Published: May 02, 2008 12:01 pm            

Bridge gets a floral touch

Corbin Master Gardeners will each rotate a week at a time throughout the summer months to keep the Engineer Street bridge plants watered.

Click here to see the May 3, 2008 Neighbors section in its entirety


By Bobbie Poynter / Community Editor

Corbin’s Engineer Street Bridge received an added touch of floral color Wednesday thanks to the members of the Whitley County Master Gardeners.

The idea to dress up the newly renovated bridge with hanging pots, several planters and urns came about as Mayor Willard McBurney and Sarah and Tim Pennington were taking a casual stroll over the bridge.

“The mayor was there, and we just all got to talking about maybe putting some flowers out here, and he thought it was a good idea,” said Master Gardener Sarah Pennington.

Antiques and Accents, the Corbin Ossoli Club and PRIDE donated the supplies and funds for the project.

Sarah Pennington picked out all of the plants to be used on the bridge, which included fountain grass, new wave petunias, diplandenia, million belles and more. Each of the annual plants was chosen for its brilliant colors hardiness and drought resistance.

The four master gardeners planting at the bridge, Sarah Pennington, Shelley Goldbloom, Wendal Mitchell, and Jim Becker will each take a week in turn throughout the summer to water the Engineer Street Bridge plants.

“The Master Gardeners are everyday people who are willing to take classes to learn all aspects of gardening, including insects, diseases, fertilizers, lawn care, and the different types of soil,” said Wendal Mitchell.

“We start by attending classes that run from January into May,” added Jim Becker. “After that, we keep abreast of things by performing community service like teaching classes or speaking at clubs or organizations, or even like we’re doing here, planting flowers to help beautify this bridge.”

Staff Writer Sean Bailey contributed to this story.

        

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