — it’s all about beautifying spaces and enhancing the quality of life in Sussex. Feel free to team up with other groups or businesses to fulfill your vision. Communities in Bloom gives you a remarkable opportunity to be as creative as your time and budget will allow.
To join the Communities In Bloom, Sussex, NB, Canada chapter, please email us at: cibsussexnb@gmail.com
Our Agenda of seasonal events to follow and watch the Kings County Record and the Sussex Herald for the schedule of events.
