The Village of Bergen is now decked-out with flower boxes and hanging baskets for the summer season thanks to work completed during the village’s annual Community Action Day held Saturday, May 17.
The event helps promote spring clean-up and planting in village parks.
Community leaders, Department of Public Works officials and residents young and not-so-young gathered together to fill the planters and baskets which are placed in the downtown business district and throughout the village. Flowers were also planted in Hickory Park on Route 19.
The members of Boy Scout Troop 31 were very involved this year and helped to plant two Crimson Cloud hawthorn trees in Hartland Park – which is located across Route 19 from Hickory Park, behind the Department of Public Works along the banks of Minnie Creek.
Following the tree planting, Scouts and other participants scattered cupfuls of wildflower seeds along hedgerows in the park.
Bergen Mayor Anna Marie Barclay said the ceremonies and activities at Hartland Park were planned “so young people will know the park is here.”
Back across the street at Hickory Park, young participants were given a lesson in composting and made bird feeders from pine cones before planting the containers and baskets.
Mayor Barclay explained that the Village of Bergen Park Committee and Village of Bergen Tree Board selected Cascadia Rim Magenta petunias as the Bergen “community flower” and the deep purple bloom with a contrasting light off-white to light green edge is the featured flower in all flower boxes, hanging planters and village gardens.
The community flower is selected and planted throughout parks and yards to reflect a sense of place and a sense of the “community atmosphere that is part of Bergen,” officials said.
Each participant in Community Action Day received their own Cascadia Rim Magenta petunia to plant in their home gardens and the village is encouraging residents to plant one or more of the variety in their yards where they can be enjoyed by village visitors.
The village has improvements planned for Hickory Park including installation of a quarter-mile track. The Village of Bergen also recently received a grant from the DEC to inventory all trees along village streets.
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
